Newport Norwich Train

Newport, in Gwent, is a cathedral city in south east Wales. The city lies on the River Usk close to its confluence with the Severn estuary and is roughly 10 miles to the east of Cardiff, Wales' capital city. Newport has been a port since medieval times when its castle was built by the Normans. The city grew rapidly when the port began to play an important role in exports of coal that had been mined in the eastern valleys of South Wales. Newport remained the largest coal exporting port until Cardiff took over in the 1850's.

Newport's main shopping area is the pedestrianised streets of the city centre which include the High Street, Newport Arcade, Market Arcade, Commercial Street, Skinner Street, Bridge Street, Upper Dock Street, Market Street and John Frost Square. There is also the Kingsway Shopping Centre which is an indoor shopping mall.

Newport Transporter Bridge is one of the few remaining working bridges of its type in the world and featured in the film Tiger Bay. Visitors can travel on the suspended cradle most days and can walk over the top of the steel framework on bank holidays. The only other British example is Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge. Open days are occasionally held to view the renovation of the historically important Newport Ship.

Located in the county of Norfolk, the city of Norwich was England's second city from medieval times through to the Industrial Revolution. Norman invaders gave the city its castle and the Anglican cathedral and as the city grew so did its defensive wall and medieval street layout, which remains intact. Like any great city its centre is easy to walk around and has a river at its heart. Notable landmarks and attractions in the city, the "Norwich 12" include the Edwardian Surrey House, the Georgian grandeur of the Assembly House, St James Mill, The Forum and the Millennium Building. Norwich is a great city to explore on foot. Why not take a stroll from the thirteenth century Adam and Eve public house (the oldest in the city) around the river Wensum, past the unique Cow Tower, to Pulls Ferry, one of the original entrance gates to the Cathedral precinct. A canal was built through this gate to ferry the stone brought from Caen in France, which was used to build the Castle and Cathedral. If you want a great view of the city go up Mousehold Heath to the north-east, close to the nineteenth century prison. From there you will see many of the city's most historic buildings.