In August 2000, I've really dared to go on a tour around England. I was curious and wanted to see more of the country than only its capital. Sure, it's just a little extract of all that England offers. Nevertheless, it was a lot, have a look:

On Monday August 7th, London is our first stage. I visit sites that I haven't seen before that day. I can't foresee that I won't have the time to go shopping a few days later. Thus I take the tube to the City of London to see the quarter around the Bank of England, the Barbican - a centre for art and culture - and Camden Town. In the evening - after having joint my actual party - I go to Piccadilly Circus for dinner.

The next morning, we get on the road for the old university town of Oxford. We are first shown Christchurch College - the city's oldest one - and its cathedral. By the way: A former professor of this college was Lewis Carrol, author of Alice in Wonderland. After this event, we have some time to discover the Oxford on our own.

This day's second stage is Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare. In addition to the sites that can be identified with Shakespeare, you can visit the house where the founder of Boston's Harvard College was born. Those who enjoy the more relaxed way of vacationing may reach the city via houseboat on canals.

In the evening, we arrive in Liverpool. A voluntary excursion takes us to the Cavern, the most famous beat club of the city. Afterwards, we go partying in an Irish Pub. The next morning, we arrive at the Albert Docks after a sightseeing tour. The museum of the Beatles history is situated here, on the banks of the Mersey River.

On Wednesday, we only have one stage: York, England's second city over a long period. The building that dominates all the others is the Minster, but also many little alleys in the centre have kept a little of their past.

We don't visit this day's destination, Nottingham, until the morning after. The city is dominated by Nottingham Castle, a museum in our days. Nothing reminds us of Robin Hood, the famous hero of Sherwood Forest but a statue next to the castle wall. By the way, Nottingham's market place is one of the largest in the UK.

Most of the day we spend on the road to London. We only have a short stop in Althorpe to visit Lady Diana's tomb - but we aren't lucky. Finally we arrive in London and we are distributed to several coaches for the return to Germany. The time for shopping that has been promised is not granted - unfortunately.