Geography
Much of the countryside is relatively flat, consisting of fertile plains and gentle hills. Mountains, moors and steeper hills are found mainly in the north and the west; the Lake District (Cumbria) and the northwest are divided from the Yorkshire Dales, and the northeast, by the (relatively) high-rising Pennines, ‘the backbone of England’. The eastern part of the country, particularly East Anglia, is the lowest lying. The coastline is varied, and ranges from long stretches of sandy beaches to steep cliffs and isolated rocky coves.

England’s eventful history and scenic diversity render it one of the world’s most popular visitor destinations. Although only united as a single nation little over 1000 years ago, its origins go back to the dawn of civilization, and the variety of interest it offers reflects this.
From prehistoric Stonehenge to 21st-century attractions like London’s Millennium Eye, its inhabitants have (and do) contributed much to the appeal of the UK’s largest constituent country. This is not restricted to a material legacy, either – England’s cultural mix is rich, thanks to the many invaders, settlers and immigrants who have arrived on her shores through the millennia. Countless others around the globe share aspects of customs, language and history with the English themselves.

England’s heritage, and therefore her appeal as a destination, is many faceted and deeply rooted, ranging from the literary genius of Shakespeare to ‘everyday’ pageantry in the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
The variety and contrast in the nation’s countryside is enormous, too, and is often a source of surprise to many visitors venturing beyond the cities for the first time – as is the vast range of visitor attractions, resorts and sights to see and enjoy.
This guide comprises five regional sections, with another highlighting seven of the most popular destinations outside London. These are Bath, Cambridge, The Cotswolds, the Lake District, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and York. The London section covers the capital, while the Southeast includes counties surrounding it, plus East Anglia. The South and Southwest encompasses the remainder of southern England and two sections cover the rest of the country; the Midlands and the North of England. .

Top Seven Destinations
Outside London, there are seven places known worldwide as prime attractions. Each has a different appeal, and each lies in a different part of the country – cross-references to the appropriate regional section appear in each entry.

Bath
 Bath first came to prominence as ‘Aquae Sulis’ in Roman times. It was a fashionable spa resort nearly 2000 years ago, and rediscovered its ancient glories in the 18th century. Much of its beauty dates from the latter period, fine Georgian sandstone architecture dominating the modern cityscape. The original Roman Baths and Pump Rooms, though, remain open to visitors. Bath’s 500-year-old Abbey, built on the site of a Saxon monastery, stands above the Heritage Vaults, which tell the story of 1600 years of Christianity in the area. Architectural highlights include John Wood’s Royal Crescent, a remarkable curving Georgian terrace, and Pulteney Bridge, lined with shops and built by Robert Adam in the late 18th century.

Cambridge
Home of England’s second-oldest university, dating from the early 13th century. The individual colleges are the prime attractions of interest in the city, including the oldest, Peterhouse (1284), 16th-century Trinity College, and King’s College, whose chapel is regarded as one of Europe’s finest late-medieval structures. Other attractions include the Fitzwilliam Museum, the University’s Museum of Archaeology and Museum of Zoology, and The Backs, an area of parkland along the River Cam behind the colleges, where punting is a popular activity. The American War Cemetery at Madingley is close to the city, while the Imperial War Museum Duxford aviation section lies a short way south of Cambridge. Also near Cambridge is Grantchester, home of World War I poet Rupert Brooke.

The Cotswolds
Covering some 2000 sq km (800 sq miles), primarily in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, this area is famed for its picturesque villages and beautiful rolling hills. Highlights among the villages include Broadway, Bourton-on-the-Water, Chipping Campden and Moreton-in-Marsh, part of whose attraction is the distinctive honey-colored local stone used in their construction. Attractions include England’s second-largest parish church, Tewkesbury Abbey, Jacobean stately home Chastleton House, Chedworth Roman Villa near Cheltenham and imposing Sudeley Castle at Winchcombe. The Cotswold Wildlife Park at Burford, itself another very attractive town, is a popular family outing.

The Lake District
England’s best-known national park occupies a huge swathe of Cumbria and, as its name suggests, there are many large bodies of water. But mountains also feature in this spectacular landscape, among them England’s highest, the 978m- (3208 ft-) tall Scafell Pike. Visitors flock to the lakes for walking and other outdoor activities, and to trace the roots of literary figures such as Beatrix Potter, Arthur Ransome and William Wordsworth. Wordsworth’s former home, Dove Cottage at Grasmere, is open to visitors – his tomb is in the nearby churchyard. A good starting point is the National Park Visitor Center at Brockhole, while the World of Beatrix Potter at Bowness-on-Windermere draws people from all over the world. The restored Victorian Steam Yacht Gondola plies Coniston Water offering pleasure trips.

Oxford
Known as the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’, Oxford grew around England’s oldest university, whose origins lie in the 11th century. Among 36 colleges in the city center are Christ Church, which has an excellent Art Gallery, Trinity College and Balliol. ‘The Oxford Story’ presents a multimedia introduction to the city, with the help of a ‘dark ride’ through 800 years of history. St Martin’s Church’s Carfax Tower affords good views of the cityscape. Other major attractions include the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, the University Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the Bodleian Library. There is a wide range of themed guided walking tours available.

Stratford-upon-Avon
Once home to William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Stratford draws visitors in their millions. Attractions associated with the Bard include Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, former home of his wife, Mary Arden’s House, home of the playwright’s mother, and Holy Trinity Church, where he and his family lie buried. The Royal Shakespeare Theater, venue for regular RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) performances, stands on the riverbank. Non-Shakespearean diversions in town include Europe’s largest Butterfly Farm and the unusual Teddy Bear Museum.

York
Northern England’s most visited city contains a plethora of attractions. Foremost is the massive York Minster, northern Europe’s biggest Gothic cathedral. The City Wall still almost completely surrounds the central area, and The Shambles is one of the world’s best-preserved medieval streets. York’s past as Danish capital of Viking England is explored at the recently refurbished Jorvik Viking Center, while its more recent status as a railway center is celebrated at the National Railway Museum. The extensive Castle Museum deals with all aspects of history, including York’s associations with chocolate making and Dick Turpin, the notorious 18th-century highwayman. The Yorkshire Museum and City Art Gallery are also major attractions. Historic buildings, such as timbered St William’s College and 14th-century Merchant Venturers’ Hall, abound. Walking tours and sightseeing boat trips on the River Ouse are available year round.

