England, Europe (Point of interest)

Bath is dominated by the imposing Abbey, built on the site of a Saxon monastery where the first King of Bath was crowned in 973. It has beautifully restored stonework and some of the finest fan vaulting in the country. Over 500 years old, the abbe... Continue reading →

York Art Gallery houses one of the region's finest collections of European painting, spanning over 600 years and displayed in themed areas. Among the artists on show are Belloto, Reynolds, Parmigianino, Lowry and Nash. The gallery also stages tempo... Continue reading →

The refurbished city centre Manchester Art Gallery houses thousands of exhibits from 17th-century European art and Pre-Raphaelite paintings to Victorian dolls' houses and a Levi jeans chair. Enjoy the special exhibitions or take a break in the cafÃ... Continue reading →

Back to Backs, Birmingham's last remaining city-centre National Trust-restored back-to-back housing, reflects four periods from 1840 to 1977. Experience the lives of its residents and stock up at the 1930s sweetshop for nostalgia's sake. Advance bo... Continue reading →

Brighton beachfront is the heart of this buzzing seaside city. It stretches from Brighton Pier, with its bumper cars and Victorian games arcade, to the ghostly West Pier, now partially subsided into the waters after a huge fire. Between the two pi... Continue reading →

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses add a splash of floral colour to the city. Spanning 15 acres, the grounds sport a bandstand, an art gallery and four Victorian glasshouses, which shelter exotic plants in conditioned climates. Each gl... Continue reading →

Nottingham Castle is a 17th-century ducal mansion perched on a hill overlooking the city. Built on the site of a former medieval castle, today it houses a museum and art gallery. Don't leave without walking around the beautiful gardens. Interactiv... Continue reading →

York's Castle Museum brings more than 400 years of history back to life in its award-winning exhibitions and displays. Visitors can wander through cobbled streets, see loads of historic costumes, view the toys that children used to treasure and go... Continue reading →

Built in 1071 for William the Conqueror, Oxford Castle was once a royal residence, a centre for justice and then a prison, up until 1996. The castle's dark history of violence, executions and escapes is now revealed to visitors. Early on in the ca... Continue reading →

Chester Cathedral boasts the most complete medieval monastic complex in the UK and records of a church on the current site date back to the early 10th century. Visitors can admire the medieval wood-carved choir stalls. Chester Cathedral was origin... Continue reading →

Leeds City Art Gallery houses acclaimed prints, watercolours, paintings, sculptures, photography and contemporary art. The collection includes works by famous regional artists such as Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, as well as nationally acclaime... Continue reading →

The family-friendly Leeds City Museum occupies the landmark Leeds Institute building in the city centre. Its four storeys of educational and entertaining exhibitions and galleries range from 'Ancient Worlds' to 'Living Planet' to 'The Leeds Story'.... Continue reading →

The giant London Eye wheel on the Thames riverbank is a magnet for visitors to the capital. A ride provides panoramic views over the river, Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral and even the distant countryside. Booking ahead is strongly advised. On clear ... Continue reading →

The traditionally ornate but newly restored Victorian grandeur of the Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House is among the North's premier venues. The city-centre home to Opera North, it also features ballet and drama, among plenty of lighter shows. As ... Continue reading →

York Minster is the largest medieval building in England and the biggest gothic cathedral north of the Alps. Originally, the Minster was built on what was the headquarters of a Roman fortress. This period of the building's history is recorded in t... Continue reading →

Ancient history and world cultures are explored in the university-owned Manchester Museum's galleries in the city centre. Displays include dinosaurs, Egyptology and Mediterranean archaeology. Discover monitor lizards and Amazonian habitats in the a... Continue reading →

Middle Eastern treasures and one of the world's largest pre-Raphaelite collections are among highlights of the centrally-located Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. The Waterhall Gallery of Modern Art, 19th-century Round Room and impressive Edwardian ... Continue reading →

Brighton Museum and Art Gallery is situated in the city's cultural heart, opposite the Royal Pavilion. Inside, it boasts fine collections of fashion, art and design and an impressive display of Art Deco and Art Nouveau items and design.... Continue reading →

Designed by Alfred Waterhouse and completed in 1877, Manchester's impressive neo-Gothic town hall rises almost 90m above Albert Square. Once inside, look up to see the Great Hall's hammer-beam roof, and don't miss the pre-Raphaelite murals by Ford ... Continue reading →