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Colchester
Colchester is a town and is the main settlement of the Essex borough of Colchester in the East of England. It has a population of 104,390 and, as the oldest recorded Roman town, makes claim to be the oldest town in Britain. Colchester is located 51 miles (83 km) north east of London and is connected to the capital by the A12 road and the Great Eastern Main Line.
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Dublin (or in Irish: Baile Átha Cliath) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland, near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the centre of the Dublin Region. Founded as a centre of Viking settlement, the city has been Ireland's capital since medićval times. The city of Dublin is the entire area administered by Dublin City Council. However, when most people talk about 'Dublin', they also refer to the contiguous suburban areas that run into the adjacent counties of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin. This area is sometimes known as 'Urban Dublin' or the 'Dublin Metropolitan Area'. A person from Dublin is known as a Dubliner or colloquially as a Dub, or, mildly pejoratively, a Jackeen. In a 2003 European-wide survey by the BBC, questioning 11,200 residents of 112 urban and rural areas, Dublin was the best capital city in Europe to live in, and the Republic of Ireland the most content country in Europe.
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Edinburgh (or in Scottish Gaelic: Důn Čideann) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. It is situated on the east coast of the central lowlands, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, on the North sea. It forms the City of Edinburgh council area; the city council area includes urban Edinburgh and a small rural area. It has been the capital of Scotland since 1437 and is the seat of the country's parliament. The Old Town and New Town districts of Edinburgh were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Edinburgh is well-known for the annual Edinburgh Festival, a collection of official and independent festivals held annually over about four weeks from early August. During this time, the population of the city is said to increase dramatically. The most famous of these events are the Edinburgh Fringe (the largest performing arts festival in the world), the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Other famous events are the Hogmanay street party and the Beltane celebrations. The city is one of Europe's major tourist destinations, attracting roughly 13 million visitors a year, and is the second most visited tourist destination in the United Kingdom, after London.
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Egham is a small town in the Runnymede borough of Surrey in South East England and part of the London commuter belt. It is located 30 km (19 miles) southwest of central London on both the River Thames and on the M25 motorway (Junction 13). Royal Holloway, University of London is situated on Egham Hill, 1 km to the west of the town. couresy of Wikipedia
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Gatwick Airport (IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK) is London's second largest airport and the second busiest airport in the UK after Heathrow. It is also the busiest single runway airport, and sixth busiest airport overall, in Europe in terms of passengers per year. It is located in Crawley, West Sussex (originally Charlwood, Surrey) 2.7 nm (5 km or 3 miles) north of the town centre, and 24.7 nm (46 km or 28 miles) south of London, and 40 km north of Brighton. In 2005, the airport handled over 32.6 million passengers, flying to around 200 destinations. Charter airlines are generally not allowed to operate from Heathrow and many use Gatwick instead as their base. Many flights to and from the USA also use Gatwick because of restrictions on transatlantic operations from Heathrow. The airport is a secondary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
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Glasgow (Glaschu in Gaelic; or Glesca/Glesga in Scots) is the largest city in Scotland. The City of Glasgow is also the most populous unitary authority area. It is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands. People from Glasgow are known as Glaswegians. Glaswegian is also the name of the local dialect of Scots, which is popularly referred to as "the Glasgow Patter". Formerly a royal burgh, Glasgow was known as the "Second City of the British Empire" in the Victorian era. Glasgow established itself as a major transatlantic trading port during the Industrial Revolution. The Clyde was the world's pre-eminent shipbuilding centre, building many revolutionary and famous vessels. Today Glasgow has Scotland's largest and most economically important commerce and retail sector. It is one of Europe's top 16 financial centers and home to many of the country's leading businesses. Glasgow is the second most popular foreign tourist destination in Scotland after Edinburgh.
