Places of Interest

Bournemouth
For decades Bournemouth was written off, by anyone under fifty, as the largest retirement village in England. However in recent years the resort has undergone something of a transformation, no doubt due in part to the large student population. The main thing that Bournemouth has always had going for it, is the seven miles of glorious beach that stretch along the coast to the town of Poole.

Bournemouth now seems to offer everything you could want in a seaside resort. Golden sandy beaches and clean clear water (winner of 10 beach awards). The ubiquitous pier, arcades and shops selling buckets and spades. The town also has an impressive number of trendy bars, an eclectic mix of restaurants and some of the coolest nightclubs on the south coast.

Another great thing about heading south, is that the climate always seems to be just a few degrees warmer. Bournemouth's streets are lined with palm trees and the town centre even has tropical gardens, where you can take a hot-air balloon rides on the Bournemouth Eye.

You can reach Bournemouth via trains departing London's Waterloo, in about two hours, for £33.30 with South West Trains. Hostel beds in the resort can be reserved from about £15 per night with Hostel Bookers.

Cambridge

This historic university town is a great place for a day or weekend trip. You could easily spend a day walking around the ancient colleges, where great writers and thinkers such as Byron and Newton once roamed as undergraduates. The main part of the town centre is extremely picturesque with gothic college buildings, churches and cobbled streets, all encircled by the pretty river Cam.

It is traditional to take a turn on the river in one of the flat-bottomed boats, or punts, that you can hire at several points along the river. This is a nice way to enjoy the city and often has amusing consequences, as punting is something of an art. The boats are propelled down the river by poking 12 foot poles down to the riverbed and pushing. Invariably this is attempted by drunk or inexperienced punters and it is quite common to see or experience a ducking in the water.

After punting and sightseeing, Cambridge is also a great place to enjoy food, ale and entertainment. There are dozens of great little restaurants around town to choose from, in an old mill building just by the river you’ll find three restaurants arrayed around a court-yard. One serving Indian food, one serving Chinese food and the other serving Tex/Mex. There are also several nice little places on the riverside, Caffe Uno, The Galleria and The Garden House Hotel.

Cambridge also has an abundance of earthy traditional English pubs, there is a huge Wetherspoons pub that has been converted from an old cinema. The Anchor and Mill down by the river are excellent for summer drinking, with excellent views out over the river. For a more cultured evening, check out what’s on at the Corn Exchange an ancient building that now hosts theatre, gigs and shows. For info about Cambridge check the Itchy Cambridge website.

Dover
The busy ferry port is often overlooked as a place of interest in its own right, as millions of Channel hoppers bypass the town each year on the way to the continent. But there are some interesting things to see and do in Dover.
There are precious few buildings left in the UK which pre-date the Doomsday Book, but Dover Castle was first fortified by William the Conqueror after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The castle has played an important role in protecting the country from invasion, via the English Channel, ever since. For nearly a thousand years, through wars with France, Spain and Germany, Dover Castle has stood atop the famous white cliffs guarding England from all but tourists.

Lying beneath the ancient castle, the Dover cliffs hide a not-so-secret labyrinth of tunnels. Chiselled into the chalky rock, they have also been utilised in defence of the country many times. These tunnels were initially bored to combat the threat of invasion from Napoleon's forces. They were brought into operation again during the Second World War. Stretching for miles, the tunnels contain a amazing array of levels and rooms, from barracks to a fully working hospital. The command centre was even used by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, as he conducted the defence of the British Isles from the German forces.

Dover itself is a typically charming south coast town, with many olde worlde pubs and authentic seafood restaurants selling deliciously fresh caught fish from the Channel and North Sea.

Galway
The historic city of is a taste of the real Ireland, where Gaelic is the first language there and the city has a bohemian, folky feel. The local university gives the city a vibrant, youthful buzz and the many art and literature festivals, bring culture seekers flooding to the city throughout the year.

There are loads of things to see and do in Galway with its great shops, riverside cafes, bars, it even has a 14th Century castle.  The International Arts Festival in July also attracts talented artists and musicians, as well as visitors from across Europe. You can get over to Galway for as little as £30 return with Ryanair and accommodation can be as cheap as £8 per night through hostels such as Barnacles.

Great Yarmouth
An archetypal beach resort only two hours outside of London and within easy reach of Norwich and Cambridge. The beach at Yarmouth has long been a haven for jaded city folk longing to feel the wind in their hair and sand between their toes. The seafront boasts a veritable barrage of bars and a plethora of pubs, not to mention more amusements than you can shake a stick at.

Yarmouth has a reputation as a bit of a party town and is popular with teenagers, students and families alike.  There aren’t that many gourmet restaurants to eat in, but the traditional seaside fayre of fish and chips, ice cream and candy flosh can be had by the bucket-load.

If you fancy sampling the Anglian delights of Great Yarmouth you can find
great accommodation options at www.great-yarmouth.co.uk, where you
can find beds from £10 per night. You can reach Great Yarmouth on trains
bound for Norwich from London's Liverpool Street or Birmingham's New
Street.