KENT COTTAGES

Kent's epithet is "The Garden of England" for you'll find apple orchards, hop fields and vineyards, as well as oast houses, built as kilns to dry the hops, but now often converted into homes. Kent lies in an area called the Weald, offering pretty villages of timber-framed, pantile-hung buildings. Much of the Kent countryside is designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and incorporates a glorious mix of farmland, ancient woodland and dramatic chalk escarpments. Breathtaking panoramic vistas and enclosed steep valleys create great diversity in the natural landscape.

BLACKPOOL

Lancashire's famous resort of Blackpool still have a working-class flavor. Candy floss and donkey rides on the beach, fish and chips and "Kiss Me Quick" hats, nightclubs and fairgrounds, guest houses run by matronly landladies - the North's top seaside resort is unashamedly unpretentious and brash. More famous than its 7 miles of sandy beaches and its three piers are the landmark Blackpool Tower modelled on the Eiffel Tower in Paris; Blackpool Pleasure Beach with 140 rides and entertainments including a dozen rollercoasters; in September and October, the glittering light show of the Blackpool Illuminations. With an abundance of award-winning attractions, Blackpool has something for everyone.

BLACKPOOL TOWER AND ILLUMINATIONS

Built in 1894, The Blackpool Tower is one of the most iconic buildings in the UK and one of Britain’s best-loved landmarks. It houses five amazing attractions, perfect for a fun-packed day for all to enjoy. A beautiful brick building and iconic tower which is worth visiting for the architecture as much as the attractions within. Great views from the top and the glass walkway is always a good test of your nerves.

Received from Thomas Goatherd

Visit Blackpool

THE LAKE DISTRICT

The Lake District is a beautiful part of Great Britain and many writers and poets have lived there. It has England's finest mountain scenery, with over 60 summits, called "fells", of over 2,500 feet. Beneath the peaks lie lush stone-walled pastures and the lakes themselves, either glinting in the sunlight or moody and ruffled in the frequent rainstorms.

 SUNSET OVER GREAT GABLE, LAKE DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK

The Lake District has some of the best walking in Britain. Most fells are accessible to the averagely fit. You need a good map and a good pair of walking shoes. For over two hundred years tourists have been coming here: the resident William Wordsworth complained bitterly about it. Now the "Lake Poets" (Wordsworth , Coleridge, Southey) add to the area's appeal.

SUNRISE, RYDAL WATER, LAKE DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK

People come here for beautiful scenery, clean fresh air and to enjoy the lakes.The lakes are known as "waters" or "meres". Spring and fall are the best times to visit: in summer, roads and villages are packed with vacationers and the lovely country-house hotels can be full.

Received from Thomas, Northamptonshire

PURBECK

The Isle of Purbeck, Dorset

This promontory of Dorset downs and heathland is an island only by name. Its chief sight is Corfe Castle, a jumble of jagged Norman graystone ruins set dramatically on a hilltop. It stands on the site of a hunting lodge. The Castle was reduced to ruins you see today by Oliver Cromwell's forces during the English Civil War. On the coast north of the resort of Swanage stand the chalk stacks of the Old Harry Rocks, and the long, dune-backed sandy beaches of Studland Bay. Near Wareham the Tank Museum displays more than 250 fighting vehicles from around the world. Wareham is one of the few remaining Saxon walled towns in England. The popular beauty spot of Lulworth Cove is a fine example of sea winning the battle against cliffs, which in this case are made of crumbly chalk. At Durdle Door, the sea has gnawed away to form a spectacular natural arch.

Wareham   Swanage   Studland

Lulworth   Corfe Castle   Lulworth Cove 

Visit the Isle of Purbeck 

Received from Tom Goats 

BRIGHTON

Only 60 kms from London, Brighton's nickname in the 19th century was 'London-by-the-Sea'. The town earned a reputation as the classic rendezvous for adulterers. The Brighton of today is a mix of seaside resort, elegant well-to-do Regency town, major conference venue, and a top nightclubbing scene. The seafront is the place to come for fish and chips and a snooze in a deckchair. Poking out of the shingle beach is the decrepit West Pier and the quarter-mile-long Palace Pier, with souvenir stalls, fortune-tellers, fairground rides and the Sea Life Centre, an excellent aquarium.

