Two popular seaside resorts located on the Kent coastline of south-eastern England, Ramsgate and Broadstairs are well worth a visit if you are travelling around this area. Once one of the major coastal resorts in England, Ramsgate still relies heavily on tourism though its heady days as a primary holiday destination are long gone. The 1970’s and 1980’s saw millions of the UK’s holidaymakers heading for the guaranteed sun of Spain, Portugal and Greece, leaving behind the damp, unpredictable climate of such previously popular resorts as Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate. Among places to visit in Ramsgate these days are the Maritime Museum, in Clock House Pier Yard, the Ramsgate Museum (Guildford Lawn), the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum (Manston), Minster Abbey (Minster) and Pugin’s Grange. Broadstairs, still very popular as a holiday resort and as a place to retire, is perhaps the most pleasant of the Isle of Thanet’s resorts, worth a look in Broadstairs is the Crampton Tower Museum, situated adjacent to the train station, it is dedicated mostly to the work of Thomas Russell Crampton, a famous designer of locomotives and railways, it also features a five inch guage miniature railway, great for the kids. Kent Map.
2009/09/16
2009/09/12
Hayle Cornwall
Located in the Penwith district of Cornwall in the United Kingdom, the small town and parish of Hayle was previously a significant cargo port, importing coal for the smelting of tin and exporting the resulting tin and ore. Lying close to the coastal towns of Carbis Bay and St Ives, Hayle today has a population of just over 8,000 and is growing in popularity as a tourist destination, with visitors attracted to the fine scenery and the 3 miles of golden sand which is ideal for family holidays. Hayle is situated beside the A30 road between Penzance and Camborne. Hayle Map.
Fareham Hampshire
Lying between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, the town of Fareham in Hampshire has for many years been renowned for the production of bricks, tiles and chimney pots, which were made using the clay soil of the area. Located on the north-western tip of Portsmouth harbour Fareham also has a long maritime tradition with strong ties with the Royal Navy. Probably settled by the Romans during their occupation of Britain, it was known as Ferneham during the Norman era. Fareham underwent much development during the 1960’s and was popular for those wishing to escape the urban sprawls of Southampton and Portsmouth. Fareham Map.
Eastbourne Brighton and Hastings
Three of the biggest resorts along the East Sussex coastline are the towns of Hastings, Brighton and Eastbourne, all attract many thousands of visitors each year and in fact Brighton receives over 8 million visitors, with its many events and attractions. Hastings famous for its battle during the Norman conquest of Britain, which actually took place 8 miles away at Senlac Hill, has been an important fishing town over many centuries, and still has the largest beach launched fishing fleet in Europe. Eastbourne, well known haunt of Britain’s elderly (many choose to buy retirement homes there) is a busy town and borough which depends mostly on tourism for its survival, Eastbourne also hosts a number of popular annual events. Brighton, a former fishing village, became a fashionable resort during the 18th century, visited by royalty its famous pavilion was commissioned by the Prince Regent (later George IV).
Margate Burlington Hotel
You can be sure that a warm welcome awaits you at friendly family run Burlington Hotel in Margate. Established in 1977 the Burlington Hotel is handily situated close to Margate town centre, near to the beach and within easy walking distance of the railway station. The hotel has 12 rooms available all having a high standard of cleanliness. Freshly cooked home breakfasts await you as you arise to enjoy a day in one of England’s finest seaside resorts, hoping for some fine Margate weather and maybe an hour or two on the beach, you are sure to enjoy your stay in this super little hotel. Located at 8 Buenos Ayres, Margate, Kent. Margate Map.
Widemouth Bay and Bude Cornwall
A small but very popular seaside resort in the county of Cornwall, United Kingdom, Bude is surrounded by spectacular cliffs and some wonderful scenery. Dangerous waters off the coast of Bude have claimed many victims over the years, with shipwrecks common and smuggling rife. These days it is a renowned beach holiday destination with some of the best beaches in Cornwall to be found in the area, the main beaches that serve the town are Summerleaze and Crooklets beach, further south you will find Widemouth Bay, with miles of fine sandy beaches. With the beaches facing west towards the Atlantic Ocean, seas are high and attract surfers who enjoy the favourable conditions for their sport.
