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South West Region
The South West is the largest of the nine English regions, extending over 350km from the south west tip of Cornwall to the northern border of Gloucestershire. The region also has the highest percentage of rural land of any English region, and the highest percentage of population living in rural districts. The main urban areas are Bristol, Bournemouth & Poole, Plymouth, Swindon, Gloucester, Torbay, Cheltenham and Exeter. The largest of these, the Bristol urban area, has a population of more than half a million people and is the ninth largest urban area by population in England & Wales. In the South West there are six counties, containing a total of 35 districts; there are also ten unitary authorities.
The three major road routes into the South West from the east are the M4 from London, the A31 along the south coast, and the A303 mid-country. Traffic from the north is mostly along the M5, which continues down the region until joining the A30 serving Devon and Cornwall beyond Exeter. The region has several main line railways, with good services east to west and along the south coast. However, some outlying areas are less well served, as are some north-south connections. The South West has major ports at Bristol (Avonmouth and Portbury), Poole and Plymouth; the latter two include ferry ports. The region also has international airports at Bristol, Exeter and Bournemouth.
There is a marked dichotomy in prosperity within the South West, with the north and east being the economically most productive areas, whereas GVA levels and earnings are considerably lower in the western counties. Cornwall receives EU Objective One funding. Although the overall regional breakdown of industries by sector is much as for the whole of England, in many areas agriculture and tourism are economically very important.
The three major road routes into the South West from the east are the M4 from London, the A31 along the south coast, and the A303 mid-country. Traffic from the north is mostly along the M5, which continues down the region until joining the A30 serving Devon and Cornwall beyond Exeter. The region has several main line railways, with good services east to west and along the south coast. However, some outlying areas are less well served, as are some north-south connections. The South West has major ports at Bristol (Avonmouth and Portbury), Poole and Plymouth; the latter two include ferry ports. The region also has international airports at Bristol, Exeter and Bournemouth.
There is a marked dichotomy in prosperity within the South West, with the north and east being the economically most productive areas, whereas GVA levels and earnings are considerably lower in the western counties. Cornwall receives EU Objective One funding. Although the overall regional breakdown of industries by sector is much as for the whole of England, in many areas agriculture and tourism are economically very important.
Places to Visit in South West Region
| » Bournemouth » Bristol |
» Exeter » Gloucester |
» Plymouth |
