Merry Old England

When people consider traveling to England usually the destination is the capital, London. However, there are many other interesting cities to see and here are some of them.

Blackpool a Seaside Resort

This lovely seaside resort offers attractions and things to do year-round. To enjoy seeing fantastic views take a climb to the skies and ride up the popular Blackpool Tower which rises 158 meters above the city.

On a clear day. you can see a panoramic view from North Wales to the Lake District. If you are travelling with your family an exciting place to go is Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Resort here both young and old can enjoy over 125 rides including Europe’s tallest rollercoaster.

For simpler pleasures, you can take a walk along the recently renovated New South Promenade and admire the contemporary art made by pop artist Sir Peter Blake and go to the Great Promenade Show to see the world’s biggest Mirror Ball.

For entertainment, there is the fantastic 19th century Winter Gardens which features award-winning West End Shows as well as jazz and rock concerts. On hot days you can enjoy Sandcastle Waterpark.

If you are an animal lover there is the delightful Blackpool Zoo. At the zoo, there are many wonderful exhibits such as The Big Cat House, Gorilla Mountain and Children’s Farm and lots more.

If you are visiting Blackpool in the autumn don’t miss the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations where six miles of streets turn into a magical festival of light and take the time to see the amazing Blackpool Fireworks Championships. There is plenty to do and see in Blackpool and when you need time for a break in the summer you can relax on the beaches and splash and swim in the surf.

Bournemouth On the South Coast

You’ll find the seaside resort of Bournemouth on the south coast of England in the county of Dorset. This lovely resort is very popular with pensioners so there are many residential care homes. Tourists will discover that there are activities to take part in such as water sports and when the sun goes down you can take part in the vibrant nightlife.

Travelers will find the Tourist Information Office in an open square simply called The Square. This is the spot in Bournemouth where you can stroll through the main gardens and you can easily find your way to the pier. Going northward from the Square there is the main shopping area that starts with Old Christchurch Road. Overlooking the Square is the clifftop, seafront area known as West Cliff. Farther westward is Westbourne where you will find cafes and boutiques and Lower Parkstone is an area with specialty shops and trendy eateries.

If you enjoy art head for Russell-Coates Art Gallery and Museum found on the Eastcliff. Here you can see wonderful collections of 19th-century art and Japanese artefacts. The interior of the museum is most lavishly decorated.

The author of “Frankenstein” Mary Shelly is buried in the churchyard of St. Peter’s Church along with the heart of her husband the Romantic poet, Percy Bysshe Shelly.

Bournemouth offers its visitors award-winning gardens to explore and enjoy. There are 2,000 acres of lovely gardens. Bournemouth Gardens are divided up into three sections – the Lower Gardens which are found adjacent to the sea and they lead you into the Central Garden found in the town center and from there to the Upper Gardens. The Lower Gardens are known for their floral displays all year round bringing together many colors and scents. These gardens also host lots of events and attractions during the summer months like concerts at the Pine Walk Bandstand, the Aviary and the Pinewalk Art Exhibition.

Alum Chine offers visitors an award-winning tropical garden with paths that are bordered by dry stone walls in order to create a terrace garden that overlooks the bay. People can take a look at many different exotic plants. From Bournemouth Pier, you can take the land train to Boscombe Chine Gardens which features a fantastic children’s water play area, mini-golf and café. There are the Italianate Gardens nearby with a secret hideaway and a lovely setting right next to the sea. Next to this is the rock garden that was constructed in 1930 and counts as one of the largest Municipal rock gardens in the country. If you love wildlife visit one of Bournemouth’s Local Nature Reserves.

Tales of Canterbury

Canterbury is among the most visited cities in the United Kingdom. It is a university and cathedral city in Kent in the southeast of England. It is a favorite among tourists. Way back in 1170, Canterbury became a major center of pilgrimage because of the murder of Thomas Beckett who was the Archbishop of Canterbury. The city became the backdrop of Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” which were stories about pilgrims who passed the time on pilgrimages by sharing stories.

Canterbury is a city with an awesome combination of architectural styles that include genuine Tudor buildings and even 1960s style office buildings. Everywhere you look you can find something to delight the eye. The Dane John Gardens host special events on weekends in the summer such as French and farmers markets with all sorts of cuisine available. These are lovely park-like gardens.

