Planning to visit England’s green and pleasant land? Look no further than my England travel guide for all the essentials and much more.
I’ll admit it, as much as I love travelling overseas, sometimes there’s nothing better than exploring my home nation. Trust me, there is so much to see and do.
If you think about England, you’ll probably picture black taxis, Tower Bridge, red London buses, red telephone boxes and the royal family. And while that plays a big part of England’s charm, there’s so much more to see and do.
Whether you love history and the endless sights such as Stonehenge, castles, and stately homes through the ages or enjoying the incredible scenery of the Lake District, the Peak District, or the diverse coastlines, England has something for everyone.
So, if you’re considering visiting England, get out your best china, make a cup of Earl Grey and read on!
If it’s good weather you’re after, visiting England between April and September is recommended, albeit heavily caveated that guaranteeing good weather at any time in England is a fool’s errand!
If you’re into pageantry, I recommend heading to London in mid-June to take in the pomp and circumstance of Trooping the Colour.
One of the world’s biggest music festivals takes place in Glastonbury in late June, while the colourful celebration of all things Caribbean at the Notting Hill Carnival is unmissable if you’re around in late August.
My home city is one of the world’s most exciting, diverse, and incredible cities.
Of course, there are all the iconic tourist attractions and landmarks to check out, but London is also an excellent base for exploring other parts of England, with numerous beautiful towns and cities within easy reach by road and rail.
I love the quirky style of the Soho Hotel in the heart of London’s West End.
A true oasis of beauty, tranquillity, and traditional English charm, Cornwall boasts an endless array of beautiful coastal spots, the legend of King Arthur and traditional cream teas that are a quintessential slice of English life.
For somewhere to stay, I can’t resist the charms of the Headland Hotel, an Edwardian building with a gorgeous mix of ocean views, old-world charm and modernity.
Sitting at the mouth of the River Avon, Bristol is a beautiful city full of engineering genius, with Brunel’s Suspension Bridge spanning the Avon gorge, street art inspired by native Banksy and an endless supply of incredible bars and restaurants.
I recommend Number 38 in Clifton Village for an unrivalled boutique hotel experience in Bristol.
The Pennines are the range of hills that separate the rival northern counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Stacked with incredible hilly trails and picture-perfect northern towns, one of the best days out is following the Trans-Pennine train route between Manchester and Leeds and stopping off for a pint of the local tipple at each station.
Manor House Lindley, in Huddersfield, is one of the area’s hotel gems.
Want to know the essentials to pack for your trip to England? Here are the top five must-haves.
No matter how well you plan, there’s always potential for things to go wrong wherever you find yourself. England is no different, so getting travel insurance before you travel is crucial.
Thanks to their excellent coverage and competitive premiums, I usually use AXA Travel Insurance.
I recommend any of these excellent guidebooks to really dig under the surface of England’s many charms.
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I’m completely in love with my home city. Of course, everyone knows about all the famous tourist trappings but for me, London’s authentic charm lies under the surface.
From the rich greenery of Hampstead Heath, Greenwich Park and Victoria Park to the oddball appeal of the Last Tuesday Society & Absinthe Parlour and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, it’s a trove of quirky spots. That’s all before you mention the stellar restaurants too.
Read Next: The Best Things to do in London
Cornwall is one of England’s true gems. The peninsula that juts into the Atlantic Ocean in the island’s southwest corner has incredible beaches to explore.
St Ives is lucky enough to have two stunning golden sandy extravaganzas, while Newquay is a haven for surfers. Other gems are Porthpean Beach in St Austell, Polzeath Beach, Praa Sands in Breage and East Looe Beach.
Full of outstanding rugged hiking trails and some of the most incredible lakes anywhere in Europe, wandering in the Lake District is a restorative joy.
The landscape inspired some of England’s most romantic writers, such as Wordsworth and Ruskin and once you begin to hike around the region’s 14 lakes of England’s largest National Park, it’s easy to see why.
Read Next: Walking in the Lake District
Not only are Oxford and Cambridge two of the world’s most learned seats of learning, but both are magnificent cities in their own right.
Take a punt down the River Cam in Cambridge while exploring the fabulous King’s College Chapel.
Meanwhile, in Oxford, explore the city that spawned His Dark Materials and head to the Bodleian Library to uncover Oxford’s deep links with some of the English language’s finest literary minds.
Grab yourself a hired car and spend some time touring the quintessentially English area of the Cotswolds.
Head to Bourton-on-the-Water and explore the stunning river and five stone bridges that span it. Afterwards, take in the more than 18,000 trees of Westonbirt National Arboretum.
Other highlights include wandering the covered palisades of Lacock Abbey, a famous film set for Hogwarts in ‘Harry Potter’ and much more besides.
