This highway runs north to south, from near the Scottish border, at New Castle-upon-Tyne all the way to London. It basically travels along the eastern half of the country and accesses a number of important tourist stops. Beginning in the north, the following list are the major attractions which can be seen along the way. A photo album will follow.

 

     New Castle-upon-Tyne – This northern outpost dates to Roman times, but received its name in the 11th century when William the Conqueror’s son built a castle here. There has been an effort recently to attract more tourists to the area. Some of the orginal walls which enclosed the town still remain.

 

    Durham – This northern England city is famous for its Cathedral and Castle, built during the Norman days, in the 11th century. They are quite close together and have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

 

    York – This beautiful, walled, Medieval city is a wonderful place to visit. The town is pleasant to walk (see my "Walking Tour of York, England", in the blog archives) and the York Minster, the Cathedral of the city, is postively spectacular.

 

    Lincoln – Lincoln is also blessed with a fine Cathedral, the 3rd largest in England, and a castle which also dates to the time of William the Conqueror. The castle also contains one of the four remaining original copies of the Magna Carta, signed and sealed by King John in 1215.

 

    Nottingham – Here is the place to relive the days of Robin Hood and his Merry Men who roamed the area around Nottingham wreaking havoc with the nobles. Visitors can visit Sherwood Forest, where the band lived and worked, Nottingham Castle, where many of the confrontations with the Sheriff of Nottingham took place, and The Tales of Robin Hood, an indoor creation of Robin Hood’s world. The city itself should not be overlooked. Market Square is a wonderful gathering place with excellent architecture.

 

    Cambridge – This town grew up around the famous university, one of the world’s best learning institutions. Walking through the various colleges of the university, which dates to the 13th century, is extremely interesting. Visitors especially love the King’s College Chapel as well as punting on the Cam river.

 

    London – Very little needs to be said about the great city, one of the world’s best, and a remarkable tourist destination for the sheer volume of attractions. Symbols of the city include the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Big Ben and Parliament, Buckingham Palace, etc.