Archive for category: Destinations for you

Learning English in London need not be as expensive as you think. Below are our 5 cheapest locations to take an English course in London  in 2014 – leaving you more spending money to enjoy life in the capital!

1. Oxford Street

Speak Up London is a brand new independent school located in the very heart of London in much-loved Oxford Street. Facilities here are basic, but the passionate staff offer a friendly, warm environment for students.

The school is located in the basement of a building amongst the Oxford Street shops close to Tottenham Court Road tube station, and benefits from excellent transport links to the whole of the city – ideal for students already living and working in London. Find out more >>

2. Islington

Islington Centre for English is a small school teaching students in friendly classes with experienced, qualified teachers. It is located just 1 minute walk from the Angel tube station, right in the heart of the lively Islington area.

The school has 6 bright, medium-sized classrooms and courses here have flexible timetables and you can choose to study in the morning, afternoon or evening. Find out more >>

3. Soho

Skola Soho is located in the London district of Soho, a very cosmopolitan neighbourhood, and welcoming to all people. You can get to the school in just a few minutes from Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square tube stations. This school is part of the Skola group, which has been running successful language schools since the late 1960s, and which also runs teacher training courses from the same location. Find out more >>

4. Kings Cross

Malvern House offers high quality English teaching to adult students in state of the art facilities. The school opened in July 2009 and is a brand new, purpose-built centre.

Experienced and qualified teachers provide a dynamic, innovative programme, enhanced by the latest digital learning technology. All classrooms are fully equipped with interactive whiteboards, giving instant access to up-to-the-minute internet materials to enrich your lessons. Find out more >>

5. Russell Square

St Giles is housed in a very substantial, 100 year old building. Completely refurbished and modernised, the college is equipped with some of the best and most up-to-date language learning resources available. The classrooms are modern and spacious, and students have access to a language laboratory, a self-access study centre, a computer laboratory and a bookshop with all lesson materials.

This well-established school has been offering English courses for over 50 years and also runs its own teacher training programme, so high-quality tuition is guaranteed. Find out more >>

Cactus offers a range of general, intensive, individual, combined and exam preparation courses all around the world. For full course listings, including prices, and to book please visit the Cactus Language website.

‘El fin del mundo’ is what they call it, and stepping foot in the world’s most southerly town certainly makes you feel like you’re at the edge of the world. On Argentina’s southern-most tip, Ushuaia’s setting is simply spectacular: if you look back at it from the green waters of the Beagle Channel, as Darwin would have done in 1832, you’ll see rows of brightly coloured houses set against a dramatic backdrop of jagged mountains – and you’ll know that if you keep going south, there is nothing but the vast waters, ice sheets and resilient penguins of the Antarctic.

For many people Ushuaia is the gateway to the Tierra del Fuego National Park, a geographical paradise of forests, lakes, mountains and marine life, with infinite possibilities for adventure tourism. With this in mind, we’ve compiled our list of the top 10 things to do in Ushuaia. Send us a postcard!

1. Visit the Museo Marítimo y del Presidio

The Maritime Museum not only gives you the chance to learn about Tierra del Fuego’s past, way back to when the first explorers arrived from Europe, but it has also been built on the site of Ushuaia’s former jail. Visitors to the museum can access the eerie cell areas (built by the prisoners themselves) and imagine life behind walls in the early 20th century.

2. Take the train to the end of the world!

Originally built as a freight line to serve Ushuaia’s mythical prison, the Ferrocarril Austral Fueguino (or Tren del Fin del Mundo) now takes you on a spectacular 8km round-trip up to the Tierra del Fuego National Park Station. This iconic steam train takes you along the Pico river valley and gives you a unique insight into the Yamaná people and local history.

3. Visit Antarctica!

If ever there was an opportunity to visit the iced lands of Antarctica, it’s here. You’ll need to book in advance, and it’s not cheap, but it’s a real once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can also sail to Cape Horn, Puerto Natales, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands from Ushuaia.

4. Look back…

If you can’t afford to visit Antarctica, don’t miss the opportunity to go seabound. A boat trip is the best way to view the Beagle Channel and look back at Ushuaia; at the same time you’ll usually also visit the sealion colony at Isla de los Lobos and Isla de Pájaros.

5. Explore the Tierra del Fuego National Park

Winter or summer, the choice is endless. Hiking, glacier trekking, skiing, mountain biking, horse riding, fishing, bird watching and more are are at your fingertips in this spectacular environment.

6. Visit a typical Patagonian estancia

Perfect for lovers of the great outdoors (and let’s face it, you’re unlikely to be in Ushuaia if you’re not), these are rural establishments that provide tourist services in the form of accommodation, excursions, horse-riding, hunting and fishing. Perfect for letting out the inner gaucho in you! Harberton Estancia on the Beagle Channel is one such place.

7. Go shopping!

Ok, so it might be the last thing you feel like doing in one of the world’s greatest outdoor playgrounds, but Ushuaia is a tax-free zone, so if you want to pick up some mementos to take home – either local or imported goods – then this is your place.

8. Visit Lakes Escondido and Fagnano

These beautiful glacial lakes near Ushuaia are the perfect escape to enjoy lake, mountain and forest scenery, as well as to encounter native wildlife and bird species.

9. Hike 7km from downtown Ushuaia to Glacier Martial

Whether or not you want to explore the glacier, the views from the top are breathtaking. You will be treated to a spectacular panorama of the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia – one day NOT to forget your camera!

10. And lastly, carry sunscreen!

Not just to protect from the combined effect of the sun, wind and snow: despite the wintery climate and need to dress warm, the depleted ozone levels over Ushuaia mean that sunburn is a real danger, whatever the weather.

Cactus offers Spanish courses in Ushuaia and in other locations across Argentina.