Lying at the heart of one of the largest metropolitan areas in all of the United Kingdom, with a population of over two million people, Manchester is the shining beacon of Northwest England. This city is of massive economic importance to Britain and has been ever since the Industrial Revolution, when it led the country in heavy industry. These days Manchester still rules the roost with the fastest growing economy in all of England. The city is second only to London in terms of office market and it is widely considered one of the foremost financial cities in all of Europe. Over fifteen thousand citizens in Manchester work in the banking and finance field and the largest consumer-owned company in the world, the Co-operative Group, calls Manchester home.

In spite of its heavy emphasis on trade and commerce, Manchester is also rife with the sights and sounds that draw thousands of tourists to the city each year. The City Centre, for instance, features some of the finest shopping destinations in all of Europe, offering such high-end shops and boutiques as Chanel, DKNY, Vivienne Westwood, and Emporio Armani. Also of note is the Manchester Arndale, the largest downtown shopping mall in all of Britain. The beautiful skyline is also a big draw for many people. Many of Manchester’s most popular buildings are made with red brick and the city is well-known for the widespread occurrence of this color. Some of the tallest skyscrapers in the western world can be found in Manchester, from the stunning Piccadilly Tower to the CIS Tower. Heaton Park, one of the largest parks in all of Europe, is also incredibly popular as is Albert Square, which is home to countless famous statues and monuments honoring English heroes like Oliver Heywood, James Fraser, and Prince Albert.

In spite of the countless claims to fame to be found in Manchester, the city’s biggest and most famous aspect would probably be the slew of famous musicians to emerge out of the city. The list of Manchester-bred singers and songwriters looks like a who’s who of the most popular British entertainers of all time. Groups like The Smiths, Joy Division, Oasis, The Buzzcocks, and Simply Red are just a few of the many famous chart toppers that found their start in the colloquially-named “Madchester” scene. True to its roots, Manchester still adopts a cultivating attitude toward music of all forms within the city and some of the up-and-coming acts that have yet to win international acclaim perform regularly in the much famed Manchester Opera House. There are many reasons to adore Manchester whether you are a fast-paced businessman or a laid-back rocker. The city has consistently maintained a firm grip on the pulse of the nation and it continues to do so to this day. Few places around the world can maintain such cultural relevancy as Manchester has managed to do over the many centuries in which it has been a city and anybody who is fortunate enough to visit Manchester will find treasures beyond their wildest desires at every turn.

After a goalless draw in Israel just a few days before in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, the England football team travelled to Barcelona to play football minnows Andorra.
Andorra had a history before playing England of just one victory in international football, and under normal circumstances a country with a population of 70,000, with less than half of the Andorra population Andorran nationals elegible to play, no-one would expect anything other than a comfortable England victory, similar to the 5-0 result at Old Trafford in the 2006 England home game against Andorra.
But normal circumstances were absent from the game.
The English media were giving coach Steve McClaren one last chance to end the goal drought that had seen England’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008, due to be played in Austria and Switzerland next summer, severely diminish. If England came away with anything less than a victory his resignation would be almost a certainty.
At half time Andorra were incredibly holding England at 0-0, and the travelling England supporters were clearly none too happy with their team’s performance, the England players headed for the tunnel with their jeers ringing in their ears. Their first half performance had been dire, with just a couple of shots on target.
Unfortunately for Andorra, but luckily for England coach Steve McClaren, England came out for the second half with more determination to win, and two goals from one of the few players who looked committed to securing an England victory, Steven Gerrard, helped England to win 3-0. Wayne Rooney was substituted shortly after being given a yellow card, and in the end it was the England players fitness levels compared to Andorra’s rather than superior tactics that secured the England victory.
It is also questionable whether countries like Andorra should be playing countries like England in qualifying games, as the smaller countries tend to defend and rarely attack, playing for a draw.
Andorra Skiing
The real winners from the game could be the Andorra tourist office, with a lot of publicity for Andorra being generated in the UK from the week before and immediately after the Euro 2008 qualifier.
After spending tens of millions of Euros on new and improved facilities for skiiers, Andorra was looking forward to a good 2007 season, increasing the near ten million tourists that have been visiting in previous years.
But the one thing the country really needs to entice ski tourists hasn’t been coming – snow.
Over the last decade Andorra has been blessed with an abundance of snow, making for perfect ski conditions. But while the snow has started falling as early as the last week of October in previous years, none has fallen so far for the 2007 ski holiday season.
‘The snow making machines have been working overtime since the beginning of the season’, comment a local travel guide, continuing ‘They have allowed a depth of around 20cm of snow for popular Andorra ski resorts like Soldeu, but while it’s an effective substitute for many skiiers it’s still not the real thing. It’s allowing skiing for people who booked their holidays a while ago, but last minute bookings are well down as people read the ski reports and head elsewhere this year.’
Press reports in the UK, Andorra’s top market, have indicated that some tour operators have already cut their prices, some by nearly 50 per cent, to entice the skiiers back to the Principality.
‘It really is the market for later in the season that’s in danger of being hit’, say the guide, ‘If they see now there isn’t much snow in Andorra this will influence their booking even though it could be a different story altogether when they get to go on their ski holiday’.
The ski tourist is also an important factor for the real estate agents in Andorra, with a percentage wanting to buy a holiday home after a visit.
‘So far there has been little change in the demand’, claim an Andorra property company.
‘A lot of the buyers at the moment are those who visited last year, but it might have some impact from mid October onwards 2007′.

