3 Ways to Get to Barcelona from London

Each year thousands of people travel from London to Barcelona, both for business and leisure. There are number of travel options open to those who wish to make this journey, including the following:

By Air: A number of the airports around London offer flights to Barcelona from a range of different airlines. You can choose to travel either on luxury airlines or to make the relatively short journey on a budget, less glamorous airline. Flying by air is certainly the quickest way to travel to Barcelona as the flight takes around two hours. Don’t forget to take into account check in times and baggage reclaim when you calculate your overall journey time.

By Road: Driving to Barcelona is an attractive option for those who have time to spare as it will allow you to enjoy the countryside and sights throughout the length of France. You can stop in Paris on the way or simply head straight through. The journey time is approx 14 hours.

By Sea: Ferries depart from a number of different ports within around an hours drive from London. This is certainly not the option for anybody who is in a rush to get to Barcelona as it involves a reasonably long journey along the length of France, Spain and Portugal before sailing around to Barcelona. Sailing to Barcelona is more common as part of a cruise.

Try Some Different Parks in Barcelona

When one thinks of parks in Barcelona, immediately one’s mind turns to the famous Park Guell as it is the most famous park in Barcelona. There are, however, many other parks around the city which are offer a less high profile alternative for the tourist seeking a spot of refuge from the built up city. Below are some of the parks which you should try:

Park de la Ciudadella - This park is hugely historic and offers many attractions to entice and entertain the tourist. There are museums, mainly concerned with art and culture, a large lake which is pleasing to the eye and perfect for a boat ride and also a range of glorious architecture. As the park was initially built for royalty there are endless gardens and attention to detail.

Park Laberint - This park takes its name from the significantly sized maze which forms the centrepiece. The maze will keep you entertained for hours whilst the view over the city is breathtaking. Much of the greenery within the garden is sculptured by man and provides an inspiring and soul cleansing experience. The quaint canal adds a touch of romance and is perfect a for lunch time picnic.

Jardins del Palau Reial de Pedralbes - The building in the middle of this splendid garden used to be the Barcelona residence of the Spanish Royal family, which explains its sophistication and the spotless condition in which it is kept. Within the grounds are many museums and buildings which are used for political purposes.

5 Family Attractions in Barcelona

Whether you stay in Barcelona itself or visit on a day trip from one of the many resorts close by, there are plenty of attractions in Barcelona which are ideal for a family visit. Below are just some of the family attractions in Barcelona:

Tibidabo amusement park - With all of the hallmark rides such as the rollercoaster and water flumes, this is a high quality amusement park and a great choice for a family day out.

Beach - One of the main benefits of being located on the coast is that the city of Barcelona has 4 beaches all in easy reach of the city centre. The beaches are all pleasant in appearance and well managed. A promise of these beaches serves as perfect ammunition to persuade your kids to walk around the city.

Barcelona Aquarium - The Barcelona Aquarium, or L’Aquarium Barcelona as it is known locally, is home to some of the most fascinating species of sea life in the world. If you are with your kids you have the perfect excuse to go along. Its ok, we won’t tell anyone that you want to go along anyway!!!

Zoo - A safe choice to keep the family entertained, the zoo in the Barcelona has lots to offer in terms of presentations, shows and activities. One of the best features of the zoo is its location; it is easily within walking distance of the city centre.

Parc de La Ciutadella - This famous park is located right in the centre of Barcelona. It is a great place to chill out after a busy day around the city, but also has a range of activities such as boat rides to enjoy.

3 Gaudi attractions in Barcelona you must visit

Barcelona is a testament to the work and art of famed architect Gaudi. He is not only one of Spain's most famous architects, but one of Europe's most famous. The city of Barcelona is famed for his designs and if you visit the city, here are 3 of the best sights to see.

1. La Sagrada Familia - This famous temple is Barcelona's most famous attraction, not only because it is arguably Gaudi's best creation, but because it has taken so long to build. La Sagrada Familia first began construction in 1882, but due to delays, finances and resources the building still will not be finished for at least another 90 years. While its distinctive design makes it easy to spot in Barcelona, La Sagrada Familia split opinion when it was first announced. Today, it is incredibly popular with the tourists and has to be seen to be truly believed.

2. La Pedrera - Formerly known as Casa Mila, La Pedrera is a stunningly design block of flats that is famed throughout Spain for its 'wavy' design, coloured materials and the 'Virgin' statue atop it. The flats were originally built for the Mila family, but the building was partially destroyed by the Spanish government. If you are visiting the city during the summer, then you will be able to go on to the building's roof and enjoy a glass of wine while looking out over the city. This La Pedrera de Nit' is highly recommended and one of the attractions for Barcelona art and culture. 3. Park Guell - One of Barcelona's main parks, the Park Guell is filled with Gaudi's creations, chief among them is a massive coloured lizard. Due to its bizarre nature and location, it is incredibly popular with tourists, as is the park itself as it was Gaudi's home for the last two decades of his life.

