English cities other than London
When we think of England, the first city that usually comes to mind is London. However, apart from the capital city, there are many other charming and interesting places worth visiting. In this post I will focus on some iconic cities situated in different parts of England which may serve as an inspiration for next travel destinations especially for those who want to avoid high temperatures during summer months.
My TOP 10
Let’s start with the academic hubs:
Oxford
River Cam
King’s College
is a cathedral city as well as the county town of Oxfordshire, located at the confluence of the rivers Thames (locally known as the Isis) and Cherwell, 90 km north-west of London. The population of Oxford is now estimated at 162,596. The city got its name from the fact that during Saxon times it was a place where oxen once forded the Thames. The city is home to the University of Oxford, which is regarded as the oldest university in the English-speaking world, dating back to the 11th century. It is made up of 38 colleges, six for graduate students only. The university is an independent and self-governing institution with each college having its own history, income, regulations, and organisation.
Bridge of Sighs
The city of Oxford has buildings in every style of English architecture since late Anglo-Saxon times. Oxford’s industries include motor manufacturing, science, education, publishing, and information technologies.
Cambridge
is a city and the county town of Cambridgeshire, located on the River Cam, 89 km north of London. The population of Cambridge is now estimated at 151,042. Like many other UK towns and cities, Cambridge got its name after the river it grew up next to, hence Cambridge (pronounced as Came-bridge not Cam bridge) means “the bridge over the River Cam”.
The city is most famous for being the home of the University of Cambridge, founded in 1209 and ranked among the best universities in the world. It’s the second oldest university in England (after Oxford) and third oldest in the world. Like Oxford, Cambridge is also a collegiate university, which means that its colleges are self-governing and independent, each with its own property, history, regulations, endowments, and income. Cambridge has 31 colleges, two of which i.e. Murray Edwards and Newnham, admit women only. The other colleges are mixed or coeducational. The buildings of the university include King’s College Chapel, Cavendish Laboratory, and the Cambridge University Library.
The city’s skyline is dominated by several college buildings including the famous spire of the Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church.
Apart from being an academic hub, Cambridge is also at the heart of the high-technology Silicon Fen or Cambridge Cluster, which contains industries such as software and bioscience and many start-up companies born out of the university.
Now, let’s head further south to the entertainment hubs at the seaside:
Brighton
is a seaside resort situated in the county of East Sussex, 76 km south of London. In the Georgian era, considered the city’s heyday, Brighton developed as a highly fashionable seaside resort, encouraged by the patronage of the Prince Regent, later King George IV, who spent much time in the town and ordered the construction of the Royal Pavilion in the Regency era.
Following the arrival of the railways in 1841, Brighton continued to grow as a major tourism hub becoming a popular destination for day-trippers from London. Many of the major attractions were built in the Victorian era, including the Grand Hotel, the Hilton Brighton Metropole, the Palace Pier and the West Pier.
Another attraction especially aimed at children and teenagers is the sealife centre.
The town continued to grow into the 20th century, expanding further to incorporate more areas into the town’s boundaries before joining Hove to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove in 1997, which in 2000 was granted city status. Today, Brighton and Hove district has a resident population of about 276,300.
Brighton has been called the UK’s „hippest city” and „the happiest place to live in the UK„.
Chichester
is situated in West Sussex as the only city in that region and its county town. The historic city of Chichester was founded by the Romans in the 1st century AD. In the past Chichester served as a Roman and Anglo-Saxon settlement and was a major market town from those times and later through Norman and medieval times until the present day. The legacy of the Romans can still be traced in modern times.
Four main Roman streets, which are surrounded by walls and gateways, still define the shape of the city. We can find the remnants of the Roman forum, houses and public baths. The city is also the seat of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester and home to a 12th-century cathedral.
This is the main reason why Chichester has a city status despite being relatively small with a population of less than 300 000 people. Until the 19th century, city status in England and Wales was associated with the presence of a cathedral, irrespective of the size of the area.
Chichester is also popular with tourists and holidaymakers especially during summer time as it’s close to the beach and the seaside.
Portsmouth
is a port city in the country of Hampshire. Most of Portsmouth is located on Portsea Island, off the south coast of England in the Solent, making Portsmouth the only city in England not located primarily on the mainland. The city is located 80 km west of Brighton and Hove and 119 km south-west of London. With a population of approx. 208,100, it is the most densely-populated city in the United Kingdom.
