Dublin used to be Stag Night heaven that is until the Gardá (otherwise known as the Irish police) and many pub owners got properly fed up with the male orientated parties causing a lot of trouble. Their solution was to ban Stag groups from the most popular drinking area, Temple Bar. Ladies however, are still very welcome to come for Hen Nights as this tends to attract local lads who are then willing to part with their hard earned cash. Most people would associate Dublin and Ireland with drinking and whilst I admit the ‘pub’ is a large part of life, there’s still plenty to do for visitors.

Visitors only usually come to Dublin for a short time and pack in a lot in a few days. If you are visiting Dublin for a only a short while, these are my suggestions for things to do, places to eat and where to enjoy a few drinks along the way…

Early Morning Start

Irish breakfasts are very similar to English breakfasts (sausage, bacon, fried egg, etc.) the only difference is that include white pudding. Strangely this simple added ingredient adds a whole new dimension to your breakfast and I think it’s definitely worth trying. A great place have your large Irish breakfast is The Bad Ass Cafe which is located in the centre of Temple Bar.

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Once your breakfast has settled cross over the river and jump on the Luas (Dublin’s city tram), get off at the Suir Road stop (Heuston station direction) here you can visit Kilmainham Gaol. Guided tours around the 18th century gaol will cost you €6; it’s a very informative tour where you will learn all about the history and it’s occupants. As you can imagine it isn’t very pro-Britain so if you’re English be prepared for a bit of Brit bashing!

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By the end of the tour you’re likely to be ready for a pint, what better time to head to the Guinness Storehouse in South Dublin, you can walk but I would suggest jumping in a taxi. The Guinness Storehouse will take about two hours to walk around and unsurprisingly it’s Dublin’s most visited tourist attraction. If you decide to visit you’ll get a free pint at the end of the tour in the Gravity Bar which overlooks the city – an impressive view on a clear day. The entrance fee is a little steep, it costs €15.00 but you can get a 10% discount if you book online. It’s not just about getting a “free pint” you will learn about Guinness’s history, the ingredients used, visit the tasting laboratory and then go to my favourite part – the Guinness advertising where you can see all their adverts spanning several decades.

Late Lunch the Irish Way

Next stop is Temple Bar, I would highly recommend a trip to the Elephant and Castle, if you do go there you are going to have to order the chicken wings. If you ask any Dubliner about the Elephant and Castle, they’ll grin and say “chicken wings”. The burgers are also very good, as are the desserts and there’s a nice selection of wines. If you are after something lighter do as the Irish do and get a soup and a sandwich from one of the many pubs. If you are looking for a cheaper option then head across the Ha’penny Bridge to the Epicurean Food Hall where you can find food from all around the world – I would recommend La Corte Coffee Shop for an excellent salami calzone.

Afternoon shenanigans

After a busy morning my suggested itinerary will now let you wind down a bit. I would recommend taking a stroll around Trinity College, if you are interested in beautiful manuscripts then for a fee you can see the famous ‘Book of Kells.’ At the bottom of Grafton Street say hello to Molly Malone (aka the Tart with the Cart!) before taking a walk up Grafton Street. If it is a nice day also have a walk around the beautiful Iveagh Gardens which were originally designed back in 1865 by Ninian Niven.

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Once you’ve seen some sights, enjoyed the gardens and looked around some shops you cannot possibly consider leaving Dublin without trying a pint or two in one of the pubs. Every pub I’ve visited in Dublin (although admittedly I haven’t been to them all) serves a good pint of Guinness. To be honest I couldn’t see a pub lasting too long here if it served bad pints of the black stuff..

Dinner and a lively evening

Most will now want to eat dinner before the evening activities start. Parallel to Grafton Street is Dawson Street where you will find loads of great bars and some very good restaurants. Two places that I would recommend are Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse and Grill and Fire, if your pockets are quite deep and you fancy having the best steak in town then head to Shanahans on the Green.

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After dinner head to the bars Dawson Street where you will find many of the locals drinking. Alternatively you visit the main tourist hub Temple Bar. If you want one more activity before your night of drinking then why not go greyhound racing. The Irish love to gamble and I personally think dog racing is a great night out – you will even see children as young as ten going up to gamble! There are two race tracks, one is Shelbourne Park (open Saturdays) and the other is Harolds Cross (open Fridays). You can bet as much or a little as you want, enjoy a few drinks and hopefully have a good time. After the races, head back into town to spend your winnings, alternatively (if you’re like me) drown your sorrows.

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Dublin is definitely worth a visit – it’s a fun and lively city as well as being beautiful, atmospheric and romantic. As you can probably imagine there are plenty more things to do in Dublin, these are just a few suggestions. If possible I would suggest staying a bit longer than a weekend and travel a bit further afield to Ireland’s other great cities of Cork, Galway, Kerry and a personal favourite of mine-Kilkenny. Be sure to come and visit and and stay lucky…

by Scott Balaam – please also check out his great Football blog FootieFun

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A flock of Starlings over Brighton’s iconic West Pier at dusk.