Read Next: These Are The Best Things to do in the Cotswolds
Bath is one of my favourite day trips, only an hour and a half by train from London. Full of stunning sandstone buildings, indulgent natural spas, and origins dating back to the Roman age, Bath is full of history, charm, and neoclassical architectural delights.
The Roman Baths date back to 70AD and a dip in the plunge pools is one of the most relaxing, therapeutic things you will ever experience
Read Next: Thinking of Heading to Bath? Here’s What You Shouldn’t Miss
With the depth of England’s love affair with literature, you’re never far from the inspiration for some famous tale or other.
The Yorkshire Moors are synonymous with the Bronte sisters and many of their fictional creations.
Ponden Hall near Haworth is the inspiration for Thrushcross Grange in Wuthering Heights, while just over the Lancashire border is Wycoller, believed to be the location of Ferndean Manor in Jane Eyre.
The wild and windy moors are also brilliant hiking locations full of stunning vistas across the rolling hills.
The Norfolk Broads consist of more than 125 miles of lock-free waterways to explore by boat or on foot.
From traditional English narrow boats to slightly larger pleasure boats, the Broads are awash with charming towns and villages to explore, such as Wroxham, Acle and Great Yarmouth.
5 days
Oxford >> Stratford >> The Cotswolds >> Bath
This five-day tour takes some of England’s most beautiful, tranquil sites and cities. Visit Oxford, Churchill’s birthplace at Blenheim Palace, Warwick Castle and Shakespeare’s Stratford before moving on to the Cotswolds and ending at Bath.
1 week
York >> Ambleside >> Liverpool
Taste the local brews and sample the centuries-old history of York before heading into the Yorkshire Dales on your way to Ambleside in the Lake District. End up in Liverpool, where you can follow in the footsteps of The Beatles and revel in the city’s unique cultural appeal.
8 days
Lyme Regis >> West Bay >> Abbotsbury >> Osmington Mills >> West Lulworth
Believe it or not, dinosaurs used to roam English shores and evidence of their existence continues to be discovered to this day on the Jurassic Coast.
Spanning the South Devon and Dorset coastline, this walk from Lyme Regis includes prehistoric rock formations and Chesil Beach, where Barnes Wallis tested his famous bouncing bomb during WWII.
9 days
Newcastle >> Hexham >> Durham >> Alnwick >> Bamburgh
This exploration of Northeast England takes in the historic Alnwick Castle, another film location for ‘Harry Potter,’ the stunning rugged coastline of the Farne Islands, historic castles at Tynemouth, Lindisfarne and Bamburgh and life in Roman England along Hadrian’s Wall.
Dating back to before the Norman conquest of 1066, the Forest of Dean is a stunning region of natural woodland in Western Gloucestershire.
Highlights include the Darkhill Ironworks, which contains the Steelworks that helped build the Titanic, Cannop Ponds, Soudley Ponds, and Symonds Yat Rock, which offers unmatched views over the River Wye.
Explore the beautiful villages in the Weald of Sussex, between the English Channel and London. The Domesday Book mentions the Weald as England’s most densely populated area of trees.
Visit the stunning moated castle at Herstmonceux, the working chalk pit museum at Amberley, and the village of East Hoathly, which includes a bonfire night torch-lit procession through the streets.
This is quite the challenge, but one that many (including me!) like to take on, walking the Thames Path from its source in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier in Woolwich, East London.
This 184-mile walk takes in stunning little towns throughout rural England, the beautiful surroundings of Hampton Court, Richmond-upon-Thames and London’s famous riverside sights and sounds.
Set deep in Dorset, Tyneham was a village inhabited from the Iron Age through to 1943, when the British Government requisitioned it to act as a firing range ahead of the invasion of Europe in 1944.
The village was evacuated, and its inhabitants never returned. The town has remained largely untouched since 1943 and is an eerie reminder of when time stopped in this beautiful rural setting.
Several excellent guides to England are available online, allowing you to explore the country at your own pace and without shelling out for a guided tour.
Some leading attractions, like many of London’s biggest and best museums, including the Natural History Museum, British Museum and Science Museum, offer free admission.
Fish and Chips – No visit to England is complete without proper fish and chips. Legend has it you will find the best on the North Yorkshire coast.
Cornish Pasty – This savoury delicacy has travelled across the country from Cornwall. This meat and potato wrapped in short-crust pastry is best served piping hot.
Roast Dinner – A Sunday favourite across the country, tender roasted meat of your choice served with fresh vegetables, crispy roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding, drowned in gravy. Yum!
Eton Mess – First served at the exclusive Eton School in Berkshire, this dessert is made with meringue, fresh berries, and cream.
A Pint – Likewise, no trip to a proper English pub is complete without sampling a good old English hand-pulled pint.
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