An England tour is a brilliant trip for all manner of reasons, whether your visit to England is with the family, as a couple or even as a group there is much to do and see. Whether you decide to tour the stunning and varied countryside, or delve into the darkest hours of English history a tour of England with fascinate at every turn.
The Tudor period is often seen as a formative period in English history, the castles that fill England from this period are well worth a tour for families and couples. Children will love the ramparts and sheer size of the castles whereas couples will love the chance to relax in the peaceful garden surroundings. Of course Hampton Court Palace in London is probably the best example of a Tudor building in England but ensure to expand your tour to include Leeds and Hever Castles; both in Kent.
Longleat House is Wiltshire should definitely be included in your tour if travelling with the family. While adults will enjoy finding out about the enthralling history and exploring the opulent rooms; kids will love the safari park that has lions, tigers, giraffes and monkeys as well as a petting zoo.
Your England tour does not just have to be about history, head out into the countryside that has inspired artists and poets for centuries. From sparse moor land and dales up in the north, to the lush meadows of the south east there is clear diversity. The east of England has some fine examples of inland waterways that allow travellers to tour the river and canal system by boat and catch a glimpse of some native wildlife.
There are certain regions that are worthy of a tour on their own; these are the ‘areas of outstanding natural beauty.’ These are located throughout England and include the Cotswolds, the Malvern Hills, the Northumbrian Coast and the Chilterns. These areas will amaze visitors and astound them that a place can be so beautiful. Some are sparse, rugged regions whilst others are full of quaint villages that most would consider quintessentially English.
England once was a country covered in woodland; this however has changed due to centuries of farming and expansion of settlements. As you tour England you will see pockets of woodland that have been untouched by civilisation but for the true English woodland experience there are a number of places you can visit. Hatfield forest in Essex is an ancient wood with spectacular lakes while Hampshire’s new forest existed as a royal hunting ground for much of history. Naturally, Sherwood Forest is the most famous of all forests in England due to the legend of Robin Hood.
As an island nation, England has many miles of distinct coastline. The white cliffs at Dover are of course well known but there are many gems dotted away in coves and bays. The north east has a rugged coast that is battered by the North Sea, the beauty and entrancing views of powerful swells are sure to amaze. Your England tour should also include the south west; Cornwall and Dorset are warmer than other parts of the country while the waves are increasingly attracting surfers to the region.
England is a brilliant country with an interesting history and culture, the historic buildings are some of the best in the world and while it may not be able to match parts of Europe in scale, it makes up for it in character. The English countryside has been an inspiration for artistic types for centuries and the beauty you will see as you tour this green and pleasant land will satisfy all comers. For every type of vacation England should be seriously considered as a destination, despite the infamous weather it is rewarding at every step.

The most daunting task a tourist might have in Ireland is selecting the attractions to visit. ‘What should I not miss?’ is a question most new tourists ask while traveling Ireland with ebookireland.com While there is no single answer to this query as everyone has his/her own list of favorites, we have come up with some of the choicest Ireland attractions from across the country. Some of them are very popular and some are lesser known and offbeat.

- Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher located on the West coast of County Clare are one of Ireland’s top Visitor attractions. The Cliffs are 214m high and stretch for a distance for 8 kilometres along the Atlantic Ocean. The renown O’Brien’s Tower stands proudly on a headland of the magnificant Cliffs. From the Cliffs one can see across Galway Bay, the historic Aran Islands,  The Twelve Pins mountains range in South Connemara and Loop Head to the South.

