England Travel » Mendell

The Walled City of Chester, England

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:27:33 +0000

With a 2001 population of 77,000, Chester is located on the River Dee in the northwest part of England, not far from Wales and Liverpool. Chester is one of the best preserved walled cities in England, with the city walls almost entirely complete with only two short breaks.

The city was a significant center during the Roman Empire, and there are many extant reminders of that era such as the amphitheater and Roman Garden. Being strategically close to Wales and the Irish Sea, Chester was a major trading center and port until Liverpool established itself and took over.

There is much architecture from medieval times to be enjoyed, and although the city has experienced a lot of development since World War II, and the city center saw considerable change, there has been a more recent emphasis on conservation. The city center is now a combination of many pleasing styles, including Victorian and medieval. The area known as the Rows is a shopping area that features a group of medieval style half-timbered buildings that are joined with long galleries. Walk along Eastgate, Bridge Street or Watergate to see the best examples of this. There are also some fine examples of Victorian architecture, such as the Chester Town Hall and the award-winning Grosvenor Museum.

Of course no visit to Chester would be complete without a walk along the city walls, which were constructed from as early as 120 A.D. Also not to be missed is the Norman Castle which dates from 1069 and was rebuilt in the late 1700s. And check out the extraordinary Eastgate Clock, an ornate metal structure which was built in 1897 in celebration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

The city of Chester is currently embarked on an ambitious 10 year plan designed to make Chester a "must see European destination". Kicked off in 2007, the city has earmarked £1.3 billion to what it has nicknamed the Chester Renaissance.

By: Alyssa Mendell

From his hotel in the city – Rome at your fingertips Walking is one of the best ways to explore the...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Bath, England – The UK’s Only Naturally Occurring Hot Springs

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:04:57 +0000

With a 2006 population of 90,000, Bath is located in the south west region of England and is built around the only naturally occurring Hot Springs in the UK (thus the name!). The Romans established it as a spa resort in 43 A.D., building bathing complexes and temples in the surrounding area.

During the Middle Ages, Bath prospered mainly through its wool trading, but in the 18th century Bath became a center of fashionable life, and many of its cultural and architectural landmarks were constructed. Today, Bath is known for its beautifully preserved Georgian architectural structures. Probably the most well-known is the Royal Crescent, a fabulous structure of connected Georgian houses built between 1767 and 1775. A short stroll away is a curved group of 30 Georgian townhouses called the Circus.

Although the primary style of architecture in Bath is Georgian, the 16th century Norman Bath Abbey is a striking architectural feature of the city. It is one of the largest examples of perpendicular Gothic architecture. You'll also notice many Roman archaeological sites cordoned off throughout the center of the city.

Bath also features many fine museums, including the Victoria Art Gallery, the Museum of East Asian Art, and of course the Roman Baths. Jane Austen lived in the city from 1801 to 1806, and although it is known that she did not particularly like the city, nonetheless there is a Jane Austen Centre which is a tribute to her.

Tourism is a major industry in Bath, with about 5 million visitors coming every year. The city is well-equipped to handle this influx, with about 100 restaurants and the same amount of bars and pubs. There are also open top bus tours as well as river tours and walking tours. The city finally created a modern spa in 2006 in an effort to return to the glory days of the Roman baths.

By: Alyssa Mendell

From his hotel in the city – Rome at your fingertips Walking is one of the best ways to explore the...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Exeter, England – A Perfect English City

admin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:41:54 +0000

With a 2005 population of 118,000, Exeter is located in the southeast part of England on the River Exe. Exeter is known as "a perfect English city", second only to Bath in that regard. It is a popular tourist destination for many reasons, and has also been identified as one of the top 10 most profitable cities for a business to be located in the country.

Exeter may not be considered to be a beautiful city by a tourist's standard, but this county town has much to offer. Exeter is a lively place, and has a bit of a big-city touch featuring a buzzing arts scene, thriving cafe and bar life, and a substantial student population.

The city center was hard hit and almost completely demolished by bombing in World War II, and unfortunately many historical buildings were destroyed. There was very little attempt to rebuild the damage structures, and some unremarkable more modern architecture took its place. There are however some particularly notable survivors, most strikingly the splendid St. Peter's Cathedral, also known as the Exeter Cathedral which was founded in 1050 with later additions. As impressive as it is from outside, the interior is full of fascinating features such as the great clock, minstrels' gallery and the longest uninterrupted vaulted ceiling in England.

Also worth visiting is the remains of the Norman Rougemont Castle and the Church of St. Mary's Steps with its wonderfully ornate clock. The Guild of Tuckers and Weavers is a fine reminder of medieval Old Exeter and the city that was destroyed by the bombs in World War II. Other reminders of medieval days include the half timbered houses on the steep cobblestone Stepcote Hill.

There are other aspects to the city worth exploring as well, such as the Quayside area and Exeter University's parkland grounds with its sculpture trail.

