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UK: TOP THREE
Durham, England
"I got off at Durham... and fell in love with it instantly in a serious way. Why, it's wonderful - a perfect little city.... If you have never been to Durham, go there at once. Take my car. It's wonderful."
Bill Bryson, Notes from a Small Island, 1995
As my university town, this is a place I have been fortunate to spend a great deal of time in and it has in my opinion some of the best views in Europe. The cathedral in itself is well worth a visit( Virtual tour) as are the University(Durham University)owned botanic gardens and castle.
Edinburgh, Scotland
While I haven't spend a great deal of time here it is a city that had managed to truly mesmerize me from the moment that I first set foot in it. From the Castle, towering above (picture) the city to the underground vaults beneath this is a historical and spellbinding place.
York, England
Another city with a past, its history in fact extends to Viking times hence the world famous viking centre. The Rose Window is yet another striking testament to the craftsmen of old. York is however also a modern city and is a thriving and busy metropolis.The city walls are also an extremely impressive part of the city.
Beijing, China
Words can hardly describe this. city for it is truly another world. Both its history and modern day reality are intriguing and breathtaking. Perhaps the most famous of its attractions is the Forbidden City, this is an unforgettable experience but equally is the Great Wall outside of the city and the zoo's collection of Giant Pandas.
You do not have to go to a tourist attraction to be amazed however - the street stalls and general countryside provide a fascinating insight to the Western visitor. It is also revealing of your misconceptions of China , while it is certainly backward its skyline has the skyscrapers and unfortunately the pollution of any capital in this modern day world.
Moscow
This city is also interesting to the Western eye largely because of its contrasts with expectations. The Kremlin and St Basil Cathedral provide a truly spectacular backdrop to the often snow covered Red Square. Lenin's Mausoleum is located here and well worth a visit.On a more light hearted note the Moscow State Circus provide a Russian evening of entertainment and can be well enjoyed as long as it is taken into account that there are vast cultural differences and attitudes to animal cruelty. All in all though Moscow provides a brilliant introduction to Russia and provides the perfect place to board the train for St Petersburg another magical city.
Bali, Indonesia
While not a city, Bali is too special a place to me for it to be left out of this list. The rice paddy fields and the Hindu dominated culture which requires several temples to be placed in each village combine to produce a fairy tale isle.
The beaches and rice fields while spectacular are overshadowed by Bali's overwhelming asset, that is of having a population of some of the friendliest people in the World. The sunset over Tanahlot is therefore perhaps representative of a nation that never stops smiling.. but then why would they, after all they get to live here while we can only ever visit in passing.
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