South West England

Must see and do

• Eden Project, Cornwall
• Roman Baths, Bath
• Stonehenge, Wiltshire
• Bath Spa, Bath
• Bristol Zoo Gardens, Bristol
• Exeter Cathedral, Devon
• Wells Cathedral, Somerset
• Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
• Dartmoor, Devon
• Exmoor, Somerset          

Must see and do

• Herefordshire Regimental Museum, Hereford 
• The Rugby Museum, Rugby 
• Coventry Transport Museum, Coventry
• Ironbrige Gorge, Shropshire        

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Like the rest of England, the Heart of England is charmingly individual, but the bonus is that the Heart of England is at the hub of Britain’s road network, so exploring every last bit of it is made very easy! You don’t have to fly into London because there is the international airport at Birmingham right in the centre of the region.  Birmingham is also now able to offer a world-class cultural scene, superb shopping, top attractions, fantastic nightlife, major international events and exhibitions

Take some time to visit the Cotswolds, taking in the many honey-coloured villages. The potteries of Staffordshire to the north of the region are juxtaposed with Shakespeare’s Stratford-on-Avon and the nearby lesser-known parts of Warwickshire. Close by lies the Black Country, and a visit here will reveal a rich seam of art, crafts, tradition and culture with modern architectural design sitting alongside villages from the Victorian era.

Explore the counties of Herefordshire and Shropshire along the beautiful borderlands of England and Wales, sampling the myriad of excellent restaurants and locally produced food. Don’t forget to discover the real taste of the countryside in Herefordshire’s famous cider.

In Worcestershire you can find fine churches, historic buildings and a thriving arts scene with internationally acclaimed festivals and events.

This is just a taster of what’s on offer in the Heart of England, you have to come here yourself to discover the rest!

Must see and do

• Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool
• Manchester City Art Gallery, Manchester
• The Tate, Liverpool
• Tatton Park, Knutsford
• Imperial War Museum North, Salford
• Lancaster Castle, Lancaster
• Beatles Museum, Liverpool
• Jodrell Bank Science Centre, Macclesfield
• Muncaster Castle, Cumbria
• Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site, Cumbria     

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This is the region for city breaks, exploring famously-fashionable haunts, historic streets and buildings. It’s a region to walk, cycle and discover the landscapes and wildlife of unspoilt villages. 

There is always a feast of sporting entertainment including international cricket, championship golf courses and Premiership football.

The North West is also bursting with cultural confidence, from outstanding national museums and galleries to magical sculptures and blockbuster theatre events.

There are great places to stay in chic city centre hotels, rural retreats, country houses and cosy pubs.

You’ll find it all in England’s North West.

Must see and do

• National Railway Museum, York
• National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, Bradford
• National Coal Mining Museum for England, Wakefield
• Royal Armouries, Leeds
• National Fishing Heritage Centre, Grimsby
• MAGNA, Rotherham
• The Deep, Hull
• Flamingo Land, near Malton 
• Earth Centre, Doncaster
• York Minster, York                      

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Yorkshire is your open door to so many different experiences. It's big and boundless, a mix of magnetic landscapes, seductive seascapes and vibrant cities that change by the minute and the mile. 

Unwind in its quieter side among timeless green vales and dales dotted with traditional villages. Be part of the buzz of a fast-moving city scene. Feel sea breezes in your face and sand between your toes at charming seaside resorts and salty old harbours. Tuck into the best fish and chips you’ve ever tasted, then savour the finest sophisticated cuisine at award-winning restaurants and inns. Take a trip back in time at atmospheric castles, abbeys and historic houses. Or leap forward to the future at state-of-the-art attractions.

Yorkshire is a unique mix of influences and inspirational places. It's restful and zestful, forward looking yet founded on a bedrock of traditional values. We're a friendly, straight-talking lot in these parts. And we take great pride and pleasure in introducing visitors to Yorkshire's many and varied faces.

Plain speaking may be part of Yorkshire's character, but there's nothing plain about this captivating part of Britain.   Country or city, trendy or traditional, ancient history or cutting-edge contemporary  – Yorkshire has it all.

Must see and do

• Blue Reef Aquarium, Southsea, Portsmouth
• Penshurst Place & Gardens, Tonbridge, Kent
• Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, Oxford
• Drusillas Park, Polegate, East Sussex
• Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berks
• Leeds Castle and Gardens, Maidstone, Kent
• Osborne House, East Cowes, Isle of Wight
• Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking, Surrey
• Exbury Gardens, Exbury, Southampton, Hampshire
• Wakehurst Place Gardens, Ardingly, West Sussex                                

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South East England is England at its best! From Kent, the 'Garden of England' to the breathtaking Dorset Heritage Coast and the Isle of Wight to the mellow Oxfordshire villages, the South East of England provides the perfect mix - quaint villages, rolling countryside, dramatic coastline, seaside chic and heritage cities. Choose from rural tranquillity, city sightseeing, invigorating coastlines and seaside fun for a break with great variety.  

