HISTORY and pageant, breathtaking, rolling countryside and buzzing, cosmopolitan seaside resorts -- this glorious country has it all.

Savour the ambience of a bygone age in Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon.

Visit villages and towns steeped in history, explored castles, palaces and stately homes including William Shakespeare's birthplace.

Nearby Warwick and the Cotswolds make this an ideal base, from which to experience the laid-back atmosphere and traditional warmth of English hospitality.

The English Lake District National Park covers 885 square miles and is the largest of the 11 national parks in England and Wales.

There are more than 1800 miles of footpaths threading through some of Britain's most beautiful countryside which includes spectacular mountains, tranquil lakes, rolling fells and busy market towns.

The area is also drenched in literary history -- Wordsworth and Ruskin used the region's natural beauty for inspiration.

Lively and cosmopolitan Brighton and Hove is a stylish seaside resort with something for everyone.

A smart promenade with plenty of cafes and restaurants and a hot, rocking nightlife.

The gay scene is up-front and diverse and the Kemptown area houses bohemian-style clubs and bars which attract fun-seekers and party-goers from all over the UK.

In fact, if Blackpool is the gay capital of the north, then Brighton could certainly vie for the title of Queen of the South.