Dublin Zoo

Situated in the Phoenix Park this lush green zoological park has lot to see and do with the family. The visitors can enjoy enjoy train ride and picnic while exploring wild creatures. For children there are animal -petting corners as well.

Irish National Heritage Park

Travel back in time and witness the 9000-year-old history of Ireland at Irish National Heritage Park in Wexford. An excellent hotspot for family, this passionately designed park has attractions for all age groups. You’ll be fascinated by the story of ancient Ireland from Norman conquerors to down to its first inhabitants.

Powercourt Gardens

Situated in County Wicklow just outside of Dublin, these graceful and grandiose gardens are a feast for senses. Set amidst the serene setting of Wicklow hills, Powercourt Gardens is Europe’s one of the most famous gardens. Its 398 ft high waterfall is Ireland’s highest.

Hill of Tara

Also known as the ‘hill of the kings’, Tara has been a witness to all ages down from ritual Stone Age to the Christian era and was the ancient seat of power. The hill is just 500 ft above sea level but on a clear day you can see each of the four Celtic provinces.

Dublin City

Dublin city is best explored on board of one of the myriad bus tours or better still on foot. The city is relatively small however, rich in history and hosts numerous heritage sites worth a visit. The city may keep you busy for a whole week. It is advisable you avoid city center on weekends as most of the city seems to go shopping here.

Lakes of Killarney

If remaining close to nature and heritage is your thing, Killarney is definitely a must see. Experience the picturesque coastal landscape, breathtaking mountain scenery, heritage monuments and serene charm of Killarney lakes as well as royal castles and houses – this is the place worth a dekko. Thousands of visitors flock to Killarney, so best time here can be had during summers.

Taking them all in will definitely showcase the variety of picturesque and most significant sights the country boasts of. These Ireland attractions will remain etched in your memory for a lifetime as also the stay in any of the chic hotels in Ireland where you’ll find yourself put on a pedestal thanks to warm hospitality and services

In England’s seaside burg of Lancashire, overlooking the Irish Sea lies the gorgeous city of Blackpool. Though surrounding cities in Northwest England like Liverpool and Manchester may be more well-known historically, nothing compares to Blackpool when it comes to fun and enjoyment. Ever since mill and factory workers started taking the train to vacation at this pristine beach, Blackpool has long been one of the most popular tourist locations in not only England but in all of Europe. It is still the United Kingdom’s most popular coastal destination and the city still depends on tourism as the backbone of its economy. A trip to Blackpool will quickly remind you of that, upon bearing witness to the fantastically fun diversions scattered around the quaint burg.

While many of the yearly visitors to Blackpool come from surrounding areas like Glasgow, Blackpool still is a major draw to a worldwide audience. There are more hotels in Blackpool than in the entire country of Portugal and the astonishing Pleasure Beach is a must-see for anybody who loves massive roller coasters and similar theme park attractions. The “Pepsi Max Big One”, for instance, is one of the world’s largest wooden coasters and has one of the highest freefalls in all of Europe. Pleasure Beach used to be free but, sadly, recent lean years have forced the town of Blackpool to start charging admission to the historically important attraction.

Like many seaside towns with an economy steeped in fun, Blackpool has a sizable and strong gay population. Ever since the first gay pride parade in 2006, Blackpool has been considered North England’s gay capital but Blackpool’s friendliness to gays dates back to the 1940s when gay clubs and bars began popping up around the city proper. Blackpool’s apparent tolerance of others is admirable, although an interesting tidbit surrounding Blackpool’s tenuous relationship to Rock music is well-known to fans of the Rolling Stones. In 1964, when performing in Blackpool, the Rolling Stones angered the crowd by simulating sexual acts. A riot broke out as a result and the Stones were banned from ever performing in Blackpool again. In 2008, the ban was lifted but this story is evidence that Blackpool does seem to draw the line somewhere!

Blackpool, while still being a huge tourist draw, is slightly less popular than it was in its heyday. Millions still visit Blackpool every year but the total amount of tourists is millions less each year than the year before. The city has recently attempted to reinvent itself as a casino town in the same vein as Atlantic City or Reno but the British Government has thus far denied these attempts. Since being forced to charge admission to the historic Pleasure Beach, the city seems to be in a perpetual landslide toward irrelevance. Citizens of Blackpool scoff at this assumption, though, and cite that the city has always had periods of waxing and waning. Besides, one can hardly fear for the future of the city when it is still the most visited coastal town in all of England!