Formed from the old districts of Westmorland and Cumberland in 1974, Cumbria makes a good claim to be the spiritual home of Britain’s hikers and hill-walkers, blessed as it is with many of the country’s most famous and inspiring walks and some of the highest peaks, including every English peak over 3000ft and Scafell Pike, the highest point of England. Stretching from the impressive Eden Valley in the east to the valleys, peaks and well, lakes, of the Lake District and onto the jagged and awesome coastline of the west, Cumbria is truly one of the most beautiful counties in all of the UK with the Lake District National Park considered to be Britain’s most magnificent Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and having provided the inspiration for some of the greatest poetry ever written.
A surprisingly small county considering its wide range of mountains, hills and great lakes, Cumbria is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland and by the English counties of Lancashire, North Yorkshire, County Durham and Northumberland. In the west there is the Irish Sea up to Morecambe Bay and the Penines mark the eastern boundary. Despite the plethora of scenic wonders Cumbria is also blessed with some fine historic sites too. Perhaps this is because its history has been characterized by migration, settlement and territorial dispute, mostly between the Scottish and the English. The area has been populated for thousands of years and by the end of the Roman Era it was inhabited by Welsh ‘Romano-Britons.’
By the 8th century it was part of the Anglo Saxon Kingdom and by 1092 it was a part of England. Historic sites worth visiting include Hadrian’s Wall, Furness Abbey and Carlisle Castle, as well as numerous Celtic, Roman and prehistoric remains and stone circles.
Nevertheless, most visitors to Cumbria will head to the Lake District National Park to walk, cycle, sail or generally splash about in one of the 12 great lakes, the highest mountains or around 3,500 kilometers of rights of way. Absolutely not to be missed.
Sands Centre, CarlisleSarah Millican is a successful English stand-up comedienne from South Shields. Her profile on the comedy scene first increased after winning the 'if.comedy award' in 2008 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She is now a regular and popular addition to many a TV show such as 'Have I Got News For You', '8 Out of Ten Cats', 'Mock the Week' etc and has recently been a celebrity guest panellist on 'Loose Women'. She releases her 'Live' DVD in 2011 and has completed three live tours, the latest of which was her 'Chatterbox' tour in 2010.…
The Forum Barrow, Barrow in FurnessFrom the land of legends and warrior Shaolin monks comes the incredible new Chinese State Circus production - the live acrobatic spectacular Yin Yang. To say the Chinese State Circus is merely a show is grossly to underestimate it; it is the embodiment of a traditional art form which can trace its history back over 2000 years. The presentation lives and breathes with the enthusiasm of its acrobatic artistes. The result is the purest, honest, most abiding and exhilarating circus that is a true privilege to see.…
With their meticulously crafted instrumentals and tight harmonies, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac bring back to the masses the classic hits of the legendary Fleetwood Mac.…
Coronation Hall Ulverston, UlverstonThe World Tour 2012 celebrates the music from Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Wall and much much more. The biggest Pink Floyd tribute yet!…
British pop/ska band 'Madness' saw their major success and popularity in the mid 1980s. Members include Graham 'Suggs' McPherson, Mike Barson, Lee Thompson, Chris Foreman, Mark Bedford, Daniel Woodgate and Carl Smyth. They were famed for hits such as 'Our House', 'House of Fun' and 'It Must Be Love' they have released 10 albums in total, the latest of which was 'The Liberty of Norton Folgate' in 2009. The band won an Ivor Novello Ward for the single 'Our House'.…
Carlisle Sands Centre, CarlisleJason's original twist of intelligent comedy has seen him win several accolades, including a Perrier Award Nomination in 2001 and more recently the 2007 Perrier Newcomer Award Nomiation. The first ever comedian to sell more than 25,000 tickets at the Edinburgh Festival, he is a comedic force to be reckoned with. His brand new live show, Cirque Du Byrne tours the UK in the autumn of 2011.…
At 24 years of age, Kevin Bridges is one of the most popular up and coming comedians in the country. His big break came at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where he won the 'So you think you're Funny' competition. Bridges has since gone on to appear on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Road Show and 'Live at the Apollo'. He is currently touring Scotland and N. Ireland and has released 'Kevin Bridges: The Story so Far ...Live in Glasgow' on DVD this year.…
The Overtones have stormed onto the scene of popular music in both the United States and the UK, and they have done so with relatively simple and incredibly catchy music. The mood of their material is incredibly light, but it is well composed and it would doing them a disservice to say that they are not talented musicians. For those that are looking for a piece of easy listening with an incredibly well balanced group, the Overtones are certainly worth consideration for the rotation. This is a group that blends in seamlessly with much of the rest of popular music today, and makes a really im…
Sands Centre, CarlisleFunny man Jimmy Carr has become known and loved for his deadpan delivery and observational comedy. His humour is often dark yet hugely appealing as his success on TV and the live stand-up stage keeps on growing. In 2006 he became the first big name to perform in the virtual reality world 'Second Life'. He hosts TV's '8 Out of Ten Cats' and has guest presented 'Have I Got News for You'. Carr is an established writer also creating material for the likes of Frank Skinner, Bo Selecta and Lily Savage.…
Rumours Fleetwood MacSaturday, 19 May 2012RUMOURS FLEETWOOD MAC It's the ultimate tribute to one of rock and roll history most truly remarkable stories. An extraordinary emotive performance of Fleetwood Mac Mick Fleetwood ''A stunning and emotive snapshot of the World's first Sup
Sport in Cumbria
Kendal MuseumFounded in 1796, Kendal Museum's fascinating collections include local Archaeology, History, Geology and a Natural History collection from around the globe. We also have a changing programme of temporary exhibitions and displays, events, walks and talks. To celebrate 2005's museums and galleri…Location: Kendal
Some other fun family days out in Cumbria are:
Tullie House Museum and Art GalleryMuseum of Lakeland LifeKeswick Museum and GalleryTullie House Museum and Art Gallery
Carlisle CastleCarlisle Castle amply repays those wishing to explore its 900-year history. Once commanding the western end of the Anglo-Scottish border, the castle has witnessed, over the centuries, countless conflicts and sieges, as both the English and Scots laid claim to it. The original castle was an earth…Location: Carlisle
Some other notable historic attractions in Cumbria are:
Beatrix Potter GalleryMuseum of Lakeland LifeBirdoswald Roman FortKeswick Museum and GalleryTullie House Museum and Art GalleryCarlisle CastleRavenglass and Eskdale RailwayCarlisle CathedralBrougham CastleSizergh Castle and GardenLevens HallThe World Of Beatrix PotterWindermere Steamboat CentreWordsworth House
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London's Best Art GalleriesLocated in England's capital city, London, are some of the world's best collections of art, including the Tate galleries, National Portrait gallery, and The National Gallery. We take a look at some of London's best Art Galleries.
History and Beauty of IronbridgeKnown throughout the world as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Ironbridge is now a tranquil town full of quaint shops, cafes, and museums that visitors continue to enjoy all year round. Its charming maze of steep, narrow streets that merge with patches of woodland are ideal for walkers.
Five Easy Day Trips from LondonAs the writer Samuel Johnson so aptly put it: "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life". If you're visiting London and you find yourself tiring of the hustle and bustle of this huge city, here are some suggestions for day trips from England's capital city.
Ed Ruscha at Wolverhampton Art GalleryAlthough his name might not be familiar, you're likely to have seen some of his pop art paintings. BritEvent's Lucy Middleton visits his exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