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Harrogate is a large town in North Yorkshire, England. It was the winner of the 2003 Britain in Bloom in the category of 'Large Town'. From there it went on to win the European Entente Florale competition in 2004. This reprises its win in the first ever Entente Florale competition in 1977. In 2005 Harrogate was stated as the UK's 3rd best place to live. In 2006 it came 4th in the same league. There are many fine examples of building and architecture about the town, including the Royal Hall theatre, a Grade II listed building designed by Frank Matcham. As the only surviving Kursaal in Britain, the Royal Hall is an important national heritage building. Restoration work began in early 2006. Harrogate is now one of Europe's largest exhibition and conference centres and has many guest houses, hotels and restaurants catering for the regular influx of visitors. The town also acts, to some extent, as a dormitory town for commuters working in the cities of Leeds and Bradford. Harrogate is strongly connected to Leeds, and is part of the Leeds City Region, the city at the centre of the financial region. Road transport to Leeds is via the A61 road. The town is served by four railway stations: Harrogate railway station, Hornbeam Park railway station, Pannal railway station (towards Leeds) and Starbeck railway station on the Harrogate Line to Knaresborough and York. Bettys Tea Rooms are a regionally renowned tearooms. They are owned by Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate - the same company that makes the more nationally well-known Yorkshire Tea. Another well-known Harrogate company is Farrah's [4] who are famous for their Harrogate Toffee. Harrogate hosts the Great Yorkshire Show annually.
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Huddersfield is a large town near the confluence of the River Colne and the River Holme. It is in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire and is located within the historic borders of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Huddersfield is notable for its abundance of fine Victorian architecture. It has the third highest number of listed buildings of any town or city in the UK. The most conspicuous landmark in the Huddersfield area is Victoria Tower on Castle Hill. Overlooking the town, the tower was constructed to mark Queen Victoria's 60th Jubilee Year. A picture of the Victoria Tower features on the New Zealand wine Castle Hill. Huddersfield has a large and diverse shopping area, compared to most towns of its size. One of the central shopping areas is the Kingsgate Centre which was completed in 2001. There is a covered market hall, which has listed building status due in part to its distinctive roof formed by hyperbolic paraboloids, adjacent to the town hall and public library (see Historical landmarks above), and an open market on the opposite side of the town centre. Nightlife has improved dramatically in recent years, with many new trendy pubs and bars establishing in an area surrounding King Street and the Kingsgate Centre. These have proved popular with the ever expanding student population. The Lawrence Batley Theatre,opened in 1994, housed in what was once the largest Wesleyan Chapel in the world, presents dance, drama, comedy, music and exhibitions.
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Kingston upon Hull, more usually referred to simply as Hull, is a city and unitary authority in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located on the north bank of the Humber estuary, near the east coast, and on both sides of the River Hull, which flows into the Humber. There are two large shopping centres in Hull - the Prospect Centre and Prince's Quay Shopping Centre, the latter of which is built on stilts in the former Prince's Dock. There is also the indoor Trinity Market featuring around fifty stalls. On completion, the new St. Stephen's development will also become home to several large stores. The city has two main theatres. The larger is the Hull New Theatre, which opened in 1939. It features musicals, opera, ballet, drama, children's shows and pantomime. The Hull Truck Theatre is a smaller independent theatre established in 1971. It regularly features plays, notably those written by John Godber. Hull has a lively nightlife, attracting people from outlying areas as well as inhabitants of the city. Hull has the concentration of pubs and bars expected of any large city in contemporary Britain. The larger nightclubs include Waterfront, Heaven and Hell, Pozition, the Welly, Spiders and, until recently, LA's.
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Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk and a non-metropolitan district in East Anglia, England on the estuary of the River Orwell.
