Manchester is often referred to as the unofficial capital of the north of England, and looking at what the city has to offer, the title is understandable.

The centre of town is full of all the stores that London has to offer in a more condensed space - from Primark to Selfridges and Topshop to Harvey Nichols, it is a shopper's paradise.

And when they tire of all the shopping, visitors can pop into the striking Urbis museum, an interactive exhibition of modern city life.

Manchester's nightlife is as varied and exciting as the capital, but often cheaper. Revellers can enjoy cheese, rock, and indie music at one of the huge number of nightclubs, or head to some of the quieter, more sophisticated bars around the city, most notably in the fashionable northern quarter.

Here, bars such as Odd and Socio Rehab serve up fantastic cocktails in a laid-back atmosphere.

Around the city are scores of other attractions, including the Whitworth Art Gallery, the Imperial War Museum North and the Science Museum.

And furthermore, it is just a short drive across the Pennines to the beautiful Peak District.

The county of Staffordshire in England's West Midlands is home to a huge array of entertainment, from a world-class theme park to beautiful National Trust properties.

Britain's most popular theme park Alton Towers, in the heart of the county, is a must-see for any rollercoaster lovers. With nail-biting rides for the more adventurous, as well as entertainment for tamer visitors, this resort has it all.

The nearby town of Stoke-on-Trent is world famous for its pottery and visitors can take tours around the factories and many ceramic attractions.

Just two more great places to visit here, especially when the sun shines, are the beautiful Victorian Biddulph Grange Garden in Biddulph and the Elizabethen Moseley Old Hall, near Wolverhampton.

Nature and animal lovers can check out the Wolseley Centre, a wildlife haven set in 26 acres of gardens.

And other historic attractions in the county include Claymills Pumping Station, the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum and Tutbury Castle.

Over a million people live in Staffordshire and its biggest city is Stoke-on-Trent, famous as the birthplace of pop singer Robbie Williams.

A beautiful city known primarily for its wine produce, Bordeaux is gradually growing into a popular tourist destination.

Visitors to the city can explore the riverfront, which is adorned with 18th-century buildings, including the place de la Bourse, which was designed by the same architect as the place de la Concorde in Paris, Jacques Ange Gabriel.

Bordeaux was last year declared a Unesco world heritage site, a tribute to its 350 historic monuments in a protected area of 147 hectares, as well as three churches and a number of other attractions.

The churches are Saint-André, Saint-Michel and Saint-Seurin. Other sights include the Musee National des Douanes, , the Grand Theatre, the Musee des Beaux-Arts and the Musee d'Art Contemporain

On the first Sunday of every month, 100 streets in the centre of Brodeaux are closed to traffic for most of the day, which is a perfect opportunity to take a stroll around the city.

Bordeaux, in the south-west of France, is home to approximately one million people, or Bordelais.

Europe's longest shopping street, a famous mermaid and beautiful people await visitors to Denmark's capital.

Copenhagen, adorned with beautiful old architecture and a huge range of tourist attractions, is an ideal place for a weekend break.

Visitors will be entranced by the magic of Tivoli, a fantastic amusement park with rides and entertainment to amuse them to their heart's content, throughout the day and night.

And the city boasts a number of world-class museums, among them historical art museums Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek and Nationalmuseet.

Take a walk alongside the canal of Nyhavn, which is lined with bars and restaurants, and pass by the Langelinie docks to visit one of Copenhagen's most famous residents, the Little Mermaid, made famous by Danish author Hans Christian Anderson.

More attractions throughout the city include the Rosenborg Palace, the Jewish Museum and Vor Frelsers church.

And for those who want to 'soak up' some real Danish culture, the Carlsberg Brewery offers free tours, complete with an all-important tasting session.

In 2007, the magazine Monocle listed Copenhagen second in their top 20 most livable cities chart.


In 2007, the magazine Monocle listed Copenhagen second in their top 20 most livable cities chart.

Germany's wealthiest and second biggest city, Hamburg has a huge amount to offer any tourist.

Characterised by its water features - three rivers, canals, two lakes and thousands of bridges - travelling by boat is a good way to travel to see some of the city's sights. Still a maritime city, its port remains one of Europe's busiest.

Nearly two million people live in Hamburg and the art, culture and attractions around the city are a testament to its inhabitants.

Hamburg is a city of contrasts, with beautiful architecture, historical landmarks and wealthy areas juxtaposed with an exciting nightlife and a well-known red-light district.

The city offers plenty of opportunities for shopping and eating, touring around picturesque parks and lakes, as well as general sightseeing.

Museums include the Museum of Arts and Crafts, the Kunsthalle art gallery which houses art from medieval to modern times, and the Museum of Ethnology.

