Downton Abbey: The Exhibition

The Queen's Gallery was built in the shell of the former Holyrood Free Church and Duchess of Gordon’s School at the entrance to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The buildings were constructed in the 1840s with funds from the Duchess of Gordon, but fell into disuse in the late 19th century. Benjamin Tindall Architects were appointed project architects for the new Queen’s Gallery in October 1999. Their central visual theme was a celebration of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, expressed through a series of arches and screens that lead visitors from the Gallery entrance to the exhibition spaces beyond. Their design complements the original 19th-century architecture, elements of which were incorporated into the new spaces. Unsympathetic later internal alterations were removed, and a new exposed steel and concrete floor inserted to reflect the original ‘gallery’ of the Church.   A new stone arched entrance was created at the centre of the Horse Wynd frontage, opposite the new Scottish Parliament building. The use of a stone archway, with a courtyard beyond, is a traditional entrance device in Scottish architecture. The main walling is of Catcastle stone, the dressed work and lettering is of Stainton stone and the base is of Kenmay granite. ‘THE QUEEN’S GALLERY’ lettering above the entrance is the work of John Neilson, a calligrapher and carver. The letters were cut from single pieces of stone. Above sits Scotland’s heraldic lion, designed by Jill Watson. The lion sedant is based on a small red lion that sits at the feet of Mary, Queen of Scots on her tomb in Westminster Abbey. (The Palace of Holyroodhouse was once home to Mary, Queen of Scots.)   The monumental entrance doors of oak have gilded bronze hinges by Jill Watson. Continuing the heraldic theme, the main hinges are decorated with the Scottish lion and unicorn. The beasts are set against the adjacent urban scene of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and the rural scene of Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags. The upper hinges are made as golden boughs of flowering native trees – chestnut and laburnum, oak, rowan and hawthorn. The stone archway is decorated with a carved and gilded garland of Scottish flowers, including daisies and thistles, created by Graciela Ainsworth, an Edinburgh-based sculptor, carver and conservator. Over the old entrance to the former church is a stained-glass window by Christian Shaw.  The design shows a perspective drawing of the interior of a gallery. At night, the shape of the archway is reflected by the glass lights by Keiko Mukaide set into the paving. The artist has given the tiles a water flow pattern, mirroring the stream of visitors walking in and out of the Gallery. Inside, the reception desk by Hamid van Koten is made from curved pieces of Scottish elm with kilned glass and patinated copper. The pendant lights were designed and made in Edinburgh by Ingrid Phillips. Dividing the reception from the main Gallery area is a patterned glass screen by Jacqueline Poncelet. The screen’s bronze handles by Jill Watson incorporate figures looking at art in a gallery.   The dramatic central stair of native timber leads to the Gallery spaces above. The complex shape was designed by the architects with Charles Taylor Woodwork, who were responsible for the construction. Lights set into the first floor illuminate the curved balustrading.  

Madame Tussauds Sydney Down Under at Madame Tussauds Sydney you can say "G'Day" to Aussie stars and meet iconic legends who call Australia home. Without realising, you’ll throw yourself in the history of our beautiful sunburnt country as you rub shoulders with the fair-dinkum people who helped shape our laidback land. Meet past Australian Prime Ministers Bob Hawke, Julia Gillard and John Howard and celebrate Australia’s sporting greats including Mark Webber, Ian Thorpe, Rob Laver and Sir. Donald Bradman. Sing your heart out with Australian pop icon Delta Goodrem and music greats Jimmy Barnes, Olivia Newton-John and Michael Hutchence. Take a trip to Summer Bay and Ramsay Street to meet Alf Stewart and Ian Smith before stepping on the set of the “Crocodile Hunter” with great conservationist and family man Steve Irwin. Hit the catwalk with Elle Macpherson and Miranda Kerr before meeting A-List stars Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue. This is only the beginning of the Aussie legends and international stars you’ll meet at Madame Tussauds Sydney. Embrace the Spirit of Australia and book a trip to Madame Tussauds Sydney today! SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium EXPERIENCE SHARK REEF SNORKEL SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium's brand new, one-of-a-kind experience will bring guests face-to-fin with some of the ocean's most amazing creatures, including various reef sharks, sawfish and an array of tropical fish that call the Great Barrier Reef home.   A thrilling and fully immersive underwater adventure, participants will be submerged in a safe and see-through enclosure as fascinating creatures like the Maori Wrasse and White-Tip Reef Shark swim just metres away. With no diving experience required this ultimate reef adventure can be enjoyed individually or with the entire family! As Sydney's leading family and tourist attraction, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium offers entertainment for young and old alike. WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo Find yourself on an amazing animal adventure as you journey into Australia's most famous locations. Walk through iconic Aussie habitats and encounter some of the most loved and feared animals that call Australia home. Meet Rex, the huge 5 metre crocodile in Kakadu Gorge, see creatures of the night in the Nightfall habitat, cuddle up to koalas at Koala Encounters and much, much more - there's so much to see and do! WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo features interactive displays, inspiring and entertaining daily shows, captivating daily feeding sessions and enhanced walk-through habitats including Koala Encounters, Kangaroo Walk-About, and Butterfly Tropics. WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo is Australia's most unique and best wildlife park and it's conveniently located right in the heart of Sydney on Darling Harbour. Sydney Tower Eye Don't miss the chance to see Sydney from the amazing 309 meter Sydney Tower.  An iconic part of the Sydney cityscape, the Sydney Tower has a breathtaking observation deck, two levels of restaurants and a coffee lounge for you to enjoy. Included in your ticket is the incredible 4D Cinema Experience at the Sydney Tower Eye.  You will see Sydney through a whole new perspective with spectacular footage transporting you across Sydney Harbour, its famous coastline, iconic landmarks and events that are integral to the city. The engaging film experience is taken to the fourth dimension with evocative in-theatre effects including wind, bubbles and fire - a perfect way to get to know the inspiring city of Sydney.