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Keswick is a market town in the Lake District National Park, in northern England. The town is situated just north of Derwent Water, one of the Lake District's most picturesque lakes, and a short distance from Bassenthwaite Lake. It is on the A66 road linking Workington and Penrith, as well as the A591 road, linking it to Windermere, Kendal and to Carlisle (via the A595 road). Keswick was granted a charter to be a market town in 1276 by Edward I, the market is held every Saturday in the pedestrianised main street in the middle of the town. The marketplace features the interesting Moot Hall which used to act as the town hall but is now the local tourist information office. Today, the majority of Keswick's businesses are tourism related, providing accommodation and facilities for the tens of thousands of people visiting the area each year. The Keswick Tourism Association publishes an annual guide to the area, including details of annually inspected and approved visitor accommodation. Many visitors to Keswick come for the town's annual film festival that in 2006 attracted almost 3,000 paying customers. Keswick is also host to an annual beer festival which takes place on Keswick Rugby Club field and an annual Jazz Festival. couresy of Wikipedia
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Leeds is a major city in West Yorkshire, England, located on the River Aire and the urban core of the City of Leeds metropolitan borough. Recently Leeds has received accolades in the field of tourism; including being voted by Conde Nast Traveller magazine Readers' Awards as the "UK's favourite city" and "Visitor City of the Year" by The Good Britain Guide. Leeds has excellent transport links with the rest of Yorkshire and the UK. Leeds Bradford International Airport has flights connecting to Europe, and the rest of the world via London Heathrow Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Leeds Bradford International Airport is part of the Star Alliance. Leeds station is very modern and has regular trains to the rest of Yorkshire and the UK. Leeds also has excellent road links via the A1, M1, M62 and M621 motorway. Leeds also has a large modern bus station served by National Express and local bus services. It is also possible to travel to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge by ferry from Hull, only an hour away. The city has a strong sporting heritage, with Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Football Club and Leeds Tykes Rugby Union Football Club playing at Headingley Stadium, and Leeds United Association Football Club playing at Elland Road. Leeds has a very large student population and boasts a large number of bars and nightclubs, as well as venues for live bands. Leeds has gained a reputation as one of the UK's favourite clubbing destinations - often described as the UK's 'clubbing capital'.
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Leicester is the largest city in the East Midlands of England. It is the traditional county town of Leicestershire, and, since 1997, has been a self-governing unitary authority. It lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the English National Forest. Leicester is one of the oldest cities in England, having been founded by the Romans. The city is next to the M1 motorway, and is on the Midland Main Line from London to Sheffield, Nottingham and Leeds. High-speed trains operated by Midland Mainline can reach London in just over an hour. It is also served by rail lines to Birmingham via Nuneaton, and to Peterborough.
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Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England. The city is a tourist centre, but is rarely overwhelmed by tourists; those who come do so to visit the numerous historic buildings, including of course, the Cathedral and the Castle and the specialist shops of Steep Hill and Bailgate. The Collection, of which the Usher Gallery is now a part, is an important attraction. Housed partly in a recently opened, purpose-built venue it currently contains over 2,000,000 objects. Any material from official archaeological excavations in Lincolnshire is eventually deposited at in The Collection so it is growing all the time. Other attractions include the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. Tranquil destinations close by include Whisby Nature Reserve and Hartsholme Park, whilst noisier entertainment can be found atWaddington airfield, Scampton airfield, base of the RAF's "Red Arrows" jet aerobatic team, the County Showground or the Cadwell Park motor racing circuit near Louth. Because of its climate, Lincoln attracts many of its tourists in the summer, but also during the second weekend of December, when the Bailgate area of the city holds its annual Christmas market in and around the Castle grounds.
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Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. Built across a ridge of hills the city's urban area runs directly into Bootle and Crosby in Sefton to the north, and Huyton and Prescot in Knowsley to the east. It faces Wallasey and Birkenhead across the River Mersey to the west. Inhabitants of Liverpool are referred to as Liverpudlians and nicknamed "Scousers", in reference to the local meal known as 'scouse', a form of stew. In the late 19th century, Liverpool laid claim to being the "second Port of the Empire", handling more goods than any British city outside London. In 2007, the city will be celebrating its 800th anniversary, and in 2008, will hold the European Capital of Culture title. Liverpool contains more public sculpture than in any UK city aside from Westminster, more listed buildings than any city apart from London and, surprisingly, more Georgian houses than the city of Bath. Many well-known architects are represented in Liverpool, including Peter Ellis, Harvey Lonsdale Elmes, John Foster, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Frederick Gibberd. In 2004 Liverpool's waterfront was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site, reflecting the city's importance in the development of the world's trading system and dock technology. The docks are central to Liverpool's history, with arguably the best-known being Albert Dock. Liverpool is also well known for its love of football and its two famous football clubs, Liverpool F.C. and Everton F.C..
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Llandudno is a seaside resort and town on the North Wales coast between Conwy and Colwyn Bay. Llandudno was specifically built as a mid-Victorian era holiday destination and is now the largest seaside resort in Wales often referred to as the 'Queen of the Welsh Resorts'. Spend a day Llandudno's North Shore, the wide sweeping bay of sand and shingle, walk along the town's award winning pier, and make sure you ride the Great Orme Tramway.