Hayling Island
Often known as the birthplace of windsurfing, Hayling Island is also a renowned holiday location within the county of Hampshire, England, UK. A true island, it is reached from the mainland by way of a road bridge, it is situated in Langstone Harbour to the east of Portsmouth. Though originally Hayling Island had sandy beaches, most of the beaches are now comprised of shingle as the beaches were topped up by dredging the surrounding waters to prevent erosion. Attractions on Hayling Island include the Beachlands funfair and the East Hayling Light Railway, it is also the location of the popular Warners Lakeside holiday complex. Hayling Island Map.
2009/09/11
Hastings Castle
If you are visiting Hastings in East Sussex this year, why not take some time out to visit Hastings Castle and take yourself back a few centuries in history. The ruins of this former castle are part of the ancient history of this area, being the first castle built by the Norman King William the Conquerer after his invasion of Britain in 1066. In the medieval siege tent visitors can view a twenty minute audio/visual programme in which the history of Hastings castle and the area are revealed, especially the oh so important 1066 story. The Count of Eu held control of the castle through most of the Norman period and King John ordered the castle destroyed, it was later re-fortified by Henry III. In 1951 the Hastings Corporation bought the site and turned it into a major tourist attraction for the town. The castle can be found on Castle Hill Road, West Hill, Hastings. Map of Hastings.
Visiting Hastings? Check out the latest weather here: Hastings Weather.
Bognor Regis
A popular seaside resort located in the English county of West Sussex, a part of the Arun district, Bognor Regis has a population of over 60,000 and was formerly just called “Bognor”, existing as a fishing village up until the 18th century when it was developed as a fashionable tourist resort. The “Regis” was added to the name after King George V used the resort for his convalescence in 1929, his supposed last words “bugger Bogner” are thought to have been misquoted. Bognor Regis Map.
2009/09/09
Helston Cornwall
A small town in the county of Cornwall, England, UK, Helston has a history which stretches back into the mists of time, it was settled by the Saxons as far back as the 6th century and was listed in the Domesday Book as ‘Henliston’. The name of the town is derived from the ancient Cornish Hen Lis (“Old Court”), the ‘ton’ added because it was a Saxon manor. Standing on the banks of the River Cober, Helston was at one time tidal and was in fact an inland port, which received coal and exported tin, the river access was however cut off by a sand bar and the port fell into disuse. Helston has always been connected with mining, with tin and copper mines in the areas around the town. These days Helston is more of a tourist destination, being just a couple of miles from the coast, and an ideal base for touring the western areas of Cornwall. Helston Map.
Eastbourne East Sussex
Thinking of moving to Eastbourne in East Sussex? Want to know a little about the town and what you can expect to find there? Good, here goes, the elegant town of Eastbourne is primarily a tourist town and welcomes over 4 million visitors each year, in 2007 it was named “the sunniest town in Britain”, referring to its better than average climate, with Eastbourne weather being some of the best in the UK, it has also been a finalist in the “Best UK Resort” competition for the last 2 years and in fact won the award in 2005. Eastbourne has a great range of hotels and guest houses and is a renowned day trippers resort, also holding numerous annual cultural and sporting events to attract more visitors to the town. Eastbourne has a population of around 90,000 and has a good level of employment with plenty of Eastbourne jobs available, many relating to the tourism industry. Former winner of the “Britain in Bloom” award, Eastbourne has lots of green areas and attractive parks, making it a pleasant place to live or visit, its seafront Carpet Gardens are world famous. Eastbourne has a wide range of leisure facilities and cultural facilities offering visitors plenty of choice whatever their tastes. How to get there? You can reach Eastbourne by road via the A-22 from London or the A-27 from Brighton, or you can catch the train from London Victoria. You can view a map of Eastbourne here: Eastbourne Map.
Ashford Kent
If you are visiting the town of Ashford in Kent this year, you may be looking for some interesting places to visit, so here is a brief overview of what you can find in the area. The Rare Breeds Centre is located about 5 miles south of Ashford at the Highlands Farm, Woodchurch and is set amongst 120 acres of beautiful countryside. Godlington House and Gardens is situated just 1 mile west of Ashford and is set in extensive parklands. Leeds Castle is just 12 miles north-west of Ashford and is well worth a visit with an aviary, yew maze and hawk centre amongst other attractions, it is set in 500 acres of beautiful countryside. Finally take a trip to Chilham Park and Castle, situated about 8 miles north of Ashford, featuring extensive parklands, a 12th century castle and a 17th century manor house. Map of Ashford.