Douglas, Isle of Man

Douglas (Doolish in Manx) is the capital of the Isle of Man and its largest town. It is the Island's hub for shipping, transport, shopping and entertainment. It is the home of the Island's government and its finance centre.

Attractions

Douglas has a number of minor tourist attractions:

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• The Tower of Refuge is a very small castle built upon Conister Rock in Douglas Bay as a sanctuary for shipwrecked sailors. It was constructed by Sir William Hillary, founder of the RNLI.
• The horse-drawn trams that run along the promenade from the sea terminal to the Manx Electric Railway station from spring to early autumn. Steam trains run south from Douglas during the same time of year.
• The TT Grandstand marks the start and finish of the annual TT Races
• The Gaiety Theatre and the Villa Marina are popular venues for all manner of stage acts - from rock music to comedy to drama to ballet. The Gaiety Theatre is one of the best surviving examples of the work of Frank Matcham and dates from 1900.

Other interesting buildings include La Locanda restaurant, in John Street, and the Douglas Hotel, on the North Quay, both merchants' houses from the mid-eighteenth century; The Castle Mona , a magnificent seaside mansion built by John Murrey, 4th Duke of Athol in 1804; and the Loch Promenade, a magnificent curving terrace of former boarding houses dating from the 1870s. Douglas is becoming increasingly renowned as it saw the first architectural essays of the Arts and Crafts architect Baillie Scott.

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