ROYAL PAVILION, BRIGHTON

The Royal Pavilion at Brighton, which was originally built between 1784 and 1820, has recently been restored, allowing the brilliant coloring, gilt and chandeliers to shine once again. A riot of domes and minarets determines its unmistakable outline - "like a collection of stone pumpkins and pepperpots," according to the essayist William Hazlitt. This extraordinary pleasure palace is in loose pastiche of Chinese and Indian styles.

Received from Thomas, Northamptonshire

LIVERPOOL

Liverpool is one of the largest cities on England. People started living on Liverpool on 1207. It became a city in 1880. Liverpool is on the River Mersey with easy access to the Atlantic. It became a major sea port in the 18th century.
Blighted by urban decay after decades of economic decline, Liverpool may not sound like an appealing place to visit, yet the resilient Liverpudlians (or "Scousers"), the twin modern cathedrals, the first-rate art galleries and score of museums, the musical and maritime heritage, make this one of England's most engrossing cities.

 

Mersey Tunnel Entrance. St. George's Hall. Cathedral. Landing Stage

The neo-Gothic Anglican cathedral, the largest of its denomination in the world, and biggest church in England, is the masterpiece of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. Begun in 1904, it was finished three-quarters of a century later.
St. George's Hall - one of the country's finest neo-classical buildings and tone-setter for the surrounding, undeniably impressive cityscape.

Liverpool is a city with unique attractions, exciting events, world class sport offerings, unrivalled musical heritage and famously warm welcomes, Liverpool is the ideal destination to visit and explore:

VISITLIVERPOOL 2018

BOURTON

The Venice of the Cotswolds 

Bourton-on-the-Water is a village in Gloucestershire, England that lies on a wide flat vale within the Cotswolds Area. This popular village is often referred to as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ because of the attractive little bridges that cross the gently flowing River Windrush, which runs through the centre of the village. Bourton is renowned for its pretty waterside views and quaint limestone buildings. Packed with visitor attraction, including a 1937 scale model of the village. It is best visited either very early or very late in the day. It has a charm all of its own at any time of the year. Regularly voted one of the prettiest villages in England. 

Flowing through the main street and passing under low stone bridges, the River Windrush enhances the beauty of this Cotswold village

Bourton-on -the-Water has a unique appeal to visitors and residents alike. Known as the Venice of the Cotswolds, this one village offers a wealth of attractions and shops, restaurants and tea rooms, or simply the space for you to enjoy some tranquil time by the River Windrush, spanned by its five arched bridges.

The Bourton-on-the-Water Visitor Information 

BEAUTY SPOTS OF SUSSEX

Sussex  is a historic county in South East England. It is bounded to the west by Hampshire, north by Surrey, northeast by Kent, south by the English Channel. The emblem of Sussex consists of six gold martlets, on a blue field, blazoned as azure.  

Situated in Sussex on the south coast of England between Brighton and Eastbourne, Rottingdean is a few minutes from Brighton and 90 minutes from London by road. There is plenty to do and see in Rottingdean with its beach and seafront, picturesque village green, gardens and pond as well as the famous windmill. The village has a rich and fascinating story. Rottingdean offers a blend of traditional village life, contrasting coastline and rolling countryside – a rich and diverse experience.

The village of Alfriston bustles with visitors: it has medieval medieval-framed inns, flint cottages, tea and antique shops. A trip to Alfriston makes for a relaxing break to explore the historic heritage of the village as well as the surrounding countryside. Nearby, carved into the chalk of the Downs, is the Long Man of Wilmington, a 227-foot figure, probably of Anglo-Saxon origin.

Rye today is much-visited, classic medieval town with a stone gateway. Timber-framed and tile-hung houses stand along cobbled streets, of which Mermaid Street is the prettiest. From a picturesque cobbled street, step back in time into one of England’s oldest & loveliest inns. The Mermaid's quiet, unassuming facade looks down on famous cobbled Mermaid Street and although the sign outside the olde worlde black and white timbered hotel says ''rebuilt in 1420'' the cellars are some 300 years older, dating back to 1156.