London
London has no obvious center, because it grew out of two formerly distinct cities. The City of London was the site of the original Roman settlement and, later, commercial and trading center. Meanwhile, Westminster became the seat of government after transfer of England’s administrative capital from Winchester in the 11th century. Over the centuries, they fused, and engulfed surrounding villages and hamlets. Not until ‘Green Belt’ legislation of the 1950s did expansion slow. Today, 33 London boroughs and the City of London cover an area of nearly 385 sq km (148 sq miles), but contain a great deal of open parkland, common land and even woods. A wide range of guided walking, bus and car tours is available in London. For further details, contact the Tourist Board.

Central London
Roughly bounded by the Underground Circle Line, this area includes the West End, Westminster and the City. The West End contains many of the principal theaters, cinemas, restaurants, cafes, hotels and nightclubs, as well as the best-known shopping areas, like Oxford, Regent and Bond Street, as well as Covent Garden.
Places of interest include Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, the buildings of the Horse Guards and Downing Street in Whitehall, and the Tate Britain gallery on Millbank. The London Theater Museum is in Russell Street.
The Royal Opera House, home of both Royal Ballet and Royal Opera, is in Covent Garden. Backstage tours are available. The London Transport Museum is also in this area, whose former fruit and vegetable market is now filled with cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops.
Rock Circus, by Piccadilly Circus, brings the story of rock and pop music to life. The Courtauld Institute paintings are on display at Somerset House (which formerly housed records of births, marriages and deaths).
A short distance to the north is Baker Street, location of Madame Tussauds, and the adjacent London Planetarium. The Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street contains a representation of the fictional detective’s apartment.
Further west, in Kensington and Chelsea, are several other famous shopping streets (King’s Road, Knightsbridge – site of Harrods – and Portobello Road, with its antiques market). Three of London’s largest museums (the Victoria & Albert, Science and Natural History), and the Royal Albert Hall, home of the summer Promenade Concerts, are also here. The British National Army Museum is in Chelsea’s Royal Hospital Road.
Central London also contains four parks: Hyde Park (by far the largest), St James’ Park, Green Park and, slightly further north, Regent’s Park, location of London Zoo.

City of London
The City, with a resident population of less than 5000, is, during the day, the workplace of over 500,000 people. It covers just 259 hectares (1 sq mile), hence its nickname of the ‘Square Mile’.
Its best-known building is Wren’s St Paul’s Cathedral, completed in 1711. The Museum of London, near St Paul’s, tells the story of London from prehistoric times to the present day. On permanent display is the famous Lord Mayor of London’s coach, which carries the Lord Mayor through the City streets during the annual Lord Mayor’s Show. Close to the City is the Tower of London, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. Near here is Tower Hill Pageant, which tells London’s history in relation to the River Thames. The Bank of England, the Stock Exchange, Lloyd’s of London (the world’s leading insurance market), Mansion House (official residence of the Lord Mayor) and the Central Criminal Court (‘The Old Bailey’) all stand within the City boundaries.
Dr Johnson’s House is close to Fleet Street, former center of London’s newspaper industry. The Monument (to the Great Fire of 1666) and the Royal Exchange are other famous landmarks; a more recent addition is the Barbican Center, which contains a major arts complex – used by the Royal Shakespeare Company and home to the London Symphony Orchestra.
Tower Bridge, although little over 100 years old, is one of the world’s most famous such structures, and it is possible to visit the control room containing the machinery for raising and lowering the central section and to walk along the overhead walkway. Moored on the South Bank close to the bridge is World War II battleship HMS Belfast, also open to visitors.

South of the Thames
Immediately at the southern end of Westminster Bridge stands the former County Hall, now redeveloped to include the London Aquarium, one of Europe’s largest.
The South Bank Arts Center, near Waterloo Station, is among the most famous attractions south of the river. It comprises the Royal National Theater and the Royal Festival Hall.
Nearby is The Old Vic, one of London’s best known theaters. Southwark Cathedral, near London Bridge, is one of the finest Gothic churches in the city. Also in Southwark is an authentic reconstruction of the famous Shakespeare Globe Theater, now open to visitors, and the site of the similar Rose Theater. The brave may also be tempted to visit the ghoulish London Dungeon, which dwells upon less pleasant aspects of the capital’s history.
The redeveloped Bankside Power Station houses the Tate Modern gallery. Its collection includes major works by Monet, Picasso and Warhol, among many others. For lovers of even more contemporary and controversial artwork, the Saatchi Gallery hosts works by modern artists such as Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and the Chapman Brothers. Also along the South Bank is the Dali Universe, a celebration and gallery of the surrealist legend's works. The pedestrianized Millenium Bridge by Norman Foster connects the two riverbanks, beginning outside the Tate Modern gallery and ending across the river near to St Paul’s Cathedral.
By Bankside Quay is Vinopolis City of Wine, while another attraction in the area is the overwhelmingly popular London Eye ferris wheel which, at 137m (450 ft), is the world’s tallest, offering stunning views from its enclosed capsules.
Other attractions near the river include the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth. Portraying the history of 20th-century conflict, its features include the Blitz Experience and a section dedicated to the Holocaust. Lambeth Palace, official home of the Archbishop of Canterbury; the Florence Nightingale Museum, at St Thomas’ Hospital; Battersea Park; and the Design Museum are all in the vicinity.
A short tube ride to the east is Greenwich, with the National Maritime Museum, the clipper Cutty Sark, the Royal Naval College and the Royal Observatory, through which runs the Greenwich Meridian, zero degrees longitude. The Queen’s House, recently restored to its 17th-century glory, is also in Greenwich, as is the Fan Museum, with its collection of over 2000 fans.
At the Woolwich site of the former Royal Arsenal, a new interactive exhibition, Firepower, has opened in the Museum of the Royal Artillery Regiment.
Further south, London attractions include the Crystal Palace National Sports Center and the All England Tennis Club and Lawn Tennis Museum at Wimbledon. Dulwich Village has England’s oldest art gallery, while Brunel’s Engine House at Rotherhithe is site of the world’s first underwater tunnel.
Further west are the Botanical Gardens (and palace) at Kew, and Richmond Park, where thousands of deer graze freely.

West London
London’s two major exhibition centers, Earl’s Court and Olympia, stand slightly to the west of the central area. The Boat Show and the Ideal Home Exhibition are among their principal events. Not far away, Whiteley’s of Bayswater is an Edwardian shopping center comprising over 80 shops, restaurants and a multi-screen cinema.
Chiswick House in Chiswick is a superb Italian-style villa. In Fulham, Chelsea Football Club offers tours of its redeveloped Stamford Bridge stadium. Further west are Syon Park in Brentford (which includes a beautiful 16th-century house) and the London Butterfly House; nearby is the Musical Museum, the Living Steam Museum and the Waterman’s Arts Center.
South of Brentford and Chiswick is Hampton Court Palace, former official royal residence before Buckingham Palace, built by Cardinal Wolsey in the early 16th century and added to by Henry VIII, Charles I, Charles II and William III. Other local houses include the Orleans House Gallery, Ham House and Marble Hill House.
Wembley Arena and Conference Center is in northwest London, and the new 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium is scheduled for completion in early 2006. The late August holiday weekend is marked in the Notting Hill area with the famous Carnival.

