This is where where more tourists flock than any other area of the UK. It caters for every taste, from surfing to shark fishing and just plain loafing. Major cities not to miss include Georgian Bath, Maritime Bristol, Exeter the Gateway to Dartmoor and Plymouth with it's links to the Pilgrim Fathers. Devon, with it's hidden valleys, pocket handkerchief fields patched with red soil, resorts such as Torquay and Brixham, and it's cream teas, never fails to please. Neither does Cornwall, with the sea and sand attractions of places like Newquay, St Ives and Looe, and a host of fishing villages and rocky coves typical of the holiday postcards.
Watch out for the ever popular agricultural show but keep yourself and your car off the road during summer weekends, particularly at Bank Holidays. If you want to visit a top attraction such as St Ives or Brixham go during the week, and go early to get into the car parks!
Not a beach in sight so not for those who only love the surf and sea, or extremes of scenery. Still large industrial areas here, particularly in the West Midlands whose major City Birmingham is a fine example of how to regenerate for the future and still keep the best of the past. The past is also brought to life in the various open air industrial museums in the region, and for lovers of fine pottery Stoke on Trent has a cluster of famous name factories such as Wedgewood able to demonstrate the best of today and yesterday.
Much of the rest of the countryside is gentle farm land, although the Cotswolds Hills in Gloucestershire between Birmingham and Oxford have a unique character with their honey coloured stone buildings and discreet towns and villages that always show off to their best in the glow of the sun.
By all means do the obligatory pilgrimage to Stratford on Avon, especially if you intend to take in a one of the superb performances at the Theatre. For a really splendid look into the past travel the few miles and take a tour of Warwick Castle.
The
North WestIf you're heading for Liverpool in search of the sixties you will be disappointed. The Beatles have moved on, and the era has passed. You can still get a buzz from the City, as you can in others such as nearby Manchester. If you like sport overlap your visit with the football season and watch the current Kings of the English game Manchester United.
Main outdoor attraction here has to be the Lake District . For the hardy only in the winter it suffers from an serious overdose of visitors in the Summer with roads clogged with traffic at peak times. This is the place to abandon the car and walk to enjoy the scenery. If you're a trekker make sure you check out the local situation however, the weather can change quite quickly up here and the rescue teams don't need any more work than they already have.
Don't miss the local agricultural shows that are a summer feature all around the country, and particularly the sheep dog trials. For a quick taste of the fast disappearing "Old English Seaside Resort" take a look at probably the most famous example of them all - Blackpool , and buy a stick of the famous "Rock" to take home.
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© 1998 Europe Today A.S., John Laight.