Douglas 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. Douglas is situated on a bay on the east coast of the island at the confluence of two rivers - the Dhoo and the Glass (from which it derives its name). A gently sloping valley runs inland. Hills are to the north-west and south-east. The town is surrounded by several other smaller towns and villages, most notably Onchan to the north (which forms a conurbation with Douglas) and Union Mills to the west. Douglas has been capital of the Isle of Man since 1863, an honour previously held by Castletown, a smaller town in the south of the Island. Tynwald, the Manx Parliament, meets in Douglas (except on Tynwald Day, when it instead meets on Tynwald Hill in St John's - a small village near the west coast of the island).
Transportation in Douglas
By Car: Douglas is reached by the A1 from the West, the A2 from the North and the A5 from the South.
By Bus: There are regular bus services to Douglas from across the Island. The bus station is situated at Lord Street in Douglas,v
By Ferry:
Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man, is best known as a place of old-fashioned seaside charm. This image lives on, with great Victorian architecture and the scenic promenade. Yet many new attractions have also emerged in recent years, making Douglas a better destination than ever. Douglas ferry port is home to the Isle of Man Steam Packet and ferries set sail to England, Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland to the ports of Liverpool, Heysham, Dublin and Belfast.
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.