North London
North London contains fashionable Hampstead, set on a steep hill. Hampstead Heath is one of the largest expanses of parkland in any big city anywhere in the world. Hampstead itself has narrow twisting streets and numerous cafes, restaurants, wine bars and shops. Places to visit include Burgh House, Kenwood House (a Georgian country house, which contains a fine collection of paintings, set in parkland) and Keats’ House (the poet’s former home, now a museum). To the east, and also on a hill, is Highgate, another attractive former village best known for its cemetery which holds the graves of Karl Marx and George Eliot. In St John’s Wood, visitors can tour Lords’ Cricket Ground. Camden Town is home to a well-known weekend market at Camden Lock – the Jewish Museum is also in this area. Further out of town at Hendon is the Royal Air Force Museum with its collection of historic aircraft.

East London
The East End (Whitechapel, Bethnal Green, Mile End and Bow) is in many ways the ‘real’ London, although this part of the capital suffered badly both during the World War II Blitz and at the hands of 1960s urban planners. This is where the Cockneys hail from (it is said that to be a true Cockney, one must be born within earshot of the bells in Bow Church).
Cockney traditions linger here: ‘Pearly Kings and Queens’ make occasional appearances, and there are plenty of ‘pie and mash’ shops still in evidence.
In the heart of the ‘old’ East End, the Whitechapel Art Gallery is a source of local pride. Another major attraction is the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, a branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Middlesex Street, on the City boundary, is location of Petticoat Lane Market. Within walking distance from Petticoat Lane is the lively and trendy Spitalfields Market which has an excellent organic food and arts and crafts market on Sundays. Today the City is encroaching on the traditional East End areas. But its success has indirectly led to London’s biggest regeneration project – transformation of Docklands from 22 sq km (8.5 sq miles) of dereliction to an important business area and leisure attraction.
Renovated St Katharine’s Dock, close to Tower Bridge, is now an attractive marina surrounded by wine bars and restaurants, and at Wapping there are many old warehouses, the majority of which have been converted into homes and leisure amenities – a process underway throughout East London. The Prospect of Whitby pub on the Wapping foreshore is a tourist attraction in itself. Nearby Tobacco Dock is a large leisure complex with shops, restaurants and entertainment. Moored at the quayside are two replica 18th-century pirate ships.The whole area has undergone intensive redevelopment along its 88km (55 miles) of waterfront, and the Docklands Light Railway opened in 1987, providing easy access from the City. The Canary Wharf development boasts a 245m- (800ft-) high office tower, Britain’s tallest building. London City Airport provides quick connections to short-haul destinations. Walks along the river and in the former docks areas are rewarding, offering unexpected glimpses of 18th- and 19th-century London.
The new Docklands Museum, which highlights the history of London’s river and port industry and communities, occupies a listed warehouse on West India Quay.
Elsewhere in East London, Lea Valley Park stretches from Hertfordshire to Bromley-by-Bow in the East End and offers extensive recreational facilities. Attractions include the 16th-century Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge in Chingford and the 11th-century Waltham Abbey. Hackney’s Victoria Park is another green space in the heart of urban sprawl.
Boat trips are available to the Thames Flood Barrier, situated down-river from Greenwich.

Southeast and East Anglia
Covering the ‘Home Counties’ of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, and West Sussex, plus the East Anglian counties of Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. The Southeast is England’s most populous, and prosperous, region. Despite the degree of development, though, there is huge variety of rural and heritage attractions, together with many major coastal resorts. Interests range from the traditional seaside attractions of Brighton, Great Yarmouth and Southend-on-Sea to historic cities like Cambridge, Colchester, Norwich and St Albans. The rural charms of ‘Constable Country’, straddling the Suffolk/Essex border, draw many visitors, as do the more urban attractions of Windsor and Dover, with their mighty castles.

Kent
Known as the ‘Garden of England’ for its copious production of fruit, hops and garden produce, Kent is the southeasternmost county in England. Canterbury is the major visitor magnet, retaining much of its Medieval charm. Canterbury Cathedral, where Thomas à Becket was slain in 1170, is also headquarters of the Anglican Church. Nearby, St Martin’s Church is one of the oldest churches in use in the country, having held services since AD 500.
At Dover, the main cross-channel port, massive Norman Dover Castle rises above the famous White Cliffs, while the White Cliffs Experience portrays a multimedia interpretation of the town’s importance over the centuries. Rochester is a charming old town with strong Dickensian connections, including Restoration House, thought to be the prototype for Miss Haversham’s home in ‘Great Expectations’.
Tunbridge Wells, in the west of the county, is an elegant 18th-century spa town. Historic highlights in the county include Hever Castle, childhood home of Anne Boleyn, and Leeds Castle, said to be the world’s most beautiful.

Maistone Leedcastle - Kent - England

Surrey and East/West Sussex
London now swallows up much of Surrey, but towns like Guildford retain a historic charm. Major attractions include Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventure, both theme parks.
In Sussex, Brighton is perhaps the most popular and lively of the southeast resorts, made famous by the Prince Regent (later George IV) who ordered the remarkably opulent Pavilion to be built here. There are splendid 19th-century terraces and crescents, two piers, the ‘Lanes’ area of antique shops, a museum and an art gallery. Brighton also has a vibrant nightlife with many restaurants, pubs and clubs.
Eastbourne is a somewhat more restrained Victorian resort town, while Hastings was the landing place for the invading Normans in 1066, and nearby Battle stands by the field in which Harold I was slain. Roman Chichester, to the west of Sussex, is famous for its arts festival and the nearby Fishbourne Palace – the remains of the biggest Roman villa yet discovered in Britain.

Essex and Hertfordshire
Colchester, county town of Essex, is Britain’s oldest documented city, continuously settled since pre-Roman times. Norman Colchester Castle, built on Roman foundations, has the largest keep of any such building. The Essex coast stretches from the fringes of London in the south, and Southend-on-Sea has long been the traditional resort for East Londoners. Further north are the resorts of Clacton-on-Sea, Frinton and Walton-on-the-Naze, together with the historic port of Harwich. Hertfordshire’s principal places of interest include the Roman city of St Albans (Verulamiam). Part of the city walls, foundations of Roman houses and a temple remain, while the Verulamiam Museum displays local archaeological finds. To the east of St Albans in Hatfield, Hatfield House dates from the 16th century. It belonged to Robert Cecil, first minister to Elizabeth I and James I, and is one of the southeast’s finest historic houses. On the fringes of northeast London is the huge Epping Forest, which covers some 24 sq km (9.3 sq miles).

