Scotland

Wales

Ireland

South-Eastern England

South-Western England

Central England

SCOTLAND

Scotland is such a beautiful and picturesque part of the world. Once you leave the main cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness you could be in remote areas of beautiful countryside.

The culture is so different to that of England with a strong emphasis on different accents as well as different cultural experiences. Teaching opportunities are available in this area, however, you are required to contact the GTC for Scotland to have your qualifications verified with them prior to contacting Elite Education. Contact GTC for Scotland telephone + 44 (0) 131 314 6000 Fax: + 44(0) 131 314 6001. Website: www.gtcs.org.uk.

Inverness Population 41,800

Situated in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland. It is home of the world famous Loch Ness Monster and tourists frequent this area particularly in the summer time. Ideal for those who love the open air and enjoy visiting Inverness Castle and cruising down the River Ness.

Aberdeen Population 217,260

A lively city with a thriving nightlife. The coastline of Aberdeen is popular with scuba divers and has an impressive harbour and fish market which has been operating for centuries.

Aberdeen itself is known as the 'Granite' city as the majority of her roads and buildings are built from this which adds to the 'greyness' of Aberdeen.

Glasgow Population 611,500

A city famous for its warmth of people and vast choice of museums, theatres, bars and restaurants. Glasgow is a truly cosmopolitan city with strong Scottish spirit and has something for everyone. The University is extremely popular with students from around the world.

For art lovers a visit to the Makintosh Buildings and various art galleries are a must see. Glasgow is often referred to as the 'second city of Scotland' in comparison to the capital, Edinburgh. However, people who visit are convinced by the genuine, friendly inhabitants and appreciate the 'informal' lifestyle compared to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Population 409,000

Situated in the South East of Scotland Edinburgh is ideal for those who relish a bustling lifestyle and thrive on the culture of the city. It rivals London in terms of theatres, live performances, shopping, fashion and restaurants. Edinburgh is also within easy reach of Newcastle, the Lake District and Leeds, ideal for those who enjoy exploring other areas of the UK.

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WALES

Cardiff - Population 285,000

Cardiff, the capital of Wales has developed greatly, mainly due to the development of coal mining in the valleys to the north. It is hard to miss the castle, which is located at the northern end of the city. The best-known entertainment is of course the rugby and no visit could forego a visit to the Millenium Stadium to take in a game.

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IRELAND

Dublin

A wonderful city offering history, entertainment and a different pace of life compared to other capital cities. Unlike London, Dublin does not take itself too seriously and the people are friendly and welcoming. Dublin has a 'home from home' feeling wherever you originate from due to the cosmopolitan and vibrant style of the city.

Particular points of interest are visits to the Guiness Factory where you can follow, step by step the process of making Ireland's number one export - GUINESS! Also Kilmainham Gaol on the outskirts of the city (where scenes from 'In The Name of the Father' were filmed).

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South-Eastern England

This area includes the Counties of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, East & West Sussex, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey

All towns and cities in the area are easy to reach by train or bus from the centre of London. A large population in this area commute into London on a daily basis for work. However, for teaching we recommend that you avoid this as travelling in the South East part of England does take a significant amount of time and additional money.

Places of interest to visit include St Albans Cathedral, Hertfordshire, Windsor Castle, Berkshire and Hever Castle in Kent.

Brighton - Population 188,000

Brighton is situated in the Southern coast of England and is, arguably, Britain's no 1 seaside resort. Brighton's popularity is due to the 'trendiness' of the area. The night life scene is taken seriously and the clubs are viewed as some of the best in Britain.

Brighton beach is a popular holiday destination for people around the UK. Londoners continue to travel to Brighton for a break from the City.

The most famous of all has to be 'Brighton Rock' recommended to anyone with a sweet tooth!

Dover - Population 37,826

'England's passage to the Continent'. Dover is situated on the far south-east tip of England and can give the impression of being isolated from other parts of the UK.

Dover is associated with travel - often seen as a 'port of call' before getting the ferry to France. However, what makes Dover unique is the famous white cliffs. It is a spectacular scene and attracts tourists throughout the year. Dover Castle is also well worth a visit.

London - Population 12 million

London is a city like no other, so vibrant and diverse with lots of history and character to go with it. It can be an expensive city to live in so unless you have vast amounts of savings it is necessary to work. It also has the advantage of close travel links to Europe.

The most effective and cheapest way to travel around the city is by tube. The Underground network is divided into six zones. Travelling is very time consuming so please ensure you give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.

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South-Western England

This area includes the Counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset & Wiltshire. It includes some of the most beautiful countryside and spectacular coastline in Britain.

Bournemouth - Population 265,000

Another of Britain's favourite holiday resorts. Bournemouth is currently in the process of having an artificial reef constructed so that will likely prove popular with surfers in years in come.

As a holiday spot, Bournemouth is closing the gap on Brighton in terms of its night life and is gradually attracting students to the area. Ideal for those who enjoy easy access to the coast and those who enjoy the hustle and bustle of a busy town.

