British Cities

Tired of reading and drooling on pictures of the popular tourist attractions of England? I guess it's about time for you to do first hand exploration on the prime destinations in England. You will get to experience one excellent English vacation by simply enjoying your tour on the major and highlighted tourists sites found in the cities of England. But remember, you need to allot at least two weeks of your vacation in order for you to fully explore the wonders of England; tourist attractions are really vast in the said country.

Exploring the very heart of England, the region of Derbyshire is regarded as the home for magnificent stone circles, rugged moors, and excellent Spa towns. You can also explore the outstanding country homes, including the most stately country house in Britain called as Chatsworth. If you get to tour the house, you will surely be amazed of its fine structures, palatial decorations, cascades, and sunken gardens. If you appreciate great architectural wonders, then it is truly a must for you to visit such famous English country home.

Still unchanged since the time of famous painter, Constable, the East of Anglia is still a beautiful English region with all the fantastic churches and windmills scattered in the area. You should also try to visit the small city of Ely, wherein an enormous cathedral with octagon lantern is found. Also, the University City of Cambridge is situated in the area, along its magnificent river, fascinating architectural styles, and fine-looking lawns.

Welcome to Portsmouth. As the name of this Hampshire city implies, Portsmouth is located at the shore of a port. But, the villagers will likely remind the tourists that they are the descendants of Massachusetts immigrants. Before, Portsmouth is called Strawberry Bank, because apparently, strawberries grow there. Finally, in 1679, the immigrants petitioned that the place be renamed into Portsmouth.

Basically, one can expect pine and oak trees in Portsmouth. It occupies 41 square kilometers of land area. It is so small that most of its land is dedicated to growing trees and crops. The economy of Portsmouth is supported by ship manufacturers. With merely 282,000 residents, Portsmouth has long been striving to improve its quality of life. Since the city is situated in a strategic area, it is open to foreign traders and encourages exportation and importation of products.

As a seaport, Portsmouth is the best place to go for fly fishing activities. Fishing sport events are held annually. The community of maritime species in Portsmouth is what lures fishers to drop by. One of the major attractions in the city is the line of submarines that were maintained in a museum. They were hand-crafted by the native shipbuilders. Along side the underwater ships are historical accounts of Portsmouth.

Bath is boasting with great heritage influenced by Romans. One of the most significant places to visit in bathe is its bathing halls. Yes, you got that right. Travelers are also allowed to take a bath in several bathing halls in the city. These halls get their waters from the Avon river that lies beside Bath. The topography of Bath allowed it have natural springs that are found all over the city.

The history of Bath, unlike other British cities, is based on a myth. It was said to have been established in 863 BC. The sacred springs surrounding the city made it a holy place. What followed was the establishment of the Roman empire of temples for Minerva. Thus, for a long time, Bath people acquired the Roman culture. This included paganism. But, sooner after Bath was returned to Britain, it became a business district. Half of the land area is laid for agriculture, while farms produce the best cheddar cheese in Britain. Today, Bath is accommodating thousands of tourists. All of them are eager to plunge in the baths. Bath also has vast forests which serve as its borders. The city do not have high peaks, but it is surrounded by hills where tourists could have enjoyable hiking activities.

I am still dumbfounded about the genius integrated in Oxford dictionaries. I have one of that kind in my study room. I could still remember how painstakingly I tried to read each and every entry of the dictionary for one month. Well, I remembered a bit, but learned a lot. Later, the idea struck me as what is the relationship between Oxford in England and the dictionary.

Here I was, Internet surfing, looking for the answer in the Google search engine to satisfy my curiosity. Finally, I found what I have been looking for. But, it was not like what I expected it to be. I landed on an article that tells the brief history Oxford. There is no connection between the city and the dictionary. Poor me.

I only learned that Oxford existed back in the medieval era. It is located somewhere between Thames and Cherwell. It was only during the 12th century that Oxford became the seat of academic pursuit. Though not stated, I still guessed that this must be the reason why such dictionary adapted the name. By the way, the universities in England were the fruits of academic pursuits.

