Blessed with one of the few west-facing beaches on England’s east coast, Hunstanton is a picture perfect Victorian seaside resort built from nothing in the middle of the 19th century. The sand and pebble beaches in Hunstanton face the Wash, an immense estuary where four rivers enter the North Sea. This is a crucial coastal …
In the 1950s Grimsby was the largest fishing port in the world. This came after more than a century of constant expansion, leaving the town’s docks with giant monuments like the Victoria Mill and the Grimsby Dock Tower. It’s sobering to think that thousands of men have lost their lives on fishing expeditions from this …
A town with industry in its veins, Bolton began producing textiles when Flemish weavers brought the trade with them in the 1300s. In the 18th century two local men, Richard Arkwright and Samuel Crompton, discovered ways to lift yarn production to unimagined levels. The cotton industry departed Bolton in the 20th century, but the town …
The North of England’s most powerful baronial family, the Dukes of Northumberland (Percy) have ruled the land around Alnwick for more than seven centuries. Their descendants still reside at the magnificent ancestral home, Alnwick Castle, which was a shooting location for the Harry Potter movies and is bursting with priceless art. The castle’s garden has …
As a resort destination, Banff is one of North America’s best-kept secrets. Tucked away in the sleepy province of Alberta is one of the most picturesque landscapes in Canada, Banff National Park. Encompassed by the Rocky Mountains, Mt Rundle and Mt Cascade, Banff is a dream destination for adventure travelers and lovers of the great …
Where Kent’s North Downs tumble into the English Channel, Folkestone is a seaside town that reached its zenith in the Edwardian period just before the First World War. With masses of Victorian architecture, beautiful waterfront parks and a revitalised harbour, Folkestone has plenty to love. The history of the place is exciting too. France is …
Up there with the UK’s best towns for quality of life, Grantham in southwest Lincolnshire is most famous for producing a colossal historical figure. Sir Isaac Newton was born not far away in a tiny hamlet, and was a pupil at Grantham’s King’s School. There’s a solemn statue for this physicist in front of the …
Wrangell is one of the oldest towns in Alaska and said to be the only town to have existed under three flags and be ruled by four nations. Tlingit, Russia, England and the United States. As well as the interesting history, the area is known for its magnificent scenery and wildlife. This is one of …
Considering the rich and eventful history of Austria and its territory, it comes as no surprise that the country is scattered with impressive castles, fortresses, and palaces that live to this day to tell the story of the country’s remarkable past. Ruled by the houses Habsburg and Habsburg-Lorraine, part of the Holy Roman Empire and …
Valdez is found at the head of Port Valdez which is a natural fjord that reaches inland for around 11 miles from Prince William Sound. Originally home to the Chugach and Ahtna native peoples the area was previously used for fishing and trading the likes of copper, jade and furs. Only one of the previous …