Review of Britain

Winchester, originally uploaded by davedavid86.

before that, finished my 10 day road trip of Great Britain today. yesterday took the 20 min train ride from Southampton into Winchester - was one of those lazy days after such a busy, action-packed weekend, so dint actually go till the afternoon..

Winchester is a really beautiful old city where the kings and queens of England used to go to. As you can see from the photo, it's p much one of those old-fashioned English towns that we've all come to imagine with the river flowing through the middle of the town with crystal clear water and ducks and swans swimming in it, willow trees hanging over. In fact, Winchester has a mill on top of the river not far upstream. There's also ruins of an old castle - Wolvesey Castle - the Great Hall where King Arthur's Round Table is fixed on one of its grand walls (and yes it is not fictional, it is round with inscriptions of the knights), Winchester College, the oldest school in Britain, Jane Austen's house and of course the beautiful Winchester Cathedral - although it's not my favourite cathedral, that goes to Liverpool Cathedral which is just massive and quite unique actually..

Anyway a short note abt Southampton which is quite a nice small city although doesn't really have much to do other than the odd shops like Waterstone, Primark, Topshop, etc. Good if you're a uni student - actually make that excellent coz they have a brilliant public transport system esp if u're a student.

Finally, I can say I have visited the major London museums and art galleries, finishing off with the National Gallery this afternoon - good idea considering the awful weather London was experiencing today. Today I found I preferred the art of van Gogh, Monet, Turner over Rafael, Rembrandt, i.e. more impressionist modernist sort of tastes.. just find pre-1600 art a bit dull to be honest and p much of the same theme.. i think have been converted by the Tate movement with their ultra-modern art..

Anyway, after 10 days, what do i think of Britain as a whole? firstly, have to say that there is more to Britain than just London, and that the north of England, Scotland and Wales could be different countries with the accent of the people and the history of the culture. London is such a global city that it's pretty much in a world of its own.. it's just so big and has so many people. Hence it'd be unfair to really compare it with other British cities.. although would love to live in London, fantastic public transport, plenty of things to do and possibly the greatest city in the world - there's still New York, Paris to come of course!

I can see why Leicester and Southampton aren't quite in the want-to-see list if you're travelling to Britain as part of an European trip.. Leicester, well it's a bit of a dull, quiet city with little architecture or culture to wow about bar the clock tower in the middle of the city.. it grew during the Industrial Revolution which is why there aint that many inspirational buildings.. let's just say was p glad to be out of Leicester unfortunately.. and p glad didnt see Sheffield coz it looks p similar to Leicester when i saw from the train.. at least Southampton does have its charms even though it's p much just another mid-size English city although it does have a beautiful common near the university.. Winchester prob has the history, although it's a place where I wouldn't exactly want to live in - too quiet, but then again Southampton and London are quite nearby..

Cardiff.. well it's not as bad as Lonely Planet made it out to be actually, but it still lacks something that London, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Newcastle have.. brilliant place for the rugby obviously but if there's no big rugby test match on, i think it'd be a bit hard to spend too much time there.. it's got a lovely waterfront area called Cardiff Bay and the town has a lovely open-air market but i think u need to go to places like Brecon to really see Wales as it should be with the markets, fairs, scenery etc... thankfully managed to do that..

so i guess my favourite 3 non-London British cities that I've visited would be Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh.. Liverpool is a beautiful city even with all the heavy construction and restoration work that is going on as the city prepares to be European Capital of Culture in 2008 - deservedly too i reckon, it has plenty of history and life that needs to be preserved forever.. The Three Graces, Liverpool and Metro Cathedrals, St. Georges Hall are all some of the best pieces of architecture anywhere in Britain.. and then there's obviously Liverpool and Everton football clubs, the bands which are undoubtedly some of the best in the world - check out the Cavern Quarter where the Beetles began - cheap food (although don't know how long that will last with Liverpool gaining a higher profile) and terrific pubs (best in Britain, with great hosts too who speak in their lovely Liverpudian accent - ya alright, love? they'd say). I can see Liverpool being a cracking city when everything is finished..

Newcastle is another brilliant British city.. it's a little bit smaller but has just as much history as Liverpool and Edinburgh.. what makes it great is the River Tyne and the bridges that span it.. if it weren't for Liverpool and Edinburgh, Newcastle would be my no. 1.. Sunset over the Tyne Bridge is just magic.. and St James Park is just massive.. plus they make the best beer in England by far - Newcastle Brown Ale..

Edinburgh.. well it's prob the most beautiful non-London city with the architecture, Edinburgh Castle and Arthur's Seat. it may share the same name as Dunedin but it definitely carves Dunedin i'm afraid.. definitely could live there if i wanted to but it just gets a bit cold and doesn't have a great football club, although it does have Murrayfield.. there's a sense of history esp walking down High Street and seeing the Palace of the Holyroodhouse, but there's also a sense of chic with the shops along Princes Street and the Scottish Parliament.. and definitely have to do the Mary King Close tour.. Edinburgh may be famous for its royal past but this tour really shows u middle/lower class Edinburgh centuries ago..

so my rankings (exclude London coz it would be unfair, it's just in another planet from the other British cities) -

1. Edinburgh
2. Liverpool - best English city
3. Newcastle upon Tyne
4. Winchester
5. Cardiff
6. Southampton
7. Leicester

obviously with 10 days, couldn't see all of Britain.. there's always next time and I'm sure when i do a holiday only in Britain and Ireland i can see the likes of Dublin, Belfast, Plymouth, Manchester, Bath (saw it from the train), Bristol, Nottingham, Glasgow.. but it's still been a great tour so far..

still got one more day in London before I catch the Eurostar to Paris.. had enough of museums and art galleries so will do something I really enjoy and haven't been able to do - use my Oystercard and take the buses and tubes to places like Wembley, Emirates Stadium, Wimbledon, Twickenham, The Oval, Lord's, Stamford Bridge, Upton Park (did see it when i saw West Ham play but dint check out the shop - JJB and Lilywhites don't seem to carry their stuff for some reason)..

enjoyed my 10 day road trip.. was a good warm up for the big one - the tour of Europe.. not only got to manage my expenses but just see how i cope at hostels.. which reminds me.. need to get earplugs!!!