Eastbourne is a world-famous tourist destination with five miles of unspoilt beaches, a vibrant arts and entertainment scene and is gateway to the beautiful South Downs National Park. Located on the South East coast of the UK Eastbourne has won awards such as “Best UK Resort” and “Most Welcoming Town in Britain”. There are plenty of attractions and fun things to do from theme parks and zoos to exploring the area's history, discover 1066 castles, museums and art galleries.

LEEDS

Situated in the middle of the United Kingdom, with a diverse population of 751,500, Leeds is the third largest and one of the fastest growing, greenest cities in the UK. Metropolitan district’s current population actually makes it the second biggest in England after Birmingham. The city center holds a flamboyant variety of Victorian architecture, in ornate shopping malls and proud  public buildings such as the Corn Exchange and Town Hall. The City Art Gallery excels in its Victorian and 20th-century British art (notably sculpture by Henry Moore). while Armley Mills Museum and Thwaite Mills recall the city's industrial heritage.

Roundhay Park * Civic Hall * Merrion Centre * Boar Lane

The city’s coat of arms has three stars taken from the coat of arms of Sir Thomas Danby, its first mayor; fleece to symbolise the wool industry and three owls taken from the coat of arms of Sir John Saville, who was the first Alderman of Leeds. Leeds’ motto of ‘Pro rege et lege’ is latin and means ‘For king and the law’.

PORTSMOUTH

Portsmouth is a dynamic and vibrant waterfront city. Ideally situated on the south coast of England, the UK’s only island city is ideal for a short break by the sea. There are lots of things to do in Portsmouth, with magnificent museums, live music venues, contemporary art galleries, two cathedrals, a diverse literary heritage, nightlife, festivals and countless events throughout the year.
Portsmouth was the birthplace of Charles Dickens, and has also been home to Arthur Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling during their lifetimes. These literary greats are celebrated at museums throughout the city and with frequent events.

The centrepiece of Portsmouth's bustling harbour area, the elegant Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays, is the tallest public viewing tower in the United Kingdom, rising 170 metres above sea level and offering spectacular views along the south coast.

Received from Polish blogger Magda

CAMBRIDGE

Cambridge is an extremely compact place. Cambridge University swamps the town. As one of the world's most famous and oldest universities, founded when students were driven out of Oxford by rioting in the early 13th century, its medieval colleges are simply superlative. 
The Backs (i.e. the backs of the colleges), where lawns reach down to the Cam River, is very picturesque and best experienced on a punt. At the front, the handsome facades of these same colleges dominate the layout of the town centre,  lining up along the main streets.

Many of the buildings are extraordinary beautiful, but the most famous is King's College, whose King's College Chapel is one of the great statements of late Gothic architecture. There are 31 university colleges in total, each an independent, self-governing body, proud of its achievements.
Nosing around the colleges' hidden courts and gardens, and searching out ancient libraries, refectories and chapels is the most pleasurable part of a visit.  

Read more:  
Cambridge City Council
University of Cambridge

Postcrossing Postcard: GB-376024

OXFORD

Oxford is ninety kilometres from London and only sixty kilometres from Heathrow Airport. The River Thames runs through Oxford, and the River Cherwell joins it there. The land is low, but there are hills to the west. One of the most peaceful ways to enjoy Oxford is by walking along the riverbanks, watching the rowing eights at practice and occasionally glancing up at the "dreaming spires" on the skyline. 

Oxford spires from South Park

The city is an important centre for work, shopping and nighlife. But people from all over the world, come to Oxford to see the fine buildings, the museums, and the parks and gardens. Much of the city is old and very beautiful. Oxford is a very interesting city, and many visitors fall in love with it.

Radcliffe Camera

More than 110,000 people have their homes in Oxford. But in some months of the year there are a lot more people in the city; thousands of students come from other towns for parts of the year.

