Page 21 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

A POR TR AIT OF ENGLAND ’ S SOUTH C O AST  19

Vineyards and traditional oast houses at the spectacular 14th-century Bodiam Castle in East Sussex
landscape. Every major city along the sheep over the centuries; Kent is famed
South Coast has a municipal art gallery, for its hop gardens; and the West Country
usually focusing on local artists. is abundant in cider orchards. The last 30
In more recent times, inspired by years have seen a boom in wine production,
the success of Glastonbury and the especially sparkling wine, with vineyards
Isle of Wight festivals, there has been thriving from Kent to Cornwall. Fishing is
an explosion of popular music festivals another traditional industry, but one that
across the South Coast. has declined substantially
A lot of these are family in the last 20 years. Small
friendly, offering many Devon and Cornish fleets
other types of entertainment are all that survive of a once
than just music. Classical major enterprise. The service
music is equally well industry accounts for most
represented, with a world- employment, but there’s a
renowned orchestra based lot of variation: the South
in Bournemouth, full-scale East is particularly strong in
country-house operas at high-tech innovation, as is
Glyndebourne and Grange Bristol and London, whereas
Park, and popular cultural the South West relies more
festivals in Brighton and Rock oysters, a popular South Coast delicacy on travel and rural activities.
Bath, among others. Tourism makes a significant
Theatre-lovers have plenty to choose contribution to the region’s economy.
from, including the longest continuously The tourist industry supports more than
running theatre in England, the Bristol 25 per cent of employment in Cornwall
Old Vic, and the imaginative Chichester and around 10 per cent of employment
Festival Theatre, which transfers many in Devon, with these counties boasting
of its productions to London’s West End. the largest hotel and restaurant sector
in the country. The region as a whole
Economy attracts around 21 million visitors every
With around 78 per cent employment, year, who come to admire the stunning
the South Coast is well above the national countryside, outstanding architecture,
average. Farming remains an important, unspoiled beaches and picturesque
if economically small, activity: the South towns and villages around England’s
Downs have been nibbled smooth by spectacular South Coast.

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