Cardiff

Cardiff is the jewel in the Welsh crown. Known as Europe's youngest capital it buzzes with youthful energy and is one of Britain's most cosmopolitan cities. With massive redevelopment projects dominating the skyline and the city established as the seat of the new Welsh National Assembly, Cardiff is on an upwards curve and now is the time to visit.

Set against a seaside backdrop, Cardiff was once an industrial powerhouse, exporting vast amounts of coal and steel from the huge plants in South Wales. When these industries waned towards the end of the twentieth century the city's economic

prospects seemed bleak. But a winning combination of government intervention and European Union encouragement has wooed employers to the city and successfully filled the economic void. A statistic that illustrates this massive growth rate is that available hotel bed spaces have increased by over 40% in the past five years.

Only named the capital in 1955 Cardiff benefits from a friendly, small town vibe which makes it a very pleasant and relaxing place to visit. The historic castle forms the city's centrepiece and is surrounded by seven charming Victorian shopping arcades filled with a mixture of high street stores and local gems. Castle Welsh Crafts lies directly opposite the Castle and is the ideal place to pick up some jewellery crafted from famous Welsh gold.

Unlock the history of the city and its people at the National Museum and Gallery which features ancient Celtic artifacts and important art and silver collections focusing strongly on the works of Welsh artists. Your next stop off has to be the incredible open-air Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans. Set amid lush parkland that opens onto a 16 century mansion it was recently voted one of the best museums in Europe.

Cardiff Bay is fast gaining a reputation as the city's glamour hotspot with a wealth of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and swanky accommodation developments springing up everywhere. Celebrities such as Charlotte Church have made their homes there and the area buzzes at all hours of the night and day. The lack of integration between the Bay and the centre creates a separate town feel and boosts the exclusive vibe of the area.

Add a cultural edge to your visit at the city's prime concert venue, St David's Hall. Home to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales it offers a superb programme of classical and contemporary concerts and is wonderfully festive at Christmas. The Welsh National Opera is on the brink of being re-housed at the shiny new Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay when it opens in November 2004.

After a hard day's sightseeing change into your glad-rags for a night exploring Cardiff s lively nightlife, with over 300 pubs to choose from there is something to

suit all tastes. Line your stomach with a fantastic meal at one of the city's many fine restaurants and then dance it all off on the dancefloor of such notable clubs as Clwb Ifor Bach which is famed for its Friday drum and bass nights. A trip to Cardiff is guaranteed to be diwrnodl'r Brenin (truly memorable).

Glasgow

Edinburgh may be the capital but Glasgow is the most Scottish of cities. One of Europe's most vital cultural centres, it combines a Celtic friendliness with amazing museums, stylish shops, concert halls and a vibrant nightlife. The cityscape is defined by a chaotic mix of art nouveau masterpieces by design guru Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Victorian edifices and many stunning contemporary buildings.

Glasgow, meaning 'dear green place' is actually Scotland's biggest city, with a population of almost 612,000. The city has garnered many accolades including the prestigious titles of European City of Culture 1990, UK City of Architecture and Design 1999 and the European Capital of Sport 2003. Once the Empire's second city and an industrial powerhouse it has carved out a new cultural identity within Europe.

Attractions are spread out over the city which follows a grid plan on the northbank of the River Clyde. The city's art collections are among the best in Europe and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is the most visited museum in the UK outside London and Glasgow's most loved building. It will reopen after a massive refurbishment programme in December 2005 and houses a collection of international significance.

The Burrell Collection was presented to the city in 1944 by millionaire ship owner Sir William Burrell who amassed this eclectic mix of prints, artifacts and objets d'art over the course of his life. Some exhibits are even built into the fabric of the gallery helping to display ancient stonework and stained glass windows in their full splendour.

Immerse yourself in Glasgow's historic past with a visit to the Tenement House. Scotland's National Trust have lovingly preserved this tiny apartment which gives an insight into middle class city life in the late 19th/ early 20th centuries, recreating the life of a family who lived here for over 50 years.

Delve further into the fascinating history of this diverse city at the People's Palace which relates the story of Glasgow from 1175 to the present day. The rise of the tobacco lords, the plight of the poor, temperance and women's suffragette movements are all vividly re-told through photographs, drawings and film. On sunny days visitors can also enjoy a stroll through lush tropical vegetation in the elegant Winter Gardens.

Another symbol of Glasgow's past is the Tall Ship at Glasgow Harbour.

The on-board display tells the tale of this mighty vessel's past voyages-and evokes the flavour of the industry that once brought the city so much wealth and prosperity.

Glasgow is a shopaholic's dream with stylish shops to satisfy even the most discerning of tastes. As Britain's second largest retail centre after London it is bursting with exclusive boutiques, designer names and up-market shopping malls. Bargain hunters can happily while away an afternoon at the colourful Barras Street Market in the East End of the city centre. The name derives from bygone days when goods were sold out of barrows. The whole area buzzes with energy and stalls offer a dazzling array of goods from cheap clothes, CD's, to second­hand junk. Antique-hunters should head for the mews and lanes of the city's bohemian west end which are a treasure trove of rare books, jewellery and crafts.

Eating out in Glasgow is a special experience. Feast on delicacies from all corners of the globe and catch up on the latest culinary trends with a meal in one of the West End's uber-cool restaurants and brasseries such as the newly opened Otago in Kelvinbridge. Those seeking traditional Scottish fare will enjoy the respected Sutherlands restaurant on Sauchiehall Street. For a slice of succulent Scottish sirloin and the freshest local seafood try Bouzy Rouge’s 71 Renfield Street.