The highlight of Portsmouth is its Historic Dockyard, home to Britain’s great warships, referred to as the „Wooden Walls of England.”
Portsmouth has the world’s oldest dry dock, „The Great Stone Dock, originally built in 1698, rebuilt in 1769 and presently known as „No.5 Dock”. By the early-19th century, Portsmouth was the most heavily fortified city in the world, and was considered „the world’s greatest naval port” at the height of the British Empire.
Spinnaker Tower
During the Second World War, the city served as the main embarkation point for the D-Day landings and was bombed extensively in the Portsmouth Blitz.
Portsmouth is the birthplace of some famous and renowned people such as writer Charles Dickens, engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and the former Prime Minister James Callaghan.
Southsea is Portsmouth’s seaside resort, which was named after Southsea Castle. There are two piers in Southsea i.e. Clarence Pier amusement park and South Parade Pier.
While in Portsmouth, it’s a good idea to take a ferry or hovercraft to a nearby island called the Isle of Wight. The crossing lasts around 20 minutes.
Ryde (The Isle of Wight)
is situated on the north-east coast of the Isle of Wight, and can be easily reached from the mainland. According to the 2021 census, the built-up area had a population of 24,094. The town’s growth as a seaside resort came after the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower Ryde were combined in the 19th century, which is evident in the town’s central and seafront architecture.
As a seaside town, Ryde is most well-known for its two sandy beaches, i.e. Ryde Beach and Appley Beach, the latter of which is home to the Appley Tower (pictured below). Heading further into the town centre, we can find a lot of independent boutiques, local cafes as well as family-run restaurants.
Ryde is a great option for a day trip especially during summer months.
Appley Tower
Seaside
Let ‘s head towards the west now, near Wales.
Cheltenham
is a spa town and borough on the edge of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, on the river Chelt, directly northeast of Gloucester. The city has a population of 118,900.
Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort following the discovery of mineral springs in 1716. The city is claimed to be the most complete Regency town in Britain.
The town hosts several cultural festivals including the Cheltenham Music Festival, the Cheltenham International Film Festival, the Cheltenham Literature Festival, the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, the Cheltenham Science Festival, the Cheltenham Cricket Festival and the Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival. The Gold Cup in steeplechase horse racing is the main event of the Cheltenham Festival which is held every March.
Pittville Pump Room
The University of Gloucestershire
St Gregory’s Church, Cheltenham
Gloucester
is a cathedral city and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west. It is 53 km from Bristol, and 27 km east of the border with Wales. The city has a population of approx. 132,000, including suburban areas. Gloucester was founded by the Romans and in AD 97 became an important city and colony. A major attraction of the city is Gloucester Cathedral, which is the burial place of King Edward II and Walter de Lacy. The cathedral features in scenes from the Harry Potter films.
A tomb fit for a king
Bath
is the largest city in Somerset, in the valley of the River Avon, 156 km west of London and 18 km southeast of Bristol. It is known for and named after its Roman-built baths. In 1987 the city became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2021 was added to the transnational World Heritage Site known as the „Great Spa Towns of Europe„.
The city of Bath became a spa with the Latin name Aquae Sulis („the waters of Sulis„) around 60 AD when the Romans built baths and a temple in the valley of the River Avon, however, hot springs were known even before then. Bath Abbey, which serves as an Anglican parish church and an old monastery, was founded in the 7th century and became a religious centre. The building was subsequently rebuilt in the 12th and 16th centuries, respectively.
Stratford-upon-Avon
is a market town in the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of England, commonly referred to as just Stratford. This charming little city is situated on the River Avon, 146 km north-west of London. The population of Stratford is estimated at around 35,787. Stratford is a popular tourist destination with approx. 2.7 million visitors per year mainly due to the fact that it is the birthplace and burial place of William Shakespeare (1564-1616) who is still regarded as one of the best and most acclaimed English poets (154 sonnets) and playwrights (38 plays). The most frequently visited attraction seems to be the house where William Shakespeare spent his childhood called Shakespeare’s Birthplace, which is a restored 16th-century half-timbered house located on Henley Street. It is now a small museum open to the public, owned and managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.