Britain and Ireland Grandeur

Joyce, Yeats, Shaw, Beckett– no, it’s not an English test, it’s your vacation, and if literature is of interest to you, there’s no better place to be: No other city has produced so many Nobel Prize Winners (including 1995’s recipient, the poet Seamus Heany).

Ireland’s capital is a thriving, modern city, yet it’s also strikingly elegant, with many beautifully restored Georgian buildings. And with friendly natives and cheery pubs–well, what more could a visitor want?

Edinburgh, (èd´n-bûr´e) capital city (1991 pop. 421,213) of Scotland and royal burgh. The city is divided into two sections: the Old Town, on the slope of Castle Rock, dates from the 11th century; the New Town spread to the north in the late 18th cent. Edinburgh is a government, finance, and tourist center. Most industry, which includes brewing and distilling, publishing, and paper milling, is situated near the city’s port, Leith. Edinburgh grew up around its 11th-century castle and became Scotland’s capital in 1437. It blossomed as a cultural center in the 18th and 19th century, with such figures as David Hume, Robert Burns, and Sir Walter Scott. It remains a cultural and educational hub and hosts an annual international arts festival.

“Glasgow town never brought me down,” Paul McCartney sang in 1973, and Greenock, gateway to the dynamic city of Glasgow, Scotland, is sure to please you too as a jumping off point for some terrific exploration of the land of the Scotch. If you like castles and lochs (personally, we prefer bagels and lochs), you’ll love this fairy-tale kingdom.

More ancient and considerably larger than Scotland’s capital of Edinburgh, Glasgow is a multilayered and rich historical experience, easily accessible to visitors. Statue-filled George’s Square, red-brick People’s Palace, and other main buildings like the central railway station north of the river Clyde, are the obvious places to start. The ancient mass of Glasgow Cathedral sits at the city’s heart; around it, the wide streets of Buchanan Street, Argyle Street, and Sauchiehall Street have all been pedestrianized and must be savored on foot.

Known as the “West End,” the westernmost half of the city boasts the refined, handsome proportions and prosperous townhouses of the island’s finest Victorian city, along with the old and new buildings of Glasgow University. Public parks and gardens help to dignify the southern outskirts. Finally, you’ll find their tourist information office about the most helpful on the island!

The City is a vibrant and exciting place to visit and a warm “Liverpool” welcome is always guaranteed. The centre is alive with theatres, restaurants, clubs and attractions that are able to provide something for everyone. It is one of the world’s most famous and historic cities and its distinguished life as a centre for world trade and commerce is clearly reflected in its rich culture and architectural heritage, a fact re-inforced by being shortlisted for the City of Architecture and Design 1999. Liverpool is also host to many sporting and spectator events throughout the year, a selection of which are detailed in this
guide.

Over 2500 listed buildings are located within the area and many are built to classical designs. William Brown Street is home to a number of the city’s finest buildings including the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool Museum and Central Libraries. Nearby St. George’s Hall, constructed in an age when size and grandeur were of paramount importance, is widely
regarded as the finest neo-classical building in Europe. The Town Hall is the jewel of Liverpool’s historic buildings with its Golden Minerva sitting proudly atop the golden dome. Both of these magnificent buildings have been refurbished and feature a programme of events, public openings, exhibitions, conferences and business and private functions.

The City can also boast to being one of the greenest Cities in Britain. Relax and enjoy the pleasant surroundings of the 2400 acres of parklands and open spaces. Croxteth Hall and Country Park Estate is set in 500 acres of woodland with a working farm animal collection, miniature railway and adventure playground. The historic mansion contains period
rooms and character figures and welcomes visitors throughout the summer.