The city seethes with energy at night and the countless nightclubs, bars and restaurants are habitually rammed

with trendy young Glaswegians. The only problem is choosing where to go! The scene is constantly changing but nightspots worth checking out are the Sub Club on Jamaica Street or the massive Shed club in the city's southside. The Merchant City area is also seething with stylish bars, cafes and clubs where locals come to see and be seen.

Glasgow is one of Britain's biggest party cities and hosts a variety of exciting arts festivals including Glasgay in November which is the UK's largest gay arts festival and Celtic Connections which celebrates Scottishness in all forms from choral performances to Celtic rock, traditional pipe bands and ceillidhs (traditional music and dance parties).

For years Glasgow was only famous for its thick brogue, unhealthy diet and rivalry with Edinburgh which has a far more middle class ethos. In the new millennium it is setting the pace as one of Britain's most hip and vibrant cities with a distinctly Celtic feel that pervade all aspects of life.

London

There were people living on the banks of the Thames long before the Roman invasion of 43 AD, but it was their arrival which transformed London into a major trading centre. Since then, despite disasters such as the Plague,-the Great Fire and the Blitz, subsequent invasions and conquests by the Saxons, Vikings and Normans, London has continued to expand at an exponential rate in-terms of population, economics, diversity and culture.

Visitors will be immediately struck by the sheer enormity of the city. Only from the dramatic peak of Hampstead's Parliament Hill or from one of the London Eye's transparent pods is it possible to grasp quite how far and wide the city stretches. Eight million people now live in what is - by a long way -Europe's largest metropolis. Because of this, visitors can't expect to get to know the city well - those of us who live here are still lost, when lured away from our usual stomping grounds - but they can expect to feel at home in the city, thanks to the sheer diversity and wealth of opportunities and attractions. From the City of London - the original Roman settlement and now one of the world's foremost financial centres — the capital has expanded rampantly, swallowing up countless smaller towns on its endless journey outwards. Many of these towns still retain a distinct identity, which is what gives London so many unique facets. From the bustling streets of the West End, through the subversive sensationalism of Soho, down to the Afro-Caribbean flavours of Brixton, up the river to the ancient alleyways of the Square Mile, east to the lively, colourful markets around Liverpool Street, through the chic heartland of Islington and up to the picturesque 'villages' of Hampstead and Highgate - London is anything and everything.

Boasting communities from all over the world, some who've been here five hundred years, others five minutes, London's ever-changing landscape is balanced by its firm history and strong traditions. A trip to some of the outlying areas can be a great way of better understanding the space as a whole. From the stately elegance of Buckingham Palace to the foreboding turrets of the Tower of London, the Gothic facades of the Houses of Parliament to the simple upward sweep of Nelson's Column, the smooth, graceful dome of St Paul's Cathedral to the burnished copper brickwork of Westminster Cathedral, London is bursting with instantly recognisable historical, architectural and institutional landmarks all of which you can experience first-hand.

Still the epicentre of British politics, despite devolution of power in recent years, London has also long been a centre of excellence for education, arts and culture. It is now home to some fascinating, truly impressive public museums and galleries which, since 2001, have all been free to get in. Inspect the dinosaur skeletons at the Natural History Museum, get to grips with conflicts of the 20th century at the Imperial War Museum, or see some genuinely forward-thinking sculpture at the Tate Modern. London is also speckled with thousands of smaller

commercial cultural gems which take a bit more hunting out. The Photographers' Gallery near Leicester Square, Sir John Soane's museum in Holborn and the White Cube gallery in east London are just a few of the secret, smaller cultural treats on offer to those keen to seek them out.

A quick glance at any A to Z map will demonstrate that London is actually covered in swathes of green open spaces - parks, gardens, heaths, * commons and woods. Trot around Hyde Park on horseback, (don't) feed the animals at Regent's Park zoo, swim in the ponds on Hampstead Heath, make friends with majestic deer in Richmond Park and picnic high up on Primrose Hill. Even in the middle of this vast metropolis you're never far from the wonders of the natural world... Nor are you ever far from the meandering course of the River Thames or one of the magnificent bridges which span its north and south banks. Once one of the world's busiest waterways and ports, now the cleanest river in the world that flows through a city, this great waterway currently plays host to a number of entertainments and attractions and is best viewed while walking across Waterloo or Westminster bridges. When it comes to entertainment, the city combines some of the oldest and most traditional establishments in the country with contemporary art complexes and ground-breaking performance spaces. From Shakespeare's Globe theatre to the Barbican, the BFI's London IMAX to Notting Hill's Electric cinema, there's both history and innovation here. Eating and drinking in the capital is equally well catered for, with the sparkling elegance of Gordon Ramsey's restaurant at Claridge's perched at one end of the spectrum and the homely, comforts of old English tavern, the George Inn, nestled cosily at the other.

Famous the world over for its retail opportunities, London's quaint markets, small boutiques and bespoke couture shops, rest alongside huge department stores and familiar high street chains. Stock up on organic foodstuffs at Borough Market before heading to Fortnum & Mason's for a traditional hamper stuffed with rare delicacies. Stroll along exclusive Knightsbridge, popping into Harrods and Harvey Nichols before heading over to Oxford Street for a fashion-shopping frenzy. The future's bright for London. Since electing their first Mayor in 2000, the city has acquired an ever more potent focus and purpose; in 2005 the bid to host the 2012 Olympics was a success, beating off competition from Paris and New York. Over the next few years this will mean massive investment and development across the city.