Canterbury Cathedral is the burial place of King Henry IV and Edward, the Black Prince. However, it is most popular for being the scene of the murder of Thomas Becket. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. This is also a great place to visit if you are into the paranormal or are fascinated by haunted places. The cathedral has several ghosts. One is in the tower and was also a murder victim. The tower is haunted by Archbishop Simon Sudbury who was killed by Wat Tyler the head of the Peasant’s Revolt in 1381. There is also the ghost of a monk that walks in the cloisters. A passage in the cathedral known as the Dark Entry is haunted by Nell Cook. She was the servant of a canon. Discovering that the canon was having an affair she poisoned his food and murdered him along with his lover. Her punishment was being buried alive beneath the Dark Entry. You can meet her ghost on dark Friday evenings but beware the legend is that anyone who sees her ghost will soon die afterwards.

Not to be missed is the Canterbury Tales Visitor Attraction “Medieval Misadventures” is one of Kent’s most popular attractions. It is an amazing reconstruction of 14th century England inside the historic building of St. Margaret’s Church and is based on the tales and characters from Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.”

St. Martin’s Church is a World Heritage site. It is the oldest parish church in England.

Canterbury Castle the ruins of a Norman castle that was built in the 11th century. The ruins are well worth taking a look at and exploring.

Canterbury Historic River Tours, Kings Bridge offer guided river tours from which you can view the magnificent natural scenery. You’ll find yourself upon the River Stour from which you can also see some absolutely stunning and important architecture. The tour guides provide you with the historical facts of all of the passing buildings and monuments.

Historic Chester on the River Dee

Chester is located on the River Dee and is a lovely and historic city in the North-Western county of Cheshire in England. When you visit and tour this city it is well worth seeing the Roman walls and the market town. Chester is also the gateway to North Wales. Other things to see are the amphitheatre at Vicars Lane, and the Roman Gardens. These are all left behind as signs of history since Chester was once one of the great military bases in Roman England.

A resident of Chester is known as a “Cestrian” and in order to be called by this name, residents must have been born within the city’s Roman walls. There are parts of Chester which are about two thousand years old and as you walk along the walls you can see the tower from which once King Charles I watched his troops in battle.

There are lots of interesting and lovely places to see. Take a walk along the riverside. The Groves is a riverside promenade that runs along the River Dee from Grosvenor Park to the Old Hand Bridge. This is also the best place to take a trip down the river in your vessel of choice from a motorized tour boat to a rowboat or even a pedalo.

A specific medieval feature is The Rows. These are double-level walkways with a continuous line of balconies. Shops are located at street and first-floor levels.

Grosvenor Park is a classical, 19th century designed park which has a typical Victorian layout. There are formal avenues that are lined with trees, sweeping lawns surrounded by ornamental shrub beds and bedding plants. Since the park is located near the River Dee there are great views over the river to the meadows and Queen’s Park.

Chester Zoo is well worth looking at. It is among the best in Europe. They have a world-class elephant collection and there is a unique bat cave. There are more than 11,000 animals to view and 400 different species.

For some real excitement go to the Chester Racecourse which was once the site of a Roman port. Races are hosted a few times during the year. It counts as the oldest racecourse still in use in England dating back to the 16th century.

Home of the Beatles

Liverpool is a city in Merseyside, England and it is famous for its great and vibrant nightlife, football teams and the world-famous rock band The Beatles. It was awarded the title of European Capital of Culture in 2008.

The city’s famous Pier Head Waterfront is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lots of popular rock and roll artists come from Liverpool and were part of the British Invasion to the U.S. in the 1960s. Some of the attractions that draw tourists are Europe’s Oldest Chinatown and the famous Grand National Horse Race held on the outskirts of the city in Aintree.

Liverpool’s Chinatown is located near Liverpool Cathedral. The arch which is the gateway to Chinatown happens to be the largest multiple-span arch of its type found outside of China.

Tourists come to see St. George’s Hall on Lime Street. This is a gargantuan building in the Greco-Roman style built by wealthy merchants to the people living in the city. Inside you can see one of the best church organs in Europe.

When touring Liverpool you must see Albert Dock which is located in the largest collection of Grade I listed buildings in the U.K. Here old warehouses have been converted into apartments, shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels, galleries and museums.

At Albert Dock, you will also find the Beatles Story which is the only museum in the world to be entirely themed on the Beatles. On display are their instruments and other artefacts. Other attractions based on the Beatles include their homes, Penny Lane, commemorative statues, Strawberry Fields and much more.

Tourists can also choose to take guided tours including “hop-on, hop-off” buses or guided walking tours. Also, a great way to see Liverpool on one of the city’s open-top buses.

