Now at the heart of an urban area with almost 300,000 inhabitants, Southend was just a cluster of fishing huts on the Thames Estuary at the end of the 18th century. In the early 1800s Southend came to the attention of Georgian high society when Princess Caroline visited with her five-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte. Within …
One of Southeast England’s leading seaside resorts for the past 250 years, Margate is in the Thanet district on Kent’s North Foreland. And while Margate has the signatures of an English seaside resort, like a theme park, sandy beach, amusement arcades, theatres and bingo halls, the town is also arty, young and enchantingly weird. Tracey …
On the River Ribble, ten miles before it reaches the Irish Sea, Preston is a former market town granted city status in 2002. In the 14th century Flemish weavers settled in Preston, establishing a textile industry that would power the economy until the mid-20th century. Sir Richard Arkwright, the man who invented the revolutionary spinning …
A traditional market town in easy reach of London, Sevenoaks is the centre of the namesake district which makes up a big wedge of western Kent. Inside the Sevenoaks District’s borders there’s an implausible number of plush country houses, starting with the marvellous Knole on the southeast fringe of the town. Epoch-changing figures like Winston …
A prosperous commuter town, Woking is couched in London’s green belt, less than 25 minutes by train from Waterloo station. The town grew up in the Victorian period on the edge of what was then the largest cemetery in the world. In the 1880s the first mosque in Northern Europe was built in Woking, while …
On the Isle of Thanet, Ramsgate’s stone-built harbour goes back to the start of the 18th century and was the navy’s main point of departure during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1821 King George IV was so well-received by the people of Ramsgate that he designated it a Royal Harbour, the only one of its kind …
The Isle of Wight’s county town is also the cultural capital, with museums, a dynamic performing arts centre and some big-hitting sights. Carlsbrooke Castle was where Charles I languished for 14 months awaiting his execution, while a local resident struck upon a Roman villa here in 1926 while building a garage. Newport’s streets have pretty …
Jam-packed with attractions, it’s no wonder that London is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Every year, millions of people descend upon the city to enjoy its world-class attractions and historical sights. With the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and Wembley Stadium just a few of the attractions on offer, visitors …
Buckingham Palace is a great place to visit. Built in 1703, few attractions in London boast as much history and prestige as this iconic masterpiece. In fact, if it’s your first time touring London, you will be short changing yourself by skipping the Royal Family’s main London residence. The palace is centrally located in the British …
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Stonehenge is a major attraction in the South of England that attractions millions of visitors per year. The Neolithic standing stones have attracted a lot of speculation about their origin, and their reason for existing is shrouded in mystery. The monument itself will give you a fascinating insight into ancient …