On a limestone escarpment to the north of the River Witham, Lincoln is a Medieval city built over a Roman fort. That escarpment drops sharply to the river, and to get to get from the railway station to the historic cathedral quarter you have to battle up the aptly named Steep Hill. Once you make …
A beautiful city with a tumultuous history, even Derry’s name is a bone of contention. The official name is Londonderry, but for obvious reasons Derry was always preferred by the city’s Republican communities, and is used more often today. One flashpoint in Derry’s past was the Siege of 1689 by the Jacobites against the Williamites, …
Established as “Aquae Sulis” by the Romans in the 1st century, the city of Bath is named for its thermal mineral springs, percolating through limestone from a depth of 4,800 metres. The site of the Roman bathing complex is today a world-class museum peering into life in the city 2,000 years ago. Bath came into …
Stylish, progressive and full of fun, Brighton could claim to be England’s party capital, and pulls in day-trippers from across the south for days at the beach, nights out and shopping. The city has a thriving arts and creative industry, and its reputation for culture is bolstered by the Brighton Festival every May. At the …
To get the most from Northern Ireland’s world famous seascapes and historic cities you’ll need to be organised because there’s so much to get through. On the road you can follow itineraries like the Causeway Coastal Route, which will get you to volcanic landmarks like the UNESCO Giant’s Causeway, but also epic beaches, glens, cliffs …
The city of Cambridge is synonymous with its world-renowned university, which dates all the way back to the start of the 13th century. Held in high regard for its scientific prowess, Cambridge’s roll-call of prestigious alumni is too long to list, but includes Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking and Sir Isaac Newton. And as you’d guess, …
Resting in a hollow on its namesake river, the city of Newry is divided between Counties Armagh and Down near the border with Ireland. There’s breathtaking nature wherever you go, starting with the waters of the Carlingford Lough, which has the sensational Cranfield Beach at its mouth. To the west are the rounded peaks of …
The largest city in the East Midlands made international news in 2012 when the body of King Richard III was discovered under a car park. Richard had been slain in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field, a few miles west, and was buried hastily at an abbey, has long since been defunct. In 2015 …
A city that hardly needs introduction, Oxford is home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world, going back to the 11th century at the latest. The university’s various self-governing colleges, scattered around the old centre of the city give Oxford its singular character and are endowed with dignified monuments by architects like Sir Christopher …
This city a few miles out of Belfast was the birthplace of the Irish linen industry, founded in 1698 by the French Huguenot Louis Crommelin. Until the 20th century Lisburn and its countryside was taken over by flax fields, riverside mills and weaving and spinning factories. The industry is mostly consigned to the past, but …