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Central England

Counties include: Hereford & Worcester, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire & Staffordshire, Shropshire

Nottingham - Population 275,000

Nottingham is home of 'Robin Hood' and the City offers a tourist attraction dedicated solely to Robin Hood where you can learn about the battles between himself and the sheriff.

Situated in Central England, Nottingham residents do have an interesting dialect. The combination of Northern and Midland accents combine to produce a strong earthy style - can be quite hard to follow.

It is an exciting city with a thriving social scene and a popular University. A good choice of location for those who enjoy a hectic and buzzing lifestyle. A smaller city in comparison to Birmingham and Manchester but big enough to rival them in terms of night life.

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Eastern England

Counties include Cambridgeshire, Norfolk & Lincolnshire

Cambridge Population 88,000

To many the first thing that springs to one's mind when discussing Cambridge is 'the University'. For years Cambridge University has been associated with boat races and intellectuals. This is, of course, true, but for those who cannot row and are not professors there is much more to Cambridge.

Cambridge is situated on the River Cam and the land is famously flat (which makes it excellent for bikers and roller-bladers alike). The countryside is truly impressive (and green!) and although it is rural it is by no means lifeless!

Popular activities include punting on the Cam and visiting the various colleges of the University.

Norwich Population 170,000

Norwich in comparison to larger cities, is in a sleepy, rural part of England and prefers the slower pace of life. The Norfolk Broads provide a paradise for barge lovers and add to the peaceful style of the area.

Norwich itself has more to offer in terms of night life than the rest of East Anglia. It is not the busiest place to be but Norwich is proving to be more popular with students and young people searching for a night out.

Norwich is close to the coastline, a particularly popular area being Cromer where you spend your time wandering along the vast beaches.

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North West England

Counties include Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire

Blackpool Population 147,000

Blackpool, unfortunately, does have a stigma attached to it. It is a busy seaside resort that has been over-exposed to British tourists for years. Along the coastline there are numerous casinos and gambling alleys and fairground attractions. It is popular with people who visit from around the UK who are looking for a weekend of pubbing and clubbing, not for those who prefer the quiet life!

Points of interest are the Blackpool Tower and the beaches.

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Yorkshire

Another beautiful part of the country, which offers a different style of landscape to that of the Lake District in Cumbria, with high areas of exposed moorland. A popular place to visit for walkers and tourists alike.

Kingston-upon-Hull - Population 331,200

Hull is situated on the East coast of England and is famous for its marina. Hull is an industrial area and first impressions are that it is not the most picturesque place. However, after spending time in Hull the attractions of the City become clearer. It boasts the Princes Quay Shopping Centre as well as easy access to Leeds and York.

The ferry port is just East of the centre at King George Dock with daily ferries to/from Rotterdam/Zeebrugge & Hull.

Leeds - Population 455,00

Leeds is one of Britain's biggest cities and is well-known for its fine array of shops. People flock to the city from other parts of the UK to sample the nightlife and shopping centres.

In the centre of Leeds there is an interesting mix of Victorian buildings standing alongside modern concrete structures and the inhabitants of Leeds are equally diverse.

Points of interest are the Royal Armouries Museum, the West Yorkshire playhouse and the open-air café/restaurants that create the truly cosmopolitan feel of Leeds City Centre.

An exciting city for the young and an interesting one for the more mature.

York- Population 123,000

Steeped in history for 2000 years York has been the capital of the North. The city walls were built during the 13th Century and are amongst the most impressive medieval structures in Europe. Great mix between old and new. A must visit is to Betty's Coffee Shop which offers superb cappuccino.

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Cumbria

The Lake District is one of England's most beautiful corners of the country. Being the second most visited area in the UK, the first being London. The rural, picturesque landscape draws people to the area and with populations in towns: Ambleside 4,500, Windermere & Bowness 8,400 & Keswick at 5,000. The main city is Carlisle.

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North-Eastern England

Counties include, Northumbria and County Durham

The North East can boast some of the country's most breathtaking scenery. It has fascinating architecture, an extra ordinary diverse yet solid cultural base, shopping that competes with Europe's finest and nightlife that made Newcastle the 6th best party city in the world.

North East also has its own unique identity with its greatest asset being the people that live here. Every Northerner is proud of where they come from and the things they believe in. Each visitor to the region is immediately struck by the warmth, humour and friendliness (which is usually even more apparent on a night out in town!) shown to them. Every stranger is greeted as a friend - a typical North East welcome.

To find out more about the North East go to the links page where you will find some excellent sites regarding things to see and do in the region.

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Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle is a city full of interest and character. In 2002 it was voted the top short-break destination in the Excellence in England awards. The city's nightlife is excellent and caters for every taste in food, music, dance, theatre and cinema. It was also voted the world's 6th party city and you have to see it to believe it.

The City's elegant Victorian heart, Grainger Street, is a thriving cosmopolitan place with cafes and bars.

The Northumbria Coastline is second to none with its unspoilt beaches. Leisurely days out in the countryside are only minutes away and the border of Scotland is within easy reach.

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