Tours include:

The Magical Mystery Tour for Beatles fans. It takes tourists around to the places associated with the popular four both in the city centre and in the suburbs.

Liverpool Entente Cordial Tours guide people around the city and offer tours in both English and French.

The Beatles Fab Four Taxi Tour takes you to the childhood homes of the Fab Four.

If you love to stroll and see nature you must visit the parks of Liverpool. This city boasts more parks than Paris, France. One of the parks – Birkenhead Park was designed after Central Park in New York City in the U.S.

Port City Newcastle Upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne is a port city located in the northeast of England which has the best nightlife in all of Britain. It is a city which has a lot going for it including art, music, nightlife and sports. Newcastle is the starting point for tours of the Northumberland coast and Hadrian’s Wall. It is also home to the Gordie Culture which has a rich heritage of folk music and dance as well as its own dialect.

Tourists can take lovely walks along the River Tyne which has a pedestrian quayside path. The Tyne Bridge is a great example of a compression arch suspended-deck bridge.

Explore the remains of Castle Keep which was built in the 13th century.

Grainger Tower is the fantastic and historic heart of the city. It has classic style streets and some of the finest buildings. Of special interest are the Grainger Market and Theatre Royal. Grainger Market dates back to 1830 and there are lots of stalls selling fresh produce as well as books, CDs, clothes and shoes.

Grey’s Monument is located in the heart of Grainger Town. It is a monument which was built in honour of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey. The wide base beneath the monument is a popular spot for people-watching. It is also a place for buskers (street musicians), religious speakers and political activists to speak out. The monument has an internal staircase which when open lets visitors walk up a narrow staircase to get amazing views of the city.

Newcastle’s Chinatown is located in the city centre opposite St. James Park. There are lots of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese restaurants and shops. Visitors enter the area through a ceremonial Chinese arch. Every Chinese New Year there is a festival and traditional parade held here drawing thousands of tourists.

Day trips can be taken to Hadrian’s Wall where you can visit the Roman fort and museum. Tourists can hike on the Hadrian’s Wall Trail to Housesteads where the fort and museum are located.

Northampton

Northampton is the county town of Northamptonshire. It is located halfway between the cities of Birmingham and London. Even though it is not a very large place there are still certain interesting things which you can see and do.

Guildhall is a classic neo-gothic style building that was built in 1861. It is now home to the Northampton Borough of Council offices and is located across from the Tourist Information office.

For great views go to the Northampton Lift Tower. The 127-meter tower was opened in 1982 by the Queen. It is the only structure of its kind in the country.

Abington Park is loved by families for its ornamental gardens, tree-lined pathways, lakes and play areas.

Nature lovers enjoy the parkland surrounding Delapre Abbey. There are ornamental rock and water gardens, a walled garden with a sculpture trail, extensive woods and lakes. The abbey was founded in 1145 for a community of nuns from the great Abbey of Cluney in France.

Beckets Park curves around River Nene in the center of town. There is an 80-berth marina, a riverside walk, public art, play areas, tennis courts and a skate park. Every year there is an exciting river festival.

There’s some nice shopping to be done along Abington Street which is the main pedestrian shopping area. Both the Grosvenor Centre and Peacock Place shopping centers have entrances from this street. St. Giles Street is one of the many little streets that crisscrosses the town and has lots of small independent shops offering various different wares.

Northampton has one of the oldest and largest market squares in England. There are lots of wonderful Georgian buildings surrounding the square. Market Square is often referred to as the heart of the town. All sorts of produce and other products are sold from Tuesday to Saturday.

While visiting Northampton you can also take a trip just outside of town to Althorp House to visit the final resting place of Princess Diana. Althorp House has lovely staterooms and sits on 550 acres of parkland.

Oxford On the Thames

Oxford counts as the oldest university town in the U.K. and it’s located around 50 miles to the west of the capital, London. This charming town is right on the Thames River. There are medieval churches and colleges which are full of lovely Gothic architecture. Oxford has an idyllic setting with rolling meadows and quiet countryside.

Oxford has a certain air of magic. If you wonder where author J.K. Rowling got her inspiration for hidden stairways, secret passages and unusual rooms then just wander about Oxford University. Among the 38 independent colleges which constitute the University of Oxford, you’ll discover to your delight tiny wooden doors that are set in stone walls or between shops. These doors open out onto courtyards of palatial buildings giving one a feel of being in a magical place. A great many scenes in the series of Harry Potter movies were filmed in some of Oxford’s colleges and if you like there are tours which will show you the places where Harry lived.

