Birmingham is a major international commercial centre. Birmingham’s major cultural institutions – including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, the Library of Birmingham and the Barber Institute of Fine Arts – enjoy international reputations, and the city has vibrant and influential grassroots art, music, literary and culinary scenes.
Bristol, is the largest city in South West England and the eighth largest in the UK with an estimated population of 433,100 in 2009. In 1155 it received a Royal Charter and in 1373 was granted County status in 1373. From the 13th century, for half a millennium, it ranked amongst the top three English cities after London, alongside York and Norwich, until the rapid rise of Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester during the Industrial Revolution in the latter part of the 18th century.
In the Domesday Book, Brighton was called Bristelmestune. In June 1514 Brighthelmstone was burnt to the ground by French raiders during a war between England and France. Only part of the St Nicholas Church and the street pattern of the area now known as “The Lanes” survived. The first drawing of Brighthelmstone was made in 1545 and depicts what is believed to be the raid of 1514.
Cambridge is most widely known as the home of the University of Cambridge founded in 1209, which has been consistently ranked one of the top five universities in the world. The university includes the renowned Cavendish Laboratory, King’s College Chapel, and the Cambridge University Library. The Cambridge skyline is dominated by the last two buildings, along with the chimney of Addenbrooke’s Hospital in the far south of the city and St John’s College Chapel tower.
Oxford, The City of Dreaming Spires, is famous all over the world for its University and place in history. For over 800 years, it has been a home to royalty and scholars, and since the 9th century an established town, although people are known to have lived in the area for thousands of years.
Kent’s geographical location between the Straits of Dover and London has impact on its architecture as has its cretacious geology and its good farming land and fine building clays. Because of its relative abundance of fruit-growing and hop gardens, Kent is known as “The Garden of England”. It is owned by the two great abbeys, Christ Church, Canterbury and St Augustines Abbey that on the reformation did not pass into the hands of the king. Canterbury Cathedral is the United Kingdoms metropolitan cathedral, it was founded in AD 598 and displays architecture from all periods.
Medway is a large area in South East England, with a large population (over 250,000 people). It has been populated since Saxon times, and there are many interesting locations to see: Medway Park, Strood Sports Centre, John Nike Ski Centre and a lot of sports places. Famous people that were born or lived here were Kelly Brook and Charles Dickens.
Northampton is one of the largest towns in the UK, it lies on the River Nene, about 67 miles north-west of London and 50 miles south-east of Birmingham. There are 50 primary schools and 8 secondary schools in the town, there are also 5 special schools in the town and many independent schools including Bosworth Independent College, Northampton High School and Quinton House School.
It is not possible not to fall in love with Liverpool, with its charming locals, world-famous music scene, and amazing shopping. The perfect blend of old and new, this stylish city is the birthplace of the Beatles’ music, home of Liverpool FC, and makes for an unforgettable city break.
Jersey is an island shaped by the sea where some of the most astonishing tides in the world circle the coast and feed the land. An island that’s small on size, but big on personality, where country lanes open to cliff top views and the sea is never more than ten minutes away.
Rich in ancient history, romantic ambience and fun activities, renowned for its exquisite architecture, tangle of quaint cobbled streets, iconic York Minster and wealth of visitor attractions, York is a flourishing city.
With seven miles of golden sands and sparkling sea, the vibrant cosmopolitan town of Bournemouth has it all. Buzzing nightlife and endless countryside with beautiful award winning gardens and water sports galore.
UNESCO’s City of Literature in 2010, Dublin lies between Howth in the north and the headland of Dalkey to the south. Ireland’s capital has given the world such renowned literary figures as Yeats, Beckett, Joyce, Shaw, and Wilde.
Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 12th largest in the United Kingdom. The University of Warwick is one of only five universities never to have been rated outside the top ten in terms of teaching excellence and research and is a member of the prestigious Russell Group.
Edinburgh is Scotland’s compact, hilly capital. It has a medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings. Arthur’s Seat is an imposing peak in Holyrood Park with sweeping views, and Calton Hill is topped with monuments and memorials.
Leeds is the largest city in the county of West Yorkshire, England and the most populous in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial heart of the West Yorkshire Built-up Area , the UK’s fourth-most populous urban area with a reported population of 1.8 million in 2013.
