England Guildford 

Guildford

Located in Surrey, around 30 miles south west of central London, Guildford is a town with a lot of history which is also a good place for a day of upmarket shopping. Described by poet John Betjeman as a ‘beautiful city’, Guildford is not actually a city at all, despite having both a cathedral and a university – the two things most people consider to be the prerequisites for city status. Guildford is, in fact, a fairly large town, located close to attractive villages like Godalming and Witley, and is…

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England Great Yarmouth 

Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth is a quintessential English seaside town located right in the heart of the lovely Norfolk Broads. The name ‘Yarmouth’ derives from the town’s location at the mouth of the River Yare. The town has been a popular seaside resort since the 1700s and it remains just as busy today. Thousands of visitors come to enjoy the lovely beach and the famous PleasureBeach theme park. In the summer time the town is packed with families enjoying the endless miles of sand, attractions and shows, although it does have its…

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England Shrewsbury 

Shrewsbury

The fortress town of Shrewsbury in the heart of Shropshire is full of wonky Tudor buildings and interestingly named streets such as Grope Lane and Bear Steps. The town is one of the best preserved medieval towns in the area and it has a long and interesting history. It’s the birthplace of Charles Darwin and is a fascinating town full of old-world charm. Shrewsbury is overlooked by an ancient abbey, which was the fictional home of Brother Cadfael, and surrounded on three sides by the meandering River Severn. For many…

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England Gloucester 

Gloucester

Gloucester is a large cathedral city in Gloucestershire. The city lies deep in the heart of the picturesque Cotswolds, not far from the border with South Wales and a short hop from the West Country. It is an interesting place with history dating back to Roman times. There was once a large port in Gloucester that was used to transport men and goods in Elizabethan times. Back in those days, magnificent tall ships were a common site and the city was a thriving commercial centre. Today the tall ships are…

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Bradford England 

Bradford

Bradford is a large, multi-cultural city in West Yorkshire, adjacent to Leeds and nestled at the foot of the Pennines. Despite its industrial heritage, Bradford has award winning museums, many examples of fine 19th century architecture, and plenty of great things to see and do. Thanks to the success of the wool trade, the city of Bradford expanded massively in the 19th century and people came from all over to work there. Today, many of the old mills and Victorian buildings have been restored and put to a different use…

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England Helmsley 

Helmsley

If you were to try and describe what you would imagine to be the ideal image of an English market town, the image that you describe would almost certainly match that of the town of Helmsley in North Yorkshire. The pretty market square is still a hive of activity and you will find tea rooms serving the quintessential English afternoon tea, as well as county pubs which have altered little over the centuries. As if this wasn’t picturesque enough, the town is rather romantically surrounded by the stunning North Yorkshire…

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England Spalding 

Spalding

Spalding is a small market town deep in the heart of Lincolnshire. It isn’t the most famous place in the region, but if you are looking for a base from which to explore the beautiful fen lands of northeast Lincolnshire, Spalding is perfectly situated. Extensive waterways and wetlands characterise the area and the River Welland cuts right through the middle of Spalding. There are many historic links between Spalding and the Netherlands, mostly as a result of the thriving bulb and flower growing industry that remains a significant part of…

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Bristol England 

Bristol

Bristol lies on the cusp of the West Country and is a great place to stay for a night, a weekend, or longer. A lot of visitors pass through Bristol in their haste to reach the historic city of Bath or continue on to Devon and Cornwall, but Bristol has loads to offer so it is worth spending a bit of time there exploring its many attractions. The city is a major cultural centre with a thriving music scene and a host of theatres, festivals, restaurants and shops; it also…

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Bakewell England 

Bakewell

If the name Bakewell conjures up a tempting picture of a delicious tart, you are probably salivating at the thought of visiting the place itself. But don’t worry because you will not be disappointed.  The small market town of Bakewell in the heart of the Peak District does indeed lend its name to a very famous pudding, but the name is actually derived from an ancient cluster of thermal springs that first attracted settlers to the area. Until the 19th century, Bakewell was just another small market town, but thanks…

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England The English Riviera 

The English Riviera

The English Riviera is the destination of choice for many people who choose to holiday in the UK as it promises better weather and a more continental type climate that any other part of the United Kingdom. The area defined as the English Riviera spans a full twenty two miles of glorious, unspoilt coastline which takes in the pretty seaside towns of Torquay, Brixham and Paignton. People travel here to enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery, enjoy a whole host of family themed attractions and to make the most of the…

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