Maidstone

Maidstone in Kent is situated on the Medway which links it with nearby Rochester and the Thames Estuary. 

Maidstone was once a centre for industry with brewing and paper making being the most prominent industries. Maidstone today has a number of Hi Tech Industries and a lively town centre with two large shopping centres at Fremline Walk and The Mall.

The town has an abundance of good restaurants, bars and coffee shops with a mix of independent and well known high street retailers.

Newmarket

Newmarket in the county of Suffolk is approximately 65 miles from North London. It is recognised as the birthplace of horse racing and is known across the globe for its breeding centres and training stables.

Newmarket is also known for its famous racecourse which draws enthusiasts from around the world. With over 3000 racehorses in Newmarket this is vital to the local economy with one in three jobs in the town being attributed to horseracing.

Home of the National Horseracing Museum, the town has a busy high street and some branded and independent shops. There are some good cafes, bars and restaurants.

For more photos of Newmarket click here 

Morpeth

Morpeth in Northumberland is the administrative centre of the county. Situated on the River Wansbeck it is close to the border of Scotland. 

Now a busy market town with the market still being held on Wednesdays and a Farmers Market on the first Saturday of every month. Morpeth offers a good selection of independent shops and some nice restaurants and cafes. The Sanderson Arcade has some particularly good quality retail outlets.

There is plenty of history here too, a beautiful park and even a bagpipe museum. Definitely worth stopping off to look at and taking a leisurely stroll around the local area. 

For photos of Morpeth click here or view on You Tube

St Albans

St Albans is situated just 19 miles from London. It is a famous old established market town. St Albans Abbey Church looks more like a cathedral with its impressive architecture. The town benefits from a good selection of independent traders, restaurants and cafes.

There has been a settlement here since Roman times when it was the most populated town outside of London. Today it is a popular filming location with a number of films and soaps having used the backdrop of buildings and streets in St Albans.

For more photographs of St Albans click here

Portsmouth

Portsmouth. One of England's most famous cities and with a rich maritime history known around the world. You can find out more about its history here:

http://www.localhistories.org/portsmouth.html 

Just 65 miles from London and only 19 miles from Portsmouth this city is a must on your visit list if you are coming from overseas.

Portsmouth has the world's oldest dry dock which is still in use today. The city is home to one of the most famous ships in naval history - HMS Victory. Portsmouth is still a significant and important strategic base and dockyard for the Royal Navy.

With a population of over 200,000 the nearby Southampton, Havant, Eastleigh, Fareham and Gosport all contribute to making this the 6th largest urban area in England. Portsmouth today is still a busy port and ferry terminal. The centre of the town has an abundance of cafes, restaurants and bars and there is a long sea front promenade from where you can observe the old sea forts and the incoming vessels as they travel to and from port.

For more photos of Portsmouth and HMS Victory click here or view on You Tube