Vibrant cities, heritage towns and stunning countryside, England offers a distinctive assortment of diverse tourism attractions to satiate one’s wanderlust By Rituparna Chatterjee

From heritage cities like Bristol, Bath, to eco tourism locations such as Lake District, Peak District, to cities like Manchester and Liverpool housing some of the most popular football clubs in the world, England’s rich history and culture, and bespoke tourism attractions has always made it one of the most popular destinations worldwide. And as the world centre of theatre, art, music, literature and culture, London, England’s capital is the most visited city by international travellers in Great Britain. But England has more to offer than London’s famed Houses of Parliament, Elizabeth Tower, Madame Tussauds London, The View from The Shard, among others. For England is also home to the stadium of the world renowned Manchester United football club in Manchester, Northern England. From touring the stadium of Manchester United to experiencing one of Great Britain’s most famous gay villages to rummaging through the shops of the bohemian Northern Quarter, the options are widely varying in the city of Manchester. For art lovers a visit to The Lowry, home to the world’s largest collection of works by LS Lowry, is a must. The Museum of Science and Industry is bound to keep any scientific mind interested. The city’s location in Northern England also makes it a great base for walking the Pennines – a rugged mountain range. Because of its convenient rail, road and air connectivity, Manchester is within easy reach of most parts of Great Britain. For instance, Manchester is just one hour away from London by flight.

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A UNESCO World Heritage Site with a rich collection of museums and art galleries, along with  music and sporting heritage, Liverpool is another top destination to visit in Northern England. A guided tour is a great way to explore the city and the Mersey Ferries is one of the best options. Board a Mersey ferry to get a panoramic view of the waterfront, which is accompanied by an informative commentary. Featuring a large collection of Grade I listed buildings, Albert Dock in Liverpool is situated in a World Heritage waterfront and houses several museums, galleries, bars, restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops, among others. For music lovers a visit to the Beatles Story, a permanent exhibition depicting the lives and times of The Beatles, is a must. Located at Albert Dock, The Beatles Story has beautifully recreated some of the key locations from the band’s career including The Casbah Club, The Cavern Club and Abbey Road Studios. Here, the story of The Beatles gets unfolded through audio guides available in several languages. For a more detailed glimpse into the life of The Beatles, the Magical Mystery Tour bus takes you to all the places associated with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr as they grew up, met and formed the band. Located at a few minutes walking distance from The Beatles Story is Tate Liverpool, a gallery of modern and contemporary art. Spread across four floors, the gallery is housed inside one of Albert Dock’s former warehouses. Some other notable attractions at Albert Dock includes the International Slavery Museum and Merseyside Maritime Museum. A trip to Liverpool is incomplete without a visit to the famous Liverpool Football Club. Take a guided tour of its stadium to see the press room, player’s dressing rooms, among others. You can also opt for a Liverpool legend like Alan Kennedy to take you on a tour of the stadium. Liverpool also boasts of two cathedrals – the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King (Catholic), both being vastly different in architecture yet majestic and beautiful.

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Bristol, Bath & beyond

Enveloped in the hills of Southwest England, Bristol has created its own distinctive identity through its maritime history, and for the acres of parkland and sustainable approach that earned it the European Green Capital status. Walk the streets or cycle from the city to the outskirts to experience the heritage of the place. The city is steeped in history and there are several heritage sites to take you back into the past be it the Bristol Cathedral or The Lord Mayor’s Chapel. Bristol has a fascinating maritime history and some of the best preserved boats in the country can be found in the docks. For instance, Brunel’s ss Great Britain, a former passenger steamship designed and built by Brunel, is a must visit attraction. Go below deck or limb the rigging like a sailor in the 1800s to explore this wonderfully restored vessel. Pick up a boat from Brunel’s ss Great Britain for a harbour tour of Bristol. Not to be missed is the Clifton Suspension Bridge that spans the picturesque Avon Gorge. Combine a trip to the suspension bridge with atleast a three-four hour visit to the Bristol Zoo Gardens, the fifth oldest zoo in the world. If you are travelling with children, then do visit the At Bristol Science Centre, which is a hands-on, interactive playground with a planetarium and with Bristol Aquarium on the same site, a whole day can be easily spent there.

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Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bath is a unique destination where you can bathe in naturally hot spa water and original Roman style baths. As Bath is a small city, most of the main attractions are all within a short walk of each other. Head up to The Gainsborough Bath Spa, which was originally built in the 1800s and occupies two Grade II listed buildings with distinguished Georgian and Victorian facades. Named after the artist, Sir Thomas Gainsborough, the hotel is centred around Spa Village Bath and has access to natural thermal, mineral-rich water. Spend an hour at The Roman Baths, where the ancient ruins depict Bath’s spa culture 2,000 years ago when the Romans once bathed in the natural thermal spa water. Do explore the Royal Crescent, one of Bath’s most iconic attractions, and on your way back relax your body and mind at the Thermae Bath Spa, a day spa.

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Located at around two hours drive from Bath is Paultons Family Theme Park, which features rides and attractions like a roller coaster, log flume, water park, adventure golf, 4D cinema, among others. Peppa Pig World, a theme park with seven rides and attractions, is located at Paultons Family Theme Park. Beaulieu, which is around a half hour drive from the theme park, is a family visitor attraction in the heart of New Forest. There are over 800 years of heritage to be seen on the Beaulieu estate, which has been in the ownership of the Montagu family for over four centuries. For car lovers, the Motor Museum inside this attraction is a must visit. The Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s palatial holiday home on the Isle of Wight, is another noteworthy attraction. Visit Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s private apartments, their bathing beach and children’s play-cottage to get a glimpse into the lives of this royal family.

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