Brighton is one of the most colourful and vibrant cities in Europe. It is a fun, bohemian and compact tourist destination that attracts around 8 million visitors a year. The derelict West Pier first opened in 1866, but since closing in 1975 has been the victim of several fires and decay from the elements. Hopes to restore the pier to its former glory have all but faded, after Heritage Lottery Funding was withdrawn.

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Unless you are escaping to a desert island for the whole of December, Christmas shopping is pretty much unavoidable but if your local shops just aren’t going to cut it this year (and you don’t want to rely on the post!), then why not use our guide to head out to the best shopping locations in the UK? Pre-Christmas sales are not uncommon now so search around for some real bargains.

1. Oxford Street, London

Forty million shoppers making their annual Christmas pilgrimage every year can’t be wrong. People come for the lights, the two mile stretch of 300+ shops, the extended ranges in many of the international flagship stores and the massive amount of choice (Selfridges, Top Shop, Nike Town, John Lewis, the list goes on). Although they probably don’t come for the crowds. Oxford Street is one of London’s top tourist attractions and is still one of the most popular shopping destinations in the world.

2. Manchester

England’s unofficial second city has the cooler edge on many of it’s rivals. Not even counting the The Arndale Centre, this city is a shoppers paradise and is crammed full of small niche retailers, vintage/retro boutiques and shabby chic/boho stores many with an original Mancunian style. Perfect if you really stuck for Christmas shopping ideas – just remember to pack the umbrella!

3. Brighton & Hove

Even though it’s a small city, Brighton & Hove has made it high on the list because of it’s amazingly diverse range of shops from chic boutiques, contemporary unique fashions to antiques and original art and jewellery. The more bohemian and trendy shops are located in Brighton’s North Laines. Wander the half a square mile of streets and alleys buying 50s and 60s kitsch, aspirational lifestyle products or french reproduction furniture and then stop for a mung bean burger at one of the many health and vegetarian food outlets. Designer bargains are to be found in the Brighton Marina and the big name stores are located in Churchill Square.

4. Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a very aesthetically pleasing shopping location and is often considered one of the most beautiful cities in Britain. People brave the cold to come here and view the sights as well as do their Christmas shopping. The locals take style and consumerism very seriously and as well as being packed with designer names (Stella McCartney, Louis Vuitton, Prada etc) there are plenty of hip and trendy smaller boutique shops.

5. Birmingham

England’s official second city shouldn’t disappoint would be shoppers, it’s an easier place to get your bearings than you might think with most shops located in the newly redeveloped Bull Ring and New Street. Brummies love trendy designer labels but they also love a bargain. They also love unusual architecture (the £40 million futuristic Selfridges building is worth coming to Birmingham to see in itself although, having said that, it might not be to everyones taste!). As well as all the major high street shops including Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser, the well-known jewellery quarter should sort you out with all your bling!

6. Spitalfields Market, London

Okay this would be the alternative choice but if you’re fed up with the same old stuff in all the usual high street stores then Spitalfields market with it’s eclectic range of stalls – many with original designs – is definitely worth a visit. Buy your cool cousin an original leather satchel, your mum a vintage brooch, your niece or nephew a trendy printed babygrow or just pick up a slice of wheat-free Christmas cake.

7. Newcastle

If you like your shopping experience to be on a very large scale then this would definitely be the place to visit. The enormous Metrocentre is probably the reason most people travel to Newcastle for shopping as it’s one of largest shopping and leisure centres in Europe. North Easterners also have a fondness for original designs so as well as the usual high street favourites there is also a wide range of independent shops and a popular art and craft market each Sunday on Armstrong Bridge in Jesmond.

8. Bath

If it’s the quintessential English Christmas shopping experience you are after, look no further than Bath. With it’s grand Georgian streets, Roman baths and beautiful abbey, Bath is very easy on the eye and even the most discerning shopper is well catered for. As well as all the familiar big name stores, the town offers a wide range of independent shops and stylish boutiques and a well-organised Christmas Market running from 26th November to 6th December 2009.

9. Dublin

Ok, it’s not in the UK, but Dublin is a fun and vibrant city and would make an excellent choice for an easily accessible Christmas shopping destination. It’s a very compact city with all the shops in walkable distance and most of the shopping centred around the pedestrianised Grafton Street (shops towards the upper-end of the market) and St. Stephens Green Shopping Centre (the usual high street shops). After you finished there head for Temple Bar for trendy and more unusual clothing, music and art stores (and probably also a pint of Guinness).

10. Cardiff

Even if you’re not searching for a rugby shirt or a Welsh Love spoon don’t overlook Cardiff as a Christmas shopping destination. Cardiff is a very friendly city and is now one of the best shopping locations in the country thanks to the new St. David’s shopping centre £675million extension. Every major store is represented in the very impressive “St. David’s 2″ but if it’s more intimate shopping you are after try the cute Morgan and Castle shopping arcades still with their Victorian and Edwardian features.

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