In Victorian times, Britain was famous for producing things; it was known as ‘the workshop of the world’. I’m travelling to York to find out how this industrial past is still important for a newer industry: tourism.
Before planes, trains and cars, this was one of the best ways to travel.
Rivers and canals played a very important role during the Industrial Revolution. Barges like this were the lorries of their day, transporting coal to the factories and finished products around the country. Now they’re used for leisure and many canals have become a focus for cafés, restaurants and art galleries.
Amandeep: Thank you for the lift.
Bargee: Thank you. Bye-bye.
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Amandeep: Steam trains replaced the canal boats and became great symbols of Britain’s industrial past. And they’re still attracting tourists from around the world today.
There is a huge collection of them here at the National Railway Museum.
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The museum has its own work shed where engineers restore these incredible machines to their former glory.
Amandeep: Chris, how much work goes into restoring these trains?
Chris: Well, there’s a lot of work involved. We work on them virtually every day, repairing them and maintaining them to make sure they can operate properly and safely.
Amandeep: Why is it important to keep them and show them?
Chris: Basically, it’s important educationally to show the young generation of how railways used to operate in older days, so it’s a link from the past that’s brought to life in present day.
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Amandeep: Like so much of Britain, these streets are full of history. This is the old part of the City of York. Tourists love to come and experience this historic area.
Woman 1: I think visitors come to Britain because of the shopping and the history.
Man 1: It is actually a very nice country, you know. Lots of historical places in Britain.
Man 2: I think visitors come to Britain for the culture, for the historic sites and because it’s different from anywhere else in the world.
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Near to York Castle, there’s a museum that's created a street from the past.
Wow, this is like stepping back in time! I’m actually in a Victorian street museum. Visitors come here to travel back around 130 years. Natalie Kingston is a guide here and dresses up for her role.
Amandeep: Why do you think people like to visit this old street?
Natalie: I think people like to visit this street because it recreates the past. It was the first ever recreated street in the world. It was built in 1938.
Amandeep: What reactions do you get to being dressed up?
Natalie: The most common reaction to being dressed up is that people want to take photos of you and they like to have photos taken with you. People ask a lot more questions when you’re dressed up. Not just about the costume, but also about the street and everything in it.
Amandeep: Being here, I really do feel like I’ve been transported back in time.
Comments
Hello STEPHANE ROTH,
There is no such word as 'worshed'. The word I think you mean is 'workshed'. This is sometimes written as one word and sometimes as two ('work shed'). It is a shed (a kind of hut or garage, typically in the garden or a larger building used for a specific purpose) where a person can work:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/shed
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Ah Yes I've forgotten the 'k', sorry.
Thanks
People come in here to go snorkeling, hiking, even though it's an expensive destination.
There are a lot of small islands. Some people say it's the paradise on earth (like many places, in my opinion).
It was harder than nowdays because it took a very long time to go the different areas of the country. But life was peaceful here when others fought in first world war.
Our history, our nature,our geographical location and also our climate (4 seasons were lived in Turkey, that's why we have summer tourism and winter tourism, both of them.) attracts tourists to our country. I think a hundred years ago life was definitely harder than today.
Turkey has got very beutiful beaches and attracts the tourists with its beaches.
I think It was very different from today. One of the differences is electricity in the cities.
Our history attracts tourists to our country. I think a hundred years ago the life is harder than today.
It was lovely.
Thank you for the video! Could you help me and e[plain how I can download it to watch in th classroom without access to the site?
Hello Nadezhda Dmirieva,
I'm afraid the videos on LearnEnglish are not available for download for technical and legal reasons. We make our audio recordings available, but the videos can only be accessed online.
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello, I'm not sure how this works but I need some advice. About a year ago I helped a Greek friend of mine with a wine label. We wrote Red Wine By The Zissis Family. Now they told me that we should have left out the the in The Zissis Family. It seems wrong to me. Please tell me if it correct. Is it By The Zissis Family or By Zissis Family. Mind you, they are acting as if I don't know English. I was raised in Chicago, so I DO know English. Leaving out the article the doesn't seem right. Please let me know what is correct. Thank you
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