Lancaster Newport Train

The city of Lancaster, which is located in the north west of England, has a number of theatres and live performance venues. The Lancaster Grand, the Dukes and the Yorkshire House are three fine examples. The city also hosts "The Play in the Park" which is a series of open air performances in the city's award winning Williamson Park. In addition, the city's university also hosts many theatrical productions, live music, exhibitions and contemporary dance performances.

Long existing as a commercial, cultural and educational centre, Lancaster is the settlement that gives Lancashire its name. Lancaster has several unique ties to the British monarchy; the House of Lancaster was a branch of the English royal family, whilst the Duchy of Lancaster holds large estates on behalf of Elizabeth II, who herself is also the Duke of Lancaster. Lancaster was granted city status in 1937 for its "long association with the crown" and because it was "the county town of the King's Duchy of Lancaster". The city's name, first recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 as Loncastre, where "Lon" refers to the River Lune, and "castre", from the Old English cæster for "fort", refers to the Roman fort which stood at the site.

Located on the Pembrokeshire coast in South Wales lies the town of Newport which has retained its charm and laid back way of life and is a popular destinations for visitors wishing to escape the excesses of modern life. Newport is a town of two halves, the streets around Market Street and the area around the Parrog. Market Street was once wide enough to accommodate market stalls but has since been narrowed with the enclosure of front gardens at many of the properties. Just over 5 miles to the east of Newport is Castell Henllys, a reconstructed Iron Age hill fort complete with roundhouses and other buildings, built in exactly the same place as the Iron Age buildings as identified by archaeological excavations. Also a few miles from Newport to the south east is Pentre Ifan, an exposed Neolithic burial mound on the hillside high above the village. The setting is magnificent with Carn Ingli and Newport Bay as a backdrop. The main shopping streets of Newport city centre are pedestrianised and include High Street, Newport Arcade, Market Arcade, Commercial Street, Skinner Street, Bridge Street, Upper Dock Street, Market Street, Griffin Street, Corn Street, Cambrian Road, Hill Street, Llanarth Street and John Frost Square.