Berkshire
The jewel in Berkshire’s crown is Windsor, whose massive castle is one of the Queen’s official residences as well as being open to visitors. It has been a royal home for nearly 900 years since the time of William I. Guided tours of the town are available, as well as bus tours and river cruises. Nearby is the 19 sq km (7.3 sq miles) Windsor Great Park. Some 3km (2 miles) outside the town is Legoland, a major family attraction. Elsewhere in Berkshire, Slough is the major commercial center, while Maidenhead and Marlow are pleasant riverside towns on the banks of the Thames.

Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire
The gently rolling Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire are within easy reach of London, offering pleasant countryside and quiet villages. At Amersham, the Chiltern Open Air Museum reflects five centuries of local life. Near Aylesbury, Waddesdon Manor is an impressive Victorian stately home. The ‘new town’ of Milton Keynes is the county’s largest town, with a broad range of shopping and leisure pursuits. Bedfordshire’s biggest visitor attraction is Woburn Abbey, home of the Dukes of Bedford since the mid-1550s, and surrounded by Britain’s biggest Safari Park. Close to Dunstable, animals are also the focus at Whipsnade Zoo.

Cambridgeshire
(See also the Top Seven Destinations section.) Outside the city of Cambridge, this county largely consists of low-lying agricultural countryside, particularly in the artificially drained Fenlands of the north. Highlights include Ely, with its huge Cathedral (known as the ‘Ship of the Fens’). Cromwell’s House, home of the former Lord Protector, is open to the public and houses the Tourist Information Center. Huntingdon also has strong Cromwellian connections. Peterborough, in the northwest of the county, also boasts a fine Cathedral, and the Nene Valley Railway. Close to the Norfolk border is Wisbech, inland port and typical fenland town.

Norfolk and Suffolk
Norwich, ‘capital’ of East Anglia and county town of Norfolk, is a delightful city, whose central streets still follow the Medieval pattern. Norwich Cathedral is one of England’s prettiest, while the Castle contains an art gallery, museum and local history exhibitions. Norwich’s daily open-air market is one of the biggest in the country. East of the city, the Norfolk Broads is an extensive network of waterways popular for boating holidays. On the coast beyond the Broads is the major resort of Great Yarmouth. In the north and west are resorts such as Cromer and Hunstanton, plus the former Hanseatic port, King’s Lynn.
Suffolk, to the south, is a county of quiet, typically ‘English’ countryside. The main town is Ipswich, and the coast is dotted with small resorts like Aldeburgh (with its annual arts festival) and Southwold.

South and Southwest
Central Southern England and the Southwest contain many of England’s top seaside resort areas, particularly in Devon and Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and along the Dorset coast. Inland, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire are characterized by attractive countryside, pretty villages and significant ancient and historical monuments. The major coastal cities, such as Portsmouth, Bristol and Plymouth, have strong seafaring traditions, while Oxford and Bath are among the most popular English cities with visitors (see the Top Seven Destinations section). Off the far southwest tip of Cornwall, the sub-tropical Isles of Scilly attract those looking for a quieter holiday.

Bristol
Major historic port, and boasting many visitor attractions. On the harborside, At-Bristol is a complex containing an IMAX cinema, the Explore science center and Wildwalk, an interpretation of natural history. Brunel’s SS Great Britain, the world’s first iron steam passenger liner, is restored and open to visitors. The Empire and Commonwealth Museum, the City Museum and Art Gallery and the Industrial Museum are important attractions, while Bristol Zoo at Clifton is close to Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge. Bristol Cathedral dates from the 15th century, but its origins lie back in the 12th century. Close to the city is the Severn Bridges Visitor Center.

Oxfordshire
(See also the Top Seven Destinations section.) Northwest of Oxford, on the fringes of the Cotswolds, is the impressive Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The market town of Banbury is an attractive historic location, honored with a nursery rhyme of its own. To the south is Didcot, whose Railway Center is popular with steam train enthusiasts. On the banks of the River Thames is Henley, scene of the annual regatta, and possessing no less than 300 buildings of architectural and historic interest, including a fine 18th-century bridge. To the east of Wallingford is Stonor Park, a manor house dating from Medieval times, once a secret Catholic stronghold in times of religious repression.

Gloucestershire
Gloucester is a cathedral city on the River Severn. Many of the streets and parts of the old city wall date back to the Middle Ages. The revitalized docks are lined with massive warehouses which are gradually becoming visitor attractions, among them the National Waterways Museum, the Marina and Tall Ships, plus the Opie Collection of Packaging.
Cheltenham, an elegant Regency spa town, is famous for its National Hunt Racecourse and annual music and literature festival. Malmesbury contains a fine example of Norman building in its abbey, the ruins of a 12th-century castle, a market square and several attractive 17th- and 18th-century houses. Cirencester has extensive Roman remains and is a good center for exploring the Cotswolds. To the east of the Wye Valley is the Forest of Dean, 130 sq km (50 sq miles) of ancient hunting forest.
In the hilly countryside east of Gloucester is the village of Slad, immortalized by Laurie Lee in his book Cider with Rosie.

Wiltshire
Even in prehistoric times, the inland county of Wiltshire proved attractive to early settlers, and evidence of this – at places like Avebury, Old Sarum and Stonehenge – makes it ideal for exploring prehistoric remains. In addition, some of England’s greatest stately homes are in Wiltshire, including Corsham, Lacock Abbey, Longleat, Stourhead and Wilton. Longleat is a very grand Elizabethan mansion, famous for its lions, and Stourhead, built in 1722, has particularly fine lakeside gardens. Salisbury is dominated by its 123m (404ft) cathedral spire, England’s tallest. The grounds of Salisbury Cathedral contain many notable houses open to the public. Mompesson House is a perfectly preserved 18th-century home and Malmesbury House was once sanctuary for King Charles II, fleeing after the Battle of Worcester in the 17th century. The city has a harmonious blend of gabled houses and historic inns, and offers a good choice of hotels, restaurants and shopping. Open-top bus or horse-drawn omnibus tours are available.
The remains of Old Sarum, ancient city and Norman fortress, are visible 3km (2 miles) away on Salisbury Plain but the most important site is the enormous prehistoric stone circle of Stonehenge. The site was possibly in use as long ago as 2500 BC. At the western end of Salisbury Plain, Warminster is a favorite haunt of UFO spotters.
The former railway works at county town Swindon house a new museum, Steam, dedicated to Brunel’s Great Western Railway.