At Hertford College, you will discover a quaint pedestrian bridge known as Hertford Bridge or the Bridge of Sighs.

An unusual building to see is Sheldonian Theater. This theater was the first architectural commission for Sir Christopher Wren. Oxford graduation ceremonies are held here. Facing Broad Street there is a series of busts that all have unusual expressions and facial hair.

Oxford University’s Taylor Institution is a center for studying modern European languages and literature. You don’t want to miss taking a look at the library which has the largest specialist collection in its field in England. Pay attention to the neo-classical architecture.

If you would like to get some great views of Oxford then head on over to the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin. From the tall church tower, you can see breathtaking sights. The church is worth exploring as it dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries and there are amazing vaults and a lovely garden. If you want to relax and take a pause there is a coffee shop.

You can commune with nature and explore the University of Oxford Botanical Gardens. It is lovely there as you stroll among beautiful plants and blooms.

Shakespeare’s Home Town

In the English county of Warwickshire, is the historic town of Stratford-Upon-Avon situated on the Avon River. Tourists are most interested in visiting this lovely town because it is the hometown of the great English playwright and poet, William Shakespeare. Visitors enjoy seeing the plays given by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the town has become one of the major tourist destinations in the U.K.

Stratford-Upon-Avon is a small town where everyone can walk to all the shops, restaurants, and attractions. There are guided walking and bus tours available. The bus tour also takes tourists out of town to the countryside to see Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Shottery and Mary Arden’s House in Wilmcote. Tourists can either walk all about the town or they can hire a mobility scooter.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace has been restored with 16th-century decor and still has lots of authentic items. There are also lovely gardens to explore.

A very popular place for people-watching is The Bancroft Gardens and river area. During the good weather, there are areas for picnics and river activities. In the summertime, you can see the Avon River teeming with rowboats and motorboats and river cruises are available. You can see Birmingham to Stratford Canal with lots of colorful narrowboats. The public gets entertained by jugglers, fire-eaters and magicians.

There is a lovely water fountain at the edge of the gardens called the Swan Fountain and was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II in 1996.

Ann Hathaway’s Cottage is a most romantic cottage. It is located about a mile from the centre of town. Hathaway later became the wife of Shakespeare and lived in the cottage until she married. It has been restored and has many family heirlooms on display and is surrounded by scenic gardens.

Holy Trinity Church is the burial site of William Shakespeare. It draws lots of his admirers. Tourists can take a look at this church as it is still a functioning church. To view the playwright’s grave you are asked to give a donation.

The Falstaff Experience is the most unique and haunted building in the world. It is also the largest museum in Stratford and includes Tudor World which is the only museum that is entirely dedicated to the Tudor era. In the evenings you can join spooky ghost tours lit by lanterns. Lots of paranormal investigations have taken place here.

York an Ancient City

This is an ancient city with a history that dates back to Roman times. The city is located in North Yorkshire, England and has some of the very best-preserved historical buildings and structures in all of Europe. York is also known as England’s “City of Festivals”. The official festivals which are held here are the Viking Festival, the Festival of Angels, Early Music, Late Music, Horse Racing, Multicultural Food and Arts and many more. York is a fascinating city for both young and old.

York Minster is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe. It dominates the skyline and dates all the way back to the 8th century. It is one of the places most visited by tourists who come to York.

Jorvik Viking Centre is world-famous and a popular tourist attraction. It gives visitors the opportunity to journey through reconstructed Viking-age streets and see how they looked 1000 years ago.

York Castle Museum has exhibitions which are enjoyed by both young and old. Among the exhibits are Kirkgate, a Victorian street, Half Moon Court, an Edwardian street and costumes and toys as they were through the ages. Since the museum was built in a part of a former prison. Visitors can also explore the old cells.

Clifford’s Tower represents the medieval castle of York and is located in the centre of town. Here visitors can get panoramic views of York and the surrounding countryside from the top of the tower.

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall building is Europe’s finest medieval Guildhall and is an ancient monument. There are three rooms serving three functions of medieval guild business, charity, and religion. Above is the superb Great Hall and below is the Undercroft or Hospital and Chapel.

Take an interesting walk along one of the most-visited streets in Europe. This is a narrow cobblestone street called The Shambles. It is lined with Tudor buildings that date back to the 15th century. They overhang so much that they might just seem to meet directly above your head. It is a medieval-looking street that will make you feel as if you have stepped back in time. Its odd name The Shambles comes from the Saxon word shamel which means “slaughterhouse”. Back in 1862 along this street, there were 26 butcher shops.