A traveler who opts to visit the more high profile cities in Britain is surely missing a lot if he does not add in his itinerary the city of Leeds. Leeds, located at the Northern part of England, is labeled as UK's favorite city. There are various attractions to visit, plenty of things to do, and most especially the people of Leeds are some of the warmest people on Earth.

The City attracts thousands of tourist each year to visit their tourist attractions, landmarks, museums, historical buildings, among others. Tourists need not worry about where to stay because the city has a vast selection of hotels and accommodation that is not heavy on the budget like the Riva Hotel in Vicar Lane which is one of the newest hotels in the center of Leeds.

Some of the numerous attractions in the city include the Leeds City Square, Victoria Quarter, Tropical World, and The Harewood House. The Leeds City Square is a vast square open to the public to view the mixture of modern and historical buildings in the City. The Victoria Quarter is the best place to shop because of the array of boutiques, fashion stores, and restaurants that are found there. The Tropical World is home to the largest collection of peculiar tropical plants in the UK. A lot of tourists also go to the Harewood House to get a glimpse of an old manor house built in the 1800s and its jaw-dropping gardens.

Birmingham is the second most populated city in England next to London. The city prides itself as being the shopping capital in the region. But of course, shopping isn't the only activity you'll enjoy doing in Birmingham because it offers exciting attractions for visitors who want to experience everything they want in a city that oozes with culture, style, and charm.

Birmingham is located at the very heart of England. Going there is very easy. Visitors will never run out of activities to do and attractions to see in this city. One can go on a tour on the canals of Birmingham, visit the Cadbury world for some chocolate tasting spree or enjoy cultural activities in Birmingham’s museums and theaters. The Birmingham Symphony Hall is considered the finest hall in all of Europe. One can also watch a rock concert at the very popular NEC Arena or tour the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. The museum houses some of the best collection of art pieces and paintings from the Pre-Raphael era.

Birmingham is a haven for shoppers due to an array of souvenir shops, shopping malls, and retail shops that abound the city's streets. One can buy the ideal souvenir in the Tourism Center in the Rotunda or go frenzy-shopping at the Beatties or the City Plaza. Some of the other shopping centers are the Bullring, Great Western Arcade, and The Mailbox.

Perhaps, you already have heard of Manchester. For me, I have heard this label countless of times as a team name in soccer. Manchester may not be the biggest or most popular city in Britain, but it is certainly one of the more developed areas in the region.

Why? For one reason, it is a new city compared to others in the United Kingdom. Historically, Manchester housed the commercial wheels of the region, especially in the arena of textile production. That is why it is no surprise that it is now one of the economically booming cities, with its manufacturing and technological enterprises. About over two million residents rely on Manchester's boundaries for their way of living.

But, of course, as in any urban and cosmopolitan dwelling, other people living outside the city also love to visit Manchester for the vibrant and dynamic offerings it has. Manchester features international centers, premier universities, attractive parks, fine buildings, theme parks, and historical houses. Getting around the city is easy -- just hop on intercity train from London and you could experience the superb motorway system of Manchester.

London is not only the capital of England, but of the United Kingdom as well. It is the home of different global institutions and is one of the world's major business and political centers. Along with Paris, Milan, and New York, London is one of the fashion capital in the big big world. The city's Mayfair district is filled with famous designer stores and boutiques.

London has an extensive public transport network and also one of the world's most complex transit system. The city is not lacking in tourists spots, the Buckingham Palace and the world famous clock, Big Ben, is located in London. Having been used as the setting in numerous literary pieces, London has that classical and romantic feel in it.

Liverpool is the ultimate city to visit, the Beatles' home in Penny Lane, the Grand National, and the Mersey Ferries, the coolest places you'd see and visit in Liverpool. This place is the European Capital of Culture 2008, everything and anywhere you go around Liverpool is alive and exciting! So different and yet so familiar, maybe because everything around Liverpool is so famous, you think you've been there, but the moment you get there, it's unimaginable. The places are so real, and yet so vintage, people actually live in Penny Lane! There are so many things to do around Liverpool, you wouldn't know where to begin! It's just a rush of energy, I tell you!