My first time oop North

[Dr Evil]

My trip to Blackburn (via London then Brighton, following and filming a tour by the three greatest bands in the history of the multiverse) is the first time I have ever left Southern England. Its not ALL grim up North, but from Preston to Wolverhampton there is a rather depressing flat agro-industrial wasteland, and going back to the rolling hills of the beautiful South with the sun coming out was a relief. But it's not that bad-I was expecting it to be Britain's version of Detroit. And the locals are friendly, except the Asians who keep to themselves-might be the language barrier. I stayed in a hotel run by one and he was OK but too tight to supply the guests with towels. I asked a lady directions back to the train and asked her if it really was grim up North and she said if she won the lottery she would be down South in a flash.
Blackburn seemed alright though, but I couldn't find the 10000 holes.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

I have quite liked my previous visits up north, but I only got as far as Liverpool about a decade ago. The Midlands between Birmingham and Wolverhampton (which is north enough for me) I have visited more often, but whenever I go there I feel like its the edge of the world. It is rather bleary round those parts. I have always wondered what it's like towards Sheffield or Newcastle. Bet that's even more bleary. I have an image now of the way to Sheffield reinforced by last year's Red Riding TV series, that and high rise council flats vibrating to the sound of shagging, reinforced by Pulp's Sheffield: Sex City.

Still, I can think of worse places in England. The Fens in East Anglia for one thing. Can't ever get my views of that place out of my head from watching Tales of the Unexpected on TV in the early 80s. Flat, bleak, inbreeding. Hell on earth.

[tonywojo]

I have quite liked my previous visits up north, but I only got as far as Liverpool about a decade ago. The Midlands between Birmingham and Wolverhampton (which is north enough for me) I have visited more often, but whenever I go there I feel like its the edge of the world. It is rather bleary round those parts. I have always wondered what it's like towards Sheffield or Newcastle. Bet that's even more bleary. I have an image now of the way to Sheffield reinforced by last year's Red Riding TV series, that and high rise council flats vibrating to the sound of shagging, reinforced by Pulp's Sheffield: Sex City.

Still, I can think of worse places in England. The Fens in East Anglia for one thing. Can't ever get my views of that place out of my head from watching Tales of the Unexpected on TV in the early 80s. Flat, bleak, inbreeding. Hell on earth.

Sheff is great - not as good as ... busdrivers call u love, unusual beer, yes lots of hi-rise.
A great panorama.

[fat cherry]

Born in leeds and lived there until i left for london when i was 19. Still a city boy at heart I'd say and still love northern cities with that mix of industry, austere architecture, 15 minute drives to real hills, not the rolling kind (alright, it might be more than 15), and women whose idea of a long skirt means it might just cover their arse. Everywhere has its shite bits. Currently live near oxford and if you enter the city of dreaming spires from the east its as ugly a crap hole with as many run down council estates as anywhere you might find north of the river cherwell, and within the city itself the collleges are surrounded by as bland a shopping precinct with as many drunks and scabby emo kids as anywhere else. As for rolling hills, its as flat as a fart round here. Interesting post. My daughter's at uni in sheffield and she loves it there.

Chez.

[Dr Cheese]

The north-west of England is of course the best bit:

[fat cherry]

yes but have you photoshopped out the shed-loads of tourists walking up and down? juts joshing, obviously.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

The north-west of England is of course the best bit:

[img]nice%20mountain%20pics[/img]

You are one lucky bugger having scenery and places to walk like that on your doorstep. This is about as good as gets my way, although towards Suffolk it gets "hilly" (well, lumpy might be a better description):





Just need some tumbleweed on those pictures.

[JackT]

Looks like Nebraska.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

It does! Also, the Netherlands (first pic):





But the bottom pic is considerably further away from where I live (thank god). I think I have to travel about 15 miles for the landscape to get that flat. 15-20 miles the other way and the landscape is a little bit more hilly.

[JackT]

The north-west of England is of course the best bit:

We may have to cut through Moria.

[Dr Cheese]

I prefer to go over the top.