Prospects Postgrad UK 2007/2008 - (Page 14) 14 ADVICE AND INFORMATION www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK SPONSORED BY GUIDE TOTHEUK England is the largest part of the UK, with a population of around 51 million people squeezed into 50,000 square miles of land. Although millions of tourists come to England every year and only visit London, England has a lot to offer besides its capital. In fact, some of the best geography, architecture, and universities are located throughout the British Isles. Within England alone there are several distinct regions, with about as much variation from London as you’re likely to get anywhere in Europe. LONDON AND THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND ESSENTIAL Midlands is undoubtedly Birmingham, with its legendary reputation for Balti curries and its characteristic dialect. Plenty of money has been spent developing the city too, preserving the old town square and revamping the waterfront area. The University of Birmingham is a topclass institution, but isn’t alone in the Midlands; the region is also home to Warwick, Nottingham, Leicester and Loughborough. NORTH EAST Steeped in thousands of years of history, London is the frenetic centre of business, government, and finance in England. The universities of the capital reflect the diverse range of the city itself, with wellregarded institutions specialising in anything from business to fashion. The London School of Economics boasts high accolades for students interested in business-related degrees. For students of art, drama, fashion, and other creative disciplines, Goldsmiths College and University of the Arts London are internationally renowned institutions. As a city London is an architectural hotchpotch, evolved from centuries of growth. Renaissance landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral are close to 18th century constructions such as Monument, gothic churches, Georgian townhouses and contemporary glass office buildings. The city features distinct ethnic districts, from Chinatown to the Bangladeshi Brick Lane. Although Piccadilly is cited as the city centre, in reality London’s unwieldy size breaks down into a mass of districts, each with their own separate communities. London, of course, is not the only city in the South of England and neither is it the only location for universities in the South of England. In the South of England there is also the beautiful county of Kent that has the worldfamous white cliffs of Dover. If you like to be beside the seaside, universities along the south coast such as Bournemouth and Brighton are all within easy travelling distance of London. The North East is home to a selection of upand-coming cities, as well as some more scenic spots like the Yorkshire moors. York and Durham are spectacularly beautiful historical LIFE BEYOND LONDON- WEST COUNTRY cities, whilst Leeds and Newcastle team The West Country consists of the part of attractive Victorian architecture with England running southwest from London, contemporary landmarks. below Wales. The West of England typically Leeds and Sheffield in particular are well gets more rain, engendering lush green fields known for nightlife, and are considerably and scenic landscape. It also means good dairy cheaper than London. All the cities have farming - Devon and Cornwall are famous for established universities, ranging from cream, and English cream teas. Exeter is the Durham’s ancient collegiate system to most traditional university, set in rolling green Bradford’s new media centre. hills. However, the University of Bristol NORTH WEST provides an attractive urban equivalent, and Both Manchester and Liverpool claim extensive the city of Bristol offers some famous UK contributions to the British music scene. This scenic spots along with a rapidly growing area of the UK certainly seems to produce a nightlife. Cornwall is home of some of disproportionately large number of musicians. Britain’s best beaches, and attracts an annual Liverpool will probably always take the crown influx of surfers. The region also features a as the birthplace of the Beatles. Manchester strong artistic community, with the Tate counters with Oasis, The Smiths, and The Modern, the Falmouth College of Arts, and Stone Roses. Manchester and Liverpool also the Minnac Theatre. have two of the best universities in the UK. Other places of interest include Blackpool - a MIDLANDS British Mecca for seaside misbehaving, and the In the past the Midlands has suffered from a reputation of being a bit of a no-man’s land. As birthplace of tacky t-shirts and ‘kiss me quick’ hats. In the North West you will also find the the bridge between North and South, many Midlanders hotly dispute their status as either Lake District, which is renowned for some of Northerners or Southerners. The capital of the the most beautiful walking spots in the UK http://www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK
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