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A mere market town as late as 1850, the capital DOUGLAS was a product of Victorian mass tourism and displays many similarities to Blackpool, just across the water. However, put aside thoughts of Blackpool-style state-of-the-art entertainment and sophisticated nightlife. Although there are pockets of contemporary development, Douglas - despite its financial acumen - has something of an end-of-season feel about it. It's not really the town's fault - where once half a million people a year sported on the sands, package tourism to hotter climates has long since burst the bubble. You can still have a thoroughly enjoyable time here, but it's likely to consist largely of pulling up a candy-striped deckchair and enjoying the extensive sands. When it rains, stroll the covered arcades or attend the afternoon tea dances. Douglas's seafront vista has changed little since Victorian times, and is still trodden by heavy-footed carthorses pulling trams (jump on for a few pence). Up Victoria Street, past the Manx Legislative Building, the Manx Museum , on the corner of Kingswood Grove and Crellins Hill (Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; free), makes a good start for anyone wanting to get to grips with Manx culture and heritage. Various rooms provide an absorbing synopsis of the island's history, packed with Neolithic standing stones, Celtic grave markers and other artefacts, notably some excellent displays relating to Viking burials and runic crosses.
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