The Sheldonian Theatre (1664)

Designed by St Christopher Wren, where degree ceremonies are  held

The College of St Mary Magdalen 

The college was founded on St Swithun's Day in 1458 by William Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VI. Today, Magdalen is one of the largest Colleges in Oxford both in student numbers and also ground area. From  the top of the building  there is singing  at dawn (six o'clock ) on May Morning each year.  A few students make the dangerous jump from Magdalen Bridge into the river below.

Magdalen College Tower from the Botanic Garden

GREAT BRITAIN

This is the name of the island which is made up of England, Scotland and Wales. The origin of the word 'Great' is a reference to size, because in many European languages the word for Britain and Brittany in France are the same. In fact, it was the French who first talked about Grande Bretagne! In everyday speech 'Britain' is used to mean United Kingdom.
The flag of the United Kingdom, known as the Union Jack, is made up of three crosses. The upright red cross is the cross of St George, the patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross is the cross of St Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The red diagonal cross is the cross of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

England is a land of scenic mountains, as well as great urban sprawls and congested roads. Scotland has two of the country's most absorbing cities. It is a land of tartan kilts, bagpipes, drams of whisky and misty glens. Wales offers superb introductions to a lost industrial heritage as well as abounds with lush valleys and medieval castles.

HAMPSHIRE

Hampshire is a county of chalk downlands above winding valleys of the swift little Itchen, Test and Meon streams and the open heathland and woods of the New Forest in the south. In the middle sits Winchester - boasting one of the noblest cathedrals and most beautiful old schools in the country. There are pockets of real rural beauty to discover here.

Neither new, nor really a forest, the New Forest remains without doubt one of the most individual stretches of countryside in the South of England. It was set aside by William the Conqueror in 1079 as a royal hunting ground. The heathland and wooded enclosures of the New Forest offer interesting rambles. Deer are still common, though you're more likely to meet wild ponies. 

Cottages at Southwick, Hursley, The New Forest and Longparish show the character of Hampshire's vernacular style.

The pretty village Longparish with its abundance of thatched and period properties is situated on the beautiful River Test and bordered to the north by the remains of Harewood Forest. It boasts two excellent pubs and is a perfect location for walking, cycling and exploring the North Wessex Downs.

Visit Hampshire

THE ISLE OF WIGHT

Though a separate county since 1974, the lozenge-shaped ISLE OF WIGHT still has difficulty shaking off its image as a mere adjunct of rural southern England - comfortably off, scrupulously tidy and desperately unadventurous. Yet the island, which measures less than 23 miles at its widest point, packs a surprising variety of landscapes and coastal scenery within its bounds. 

North of the chalk ridge that runs across its centre, the terrain is low-lying woodland and pasture, deeply cut by meandering rivers, while southwards lies open chalky downland fringed by high cliffs. Two Heritage Coast paths follow the best of the shoreline, and a splendid array of well-preserved Victoriana provides added interest. It is a popular opinion that among the best things on the Isle of Wight are the Downs. They command wonderful views, and the air, which comes straight from the sea, is most invigorating.

Postcrossing Postcard: NL-805107

SOUTH DEVON

With its rolling meadows, narrow lanes and remote thatched cottages, Devon has long been idealized as a vision of preindustrial, "authentic" England. But while many of its cosy, gentrified villages are inhabited largely by retired folk and urban refuges, having little common with its county's strong agricultural, mercantile and maritime traditions, at least the stereotyped image has helped to preserve the countryside and coast in the undeveloped condition for which they are famous, and the county offers an abundance of genuine tranquility, from moorland villages to quiet coves on the spectacular coastline. The south coast's traditional resorts are at their liveliest along the English Riviera around Torbay. The coastline is at its prettiest around the Darmouth and Kingsbridge estuaries - both yachting meccas - while the best of the beaches are at Bigbury Bay.

Postcrossing postcard: GB-174366

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

Despite its worldwide fame, Stratford is, at heart, an unassuming market town. Spreading back from the River Avon, Stratford's town centre is flat and compact, its mostly modern buildings filling out a simple gridiron. Running along the northern edge of the centre is Bridge Street, the main thoroughfare lined with shops and chock-a-block with local buses.