Hampshire
This region is one of great natural beauty but also enjoys the benefits of up-to-the-minute shopping, leisure facilities and nightlife. The county is justly famous for the New Forest, 376 sq km (145 sq miles) of open heathland, where ponies, deer and cattle roam freely. The New Forest was decreed a Royal Hunting Preserve in 1079 and is a haven for riders and walkers. Beaulieu, with its stately home and Motor Museum, and Bucklers Hard are major attractions.
Southampton is one of the most rapidly expanding cities on the south coast with new marinas, leisure facilities and shopping malls, including the Bargate, Ocean Village and Waterfront.
There is a wealth of maritime history in the neighboring naval city of Portsmouth – HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, the Mary Rose and the Royal Naval Museum. The D-Day Museum at Southsea tells the story of the 1944 allied Normandy landings.
Former English capital Winchester, in central Hampshire, has a magnificent 11th-century Cathedral. Romsey is an attractive market town associated with Broadlands, 18th-century former home of Lord Mountbatten.
Lymington is an attractive small town lying on the edge of the New Forest, with its own pretty harbor. Hamble to the east is a mecca for yachtsmen, the Hamble River providing good sheltered moorings, making it an ideal place to start a cruise around its waters or over to the Isle of Wight.
The Hampshire Borders, in the north of the county, have some lovely countryside. There are a number of historic houses in the region and lots of military museums.

Hampshire - England

Isle of Wight
Only 6km (4 miles) off the mainland, the Isle of Wight has beautiful countryside, unspoilt coastline and many sandy beaches. It has one of the best sunshine records in the country. Craft centers, country parks, historic buildings, sporting and leisure facilities abound. Often described as ‘England in Miniature’, the island offers rich contrast in scenery and character in its small area.
Cowes, world famous for yachting, also plays host to many national and international events, from sailing to power boating. There are five vineyards on the Isle of Wight, which also stage the unusual annual Garlic Festival every summer. Osborne House, at East Cowes, was Queen Victoria’s favorite residence – she died here in 1901. Popular resorts on the southeast coast include Shanklin, Ventnor and Sandown. Parliamentarian forces imprisoned King Charles I at Carisbrooke Castle, in the center of the island near Newport, prior to his execution in 1649. To the west, the dramatic Needles, chalk outcrops, jut from the sea, while visitors flock to Alum Bay to see the remarkable multicolored sand of its cliffs.

Isles of Scilly
Scilly lies 50km (30 miles) off Land’s End – only five (out of a total of around 100) islands are inhabited. They are a popular holiday destination, as the climate is warmer and more temperate than on the mainland. The tourism industry received a boost when former Prime Minister Harold Wilson bought a holiday home there.
Horticulture is now the islands’ second-largest industry. Boat trips to visit smaller islands are popular, particularly from Hugh Town on St Mary’s, largest of the islands, where Star Castle dominates the skyline. Tresco, especially, has the magnificent sub-tropical Abbey Gardens and the Abbey, which draw many visitors. Air and sea services connect Scilly with the mainland. Bryher has two small fortresses and the wild Hell Bay.

Dorset
The resort of Bournemouth has fine sandy beaches, excellent shopping, top-class entertainment and comfortable hotels and flats, making the town a popular holiday venue.
Nearby, Poole has the world’s second-largest natural harbor, in which is the island nature reserve of Brownsea. Boat trips make the short crossing from Poole Quay. The Tower Park leisure complex offers varied entertainment and activities. The quayside retains its 18th-century atmosphere – Poole Pottery and the Waterfront Museum stand on it.
Immediately west of Poole is the Isle of Purbeck. The coastline is scenic, also offering the resort of Swanage. A little further west is Weymouth, with its beach, panoramic bay and historic harbor. There are entertainments and activities for all the family, plus many top attractions and events including the Brewer’s Quay leisure and shopping development.
Portland, joined to Weymouth by Chesil Beach causeway, is a fascinating peninsula. Famous for its stone, it also has several castles, a lighthouse and small, sheltered coves. Lying inland, northeast of Weymouth, is Shaftesbury, Dorset’s most ancient hilltop town, characterized by steep cobbled streets. Slightly to the south is the handsome 18th-century Blandford Forum. Distinguished by one of the county’s most unusual churches is Wimborne Minster, a small market town to the southeast.

Somerset
Another attractive rural county, Somerset has three fine coastal resorts, Burnham-on-Sea, Minehead and Weston-super-Mare. Much of west Somerset lies within Exmoor National Park. Attractions in this region include the tiny Culbone Church, the clapper bridge at Tarr Steps, the idyllic villages of Selworthy and Dunster, and Dunkery Beacon, the highest point on Exmoor. The town of Taunton lies to the west of the county, near the southern end of the wooded Quantock Hills. The county’s northern boundary is emphasised by the limestone Mendip Hills. Along the southern edge are the cave attractions of the Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole and the great cathedral at Wells. The southeastern corner of the county around Yeovil has many historic houses open to the public. At Yeovilton, a short distance north, is the Fleet Air Arm Museum. Somerset has mystical connections, notably around the town of Glastonbury, where nearby Glastonbury Tor has long been a site of pilgrimage.

Devon
The area, known as the English Riviera, comprises Brixham, Paignton and Torquay. The major city is Plymouth, seaport for over 500 years and where Sir Francis Drake famously finished his game of bowls in 1588 before defeating the Spanish Armada. In 1620, the Pilgrim Fathers set out for the New World from Plymouth on the Mayflower, and parts of the town dating from this period still survive.
Inland on the Cornish border is the stark wilderness of the Dartmoor National Park, where wild ponies roam freely across a beautiful landscape dotted with prehistoric remains. The park is popular with walkers. The county town, Exeter, has a long history and there are remains of Roman walls, underground passages, a beautiful cathedral and the oldest Guildhall in the Kingdom.
To the north of the county, resorts such as Ilfracombe and Lynton line the coast, and in the northeast is another National Park, Exmoor, which straddles the Devon/Somerset border.