By: Alyssa Mendell

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Truro, England – England’s Most Southerly City

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:00:06 +0000

The most southerly city in Great Britain, Truro has a 2001 population of 21,000 and is the only city in the county of Cornwall. Truro has a long and varied history, starting as a port town, developing into a Stannary town (a place where tin is mined), and by the 18th-century growing into a prosperous, wealthy city, earning the nickname "London in Cornwall".

Much of the fine Georgian architecture from this period still remains. The most striking architectural feature of Truro however is the Gothic Revival-Cathedral, a 30 year project starting in 1880 as the first Cathedral to be built in England since the Middle Ages.

Other traditions from Truro's past remain as well, such as the fact that Truro was traditionally a place for the people of Cornwall to come for shopping. The town now has a wide selection of specialty shops, markets and chain stores. The Pannier Market is an indoor year-round shopping place with many small businesses and merchants. Within a few blocks is the Lemon street market and the Truro Farmers Markets.

To complement the shopping, Truro is truly a social center, featuring numerous bistros and restaurants, cafes, bars and a buzzing nightlife. The Hall for Cornwall is a performing arts and entertainment Auditorium that features Opera, music acts, ballet and musicals.

There are also fine parks and open spaces in Truro. Victoria Gardens features summer bandstand concerts, and Boscawen Park is a great park beside the Truro River. Lemon Quay Piazza hosts numerous events and is a popular attraction for visitors. It features a Farmers' Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays and the city carnival in September. There are many attractions in Truro during the summer, so this is the time to visit.

Also don't miss Cornwall's oldest museum, the Royal Cornwall Museum, which was founded in 1818 and showcases Cornish history and culture, along with art, geology and archaeology.

By: Alyssa Mendell

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Visiting Canterbury, England

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:28:49 +0000

With a 2001 population of 42,000, Canterbury is located on the River Great Stour in the district of Kent, in south east England. Canterbury is known most famously as the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, which heads the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican community. The infamous murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170 made Canterbury a major medieval pilgrimage destination which inspired Geoffrey Chaucer to write his "Canterbury Tales" in 1387.

The most famous structure in Canterbury is Christ Church Cathedral, or Canterbury Cathedral, which was begun in the seventh century and continuously extended and rebuilt for centuries. The Cathedral continues to draw over 1 million visitors a year, and is one of the most visited sites in the country.

Although the city was heavily bombed in World War II, it was subsequently developed with a mix of old and new. Many medieval structures remain, including the typical buildings of medieval life along with quite a few monuments as well. The ruins of the Norman Canterbury Castle and St. Augustine's Abbey are both open for public viewing. There are certain sites that are only appreciated by boat, and you should take an historic river trip while you're there. And be sure to stop by Simple Simon's pub for a pint, and experience one of Canterbury's oldest and most interesting houses.

The medieval St. Margaret's Church is now home to a feature called Medieval Misadventures, which is a reconstruction of 14th century England with life-size characters from Geoffrey Chaucer's stories. There are also many fine museums including the Sydney Cooper Gallery, the Canterbury Roman Museum and the Canterbury Royal Museum and Art Gallery. Also worth visiting is the West Gate Museum, which features an interesting array of historical items and also offers a great view up the High Street towards the Cathedral.

By: Alyssa Mendell

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Sights and Happenings in Newcastle, England

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:01:23 +0000

With a 2007 population of 271,000, Newcastle is located in northeast England on the north bank of the River Tyne. Newcastle was named for the 1080 castle (still existing) that was built by the son of William the Conqueror, Robert II, and has come through many changes over the centuries. Emerging as a center for wool trade and coal exports, it evolved into one of the world's largest shipbuilding and repairing centers by the 16th century. These industries have now largely disappeared, and Newcastle is now known more for its business and culture.

Newcastle is a city of beautiful bridges, with the 1928 semicircular iron Tyne Bridge an icon of the city. Another fine bridge is the 1849 High Level Bridge designed by Robert Stevenson. The award-winning Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a modern tilt bridge designed for pedestrians and bicycles.

The center of the city is in the neoclassical style which was originally built in the 1830s and was recently refurbished. There are also many wonderful parks and open spaces in Newcastle, as it is quite a green city. The Town Moor is a particularly huge and a popular spot, as it goes right up to the home of the Newcastle United Football Club, the mighty St. James Park. Some other buildings of note include St. Nicholas Cathedral which dates from the 14th century and features an unusual lantern spire, and the magnificent Catholic Cathedral Church of St. Mary, built in 1844.

There are many sites to see and places to enjoy such as the quayside area, which is a cultural mix featuring bars and nightclubs coexisting with modern arts, music and many different cultural experiences. Newcastle also has a great Chinatown which features its own Chinese arch. Newcastle hosts the traveling Hoppings funfair which occurs in the last week of June and is said to be the largest in Europe.

By: Alyssa Mendell

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.