Mini guide to England
England has some wonderful variations in landscape one of the things that make the country so appealing to the visitor. Dramatic coastlines, rolling downlands, pastures, verdant valleys, beautiful lakes, and the drama of the high Pennine fells all packed into what is relatively quite a small land area is quite remarkable. The history of England is really unsurpassed and the lively cities, towns and quaint villages are a joy to explore. The shopping and entertainment available is very varied and of top quality. To support the tourist there is now a sophisticated infrastructure of accommodation and facilities.
England’s capital city London is one of the most popular cities in the world with tourists. Visitors flock to the city every year to visit the world renowned attractions of the Houses of Parliament, with its famous clock called Big Ben; St Paul’s Cathedral; Tower Bridge, the Tower of London; Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace the London home of H.M. the Queen. Strolling around the famous streets of, Trafalgar Square with its huge statue of Admiral Lord Nelson, Piccadilly, the entertainment centre called the West End, Leicester Square and Soho is a fascinating way to spend the day. There are great art galleries, museums, and endless numbers of top quality restaurants, shops, bars and public houses plus many public parks to enjoy.
One of the powerhouses of the economic growth of the country is the city of Manchester. Its rapid development during the time of the Industrial Revolution and the wealth it created can still be seen in the quality of the great buildings from those days. The city today is booming and the atmosphere is very positive and vibrant. Visit the home of the world famous Manchester City Football Club at Old Trafford, Chinatown, Salford’s Quays, Castlefield’s Roman fort, and St Peter’s Square.
The port city of Liverpool on the west coast has a very long and fascinating history and is worth a few days to explore. The local football team is known the world over and this is the town where the members of the pop group, The Beatles grew up. Some of the places, such as Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields, which they mentioned in their songs, are on many visitors itineraries.
The university city of Oxford is well known for its so called’ dreaming spires.’ The architecture of the colleges and the other important buildings in Oxford is outstanding. The delightful streets and the many green spaces make the city a relaxing place to visit. The other famous university city of Cambridge is equally fascinating and both the places are easily accessed from London.
The city of Bath famous for its architecture and the Roman baths is to the west of London and can be reached in about two hours by train.
The capital of northern England has been York for more than one thousand years. The city has played a pivotal role in the history of England through the centuries. Being occupied at various times by the Vikings, Saxons and Romans the town has much of historical interest to see. The famous English Lake District is not far away from York and has some of the most beautiful landscape of its type anywhere in the world. The wonderful lakes and fells inspired Wordsworth to write his poetry and the area is now so popular that ten million people visit every year.
Just an hour from London by rail is the south coast of England with its bohemian resort of Brighton; the town has a great nightlife. Not far from Brighton is the New Forest which was once used by the Kings’ of England as a hunting area. It is also connected with the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
A bit further along the coast is the lovely harbour town of Poole in the county of Dorset and the resort town of Bournemouth, a favourite with older members of the English population. Dorset and its sister county Devon have beautiful inland and coastal scenery.
The county of Cornwall is as far west as you can go in England and has spectacular coastal areas and a charm all of its own. Stonehenge, the famous ancient site on Salisbury Plain, is a must see if visiting the country for the first time. The monument is estimated to be more than five thousand years old and its use and meaning are shrouded in mystery.
The town of Dover in Kent is well known to visitors from continental Europe as a ferry port. It has much more to offer than just that however, with its famous white cliffs, immortalised by the war time songstress Vera Lynn, and several historical sites it is a town worth spending some time in. The towns of Hastings and Battle in the county of Sussex are the scene of William the Conqueror’s invasion victory in 1066.
London Heathrow is the main airport for international visitors although there are several other main regional airports all over the country. The channel tunnel now affords the visitor the opportunity to cross from the continent by rail and the benefit of disembarking in the centre of London. Bus and coach services throughout the country are sophisticated and also very efficient. The road networks are good but are all very busy.