There are dozens of gardens to visit in the South East, which brim with unforgettable pleasures, from the world famous Sissinghurst and romantic Nymans, or Cliveden overlooking the River Thames near Maidenhead to the Savill Garden in Windsor Great Park or exotic Leonardslee, near Horsham.

History has left a trail of magnificent buildings from all eras, Fishbourne Roman Palace, 12th-century Canterbury Cathedral and wonderful castles such as Leeds Castle in Kent or Windsor Castle, the Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen.

You are never far from the coast and its associated maritime heritage. The Historic Dockyard at Chatham covers 400 years of maritime history while Portsmouth is the site of Henry VIII's ship the Mary Rose, Admiral Lord Nelson's HMS Victory and HMS Warrior.

It's easy to escape the crowds here, visit the Oxfordshire Cotswolds famed for its thatched stone cottages, or walk high up on the North and South Downs or the Surrey Hills - it's well worth the effort! 

So close to London, this region of history and heritage, coast and countryside awaits your discovery! 

Tourism South East – Top Destinations 
Canterbury
Brighton
Oxford
Isle of Wight
The Royal Borough of Windsor

Must see and do

• Northumbira Craft Centre, Morpeth
• University Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne                    

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Northumbria is a powerful place. Wild, lonely moors and rugged sandy beaches coupled with the vibrant, urban buzz of the city. A place of contrasts, where there's lots to do, both indoors and out. The right-hand side is seaside and the left-hand side heathery hills and moody mountains with the famous World Heritage Site Hadrian's Wall running right through the middle. Shiny, cities like Newcastle and Durham are thriving with lots of shopping and plenty of nightlife. Bustling market towns and pretty villages are scattered around the region.

With four sub-regions making up Northumbria, England's North East (Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham and Tees Valley), it's a big place with lots going on!

Northumbria can lay claim to being The Cradle of English Christianity - St Aidan came to Holy Island in AD635 and English history was first written by Bede, at Jarrow. There's also Durham, "the finest Norman Cathedral in the world". 

For railways – think Northumbria! In 1825 George Stephenson first designed a steam engine to run on rails. 

Characters! That's how people often describe Northumbrians! Maybe that's because people here make time to chat, they're naturally friendly and love a good laugh. Come and see for yourself. You will be welcome

Must see and do

• The London Eye, London 
• The Thames Barrier, London 
• Caen Hill Lock Flight, Devizes 
• Bingley Five Rise Locks, Yorkshire 
• Albert Dock, Liverpool 
• Breydon Water, Norfolk 
• 'Little Switzerland', Stafford 
• The Backs, Cambridge 
• Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire 
• Gas Street Basin, Birmingham               

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From award winning beaches to green corridors threading through picturesque market towns and bustling cities, England’s waterside offers the perfect escape. Whether it's boating, walking, cycling or simply relaxing in a waterside pub, you’re never more than a few miles from escaping the pressures of day-to-day life.

2005 will be a year of national maritime celebration with SeaBritain events throughout the year. Whether you live in a coastal town, the most landlocked part of the country or somewhere in-between – everyone can get involved.

See for yourself: discover England's waterside!

Must see and do

• Gateshead Millennium Bridge 
• Kielder Dam, Bellingham 
• Tees Barrage, Stockton-on-Tees 
• Tees Transporter Bridge, Middlesborough 
• High Force Waterfall, Forest-in-Teesdale    

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There are particularly uncrowded and unspoilt beaches in Northumbria.  Embleton Bay has received the coveted UK number one beach title, for its apricot-coloured sand and views to the dramatic medieval ruin of Dunstanburgh Castle.

For centuries, the three great rivers of Northumbria have been the lifeblood of the cities of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland and Middlesborough.

The River Tyne flows from rural springs through the heart of Newcastle and Gateshead to the seaside resort of Tynemouth. Angling, rowing and canoeing are especially popular on the Tyne, plus all the big city amenities of Newcastle.

The River Wear winds itself around the ancient city of Durham and its dramatically-located Norman cathedral before making its way to Sunderland and the sea.

The Tees, a former medieval trading river, was until recently a major commercial navigation. Now, the rural surroundings and spectacular Tees Barrage draw walkers and pleasure boaters to enjoy life on the water. Its High Force Waterfall is the longest unbroken fall of water in England.

Tucked away at the top of Northumberland, close to the Scottish border and Hadrian's Wall, and with a 27-mile shoreline, beautiful Kielder Water is the largest man-made lake in Europe. It sits within the Kielder Forest - Britain's largest - which is home to many native species.

See for yourself: discover Northumbria’s lakes and rivers!

Must see and do

• Museum of Lakeland Life, Kendal
• Windermere Steamboart Centre
• Dock Museum, Barrow-in-Furness 
• Albert Dock, Liverpool
• Merseyside Maritime Museum
• 'Little Switzerland', Leek
• Amderton Boat Lift, Nortwich
• The Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port    

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England’s most stunning waterside scenery is to be found in the Lake District, where towering hills and dramatic ridges give way to beautiful lakes and stone-built villages. Perfect walking country, the Cumbrian hills also offer plenty of opportunities to get on your bike, take a cruise on a lake, or just soak in the sights.