Cornwall
England’s southwesternmost county, Cornwall is a Celtic land of rugged coastline, disused tin mines, attractive fishing villages and small seaside resorts. In the city of Truro, the county town, the Cathedral and the Royal Cornwall Museum and Gallery are the main sights. The nearby south coastline bears the name of the Cornish Riviera, and is lined with resorts including Mevagissey, Looe, Polperro and Falmouth, where Pendennis Castle houses the National Maritime Museum’s Cornwall branch.
Close to St Austell is one of Britain’s most ambitious new tourist developments, the Eden Project, whose huge geodesic domes house flora from all over the world. Cornwall is famous for its gardens, which benefit from the benign effects of the Gulf Stream; highlights among these include the Lost Gardens of Heligan and numerous National Trust properties like Cotehele, Lanhydrock and Trelissick.
Newquay, on the Atlantic coast north of Truro, is a mecca for surfers, while, further east, Bude offers sweeping sandy beaches. Near here is Tintagel, steeped in Arthurian legend, with a castle perched on top of large cliffs, reached only by towering steps.
Outside Penzance, in the far west, is St Michael’s Mount, an island castle which mirrors that of France’s Mont St Michel. St Ives, on the southwestern tip, is also popular, both with families and artists. Both find much to admire in St Ives's large sandy beaches, cobbled streets and plenitude of craft shops and art galleries, including the impressive Tate Gallery. Land’s End, mainland Britain’s most westerly point, features a Heritage Center and various other family attractions.

The Midlands
The English Midlands cover a great swathe of the country south of the Humber Estuary and from the Welsh border in the west to the fringes of the Southeast. Counties included in this section are Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands.
From the wild moors of the Derbyshire Peak District National Park and major cities like Birmingham to the quiet villages of rural Northamptonshire and Herefordshire, the Midlands is a region of great diversity. The Industrial Revolution began in Shropshire; indeed, industrial heritage is a major feature here: the Staffordshire Potteries draw enormous numbers of visitors, while the motor industry has strong links with Warwickshire.
Shakespeare lived in Stratford-upon-Avon (see the Top Seven Destinations section), while Nottingham is forever tied to the legend of Robin Hood. Great cathedrals, such as those of Coventry, Lichfield, Lincoln and Worcester, are plentiful. The region’s only stretch of coastline, that of Lincolnshire, has an array of seaside resorts, including Cleethorpes, Mablethorpe and Skegness. Canals criss-cross much of the Midlands, and these former industrial supply routes are nowadays an important tourism resource, offering a relaxed way to enjoy the countryside from hired cruisers and narrowboats.

Warwickshire and the West Midlands
The industrial heart of Britain is surrounded by lovely countryside. Birmingham, Britain’s second-largest city, is a center of both industry and culture. It has a magnificent library, and the Central Museum & Art Gallery is one of the finest in the country. Also in the city are the National Sea Life Center, and the Jewelry Quarter, whose Museum tells the story of this interesting district. Birmingham has more canals than Venice, most of which are still navigable. Aston Hall, to the east of the city center, is a splendid stately home, while in the southern suburbs at Bournville, Cadbury World is a popular family attraction in this famous chocolate manufacturing center. Birmingham is home to the National Exhibition Center, site of many major exhibitions and trade fairs. Northwest of Birmingham is the Black Country, an area extending into southern Staffordshire. Former industrial powerhouse and coal mining center, the main towns of interest here include Dudley, which has a castle and a zoo in the same complex. The town also boasts the open-air Black Country Living Museum, from which it is possible to take canal boat trips through the tunnel to the spectacular Singing Cavern.
At Wolverhampton, Moseley Old Hall was once the hiding place of the future King Charles II following his escape from the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The Walsall Arboretum, large decorative gardens, stages the immensely popular Walsall Illuminations each September and October.
Coventry, city of Lady Godiva and historic center of the British motor industry, is famous for its modern cathedral, designed by Sir Basil Spence, after destruction of the original during World War II. Warwick contains many historic houses and Warwick Castle is one of the region’s most popular attractions. In the city’s historic Market Hall, the Warwickshire Museum contains displays of local archaeology and other historic items, while a fine Jacobean mansion houses St John’s Museum. The Collegiate Church of St Mary, the Doll Museum and the Lord Leycester Hospital are also noteworthy. In the countryside are various stately homes, including 17th-century Ragley Hall, near Alcester. Leamington Spa is an attractive 18th-century spa resort.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire
The stretch of country between Worcester and the Welsh border is a rich farming area, with orchards, fields and meadows full of cider apples, hops and white-faced red cattle. Characteristic black and white half-timbered buildings decorate the villages and market towns such as Ledbury. The Wye Valley, the Malvern Hills and the Teme Valley all add to the area’s beauty.
The Wye Valley is an exceedingly beautiful area, with the river flowing first through gentle countryside but later through spectacular gorges near Symonds Yat. The town of Ross-on-Wye is a good base for exploring this area. Northwest of Ross is Hereford, also on the River Wye, an attractive cathedral city, which has a City Museum and Art Gallery as well as a Cider Museum. Nell Gwynne, actress and mistress of Charles II, was reputedly born here. The medieval Mappa Mundi is on view at Hereford Cathedral, which also boasts a rare Chained Library.
To the west of Hereford is Golden Valley, a remote region containing many attractive villages. At its northern end on the Welsh border is Hay-on-Wye, famous for having one of the world’s largest second-hand bookshops.
Worcester, on the banks of the River Severn, has a Cathedral, the museum and factory of the Royal Worcester Porcelain Company, a magnificent Guildhall with a Queen Anne facade and a number of streets with overhanging half-timbered houses from the Tudor period. The Commandery, once battle headquarters of Charles II, now houses a Civil War audio-visual display.
South of Worcester are the steep Malvern Hills, which offer views across the rich agricultural landscape. Great Malvern began life as a spa resort in the 18th century. Tastings of the local spring water are available at St Anne’s Well.
Some 32km (20 miles) north of Worcester is the Wyre Forest, ideal for walking and riding. Principal towns in this region are Bewdley, Kidderminster and Stourport, home to the southern terminus of the Severn Valley Railway, England’s longest standard-gauge steam railway. Worcestershire’s biggest single visitor attraction is the West Midlands Safari Park at Bewdley.

Shropshire
This is a county of varied landscapes, including moorland, forests, gentle hills and open pasture. Despite this, Shropshire was also birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, evidence of which is visible in the area of Ironbridge Gorge. The Ironbridge Gorge Museum occupies a number of sites but the area’s major landmark is the world’s first Iron Bridge itself, built in 1779. Ruined Buildwas Abbey stands nearby.
On the eastern boundary of this district is the magnificent Restoration house and parkland known as Weston Park. Nearby is Boscobel where the future Charles II hid in the now famous Royal Oak after the Battle of Worcester.
To the west is the area of The Wrekin, a conical-shaped hill that figures in many local tales and legends. The county town, Shrewsbury, is one of the finest Tudor towns in England, celebrated for the flower market held every summer. Shrewsbury Quest portrays Medieval monastic life at the time of Ellis Peters’ ‘Brother Cadfael’, a fictional 12th-century resident of the town.
South and southwest of Shrewsbury are the Shropshire Hills, designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. Ludlow (dominated by the ruins of its castle), Church Stretton, Bishop’s Castle, Much Wenlock (13th-century Wenlock Priory is the major attraction here) and Bridgnorth (terminus of the steam Severn Valley Railway) are all attractive towns.
A large plain with many quiet roads, making it ideally suited to cycling or walking, dominates the north of the county. Market Drayton, Oswestry, Wem (famous for its beer) and Whitchurch are the major market towns in this region. Hawkstone Park, with its collection of follies, and a cave where Aleister Crowley reputedly held satanic rituals, is an unusual diversion, while the Roman City at Wroxeter is an important archaeological site.