Where to buy the best Xmas presents in Barcelona

With the festive season rapidly approaching, many people are getting their Christmas shopping and holidays sorted. If you happen to live or are going to Barcelona in the near future, and think it is the perfect opportunity to get your Christmas shopping done, then you could not have found a more perfect place than one of Europe's premier shopping cities.

Barcelona is famed for its markets and while dozens of them are held in the city each week, one of the best to visit for Christmas presents is the Mercadillo de la Plaça de Sant Josep. Packed with art, sculptures and other pieces of local culture, it is the ideal place to find something different to buy your loved ones. Other popular markets include Mercat Del Encants (which is known as the city's largest flea market) and the Sant Antoni Market (a massive food market with everything you could need).

Barcelona is also famed for its winding streets full of little stores and boutiques, so you don't need to go to the city's main shopping malls to find a bargain. A popular area to get designer brands is the famous Paseig de Gracia, which has many boutiques specialising in leather products. There are also several decent stores down Valencia Street.

If you are after fashion products from Armani and Gucci, then you will have to pay a high price, but many smaller stores specialise in similar products, even if they don't have the brand name on. If you want to do your shopping in a mall, then the large El Corte Ingls stores is extremely popular.

Sailing Trips and Lessons in Barcelona

The best way to experience Barcelona with its splendid beaches and scenic beauty is to take a sailing course or two. Barcelona is home to a wide range of sailing instruction facilities, which not only give tourists an opportunity to learn sailing on the picturesque seas of Barcelona, but also to experience the city in a unique manner.

A few months ago, I signed up for a short sailing course and took the classes while on vacation in Barcelona; if you are interested, you can do the same. I soon realised that taking a sailing course was a great way to meet local people, understand the coastal life and culture and experience the city. I cannot claim to be a sailing expert even after the sailing course I just took, but I can definitely claim to have had a great time. Besides, I have learned the rudiments of sailing on the seas of Barcelona. A few more courses and I will be confident enough to go out on my own.

You can sign up for sailing lessons in Barcelona either as an individual or as part of a group of six or eight tourists. You will learn not only about sailing, but also about the coastal geography of Barcelona, how to handle the boat in tough situations and about the weather. Besides this, you will strengthen your relationship with the others in your group. At the end of it, you will find that it was all worth the time and money invested.

If you are lucky as I was, you might also get a free entry ticket to Barcelona’s Maritime Museum, where you can learn more about boats and the history of seafaring than you ever thought you would. Even if your sailing instructors do not give you this bonus, visiting the Maritime Museum after your sailing lessons is worth it because you will find a large number of ancient boats displayed there. More events in Barcelona.

5 Reasons You Should Holiday in Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona in Spain is an excellent vacation destination for tourists because of its rich history, places of attraction, museums, churches and sunny beaches. Here are five top reasons tourists flock to Barcelona in large numbers.

1. To Enjoy the Great Weather and Beaches -The sun shines in Barcelona for most of the year, and the best time to visit Barcelona is during the months of May, June, July, August and September. Moreover, Barcelona has miles of attractive coastline and plenty of sunny beaches, the most famous of which are Barceloneta Beach, Icaria Beach, Mar Bella Beach and the Sitges Beach.

2. To See the Sagrada Familia by Antonio Gaudi – The Sagrada Familia, designed by Antonio Gaudi, is still under construction. Tourists can visit the place where Gaudi has been laid to rest and view the museum, which relates the tale of this master architect and the history of Sagrada Familia. Although exhausting to climb, the towers of the church present a splendid view of the entire city.

3. Visit the Barcelona FC Museum - Barcelona FC Museum, which attracts over 1,000,000 tourists per year, is a place that football fans simply should not skip; even people who do not like football can have a great time touring this monument. Tourists can purchase a ticket to the museum and view the stadium or they can buy a ticket, which permits them not only to view the museum, but also the changing rooms, press conference zones, VIP lounges and other interesting spots. The museum has on display trophies, statues and pictures of great football stars.Learn about buying FC Barcelona football tickets.

4. Make trip to the Barcelona Zoo - Barcelona Zoo, located in Parc de la Ciutadella, is a great attraction for animal lovers. Tourists can first visit the Ciutadella Park and then go to the zoo, which shelters a wide range of animals. Besides the animals, the Barcelona Zoo presents a restaurant, a shop, ponies, picnic area, electric cars and a mini-train. In other words, the zoo can keep the entire family happy and amused for hours.

5. Watch the Magic Fountain - Constructed in 1929 for the Universal Exhibition on Montjuic, the fountain springs to life during summer events and draws huge crowds of excited tourists. The shows which last for 15 minutes each are a delightful blend of lights, music and water. During the shows, the Palau National is also brilliantly lit. The Magic Fountain springs to life every half an hour, and the best time to view it, is in the evenings.