Lake Windermere is England’s longest natural lake and a magnet for visitors. Second-largest Ullswater provided the vista commemorated by William Wordsworth in his poem, The Daffodils.

Coniston Water along with elements of Windermere inspired Arthur Ransome to write the Swallows & Amazons series of books that for nearly a century have captivated generations of children to take to the water. There’s a dark side to Coniston, too. It’s where Donald Cambell and Bluebird crashed in his 1967 pursuit of the world water speed record.

The Leeds & Liverpool Canal is the UK’s longest man-made waterway, passing through beautiful Pennine scenery on its way to the Mersey waterfront district that inspired the Beatles. 

But it’s not all history and industry. Just a few miles from the buzz of Manchester’s canalside bars and galleries is the rural tranquillity of the Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals. And near to the heart of Liverpool, City of Culture, the Dee and Mersey estuaries offer world-class wetland habitats.

It all adds up to a unique heritage, ready for you to discover by boat, foot or bike.

See for yourself the canals and rivers of England’s North West!

Must see and do

• Gloucester Docks & National Waterways Museum 
• Bristol's Waterfront 
• Symonds Yat, River Wye 
• Dundas Aqueduct, Wiltshire 
• Caen Hill Locks, Devizes 
• Exeter Ship Canal 
• Tintern Abbey, River Wye 
• Bath            

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Three of England's greatest rivers combine with idyllic, rural canals to make the South West a waterway world well worth exploring.

Uniquely, Cornwall and Devon are home to some of Europe’s most spectacular surfing and extreme sport beaches. The south west as a whole is home to some of England’s most spectacular coastline and more Blue Flag beaches than any other UK region.

The River Severn is Britain's longest, boasting the famous Severn Bore - an occasional "tidal wave" that attracts surfers and onlookers in their thousands. Passing the great cathedral city of Gloucester and its historic docks, the Severn is a truly world-class waterway.

The River Wye was one of the greatest tourist attractions of the Victorian Age, and with good reason. Stunning views, beautiful woodland scenery and great waterside pubs make this a scenic marvel without compare.

And for a really well-kept secret, seek out the Cotswold Canals. Closed to boats for many years, you can discover the evocative ruins of the majestic Sapperton Tunnel, and marvel at the volunteer work that is now bringing these beautiful waterways back to life.

Bristol

Bristol has been at the cutting edge of discovery and creativity since merchant adventurers bustled about the harbour in the Middle Ages. Today the revitalised Habourside is as busy as ever but with people enjoying themselves to the full, making the most of the restaurants, bars, attractions and activities.

SS Great Britain
The steamship Great Britain is a unique survival from Victorian times: the world’s first iron hulled, screw-propeller driven, steam-powered passenger liner. It is currently being restored to its former splendour.
Extreme Iron is an exhibition in the Maritime Heritage Centre displaying many of the ship’s artefacts. 
t: (0117) 926 0680

The Matthew
The Matthew is a replica of the ship in which John Cabot crossed the Atlantic in 1497 and discovered Newfoundland. It is moored next to SS Great Britain and visitors can explore its depths. It also runs evening courses in summer and autumn.
t: (0117) 9225 737

At-Bristol
Three amazing attractions in one – Explore, Wildwalk and an IMAX theatre. Explore lets you ‘explore’ the power and forces of water in several hands-on exhibits and Wildwalk is a living rainforest in the heart of the city.
t: 0845 345 1235

Industrial Heritage Museum
Fascinating museum featuring all aspects of the city’s great industrial heritage.
t: (0117) 925 1470

Bristol Harbour Railway
A steam train ride along the dockside from the Industrial Museum to the Maritime Heritage Centre and SS Great Britain.
t: (0117) 925 1470

Bristol Ferry Boat Co
Operates waterbus services in Bristol plus Avon Gorge trips.
t: (0117) 927 3416

The Bristol Packet
River cruises, dock tours, private hire and boat parties, tour of dockside pubs, day trips to Bath, evening river cruise.
t: (0117) 926 8157

Waverley
Trips on the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world and Balmoral, traditional pleasure cruise ship.
t: 0845 130 4647

Guided harbourside walks
Bristol Tourist Information Centre
Pirate Walk Two-hour guided walk visiting Long John Silver's dockside inn and other pirate haunts. 
Maritime Bristol Discover the historic harbour, Redcliffe and Old Town areas.
A Respectable Trade? Bristol Merchants & The Slave A walk through the old port and town that lets you find out about the men, ships and motivations that brought so much wealth to Bristol.
t: 0906 711 2191

Bristol Harbour Festival
The city’s most spectacular annual waterside event takes place 31 July-1 August, 2004. The free festival features a range of entertainment for the family both on and off the water such as local and French market, music stages and water displays, attracting around 200,000 visitors and countless boats.