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Britain
Update #57
May
15 , 2001
Welcome
friends, its time to put the kettle on, settle into a comfortable
armchair, and enjoy the best of Britain with Britain Update. But before
you do, please take the time to forward this newsletter to someone
who loves Britain as much as you do.
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Contents
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1. Bed & Breakfast
2. F&M Update
3.
Top Scottish Attractions
4. Wales Virtual Tour
5. UK Destinations: Greater Manchester
6. UK Travel news and notes
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Bed and Breakfast at Britain Express
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Here's a reminder that Britain Express has partnered with Bed and
Breakfast UK to bring you information on hundreds of bed and breakfast
properties across the UK and Ireland. Browse the attractive collection
of B&B properties at http://www.bedandbreakfasts-uk.co.uk/britainexpress/index.htm
. Each B&B listing has details of facilities, contact information,
prices, and a location map.
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Yet another Foot & Mouth Update
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The Foot and Mouth outbreak has slowed, at least to the point where
many countryside attractions and walking paths are now open or will
be open soon. As always, let me caution travelers to contact local
tourist info centres for the latest news on a particular area, or
telephone the Government's
24 hour automated information line - +44 (0)8456 071 071.
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Top
Visitor Attractions in Scotland
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Just
for fun, let's play a little guessing game. What would you say is
the most visited attraction in Scotland? You'd be forgiven for thinking
it might be Edinburgh Castle (it finished second) or perhaps Balmoral
Castle, or one of the famous Border Abbeys like Melrose of Jedburgh
(none made the list). Alright, let's end the suspense; here are the
latest official top ten visitor attractions in Scotland.
1. Strathclyde
Country Park (nr. Motherwell) 4,891,287 visitors
2. Edinburgh Castle (Edinburgh) 1,220,338 visitors
3. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum (Glasgow) 1,051,020 visitors
4. Royal Museum & Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh) 759,579 visitors
5. Royal Botanic Garden (Edinburgh) 609,488 visitors
6. The Time Capsule (Coatbridge) 595,552 visitors
7. Royal Scots Regimental Museum (Edinburgh) 540,000 visitors
8. Edinburgh Zoo (Edinburgh) 526,000 visitors
9. The Former Royal Yacht Britannia (Edinburgh) 415,297 visitors
10.Waterfront Leisure Complex (Greenock) 430,343 visitors
If you'd
like to plan a trip to one of the top ten, here's a list of the official
web sites (where there is one) or a good web source of info when an
official site doesn't exist.
Strathclyde
Country Park
http://www.northlan.gov.uk/leisure/
Edinburgh
Castle
http://www.edinburgh.org
Kelvingrove
http://www.glasgowwestend.co.uk/out/galleries/kelvingrove.html
Royal
Museum & Museum of Scotland
http://www.museum.scotland.net/
Royal
Botanic Garden
http://www.rbge.org.uk/
The Time
Capsule
http://www.craigendmuir.co.uk/New%20Pages/wheretovisit6.html
Royal
Scots Regimental Museum
http://www.army.mod.uk/army/organise/infan/royscots/
Edinburgh
Zoo
http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/
The Former
Royal Yacht Britannia
http://www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/
Waterfront
Leisure Complex
http://www.waterfront-leisure.co.uk/
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WALES VIRTUAL TOUR REMINDER
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We've
had terrific feedback on our new Virtual Tour of Wales. If you have
not yet had a chance to tour the land of the Red Dragon with us, visit
http://www.britainexpress.com/wales/tour/
. A companion to our Virtual Tour of England, the Wales VT is a graphically
rich region-by-region overview of where to go and what to see throughout
Wales. You can follow the tour as we take you through Wales step by
step, or jump ahead to any region that interests you. The Wales VT
was written and edited by Barbara Ballard.
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UK Destinations: Greater Manchester
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We don't usually feature urban areas in our Updates, but I felt it
was time we gave the Greater Manchester area its due as a burgeoning
tourist destination area. Not too many years ago it would have seemed
laughable to talk of this largely urban region as an attractive destination
for travellers, but much has changed. A
cultural rennaissance has taken place that has transformed this industrial
city and its surrounding areas into a vibrant centre of culture and
the arts.
