Summer is slowly but surely coming to an end, and no one who has spent the last few weeks in Slovakia can complain about the lack of hot weather. But how about using the last few days off for an unconventional, quick weekend getaway and cooling off a bit in the British Isles?
After breakfast, set out to explore the beauties of Cambridge University. The faculties are open to the public and their gardens are definitely worth a visit for a nominal fee. If you are in a hurry,
don't miss King's and St. John's College.
If you love football, you don't need to be reminded of the Mecca of world football, Old Trafford. The home of Manchester United hides a museum in its bowels, and during its tour you can even take a look into the dressing rooms of the big stars.
Forget the cliché of London, here are two ideal weekends spent in the whirlwind of Britain.
Cambridge - In the footsteps of academics
A university city full of history, as if cut out of a fairy tale. Cambridge will immediately attack you with its charm and win you over from the first minute. We bet that after three days you will start thinking about moving here…How to get there
Flight Bratislava - London Stansted
Just half an hour by train from the centre of Cambridge, Stansted is the airport you want to land at. Ryanair flies regularly from Bratislava twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. Connection to A weekend trip couldn't be more ideal.Check in
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Straight off the plane, run to drop your bags at an old English-style hotel. The small chain Hotel du Vin has everything you could want from a weekend hotel. Great service, ideal location and
If you don't feel like running around town, there's a gourmet bistro. However, we definitely don't recommend spending too much time in your hotel room!
Go for dinner.
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Smokeworks
The absolute best ribs on the old continent. The gentlemen from Smokeworks prepare all the ingredients in their own smokehouse. Don't forget to chat with the chef, a native of Slovakia, Vladimír Hromek.The Eagle
After a great dinner, pop across the street to The Eagle pub to enjoy a pint of English ale with academics from nearby Corpus Christi University, where Francis Crick and James Watson announced the discovery of DNA.
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Cambridge Brew House
If you get tired of the Eagle, stop by the Cambridge Brew House for another beer. The specialty is its unique interior, great atmosphere, and, most importantly, its home-brewed Ale.What to do all weekend
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For breakfast and coffee, head to the baristas at Espresso Library. The specialty coffee and fantastic prosciutto bread with avocado spread and egg is just the thing to get you going. In case you've had a little too much fun in Cambridge on a Saturday night, they serve breakfast until 3pm.
Fit in with the academic crowd
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In the afternoon, rent a small boat to sail through the entire historic center of Cambridge. It is steered by a long pole by pushing off the bottom, similar to a Venetian gondola. If you are brave, you can even steer it yourself.
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If you have time and inclination, head a little outside the city to the village of Grantchester and enjoy tea at five o'clock in the orchard, where literary greats such as Rupert Brooke and Virginia Woolf once sat.
Manchester: London of the North
Many people associate Manchester with the image of a rainy, decaying industrial city. They couldn't be further from the truth! Manchester, nicknamed the London of the North, is the dark horse of the British economy. Modern buildings, designer bars and restaurants and endless cultural opportunities are complemented by the unique atmosphere of a huge student city. That's Manchester. Home to over a hundred thousand students, it is a European metropolis that must be experienced.How to get there
Flight Vienna - Manchester
Jet2 and Austrian operate regular flights from Vienna directly to Manchester. From Manchester Airport, you can simply hop on a local train and be right in the heart of the action in twenty minutes.Check in
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The Midland
The famous century-old hotel remembers the first official meeting of Mr. Rolls and Mr. Royce in its bowels. Unfortunately, it no longer remembers the dinner of the gentlemen from The Beatles, when they were not allowed into the hotel restaurant due to their inappropriate dress code. The location, beautiful rooms, great spa and fantastic gourmet menu are just a few more arguments, if you are not yet convinced that you can stay somewhere where even The Beatles have not been.Go for dinner.
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Curry mile
No visit to any country would be complete without their signature home-cooked food. That's why one evening you simply have to stop for the most beloved dish of all Britons, Indian curry. Wilmslow Road, nicknamed Curry Mile, has the largest concentration of Indian restaurants outside the Indian subcontinent, so whichever one you head to for the lamb madras, you won't be disappointed.
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Mr Thomas Chop House
For the second most popular English specialty, head to Mr. Thomas's, who makes the famous fish and chips. They say you won't find better in all of England.
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The Alchemist
After dinner, it would be a sin to head back to the hotel. In Manchester, the doors open to countless bars in the city center. The Alchemist, with its molecular drinks, will introduce you to a slightly different chemistry than the one you had in high school.What to do all weekend
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Start your morning with a hearty English breakfast and a stroll through the Northern Quarter, where small, quirky shops alternate with trendy cafes. This nondescript place, as if cut out of a yellow submarine, will immediately make everyone fall in love. Be sure to wander into the Tea Cup cafe and the amazing Affleck's Palace shopping mall.
For lunch, head towards Oxford Road, where you'll find not only the busiest bus corridor in the world (it's rumored that a bus passes through the street every minute at any hour of the day), but also the home of the University of Manchester.
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The campus, where traditional British architecture coexists with state-of-the-art buildings, is a vibrant city within a city with its forty thousand students. The university visitors' center will be happy to show you the nooks and crannies of the university, whether you are interested in the place where the world's first computer was invented or the history museum with a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton.
A must-see is the university's Manchester Academy. A concert hall where stars like AC/DC, Pink Floyd and Oasis have performed and still perform. If you're lucky, you'll see bands enjoying their post-concert time at the nearby Big Hands bar.
Soak up the atmosphere of a young city
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Before you fly, it would be a shame not to visit the Imperial War Museum. Just a few minutes by bus in the modern part of the city called Salford, you will find a gem of 21st century architecture. The museum is worth visiting not only for the exhibition that will guide you through the history of the First and Second World Wars, but also for the magnificence of the entire building.
