Douglas
Douglas is the Island's Capital, home of Government and has been since the House of Keys moved from Castletown in the latter half of the 1800s.
Five hundred years ago
Douglas was merely a village, small by any standards but rapidly expanded
in the Victorian era and - after a few pauses for breath - has now reached
a population estimated to be in the region of 25,000.
The House of Keys is the focal point for the Manx Parliament - the longest uninterrupted parliamentary democracy in the world. Twenty-four elected MHKs (members of the House of Key) meet weekly and are joined monthly by eight member of the Legislative Council, elected by the House of Keys.
Douglas is the Island's main port with a busy harbour. In the Island's tourist heyday Douglas was the gateway for many thousands of annual holiday visitors. Isle of Man Steam Packet Company provided the means whereby most visitors arrived and still do so.
They have year-round twice daily services to
Heysham plus additional sailings to Liverpool, Dublin, and Belfast. Container
traffic, with most of the food and general requirements, comes through
Douglas harbour, also a favourite for visiting yachtsmen - during the
summer months there is often a forest of masts along the quayside.
Tourism is no longer the income producer it was during the years end of the 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries and has been replaced by the financial and business sector. The Douglas skyline has changed dramatically in the past decade, and is still changing with the building of new office blocks. However, there is plenty for visitors and residents to do and see. Those with small children, or a wish to keep fit, can visit the National Sports Centre with swimming pool and gym. Other attractions include 10-pin bowling at Castle Mona Hotel and golf at the nearby Pulrose 18-hole Golf Course.
Many of the Douglas tourist seasonal attractions survive, notably the
Steam Railway which starts its journey to the South at the end of the
harbour North Quay. Horse trams can be seen making their way from the
Sea Terminal to the Terminus at the end of Queen's Promenade. The Gaiety
Theatre - a fully restored Frank Matcham designed Victorian theatre is
the venue for many a stage production and concerts throughout the year,
and the Villa Marina, currently undergoing renovation, has seen many
famous names entertaining visitors and Island visitors alike.
A
short distance from the Promenade many visitors find the Manx Museum - run
by Manx National Heritage - of great interest. The Manx Museum covers
all aspects of the Island's geology, natural and social history - all
very well presented - plus devoting a number galleries to exhibitions
of art and paintings of and about the Isle of Man.
Douglas has a wide choice of shops catering for all tastes, including four large supermarkets. The main shopping area - Strand and Castle Streets - are pedestrian precincts and many of the famous retail names from England have been attracted to this area. Shoppers in cars have the option of two multi-storey car parks or the promenade, wide enough to accommodate parking on both sides.
For tourists and business visitors who wish to stay in Douglas there is a wide selection of hotel accommodation, both large and small, plus many guesthouses and when it comes to looking after the inner self there is no shortage of restaurants and cafes covering all tastes.
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