The seaside holiday and the seaside resort are two of England s greatest exports to the world. Since the early 18th century, when some of the wealthiest people first sought improved health by bathing in saltwater, the lure of the sea has been a fundamental part of the British way of life, and millions of people still head to the coast each year. Margate has an important place in the story of seaside holidays. It vies with Scarborough, Whitby and Brighton for the title of England s first seaside resort, and it was the first to offer sea-water baths to visitors. Margate can also claim other...

Nikolaus Pevsner described Berwick-upon-Tweed as one of the most exciting towns in England Nikolaus Pevsner, Buildings of England: Northumberland (1957), 88] a place where an absorbing historical tale can still be read in the dense fabric of its old streets and buildings. It attracts not only day-trippers and holidaymakers but also new residents who have learnt to appreciate the spirit of the place. But outsiders all too easily confine their attention to the space within the impressive Elizabethan ramparts, while local people are sometimes unaware or dismissive of the wider significance of...