The district
of Greater Manchester takes in the city itself, but also the surrounding
towns of Bolton, Bury, Wigan, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Altrincham,
and Oldham.
In the
centre of Manchester a variety of public buildings and art centres
attest to the revival. The Pumphouse People's History Museum recalls
the social history of the area, while the City Art Gallery houses
a wonderful collection of fine art. Within the Castlefield Urban Heritage
Park was the site of the very first passenger train station in the
world, as well as the first major canal, and the remains of an early
Roman fort can be seen. Visitors can tour Granada Studios, home to
the enduring TV soap opera Coronation Street, or visit the
excellent Museum of Science and Industry.
Venturing
further afield, the Gallery of English Costume in Rusholme traces
the history of dress in England over the last 400 years through ever-changing
exhibits, and Bramall Hall is a 14th century timber-framed manor set
in over 70 acres of landscaped parkland. More
opulent is Dunham Massey Hall, a classical Georgian country house
with later Edwardian additions.
The Lancashire
Mining Museum in Salford provides a fascinating glimpse of life in
the pits, with two authentic reproduction mines and displays tracing
the history of coal mining. The museum is housed in a listed building
designed by Sir Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament.
In Bolton
the intriguingly named Hall I' the Wood is a lovely half-timbered
Tudor manor. In 1779 Samuel Compton perfected his spinning mule at
the Hall and two panelled rooms are devoted to Compton and his discovery.
A more ornate family home is Heaton Hall in North Manchester, a classical
18th century mansion set in over 600 acres of parkland.
From
classical homes to Tudor manors, arts centres, and museums, Greater
Manchester has much more to offer the modern visitor than can be mentioned
in this brief profile. For more info, visit:
Virtual
Manchester
http://www.manchester.com/
Manchester
2002
http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/
For a
free 'Experience Greater Manchester' brochure contact:
Greater
Manchester Districts Tourism Forum
c/o Bolton MBC Leisure Services
Tourism Unit
The Wellsprings Bolton
BL1 1US
Tel: 44 (0)1204 394645
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UK Travel Tips and News
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BEATRIX POTTER WORLD ANNIVERSARY
The World of Beatrix Potter in the Lake District celebrates its 10th
anniversary this year. Located in the Old Laundry at Bowness-on-Windermere,
it is one of the top ten most popular visitor centres in Britain.
The World includes detailed scenes from her stories, interactive features,
a video presentation, a shop, and a tearoom. Open daily from 10-5:30pm
until Sept. 30th, then closes at 4:30pm.
LIVING
HISTORY AT CAERLAVEROCK
Caerlaverock Castle, near Dumfries, Scotland, is putting on a castle
siege re-enactment on Aug. 25-26. Combat and weaponry displays, medieval
encampments, falconry, music and other entertainments will take place.
EDINBURGH
FESTIVAL
It's not too soon to start planning your trip to the world-famous
Edinburgh International Festival of the Arts. The Festival will present
161 performances of 112 productions including four world premieres
and 20 British premieres from Aug 12-Sept 1. Website: http://www.eif.co.uk
for venues, booking and details.
SOUTHWARK
CATHEDRAL
Southwark Cathedral, on the South Bank of the River Thames, now has
a permanent exhibition with touch-screen computers for visitors to
see artefacts uncovered from recent excavations. Website: http://www.dswark.org
STATELY
HOMES CONCERTS
A series of twenty evening concerts will be held at English stately
homes and castles over the coming months. Many of the concerts feature
firework displays to cap the festivities. Venues range from mock-Gothic
Eastnor Castle to opulent Blenheim Palace and medieval Lincoln Castle,
For details of places and dates visit the series organisers at http://www.performingarts.co.uk
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That's all for now. Until next issue, let me remind you that laughter
is contagious. Be a carrier.
David
Ross
Editor
Britain Express
http://www.britainexpress.com
The UK travel and heritage guide
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Contents
© 2001 David Ross and Britain Express
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