NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

Recently voted one of the top ten party destinations in the world, Newcastle is full of life. There are several art galleries including the Laing and the Baltic. There are three cinemas which cater for all tastes - The Odeon, The Tyneside and The Side Cinema. There are restaurants with all kinds of international cuisine. The city is also home to the Theatre Royal and The Playhouse for those who love theatre.

For a night out try the Bigg Market or The Quayside or the bars in and around The Gate. Newcastle has great shops both in the city centre and at the Gateshead Metro Centre (accessible by train from Central Station). The nearby North East and Northumbrian Coastlines are beautiful (real sandy beaches) if a little cold at times due to the north sea air!

Things to try/visit/shopping tips:

Vintage clothes shopping at Attica in the Cloth Market. /  Heartbreak Soup - sometimes pricey, good menu, good music, right on the quayside. / Hot Box Cafe St Mary's Place - great music, great atmosphere very close to the Uni. / Hyena Comedy Cafe Leazes Lane - if you need a funny fix between Union comedy nights this is the place to go. / Trent House Soul Bar 1-2 Leazes Lane - free jukebox great atmosphere and space invaders -enough said! / Foundations - whatever music you are into this club has a night to suit your needs.

STRATFORD UPON AVON

William Shakespeare was born here and most tourist coming to Britain will pass through at some point. The town is very pleasant with lots of the buildings still having the original Tudor Fronts. The two theatres in the town are run by The world famous Royal Shakespeare Company but you can also see more recent plays usually at the smaller theatre called the New Place. You can sometimes get student standby tickets immediately before performances (this is really unlikely in the busy summer months). There is a guide Friday Tour bus which will take you to all the historical / Shakespeare sites near by and you can get a "passport ticket" to all of them which makes it cheaper. Shopping ok but most things are at tourist prices. The best place to go for food is Sheep Street - which is almost entirely made up of restaurants. Monday nights at The Froth and Elbow involve Cheesy music and drinks on special offer.

There is a YHA 2 miles outside of the city  centre and a Backpackers on Greenhill Street. Nearby Warwick Castle is worth a visit and chocoholics could use Stratford as a base to visit thing be original Cadbury's World outside of Birmingham. You can get to Stratford by bus or train but neither will take you there directly expect at least one change if going by train. Expect crowds during holiday periods but especially in the summer.

WINDERMERE

Lake Windermere is the longest lake in England at over 10 miles long. You can cross it by Ferry or for something a bit different try the Iron Steam boat. Water sports are a big part of the Windermere experience with speed boats and water skiing favourites. Windermere was the home of pioneering water speed records. The area is also fantastic for walkers with amazing scenery and a variety of routes. A good way to explore is by taking a Mountain Goat Mini Coach Tour (based in Victoria Street Windermere.) Nearby Bowness has The World Of Beatrix Potter, a famous children's writer form the region. The Lake District National Park Visitors Centre is at nearby by Brockhole. The best cafes, restaurants and pubs can be found at Ambleside a couple of miles away. There is a backpackers less than two minutes from the station and a larger YHA about two miles from it. The main railway station for this area of the lake district is at Windermere, from here you can get to Ullswater, Coniston and Kendal to name but a few areas.

YORK

Bars:                Slug and Lettuce - 22-26 Back Swinegate, 01904 679900    Oscars - 8 Little Stonegate, 01904 652002

                        Bar 38 - Coney Street, 01904 674428    Varsity - 6-12 Lendall, 01904 541284

Clubs:              Gallery - 12 Cliffords Street, 01904 647947  Flares - Tanner Row, 01904 653283

                        Ziggys - 53-55 Micklegate, 01904 620602

Restaurants:     Plunkets - 9 High Petergate, 01904 637722   Ask - The Grand Assembly Rooms, Blake Street, 01904 637254

                        The Olive Tree - 10 Tower Street, 01904 624433  Pizza Express - 17 Museum Street, 01904 672904

Places to visit:  York Minster - The largest Medieval Gothic cathedral north of the Alps. 01904 557216 www.yorkminster.org

                        Jorvik Viking Centre - Museum exploring York's Viking history. Coppergate 01904 543403

                        Eden Camp - Museum exploring wartime Britain, constructed in huts of an original Prisoner of War camp, built in 1942.

                        Off the A64 at Malton 01653 697777

                        National Railway Museum - Museum exploring the past and discovery of the train. Leeman Road 01904 621261 www.nrm.org.uk

                        Cliffords Tower - Once the central stronghold of York Castle, built by William the Conqueror. Tower Street 01904 646940

                        The Original Ghost Walk of York - The original and still the best leaves every night from the King's Arms (York's famous pub   

                        that floods) 8pm every night except 25th December.                 

                        Useful web links: www.york-tourism.co.uk