A large town in Bedfordshire, located some 30 miles to the north of London, Luton, together with its nearby areas of Houghton Regis and Dunstable, has a population of around two hundred and thirty thousand inhabitants. Luton is a major travel hub for the region as it is the location of one of London’s satellite airports and London Luton Airport is handy for accessing the M1 motorway and the A5. The town is also well known for its football team who have had much success over the year. Though now a modern industrial town, Luton has a long history, with Palaeolithic remains being found in the area. In the Domesday Book of 1086, the town was recorded as Lintone, at which time it was reliant on agriculture.
June 25, 2010
Clacton on Sea Essex
Clacton on Sea Essex
One of Essex’s popular coastal resorts, Clacton on Sea as a town was only established in 1871, when a railway engineer purchased some land and built Clacton Pier as a docking point for the Woolwich Steam Packet Company. The surrounding areas however, have been the site of human settlement since the time of the ancient Celts. A later Lord of the Manor of Great and Little Clacton, was none other than Henry VIII, who awarded himself the title after the execution of Thomas Cromwell (the former Lord). Clacton became a popular holiday destination in Victorian times and reached its zenith in the 1960’s, aided by the Butlins Holiday Camp, which had first opened in the resort in 1937. In recent years Clacton has fell into decline for various reasons, but not least the closing of Butlins Clacton in 1983. Still fairly popular for holidays and day trips, Clacton can get pretty busy when the weather is fine, and during the summer school holidays. At these times Clacton beach might remind those who remember, of its former heydays.
Comments Off on Clacton on Sea Essex
June 16, 2010
Weymouth Dorset
Weymouth Harbour Dorset
At one time the only safe harbour on this stretch of the Dorset coast, Weymouth later became a fashionable seaside resort, and was very popular during the late 18th century, right through Victorian times to the present day. Still a desirable area for summer holidays, Weymouth is also a busy port for ferries to the Channel Islands and St Malo in France. The town is fairly large with a population of over 50,000, and along with the rest of Dorset, it enjoys a decent climate with milder temperatures than much of the UK. Weymouth can be accessed by way of the A354 from Salisbury, via Blandford Forum and Dorchester. Weymouth Map.
Comments Off on Weymouth Dorset
June 14, 2010
Bideford Devon
Bideford Devon Long Bridge
For two centuries from 1550 to 1750, Bideford was the principal port of north Devon and was also a centre for shipbuilding. Bideford’s 15th century long bridge over the River Torridge, was originally from the 13th century, and comprises 24 arches all with different spans, it connects the original old town with the area known as East-the-Water. The long tree-lined quay is still at the heart of life in Bideford and attracts many visitors to this popular Devon town. Other attractions include the Burton Art Gallery and Museum, and the Pannier Market, held on Saturdays and Tuesdays, a great place to visit if the weather is fine. In the disused railway station at East-the-Water, you can visit the Tarka Trail information centre, housed in a converted railway carriage. If you are enjoying sunny weather during your visit you could also head for the beach at Westward Ho!, to the north of Bideford.
Comments Off on Bideford Devon
May 18, 2010
Ventnor Isle of Wight
A popular coastal town and resort in the south of the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, Ventnor was established as a holiday destination during the 19th century. Formerly just a small fishing village, Ventnor grew after the introduction, in 1866, of the Isle of Wight Railway, connecting it with Ryde in the north of the island. Renowned for the treatment of tuberculosis, the pleasant weather and fresh sea air, were thought to be beneficial in the treatment of this dreadful disease. In the height of its popularity between the two world wars, Ventnor saw regular steam packet visits from Southsea on the mainland. Still popular today, and one if the Isle of Wight’s best loved resorts, Ventnor has a decent sandy beach, which is excellent for bathing, a renowned Botanic Garden, and a popular esplanade. Ventnor can be reached by way of the A3055 or the B3327, it is about 4 miles from Shanklin and about 9 miles from Ryde.
Comments Off on Ventnor Isle of Wight
April 17, 2010
Swanage Dorset
One of Dorset’s more popular seaside resorts, the town of Swanage has been attracting holidaymakers since Victorian times and became even more popular after the introduction of the railway by the London and South Western Railway Company in 1885. It has survived as a traditional English seaside resort mostly due to its unspoilt nature and the beauty of its surrounding coastline, being part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site of Dorset, which alone attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world. Swanage today has a population of just over 10,000, and its economy revolves mostly around tourism, though it was previously significant for both fishing and quarrying, its being the prime location for many centuries for the production of Purbeck stone and Purbeck marble. As a holiday resort its attractions include its sandy beach, its excellent climate and its beautiful coast, with the renowned Old Harry Rocks located nearby, other attractions include Corfe Castle, Studland Bay, Lulworth Cove, Durlston Country Park, Durlston Bay, Peveril Point and the Swanage Lighthouse, it is a good base for touring many of Dorset’s other attractive towns and villages and beautiful unspoilt countryside. Swanage can be reached by way of the A351 and is about 7 miles from Poole.
Comments Off on Swanage Dorset