Clopton Bridge and pleasure boat. Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Holy Trinity Church. Holy Trinity Church. Canal boats by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Punting on the River Avon

Famous as the birth place and final home of playwright William Shakespeare, Stratford has suffered from an overdose of visitors for decades. There are five sites associated with Shakespeare and his family. Three sites are within walking distance of each other in the town centre:

• Shakespeare's Birthplace, where the dramatist was born, in 1564, and grew up;
• Hall's Croft was the home Shakespeare's elder daughter, Susana, and her husband, Dr. John Hall;
• Nash's House, home of Thomas Nash, husband of Shakespeare's granddaughter. Next door was New Place, where Shakespeare died. Only the foundations remain, with an Elizabethan-style knot garden.

The Birthplace, Holy Trinity Church, Nash's House, Mary Arden's House, Anne Hathaway's Cottage.

Out of town are two sites:

• Anne Hathaway's Cottage, where Shakespeare's wife lived as a child;
• Arden's House, the childhood home of Shakespeare's mother.

WARWICK

Warwick, county town of Warwickshire, is a pleasant blend of 16th- and 17th- century timbered buildings with 18- century brick. It's famous for its massive castle, but it also possesses several charming streetscapes, as well as an especially fine church chancel.

  "Classic view" and River Avon

 

The magnificent 14th-century castle, beside the Avon River, is both medieval fortress and palatial mansion, set within a Victorian rose garden with peacocks and extensive parkland.

Victorian Rose Garden

The Conservatory

Exhibits range from medieval weapons and armor to opulently furnished state rooms. Two waxwork presentations bring the history of the castle to life: Kingmaker - A Preparation for Battle, 1471 and A Royal Weekend Party, 1898.

Aerial View

Towering  above the River Avon at the foot of the town centre, Warwick Castle is locally proclaimed the "greatest medieval castle in Britain". At Warwick Castle you can experience a thousand lifetimes in just one day!

South View

STONEHENGE

The circle of vast, standing stones in the midst of the chalk downlands of Salisbury Plain is probably the most famous prehistoric monument in Europe.
It certainly does have a particular grandeur, which has been unfortunately marred by the way the site is managed.
The sheer size of Stonehenge can only really be appreciated up close. The stones weigh around 4 tonnes each and the gigantic sarsen stones weigh between 25 to 50 tonnes! How they got there is anybody's guess!

Stonhenge, Wiltshire. This property is cared for by English Heritage.

The site aligns with the midsummer sunrise, suggesting it had astronomical and calendrical significance, while the many nearby burial mounds attest to its sacredness.

Despite a plethora of theories to explain the stones' significance - more fanciful ones suggests a bird trap, a model of the solar system or an inspiration from outer space - Stonehenge remains a mystery.

LONDON

London is the capital of Great Britain. It's in the south-east of England on the River Thames. London - described by many as one of the most exciting cities in the world - has something to suit all tastes. The city has an amazing variety of historic buildings, museums and art galleries, parks and gardens, as well as restaurants serving food from all corners of the globe. There are hundreds of great pubs, bars and nightclubs to enjoy, and London's theatreland is world famous, as is its department stores and shopping streets.

'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.' said Dr Samuel Johnson. Over two hundred years later, Dr Johnson is still right! London is the place to be, with so many different things to do and places to visit. The city's outstanding museums, palaces, churches, and first-rate music and theater offer endless entertainment.
London's center is fairly compact and covers the financial district (called the City), the entertainment and shopping area (called West End), and Westminster, seat of Parliament and home of royalty. The very center, from which distances are measured, is Trafalgar Square.

Pigeons, demonstrators and New Year's Eve revelers flock to London's most famous square. One-armed and one-eyed, Admiral Lord Nelson stands loftily above the pigeons on his 172-foot column in the middle of Trafalgar Square, named for his famous victory. 

London is an attractive city with great character. It changes as the centuries pass, but its ceremonies stay the same. Why not come here and see it all for yourself?