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London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. An important settlement for around two millennia, London is today one of the world's most important business and financial centres, and its influence in politics, culture, education, entertainment, media, fashion, sport and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the key global cities. Its population is very cosmopolitan, drawing from a wide range of peoples, cultures and religions, speaking over 300 different languages. London is an international transport hub, with five international airports and a large port. It serves as the largest aviation hub in the world, and its principal airport, Heathrow, carries more international passengers than any other airport in the world. London is a major tourist destination, with iconic landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the London Eye amongst its many attractions, along with famous institutions such as the British Museum and the National Gallery. London has so much to offer in terms of museums, galleries, religious sites, tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and sporting venues; just make sure you give yourself enough time to properly explore it!
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Looe is a coastal town in the Caradon district of south-east Cornwall, England, UK. It lies around 20 miles west of the city of Plymouth and 7 miles south of Liskeard. Situated around a small harbour and along a steep-sided valley, Looe is in fact two towns, East Looe and West Looe, connected by bridge across the River Looe which flows between them, to reach the sea beside a sandy beach. Off shore to the west, opposite the stonier Hannafore beach, lies the picturesque St. George's Island, commonly known as Looe Island. Looe remains a fishing town, and several fish dealers operate from the docks of East Looe. With its fleet of small fishing boats returning their catches to port daily, Looe has a reputation for producing excellent fresh fish. The town is also a centre for shark fishing, and is the home of the Shark Angling Club of Great Britain. Looe's main business today is tourism, with much of the town given over to hotels, guest houses and holiday homes, along with a large number of pubs, restaurants, and shops selling beach equipment, ice cream and Cornish pasties. Inland from Looe lie many camping and caravan sites, as well as a famous Woolly monkey sanctuary. Other local attractions include the beaches, sailing, fishing and diving, and spectacular coastal walks (especially that via Talland to Polperro. In the area are several stately homes, including Antony House, Cotehele, Mount Edgcumbe, and Lanhydrock House, as well as the Eden Project near St Austell. Outside the busy summer months, the town remains a centre for shopping and entertainment for local villages. There is a tradition of the townsfolk wearing fancy dress on New Year's Eve, when the streets throng with revellers in inventive outfits. Looe is in the top 10 places in the UK to celebrate New Year.
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Loughborough (pronounced LUFF-burra, LUFF-bruh, or as the majority of the student population call it, lufbra) is the largest town in Leicestershire, England. The River Soar passes through the town in the form of the Loughborough Navigation, a canal which is part of the Grand Union Canal system. Loughborough University forms a major part of the town, and is particularly noted for its sporting successes. In 2006 Loughborough University was ranked 6th position by the Times' Good University Guide.
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Luton is a large town and local government district in the south of England, located 51 km (32 miles) north of London. Luton is the home town of the Luton Town Football Club - "The Hatters" which dates back to when Luton had a substantial millinery industry. London Luton Airport is to the south-east of the town. The main campus of the University of Bedfordshire is in the town centre. The town has several large parks, Wardown houses the museum and is located near the town centre. Stockwood houses a craft museum and the Mossman Collection. Wardown Park and the museum were a gift to the town from the then Mayor Asher Hucklesby. Luton Carnival is the biggest one-day carnival in Europe, which usually takes place on the late May Bank Holiday. Crowds usually top 150,000 on each occasion, with it being a huge multicultural event attended by people from all over the country.
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Sometimes described as the "Capital of the North", Manchester today is a centre of the arts, the media, higher education and commerce, and is considered by many of its citizens to be England's second city. Manchester is also well known for its sporting connections, being associated with two major Premier League football teams, Manchester City and Manchester United and having hosted the XVII Commonwealth Games in 2002. Manchester is a major retail centre. It has two large shopping malls; the Manchester Arndale in the middle of the city and the out-of-town Trafford Centre. The city centre has a number of smaller shopping centres, including The Triangle, which caters for a more youthful and upmarket clientele and the Royal Exchange Centre. It has a range of restaurants, bars, and clubs, spanning the famous "curry mile" in Rusholme to traditional ‘grub’, Chinatown, modern bars and bistros at Deansgate Locks in the city centre. There are also many top class restaurants. For Mancunians, the pop musical heritage of the city has been a source of great pride. The city’s eclectic mix of music has helped to create the sense among its inhabitants that Manchester is the most important city in world music. Local groups and bands have included: The Bee Gees, M People, Oasis, Simply Red, Take That, the Happy Mondays, The Charlatans, James and The Stone Roses.