Despite being vast geographically, most people on vacation in Orlando tend to eat, play, shop and stay in four key areas. For your convenience, you will find most Eat and Play Card participating merchants in these same areas: - International Drive - Kissimmee - Disney/Lake Buena Vista - Universal Studios/CityWalk Orlando has scores of terrific restaurants to match every taste and budget. Eat and Play Card participating restaurants are located right where you are – so there’s no need to go looking and you’ll never have to drive very far. For instance: - For tasty and wildly popular American food, nothing compares to TGIFriday's - Meat lovers can savor the tender ribs at Tony Roma's or succulent chicken at Buffalo Wild Wings - Refuel fast at the world's largest entertainment McDonald's and playplace or grab the "world's greatest hamburger at Fuddruckers - If Italian food is your thing, try the culinary delights of Ciao Italia or Pacino's - Start your day right, with a hardy breakfast at Denny's or Shoney’s AND MANY MORE... While many visitors start their trip at Disney, Universal or SeaWorld, there’s so much more to see and do. For instance, you can: - Get up close and personal with a giant white alligator at Gatorland, the "alligator capital of the world" - See all of Orlando, spend a day on the beaches of Cocoa Beach or Miami or visit Kennedy Space Center on a bus tour with Gray Line Tours. If your timing is right, you may see even a Space Shuttle launch! - Play the biggest and wildest mini-golf courses you've ever seen at Hawaiian Rumble - but watch out for the exploding volcanoes! - Visit crazy and fun attractions like WonderWorks or Ripley's Believe it or Not! - Zip past wild gators in the Everglades on an airboat with Ultimate Airboat Tours - Parasail, wakeboard, go tubing and more at Sammy Duvall's Watersport Center AND MANY MORE... Don’t forget about shopping! Orlando was recently named America’s #4 shopping destination and with so many outlet malls, it’s no wonder. Eat and Play Card makes shopping more fun and affordable than ever with great discounts at major retailers like: - Macy's - Reebok Outlet Stores - Neiman Marcus Last Call Orlando is a golfer’s paradise with one of the country’s highest per capita number of golf courses. And for people looking to sneak in a round or two, Eat and Play Card has you covered. While many courses are a fair distance from most of Orlando’s hotels, we’ve chosen two of the best for quality and convenience. - Celebration Golf Course, ranked amongst the country’s top 25 public courses - Falcon's Fire Golf Course, awarded four stars by Golf Digest See all of our currently participating partners Download the new app. It includes information on the restaurants included and is very easy to use! Android Apple iOS