Staffordshire
Both agricultural and industrial, Staffordshire lies partly within the Peak District National Park and contains some of the most spectacular countryside, such as Thor’s Cave and the limestone gorge at Dovedale on the Derbyshire border.
Stoke-on-Trent, known worldwide for its pottery industry, has major visitor attractions including the Wedgwood Story and the former pottery works now housing the Gladstone Museum. Among other famous brands associated with the city, which has some 40 factory shop outlets offering bargain china, are Royal Doulton and Spode.
East of the Potteries are scenic Churnet Valley and Vale of Trent, the latter containing Cannock Chase, an attractive area of heath and woodland. One of the most famous sights in the county is the unusual Lichfield Cathedral, which has three spires. Samuel Johnson’s birthplace is open to the public. Nearby Tamworth has a fine castle, along with Britain’s first indoor ski slope using real snow, the Snowdome, and Drayton Manor theme park.
Staffordshire’s numerous stately homes include Shugborough, home of photographer Lord Lichfield. To the northeast is Alton Towers, the UK’s biggest theme park; while in the east is the traditional center of the English brewing industry, Burton-upon-Trent, where the Bass Museum tells the story of ‘real ale’ in the town.

Northamptonshire
Although major road and rail links traverse Northamptonshire, much of the county remains unspoilt. One of the most attractive regions is the Rockingham Forest area in the east of the county, which contains several historic houses and mighty Rockingham Castle. There is a Red Kite observatory at the RSPB Center, Fineshade, near Corby.
Close to Oundle, a market town famed for its architecture and major public school, only a mound remains of Fotheringhay Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots met her end in 1587. Most other Northamptonshire historic houses are in much better condition, many of them still occupied. Of these, Althorp (which has a museum on the grounds commemorating the late Diana, Princess of Wales) and Sulgrave Manor, ancestral home of George Washington, are important. Other places of interest include the Central Museum in Northampton with its fine shoe collection, the Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne and the Santa Pod drag racing circuit outside Wellingborough.

Leicestershire and Rutland
The county of Leicestershire has many castles, manor houses and market towns. Leicester itself has Roman remains and a great deal of Medieval architecture, and is nowadays important as a shopping center. A major visitor attraction is the National Space Center. Other towns of interest in the county include Market Harborough (close to which lie Foxton Locks, the longest chain of canal locks in England), Lutterworth (home of John Wycliffe) and Melton Mowbray, famous for Stilton cheese and pork pies. Near Leicester is Market Bosworth, the site of one of English history’s most famous battles, when Henry Tudor defeated Richard III, the last Lancastrian, in 1485. Belvoir Castle near Melton Mowbray, is a popular historic attraction.
On the Warwickshire border, Twycross Zoo is an important attraction, while at Coalville, to the northwest of Leicester, the Snibston Discovery Center is an interactive introduction to the world of technology. Conkers, a children’s attraction themed on the natural world, is at Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Rutland has the distinction of being England’s smallest county. In the county town of Oakham, Oakham Castle has a remarkable collection of decorative horseshoes, each presented as a symbolic toll to the borough by monarchs passing through over the centuries.

Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire, the largest county in the East Midlands and the only one with a coastline, has several seaside resorts, notably Mablethorpe and Skegness, both of which are towns with good sunshine records. Grimsby remains an important fishing port, while nearby Cleethorpes is another resort - the Pleasure Island Theme Park is a major attraction here.
Inland are the gently rolling hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds, where Tennyson spent much of his early life. The area around Spalding is among the country’s richest farmland, and is famous for growing flower bulbs and its annual Flower Festival. The town’s Ayscoughfee Hall Museum tells the story of surrounding Fenland.
During the 12th century, Boston was one of the three most important ports in England and, from here many of the Pilgrim Fathers planned to set sail for The Netherlands to find religious freedom, but were betrayed and imprisoned in cells still in Boston Guildhall. Boston’s unusual church tower, known as the Boston Stump, is visible for miles around.
The county town of Lincoln is a well-preserved Medieval city and the Cathedral, set on a limestone hill, has three towers, a fine Norman west front and a particularly beautiful 13th-century presbytery. The aptly named Steep Hill has some interesting shops and the Jew’s House, halfway up the incline, is an unusual attraction. River cruises are available in the city center.
Stamford, situated at the border of four counties, is another Medieval town, with several fine churches and buildings of mellow stone. Nearby is Burghley House, built by one of Elizabeth I’s most powerful ministers. The Medieval Old Hall at Gainsborough in north Lincolnshire is an interesting attraction.
Lincolnshire boasts a number of castles, among them Bolingbroke Castle at Spilsby and Tattershall Castle at Coningsby.

Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire was the legendary home of Robin Hood, and parts of his Sherwood Forest – including the celebrated Major Oak – still survive in the Country Park north of Nottingham. North Nottinghamshire is a former mining area, in which lies Eastwood, birthplace of D H Lawrence. Both his childhood home and the village’s Durban House Heritage Center commemorate the controversial author. Closer to Nottingham is Newstead Abbey, family seat of Lord Byron.
The university city of Nottingham boasts the beautiful neo-Classical Nottingham Castle, which overlooks the city and contains a much visited museum and art gallery, and nearby Wollaton Hall, an Elizabethan mansion now housing a natural history museum. The Tales of Robin Hood (a ‘dark ride’ attraction), the underground Caves of Nottingham, and the Trip to Jerusalem, reputedly England’s oldest inn, are also of interest in the city center. Nearby is the Lace Market area, where attractions include Condemned!, an innovative museum dedicated to crime and often grisly punishment, and Lace Hall, which describes the industry from which the area takes its name. Newark-on-Trent has a 12th-century castle, and is an important antiques trading center.