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Newbury is the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse which hosts the prestigious Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup in late November, and for the adjoining former airbase at Greenham Common. Newbury is served by two railway stations, Newbury and Newbury Racecourse, which both lie on the Great Western Main Line. Newbury is home to the world headquarters of the mobile network operator Vodafone, which is the town's largest employer with over 4,000 people. Before building their Ł129 million headquarters in the outskirts of the town in 2003, Vodafone used 64 buildings spread across the town centre.
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Take a walk along the newly developed Quayside, marvel at the Gateshead Millenium Bridge and then visit the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. In the evening, drink and eat at one of the trendy restaurants and bars along the water front or in the town centre. Newcastle is fast becoming the cultural heart of the North, and millions of visitors are wowed by its attractions each year. Remember not to miss a trip to the seaside - swim if you dare!
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Norwich is a popular destination for a city break; major attractions include 11th-century Norwich Cathedral, the cobbled streets and museums of old Norwich, a Norman Castle and the ultra modern Forum. Norwich is also one of the Uk's top ten shopping destinations, with a mix of high street names, individual shops and one of the largest outdoor markets in England. The local football team is Norwich City FC (the Canaries) and they play at Carrow Road.
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The city of Nottingham is situated in the East Midlands of England and is the county town of Nottinghamshire. At the heart of Nottingham City Centre is the Old Market Square which is surrounded by the main shopping streets. The Council House, with tall dome, is at the top of the square and contains the Exchange Arcade, a shopping centre. Nottingham receives a considerable number of visitors, attracted by the nightlife, shops, history, and by the legend of Robin Hood - visiting Sherwood Forest, Nottingham Castle and The Tales of Robin Hood on Maid Marian Way. Popular history-based tourist attractions in central Nottingham include the Castle, City of Caves, Lace Market, The Galleries of Justice, and the City's ancient pubs. Also worth visiting is the bohemian quarter of the city known as Hockley; this is situated close to the attractively redeveloped Lace Market area. If you are looking for entertainment then Nottingham has two large-capacity theatres; the Nottingham Playhouse and the Theatre Royal. There is also the 2,500-capacity Nottingham Royal Concert Hall and 9,500-capacity Nottingham Arena which attract the biggest names in popular music. Nottingham has 2 football teams, Nottingham Forest (twice winners of the European Cup under Brian Clough) and Notts County (the oldest football team in the world - founded in 1862). Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club play at the Trent Bridge cricket ground. There are numerous parks and gardens throughout the city which include Wollaton Park (over 500 acres), Colwick Park (which includes the racecourse), the Nottingham Arboretum, Forest Recreation Ground and Victoria Park. Sherwood Forest, Rufford Country Park, Creswell Crags and Clumber Park are further away from the city itself.
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Oxford is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and cultural cities in England. Famed around the world for its prestigious university, it also offers tourists a fascinating history, many stunning buildings, and a great social scene. Oxford has been at the centre of learning in England for over 800 years, but there is much more to the city than its famed university. The city combines a wonderful mix of history, culture, and modern exuberance.
Once you've visited Oxford you'll be back time and time again to soak up the atmosphere of what has to be one of the jewels of England.
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Paignton's economy relies heavily on tourism and the town is marketed as a location for family holidays. During the summer, the long red sandy beach is packed with tourists eating ice cream and fish and chips. Paignton beach and the nearby Preston Sands are used for water sports such as wind and kite surfing, as well as dinghy sailing. Paignton Pier and the multiscreen Apollo Cinema are attractions on the sea front area adjacent to Paignton Green. During the summer period there are special events including firework displays and often an appearance from the Red Arrows RAF display team. The seafront and harbour area contains pubs and night clubs, and there is a wide range of restaurants in the town. The town also has hotels, and bed and breakfast accommodation. Paignton Zoo, one of the largest zoos in Britain, is situated on the outskirts of the town. The Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway is a popular attraction, operating steam trains from Paignton to Kingswear, from where a ferry can be taken across the River Dart to Dartmouth. The line was closed by British Rail during the cutbacks of the Beeching era in the 1960s, and is operated today as a heritage railway line.
