Starting the tour in Gloucestershire, make a visit to the Clearwell Caves in the Royal Forest of Dean, which have been mined for over 2,500 years. Originally this natural cave system was partially filled with iron ore. Now having been mined for over many centuries the caves have become an amazing complex over 600 acres underground containing thousands of caverns and many miles of passageways. The working mine has a 2 foot gauge railway which is still used for carrying equipment and bringing out the minerals.

Take time to travel to down to Bristol, famous for its maritime links. The city has continually grown around the river docks since medieval times. John Cabot sailed for Newfoundland & Labrador in the 'Matthew' from Bristol in 1497. Visit the Industrial Museum with its comprehensive range of exhibits relating to the industrial heritage of Bristol and the region as a whole. Nearby is the SS Great Britain, the worlds first great ocean liner at the Great Western dock. Designed by Brunel she was the first of the great steamships. Also designed by Brunel is the Clifton Suspension Bridge, spanning the Avon Gorge, truly an awe inspiring site especially at night when it is lit up and magical. From the bridge the views across the region are excellent. From the 19th century to the 21st further down the coast Hinkley Point Power Station provides a fascinating insight into energy production of today. Discover how electricity is produced at the visitor centre of the two nuclear power stations that work 24 hours a day, providing energy to the nation. Visit the turbine hall or the viewing gallery overlooking the control room while wearing your hard hats and ear defenders!

Close by to Bridgewater, go back in time to the golden age of steam by taking a trip on a steam train from Bishops Lydeard near Taunton to Minehead on the longest independent railway in Britain - the West Somerset Railway it's a wonderful way to relax and let the scenery drift by as you wend your way through scenic villages and the coastline.

Travel across Exmoor and further south across Dartmoor, to discover Morwellham Quay near Tavistock, a restored copper mine and award winning visitor centre at an historic river port. Here you will find engine houses, giant wheels, tunnels and an exciting train ride underground. Above ground enjoy the horse drawn carriage rides and there are many costumes for you to try on tomake you feel as if you are really taking part in the industrial revolution.

Close to Dartmoor at Plymouth, Devon's largest city and a major port and naval base, find the Plymouth Dome. Its a purpose-built visitor interpretation centre located on the Hoe and it provides a fascinating insight into the industrial history of Plymouth. Nearby the Royal Citadel, a 17th century fortress built to defend Plymouth's harbour, makes for an interesting visit as the Rampart walk provides panoramic views of Plymouth Sound. In the Elizabethan Barbican area, there are opportunities for specialist shopping, a visit to a Gin Distillery or the Barbican Glassworks, located in the old Victorian fish market.

In Exeter visit the Quay, a waterside area just 5 minutes from the city centre. Exeter was once a major port and is home to England's oldest canal which stretches from Exeter to Topsham. Today the Quay houses unique shops, places to eat and opportunities for outdoor activities. Also in Exeter visit the Underground Passages, where one can venture underneath the city's High Street into a labyrinth of medieval waterways and Roman sewers!

Further north in Tiverton, a market and textile town you will find the 18km long Grand Western Canal which passes through beautiful and picturesque Devon villages. Take some leisurely time floating down the river on a horse-drawn passenger boat watching the town slip away as you travel along the leafy banks high above the surrounding countryside, beautiful at any time of year .

Again going north, drop in on Bradford-on-Avon which was formerly a cloth weaving town, located on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Bradford-on-Avon is the home to one of the country's finest examples of a medieval Tithe Barn. Built in the early 14th century, this gigantic barn was constructed to store the taxes or "tithes" paid by the local peasants.

Visit close by Bath, a Georgian spa city beside the River Avon. The Bath Museum in the centre of the city and tells the story of how the Georgian city was built. From Bath travel to the National Trust village of Lacock and visit the Fox Talbot Museum of Photography, devoted to William Henry Fox Talbot, the inventor of modern photography. Nearby is Bowood House and Gardens, where in 1774 Dr Joseph Priestley discovered the existence of oxygen gas and John Ingenhouse, the Dutch scientist, the process of photosynthesis.

Travel on to Devizes, which is situated close to the Kennet and Avon Canal. The nearby Caen Hill has a flight of 29 locks for barges and canal boats to ascend, and the Kennet and Avon Canal Museum explains the building of the waterways that link London and Bristol.

Make Swindon in Wiltshire part of your industrial tour too. It was an extremely important industrial town in the 19th century. The Great Western Railway Museum, STEAM celebrates the history of the rail transport with the offices of the workers and management preserved in great detail, as are the enormous workshops in which the GWR made and repaired the trains and carriages. Located close by in the former Great Western Railworks is the Great Western Designer Outlet Village, the UK's largest covered outlet offering 100's of fashion names.

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