MARDI GRAS WORLD: WHERE MARDI GRAS IS MADE! There are plenty of tours in New Orleans, but only one offers a real, behind-the-scenes look at New Orleans Mardi Gras, and that’s the Mardi Gras World tour. Mardi Gras World gives you an authentic Mardi Gras experience all year round, whether you visit while sightseeing in New Orleans, enjoying a New Orleans family vacation or taking a break from your business trip. Take our day tour to see what it takes to bring Mardi Gras to life year after year. Our tour allows you to see firsthand the hard work and extensive planning that goes into this grand event. Since 1947, Blaine Kern Studios has built the breathtaking parade floats for major parades not only for Mardi Gras, but for parades all over the world. Mardi Gras parades would be nothing without the fantastical floats that line the parade route year after year. The hard work that goes into making these spectacles is what makes Mardi Gras in New Orleans the greatest show on Earth! Our knowledgeable guides take the mask off Mardi Gras with an all-access Mardi Gras tour, winding through the massive studio where these magnificent floats are built from the ground up. You’ll learn about the history of this unique and festive tradition and go beyond its reputation to get a deeper understanding of the real Mardi Gras. The whole family will love the experience of touring the space where our artisans create spectacular floats for over 40 parades each year. There are plenty of opportunities for photos in front of floats, with props, or wearing a traditional Mardi Gras costume on this New Orleans tour. This is an experience you will want to document, so don’t forget to bring your camera! A FREE shuttle is provided with ticket purchase, and has pick-ups at 20 convenient downtown locations. Just call 504-361-7821 to see where our designated pick up locations are. Call when you are at one of our many locations and we will quickly pick you and your party up.  If you do not wish to use our complimentary shuttle, the closest parking is available in Lot J across from the Mardi Gras World entrance. ($15.00/vehicle, owned by the New Orleans Convention Center, subject to change) Wandering through the magical float den is an exciting experience for kids and adults alike, so come join us for the best Mardi Gras tour around.

All visitors (including members and visitors 18 and under, who always receive free admission) require a ticket so we can ensure the museum does not exceed capacity. Order tickets in advance for all members of your party so everyone can enter the galleries at the same time.  No eating, drinking, smoking, or sleeping is permitted in the Museum. Eating and drinking are permitted in designated areas only (Café 5, Sightglass at SFMOMA, and In Situ). Sealed food and drink containers are allowed if they are packed away inside a bag.  Backpacks may not be carried on your back; they must be carried or worn on your front at all times. Madame Tussauds: A List Beneath the stars, high up in the hills of the Californian countryside you have been invited to the most exclusive party in town...  The party is filled with the most glamorous and gorgeous A-Listers all waiting to meet you. George Clooney has reserved a space for you on the sofa in the VIP area - sit down next to him and watch as the lights dim and create a romantic setting. Gaze at the stars with Leonardo Di Caprio by the open balcony. Elton John stands at a grand piano, waiting for you to join him to entertain your guests. Madame Tussauds San Francisco is inviting you to this ultimate star-studded party. Film Join the stars on set to recreate some of the most iconic scenes in film history. No homage to San Franciscan movie history would be complete without a scene from both Bullitt and Dirty Harry. Pose with Steve McQueen next to a replica of his green Mustang. Perhaps you feel more comfortable behind the camera? No problem! Steven Spielberg has reserved his Director’s Chair for you on the set of Jurrassic Park! You can also put your own martial arts skills to the test by taking on the kung fu master, Bruce Lee. History and Leaders As you enter the Leaders and History room witness the moment Johan Sutter first discovered gold, setting off a chain reaction that would see the beginning of the great Californian Gold Rush.  Visit Alcatraz prison cell and experience first-hand what it was like to be behind bars on ‘The Rock’, then plan an escape with your friends and hear the sirens go off. Meet Civil Rights campaigner Rosa Parks and join her on a bus ride which changed history! Stand proud with Martin Luther King as he delivers a speech and meet with the Dalai Lama; a man who not only won the Nobel Peace prize but who also influenced the peace loving hippies of 1960s California.  Continue on your epic journey of discovery with a trip to the White House to meet Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States of America, then finish you trip meeting a couple of the most famous entrepreneurs of the current generation. Spirit of San Francisco A street sign points you in the direction of Haight Asbury where you travel back in time to the era that shaped San Francisco’s liberal attitudes and gave birth to a generation of free thinking idealists and iconic musicians. After a very special welcome from Ed Lee, the Major or San Francisco, you will marvel at grafitti from a local artist as well as become a participant in Harvey Milk's triumphant campaign for equal rights.  As you follow the winding path of Lombard Street you end up outside the Sentinel Building home to Francis Ford Coppola’s movie production company. The man himself is waiting for you outside with his latest film script in hand; perhaps he has you in mind for the leading role!  A short distance away you can hear the faint sounds of music and smell burning campfires. As you investigate closer you step into a living breathing festival. Jimi Hendrix rocks out to Purple Haze on the main stage waiting for you to step in and jam with him. The dominant stance of the iconic Golden Gate bridge frames the middle of this area. As you step through the red arch you step further back in time, witnessing the bridge's construction, before picking up the hose and colour the Coit Tower in beautiful patterns. and many more!!   

Valentinstags Menü • Foie Gras an Paprika, geröstetem Brioche und Champagner-Gelee • Filet vom Barsch mit Fenchel, Pilzen und einer delikaten Ingwersauce • Gegrillte Entenbrust mit Cranberry, Honig und Gemüse der Saison • Gateau Paradis Latin, mit Kakaopulver, Zitrusfrucht und roten Beeren • 1/2 Flasche Bordeaux-Wein & Champagner.