Newport Southampton 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 Hampshire, the city of Southampton has grown rapidly over the past three decades to become one of the twenty largest cities in England. The city is home to the longest surviving stretch of medieval walls in England and to a number of museums such as Tudor House Museum, Southampton Maritime Museum, God's House Tower, an archaeology museum about the city's heritage and located in one of the tower walls, the Medieval Merchant's House and Solent Sky, which focuses on aviation. The SeaCity Museum is located in the west wing of the civic centre and focuses on Southampton's trading history and on the RMS Titanic.

The city also hosts the annual Southampton Boat Show in September each year. It has over 600 exhibitors and runs for just over a week at Mayflower Park on the city's waterfront. Southampton has many art galleries including the Southampton City Art Gallery at the Civic Centre and is a nationally important Designated Collection, housing several permanent and travelling exhibitions. There is also the Millais Gallery at Southampton Solent University, the John Hansard Gallery at Southampton University along with smaller galleries including the Art House.