There is also an opera house and a number of theatres, with a vibrant musical theatre scene.

Hamburg is the most populous non-capital city in the European Union.

The Ukrainian city of Kiev has survived a host of disasters, from Mongol invasions to fires to the destruction wrought by the second world war - now it draws tourists attracted by its fascinating history and vibrant theatre scene.

Among the stops for dramatic types are the Kiev Opera House, the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre and the Kiev Puppet Theatre - along with many more.

Another main attraction in the city is the Pecherska Lavra, a complex of churches that is also host to catacombs filled with the saints' relics. It is also a Unesco World Heritage Site.

And for those who want to take in the essence of Kiev, the city's main meeting place is Independent Square - often blocked off to traffic on the weekends so that visitors and residents can enjoy a pleasant stroll uninterrupted.

The best place to shop for traditional Ukrainian art and souvenirs may be the ancient street known as Andriyivsky Uzviz, which is host to a large number of galleries, shops and studios.

Although most famous for its glamorous summer film festival, Cannes is a tourist hotspot throughout the year, and it's easy to see why.

With glorious beaches stretching along the Cote d'Azur, fantastic shopping and a dazzling nightlife, it's a great holiday destination for all ages.

Although it does live up to its glamorous reputation with its fair share of expensive shops and private beaches, there are also plenty of places for the less well-heeled tourist to visit.

Tourists can sunbathe on the public beach, or stroll along la Croisette to grab a bite to eat or witness some French 'ladies who lunch'.

Or they can head out to the dozens of local picturesque villages offering stunning views and charming atmospheres.

While in Cannes, it is a must to visit the famous Palais des Festivals which hosts the world's biggest film festival and is also home to a mini-Hollywood boulevard, with celebrity hand and foot prints moulded into the pathway.

The film festival this year is being held between May 14th and 28th and visitors at this time can see some of the selected film screenings that are open to the public.

Once a year Portugal hosts an international film festival in the Algarve. Dating back to 1972, this is the country's oldest cinema event.

Festival Internacional de Cine do Algarve's highlight is a short film competition - prizes are awarded for best fiction and animation 35mm shorts. Other prizes are given out too, for categories including best film by a Portuguese director, best film about nature and the environment, best film with a message of love and peace amongst men and the best film about the Algarve.

The competition section of the festival distributes more than 20,000 euros (£15,000) in awards, as well as gold statues for the best short films.

A number of films will be presented throughout the Algarve, all with digital subtitles in Portuguese, but some will also have English subtitles - tourists should check the details before they go if their Portuguese isn't up to scratch.

The 36th edition of the festival will take place from May12th-17th.

As one of Europe's favourite holiday destinations, the Algarve is home to beautiful beaches, stunning views and great weather all year round.

The Slovenian capital is rapidly growing in popularity as a tourist destination.

As a small city with 280,000 inhabitants, it's the perfect spot for a weekend getaway.

The historic bohemian city is nestled between the Ljubljanica River and a hill, which is topped with one of the capital's main attractions, a 12th century castle. Currently undergoing ongoing renovation work, the castle has served many purposes including acting as a fortress and a prison.

Visitors to the castle can witness the stunning views from the hilltop, especially if they make the trip up to the top of the high tower. On a clear day you can see most of the city and its surroundings, as well as the Kamnik Alps to the north and the Julian Alps to the the north-west.

The charming city boasts a large amount of Baroque style architecture, including a cathedral and sculptures by Italian Francesco Robba.

Other attractions include the National Art Gallery, which houses work by Slovenian artists, and the Ivan Cankar Congress Centre, a cultural centre which hosts a number of concerts and performances.

By night, the young and the restless head to a number of clubs around the city, which are dedicated mainly to the R&B, techno, pop and rock scenes.

For a hint of madness in a town that normally prides itself on its order and educational pre-eminence, head to Oxford on May Day.

May 1st sees residents and students in this university town gather in their thousands to uphold centuries-old traditions.

Festivities begin the evening before, when the eager undergraduates flock to parties throughout the town and in the field at Port Meadow.

As the sun rises, traditional Morris dancers welcome in the new day and the worse-for-wear students head for Magdalen Bridge, which crosses the River Cherwell.

Over the years, restrictuions have had to be put in place after students continuously jumped into the shallow water, resulting in injuries.

Crowds then quieten and gather to listen to the choir of Magdalen College, before heading their separate ways to continue the time-honoured tradition of drinking alcohol, in the many pubs that open early especially for the event.

The less energetic locals can enjoy the entertainment put on in the city centre, which includes maypoles, street theatre and music performances.