Derbyshire
The spa town of Buxton, the highest market town in England, makes a good base from which to explore the Peak District National Park, 1300 sq km (500 sq mile) of limestone dales and open moors.
Other places of interest in Derbyshire include Matlock Bath, with its cable car ride across the Derwent Gorge to the Heights of Abraham and Blue John mine. Bolsover, a small market town with a 17th-century castle, is set in rich farmland. Creswell Crags has a Visitor Center at the site of prehistoric archaeological finds. Chesterfield is another base for exploring the Peak District and is famous for its crooked-spire church.
At Bakewell, Chatsworth House is the major attraction; there is also the Wind in the Willows Visitor Center, based on the stories of Kenneth Grahame, at nearby Rowsley.
The county town of Derby is the home of Royal Crown Derby porcelain, and the city also offers a cathedral, museums and the Assembly Rooms.
For family outings, the American Adventure Theme Park at Ilkeston is popular, while at Crich, the National Tramways Museum offers more specialized interest, as does the Midland Railway Center near Ripley.

The North of England
Covering Cheshire, County Durham, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Northumberland, Teesside, Tyne & Wear and Yorkshire.
In the southern and eastern areas of the region lie sprawling industrial heartlands, but these are surrounded by some of England’s most sparsely populated and, arguably, most beautiful, countryside. The Lake District (see the Top Seven Destinations section) is the best known of the English National Parks – but there are three more in the region as well: Northumberland, the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales.
The coastline is often spectacular, particularly in north Yorkshire and northern Northumberland, while the North Pennines is as wild as English countryside can get. All this contrasts starkly with the great industrial power-houses of south and west Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Tyne & Wear and east Lancashire. However, even in the cities, the unique character and heritage of the North Country shines through.
This is also a region containing many reminders of England’s convoluted racial and religious heritage. The Romans left 1800-year-old Hadrian’s Wall to posterity, place names are often of ninth-century Viking origin, and the importance of the Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria to the development of Christianity in England is underlined at Durham City and on Holy Island.

Cheshire
Chester, the county town, is famous for being full of pretty black and white timber-framed buildings. The city dates from Roman times, as do parts of its otherwise Medieval city walls. Remains of a 7000-seat Roman amphitheater stand outside the center, whose star attraction is The Rows, large double-deck buildings housing shops. The city has numerous notable timbered houses, including 17th-century God’s Providence House and Bishop Lloyd’s House. Chester Zoo is a major attraction, as is the unusual Cathedral with its detached bell-tower. The Deva Roman Experience recreates Roman life in Chester.
In the surrounding county, significant towns include Northwich, where the Salt Museum tells the story of Cheshire salt mining, and Nantwich, where visitors can descend into the Hack Green ‘Secret’ Nuclear Bunker. Nearby, Stapely Water Gardens is the world’s biggest attraction of its type. The scenery around Alderley Edge is noteworthy, while close to Macclesfield, Jodrell Bank Science Center and Observatory is a major visitor attraction. Quarry Bank Mill, at Wilmslow, is an important industrial heritage site, recreating the 18th-century textile industry of the area.

Lancashire
Lancaster is the main center in this county – echoes of its Georgian heyday as a major port remain along the historic St George’s Quay, whose palladian-style Customs House is now home to the Lancaster Maritime Museum. The city center architecture reflects the wealth of two centuries ago. Norman Lancaster Castle, owned by the Queen in her role as Duke of Lancaster, and still containing a working prison despite being open to visitors, stands beside the attractive Priory Church of St Mary on Castle Hill. The Ashton Memorial, a huge folly, dominates the skyline on the east of the city. Immediately west of Lancaster are traditional seaside resort attractions at Morecambe, while in the surrounding countryside, the beautiful Lune Valley has inspired artists and poets through the ages, including Turner and Wordsworth. Further inland, the Pendle Witches Trail takes visitors on the path of grisly 17th-century events.
Blackpool, further down the Lancashire coast, is one of England’s biggest seaside resorts, famous for its Eiffel-like Tower, its trams and the Blackpool Pleasure Beach amusement park.

Greater Manchester
Although dominated by one of England’s biggest cities, the administrative area of Greater Manchester incorporates rural areas on the western slopes of the Pennine Hills, along with smaller industrial towns that grew up during the Industrial Revolution.
In Manchester itself, there are numerous major attractions, including the Granada Studios Tour, home of the popular television program, ‘Coronation Street’. There is a new branch of the Imperial War Museum beside the Manchester Ship Canal in the Trafford area of the city. Manchester United Football Club is famous around the world, and guided tours of its Old Trafford stadium are available. The world’s oldest passenger railway station now houses the Museum of Science and Industry, while the Manchester Jewish Museum occupies a restored 18th-century synagogue. Manchester is also renowned for its vibrant and lively nightlife and abundance of shops, including the enormous Trafford Center, which lies just outside Manchester's city center.
Outside Manchester, Wigan boasts one of the north’s most popular attractions in Wigan Pier – a recreation of Victorian life based around a large canal basin, and incorporating a number of individual museums and other attractions. Elsewhere in the county, the restored Elizabethan Old Grammar School at Rochdale is an unusual attraction.

Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a region of large industrial cities, beautiful countryside, rugged castles, stately homes and ancient churches. Its prime visitor attraction is, of course, York (see the Top Seven Destinations section).
In West Yorkshire is the huge Leeds/Bradford conurbation. Bradford is famous for its large Asian community, and this (and the food) is an attraction in itself, while The National Museum of Film, Photography and Television is the city’s prime cultural draw with one of the first IMAX cinema screens. At Leeds, the Royal Armouries exhibition, Tetley Brewery Visitor Center, West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Thackeray Medical Museum are all good reasons to spend time in the city. Wakefield’s Caphouse Colliery houses the National Mining Museum. Close by are the wild moors of the Pennines where the Brontë sisters lived in Haworth. At Halifax, Eureka! is a major children’s attraction. The Yorkshire Dales National Park is popular year round. Its landscape is that of the books and TV series featuring vet James Herriot, set at Askrigg, in Wensleydale. Walking is a popular pastime in this area.
Historic castles abound in the region, including the great fortresses of Middleham and Richmond; the latter associated with Richard III. Bolton Castle in Wensleydale once imprisoned Mary Queen of Scots, while Pontefract Castle in West Yorkshire was scene of Richard II’s murder in 1400.
Great houses are also a highlight, notably Castle Howard, near Malton, famous as the setting for the TV adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited. Others include Burton Constable Hall, Duncombe Park, Harewood House, Nostell Priory and Sledmere House.
Maritime East Yorkshire has powerful links with Britain’s seafaring traditions. Hull is a major working port, recently transformed by waterfront developments, while majestic Humber Bridge is an attraction in its own right. Beyond Hull is the gentle lowland area of Holderness, which ends in the bird sanctuary at Spurn Point. To the north lies the ancient market town of Beverley, with Geo