garrison town and was part of the 'Ring of Iron' of Edward Longshanks.
Shrewsbury is also home to Shrewsbury School, a public school, where
Sir Philip Sydney, Charles Darwin, Michael Palin, John Peel, Nick Hancock
and Michael Heseltine were educated. It is on a large commanding site,
called 'Kingsland', just south of the town center overlooking the loop of
the Severn. Hot tip for fashionistas and foodies: steer clear of the shops and
eateries right on the historic centre, which vie for the tourist dollar. Explore
and discover the gems in the little alleyways instead. www.shrewsburyguide.
info
Stonehenge - A mere 1.5 hour train ride away from London, and sitting
in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by rolling hills and grazing sheep, lies
the world-famous Neolithic and Bronze Age stone monument, Stonehenge.
Located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Salisbury Plain ( Wiltshire) and
built thousands of years ago, this mysterious stone ring is one of the most
famous landmarks in England. While Stonehenge is fenced off from the
road and visitors are kept a good distance from the structure via a roped off
pathway, small groups that visit the site after sunset are given the privilege of
admiring the stones from inside the roped-off area. The World Heritage Site
is large - 2000 hectares - and is home to some 200 other important Neolithic
and Bronze Age finds and structures (e.g., the largest chalk grassland
reversion projects in the world). In the nearby city of Salisbury, you also can
visit the 13th-century cathedral with the highest spire in the country. www.
stonehenge.co.uk
Stratford upon Avon - Only 170km (106.6 miles) north west
of Central London, Stratford upon Avon is set in the beautiful rural
Warwickshire countryside on the banks of the river Avon. Steeped in culture
and history, this district will give you a wonderful taste of "Olde England."
As the birthplace of William Shakespeare, Stratford upon Avon is home
to the Royal Shakespeare Company, making it an ideal destination for
theatre enthusiasts. The nearby surrounding shire counties - Oxfordshire,
Worcestershire and Gloucestershire - are also well worth exploring. You'll
find Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds to the south, Worcester and the
Malverns to the west, and Warwick Castle and Henley in Arden to the north,
all within an hour's journey. www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk
Winchester - Just a 1.9 hour train ride away from London's Waterloo
station, through the southern English countryside, lies Winchester, the
former capital of England. A charming cathedral city, Winchester has been
continuously settled for well over 2,000 years. It is home to The Great
Hall, which was said to house King Arthur's Round Table, as well as the
Winchester Cathedral, which boasts of having the longest nave in Europe.
Winchester is also the burial place of Jane Austen, where she was said to
have spent her final weeks. A thriving and bustling modern city, it too has its
fair share of award-winning rural pubs and restaurants and a tempting array
of independent shops. www.visitwinchester.co.uk.
Windsor and Eton - Only an hour's ride by train from London lie
Windsor and Eton, the twin towns referred to as "Royal Windsor." Located
in Berkshire in the south east of England, they are separated by the River
Thames and are joined by Windsor Bridge, a pedestrian-only bridge.
Windsor is an ancient town most famous for its castle, which began
construction in 1075, and which is the largest and oldest occupied castle in
the world. The royal standard flies from the keep of the Castle when HRH
Queen Elizabeth II is in residence. Windsor Castle is much larger than most
people realize - more than 12 acres - so do allow a good two hours for your
visit. royal-windsor.com/windsor-castle
Eton is a smaller town, dominated by Eton College, the old public
school ("private school" in the US) traditionally attended by the English
establishment. Check out the official website for Royal Windsor on royalwindsor.com/eton
Victoria Ugarte
www.ExploreMyWorldTravel.com
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