A country rich in natural history, stunning scenery and award-winning historical sites with attractions for all age groups and interests.The island is reached from all major UK airports and there are regular car ferry services from Heysham, Liverpool, Dublin and Belfast, continuing a link with the tourist industry that goes back 150 years. At just 33 miles (53 km) by 12 miles (19.3 km) the island can be explored by car or public transport. The Isle of Man is a crown protectorate with its own currency, language and the oldest continuous parliament in the world. There is no exchange rate as Manx money is based on sterling and English is the common language. Visitors can view the spectacular scenery on the fast and efficient bus service or take a more leisurely ride on the vintage Electric Railway, horse-drawn trams, mountain railway or the steam railway. Manx National Heritage boasts ten major sites of historical importance with many more, smaller sites island-wide.
Douglas is the capital of the island, with fine Victorian architecture stretching along the magnificent two-mile (three km) long promenade.The capital, Douglas (or Doolish in Gaelic), is both a business centre and leisure destination with something to offer everyone. From its humble beginnings as a fishing port, it expanded during the smuggling period in the 1700s to attract wealthy merchants. This expansion of the town continued with the arrival of the first tourists in the 1850s, bringing a new prosperity to both the town and the island. The busy shopping centre in Strand Street is just a step away from the promenade, buses, horse-drawn trams and the tourist information centre. There is ample pre-paid parking around the town with free disc parking in certain areas, as in all island towns. The Steam Railway Station is situated at the top end of the harbour for trips to the south of the island, and the vintage electric railway starts at the northern end of the spectacular two-mile (three km) long promenade for trips to Laxey Wheel and the north. Accommodation in Douglas ranges from charming guesthouses to lavish five-star hotels, and caters for long or short breaks.
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