Worcester Brighton Train

With Birmingham to the north and Gloucester to the south, the city of Worcester is located in the West Midlands of England. The picturesque city is dominated by its cathedral and by the River Severn that runs though it. The city hosts a number of cultural events each year. The Worcester Festival celebrates a variety of music, theatre and cinema and is held every August. The festival concludes with a firework display on the banks of the River Severn on the Monday of the August Bank Holiday weekend. Now in its 4th year the city also hosts the Worcester Music Festival which includes original music performed mainly by local bands and artists. Performances are free and are held in the many bars, clubs and community buildings in the city, including churches. Another recently formed event is the Worcester Film Festival that was founded in 2012. The festival is focused on placing Worcestershire on the film-making map and encourages local people to get involved in film making. Finally, there is the Victorian themed Christmas Fayre which attracts many visitors each year.

Composer Sir Edward Elgar's father ran a music shop at the end of High Street and a statue of Sir Edward Elgar stands near the original location of that shop. His birthplace is a short way outside Worcester in the village of Broadheath.

Located in East Sussex, the coastal town and resort of Brighton is around 50 miles to the south of London. The city is known for its oriental architecture and large gay community. Due to its close proximity to London it has become popular with media and music types who choose not to live in London. This is led to the city sometimes called "London-by-the-Sea".

In the summer, the pebble beach in Brighton is full of tourists and Brightonians alike. Poi twirlers strike a beautiful image against the sunsets, and flaming lanterns are launched into the air on summer evenings. To the east of Brighton there is a designated nudist beach. The pebble beach gives way to a flat sandy seabed just below mid tide line so time your swimming to the low tide and avoid the painful feet. Just beyond the Marina is an area for surfers and local fishermen cast their rods from the Marina or by the giant doughnut.

The Brighton Festival, featuring music, arts exhibitions, book debates and much more is the second biggest arts festival in the UK after the Edinburgh Festival. The Brighton Festival Fringe runs at the same time as the main Arts Festival and usually comprises over 600 events including comedy, theatre, music and 'open houses'.