The London Borough of Camden is home to Camden Town, the shopping and entertainment district adored for its grimy, alternative edge. It’s hard to believe now, but much of Camden Town was a post-industrial wasteland in the 1970s. The counterculture moved in, turning old timber yards and stables into world-famous markets, and established a live …
Near the narrowest point in the Channel, the port town of Dover rests in a cleave in the world-famous white cliffs on England’s doorstep. Perched on those cliffs is the largest castle in the country, while the soft chalk is burrowed with military tunnels going back to the Napoleonic Wars. Like many port towns Dover …
A compact and lovable city near the coast in West Sussex, Chichester has a story that begins in Roman times. What’s amazing is that the city centre retains the cross streets laid out by the Romans, and is defended by the original Roman walls. Chichester has always been pocket-sized and was never industrialised, so for …
Spread across a valley at the source of the River Loddon, Basingstoke became Hampshire’s largest settlement when it ballooned in the 1960s and 70s. The town is much older than that though, and was granted by royal charter in 1622. The monarchs Henry VIII and Elizabeth I spent time at the nearby Tudor palaces, Basing …
A Victorian family resort, Bridlington took off as an escape for industrial workers in the West Riding of Yorkshire in the 19th century. The old-fashioned delights of an English coastal town are all here, like promenades, a ballroom, theatre, ice cream parlours, tearooms and shops selling rock candy and buckets and spades. Dating back further …
In a region of heavy industry, Warrington ballooned during the 1960s when it was earmarked as a “New Town”. Manufacturing is still a big local employer in Warrington, but as with much of England, services have taken over from the old factories and there’s plentiful open space ensured by a “green belt”. Warrington has some …
In the early 19th century Cromer, long known for the high quality of its crab, became a getaway for affluent families, and in 1815 was mentioned by Jane Austen in Emma. Cromer is a town of dainty gardens and ornate Victorian houses and hotels, and on its beach is a pier with the UK’s most …
A harbour town on the North Cornwall coast, Padstow sits snugly in the Camel Estuary. Now a magnet for tourists, the port was a centre of trade for centuries, and the base for a lucrative pilchard industry in the 1800s. Holidaymakers flock to beaches on the estuary and the Atlantic coast, where newbie surfers can …
Thirty miles northwest of Central London, Luton grew dramatically in the 20th century, and its town centre is filled with functional architecture from this time. Most travellers heading to Luton will bypass the town completely on the way to the international airport. But there’s a surprising amount to see and do in the town and …
A cosy market town and tourist escape, Bakewell is in the White Peak in the southeast of the Peak District National Park. The town is a springboard for two of the England’s most celebrated stately homes. Chatsworth House is the magnificent seat of the Dukes of Devonshire, replete with art and often voted the country’s …