England - Bright City Lights!

This is England! We're one great island that has limitless possibilities that makes me proud to British! Listen to the beat of the drum because England is an island nation that breaks the rules but still remembers its royal manners. Let's get to know some of England's premier cities outside of London because that Queen has her crown!

Home is where the heart is, or is it really just at the Heart of England? London is our Queen but Birmingham thinks its time for her majesty's city to move over! From industrial beauty along the canals to the sweet smell of Cadbury Chocolate, it doesn't take a genius to work out that Birmingham's waited far to long to be the honey with the money! More canals than Venice. Italy? I kid you not that this Brummie city has more urban waterways than the Venetian capital. Day or night Birmingham takes your hand to show you that its got something special. I spent three years living as a student in Birmingham's Westside, I must admit that its changed and then some but nothing beats a stroll through the Mailbox to get the best of the cosmopolitan air, she's being a cultured city for a long while! Do you shop? Birmingham shows you how to be a material girl, choose from Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and much more to be part of Birmingham's fashion catwalk and be the glamazon you want to be! Now work it BB! 

England welcomes the world for I love the international vibe that this landlocked and culturally rich city serves. Have a Balti in Birmingham? It's the regional dish for Sparkbrook, Birmingham is home to the Birmingham's Balti Triangle. Getting to Birmingham is getting easier as time goes by, she's got an International Airport with a newly extended runway so the world is BHX's oyster! High Speed Two will soon be hurtling into Birmingham in the near future but London is only a short train journey away. We have particular ways in this Royal island for we queue like champions, do not try your luck because its like playing with fire. Bournville brings the sweet world of Cadbury chocolate to each and everyone of us, its really sweet in Brum! Paint the rainbow in Birmingham for the annual Pride weekend always offers a vibrant and enjoyable weekend to show some love to our brothers and sisters around the world that don't share our freedom, we have it good on this isle of ours! Don't judge Birmingham because she will judge you! 

Take a chance on the Mersey city of Liverpool, this maritime gem welcomed the world to be part of its shipping glory. Liverpool has beautified itself since the city was crowned the European Capital of Culture 2008 but I'm a lover of a city's raw attitude. I have been to Liverpool twice and have always found something new, old and just amazing. Leaving the Beatles to make their own music I sought a ferry trip over the Mersey river to see if the legendary Lily Savage was out to play in Birkenhead, The Wirral. I have a secret to tell for a special ship bestowed distant relatives of mine from a Eastern European port, I'm glad they chose L'pool for I'm here today! Get your laugh on at the Hot Water Comedy Club for the Scousers have a roaring sense of humour! I went to the Hot Water Comedy Club for my 23rd birthday and had a evening full of laughs! Now calm down, calm down!  

Accessible by train, air and the sea port Liverpool stands as tall as the Liver Birds that stand on top of the Dock Office at the Port of Liverpool. I'm a down to earth kind of person so Liverpool fits that bill perfectly, holding no pretenses this North West England port city stands proud with its scouse charms, not forgetting some of the ladies who sport their legendary Scouse Brows! Like Birmingham, Liverpool has a recognisable accent but its got a lot more character than the Brummie drawl and I just love it really! I've got a friend from Fazarkley and her accents make me listen because some of the words that she speaks I just don't understand sometimes. Who needs the Queen's English?! Serve it real, just serve it Liverpool! Don't quote me wrong but Liverpool has one of the longest formed Chinese communities in England for the first voyages left Shanghai for Liverpool in the mid 1800's leading to a wave of eastern promise!

Alright Manchester?! If this city doesn't appear on your plans then I say 'shame on you!' Another prime Northern England city stands Manchester. Home to cotton, corrie and camp I would say that Manchester has got it going on! Taking an educational spin for I chose to focus my Dissertation around Gay tourism in Manchester to see if its a successful destination with the fabulous! I'll mention Canal Street in just one moment, hang on Queen! Taking a nonstop visit to the home of Manchester United showed me that Manchester knows this! Taking a stroll along the cobbles of television's Coronation Street can be a little tricky but the Salford Quays shows that the BBC's newest home at MediaCityUK brings back the modernity that was needed. Choose Manchester to make that English trivial pursuit to find that MediaCityUK truly has 'The Voice!' Manchester Metrolink gets everyone from A to B so don't be a fool by not self-navigating that form of Mancunian transport! England has got some true cities! 
Cotton is cool in Manchester for even a royal seal of approval was given to one of the many booming cotton mills in Ancoats. Taking a break from the city center is only acceptable in Manchester for the Rochdale Canal makes perfect viewing of Manchester's true industrial gems. Like Liverpool had its ships and Birmingham had its steel work I guess Manchester acted as the trailblazer of textiles with its cotton?! Read whats in the papers recently? It does not matter in Manchester for The Printworks takes the stress out of it all with a multiplex of activity in the former printing house of the Manchester Evening News with a line up of restaurants, nightclubs and a cinema. Mancunians are just normal for there's no hidden pretenses with the folk of this city, it costs nothing to be decent! When the sun goes down Canal Street turns the party up with the Manchester Gay Village taking form into a crazy night in the village. I say that shall research is only acceptable in Canal Street! Manchester means business, take me back quick snap! Yes!

England ... You're Shining!
Joseph Harrison