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Perth has a number of popular architectural and historical attractions, most notably Scone Palace and St. John's Kirk. It is also the centre of the regimental Black Watch whose base is located on Dunkeld Road, and whose museum is located inside Balhousie Castle. The Castle, of medieval origins, and the seat of the Eviot family, was extensively altered and enlarged in the 19th century, and retains little of its original character. Branklyn Gardens by the Dundee Road is a world-renowned garden, its centerpiece being its collection of Himalayan blue poppies. The major green areas in the city are the North and South Inch parks, which together with the Riverside Park, better known as the Middle Inch, form three quarters of a ring around the city centre. Kinnoull Hill and Craigie Hill, well provided with forest walks, give spectacular views of the city. Two Historic Scotland properties within a short distance of the town are Huntingtower Castle, former seat of the Earls of Gowrie (open all year; entrance charge), and Elcho Castle, former seat of the Wemyss family (open in summer; entrance charge). Both are excellent examples of late medieval Scottish tower-houses, and are popular sites for weddings.
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Plymouth is a city in the southwest of England in the county of Devon. It is located at the mouths of the rivers Plym and Tamar and at the head of one of the world's largest and most spectacular natural harbours, the Plymouth Sound. The city has a rich maritime past and was once one of the two most important Royal Navy bases in the United Kingdom, a factor that made the city a prime target of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. After the destruction of the dockyards and city centre in the blitz of 1941, Plymouth was rebuilt under the guidance of architect Patrick Abercrombie and is now one of the few remaining naval dockyards in the United Kingdom and the largest naval base in Western Europe. Important locations in the city include The Royal Citadel, Devonport Dockyard and The Barbican from where the Pilgrims left for the New World in 1620. If you are looking for entertainment, the Theatre Royal and its Drum Theatre show many current and widely acclaimed productions. Also, the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery is home to vast collections of fine and decorative arts, natural history and human history. The evenings centre around Plymouth's infamous Union Street. Once lined with numerous music halls and cinemas, the street is now home to a wide number of bars, clubs and casinos. The local football team is called Plymouth Argyle Football Club, and play their home games at the Home Park stadium in Central Park.
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Poole is a coastal town, port and tourist destination, situated on the shores of the English Channel, in the ceremonial county of Dorset in southern England. Poole Harbour (said to be the second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney) has been a working port for many hundreds of years, though the port has declined somewhat as the shallow water cannot take the largest ships. The harbour is noted for its ecology: supporting saltmarsh, mudflats and an internationally important population of wintering waterfowl, as well as the Brownsea Island nature reserve, where the Scouting movement began. Today the port is amongst other things the home of Sunseeker, manufacturers of luxury yachts, and the departure point for ferries (Brittany Ferries and Condor Ferries) to France and the Channel Islands. The quayside and harbour was the place from which some ships departed for the D-Day landings of World War II. Poole Harbour is a popular location for watersports because it is sheltered and calm. Poole Harbour is also one of the largest centres for sailing in the UK with many yacht clubs including Lilliput Sailing Club, Parkstone Yacht Club and Poole Yacht Club.
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Reading was an important centre in the medieval period, as the site of an important monastery with strong royal connections, but suffered serious economic damage during the 17th century from which it took a long time to recover. Today it is again an important commercial centre in Southern England and is often referred to as the capital of the Thames Valley, with the headquarters of some major British companies and the UK offices of a number of major foreign multinationals, especially in the IT industry, including Microsoft, Oracle, Sage, Xansa and Yell.com. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and has excellent transport links to London. Every year Reading plays host to two important festivals. The Reading Festival has been running since 1971, while WOMAD found a home in the town in 1990. Internationally, it is perhaps for these two events that the town is best known. Reading Football Club, nicknamed The Royals, play their home games at the Madejski Stadium near junction 11 of the M4. Reading has a good shopping centre with the majority of shops situated in Broad Street and the Oracle Shopping Centre. The Oracle Riverside development provides a number of good restaurants, bars and a cinema all beautifully positioned beside the canal - great for sitting outside in the summer!
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