England remains one of the most popular destinations in the world for international travel. Millions of people each year are drawn to the compact, frenetic charm of London, the capital, the historical attractions of places such as Salisbury, York and Chester, and the rural splendour of the Lake District.
Then there is the traditional England of rolling green fields, quaint villages and tweed-wearing locals. Here the English still spend their days in endless and unfathomable games of cricket or taking tea in the garden. It might not be a true reflection of modern English life but it is the idyllic image that the thousands of visitors who flock to the rural towns and villages of Dorset and Somerset each year are left with.
The country may no longer be the world's premier imperial power, but England still has a place in the imaginations of millions. The English Royal family are revered world-wide, the top football teams have more fans who live on other continents than they do in their home towns while London remains one of the leading international centres of commerce and culture.
Transport...go there, travel in the country and after
Despite the local tendency to moan about public transport and traffic congestion, England has an excellent transport infrastructure with good quality roads and a well-planned public transport network. On public holidays transport often runs to a reduced schedule and national roads can get very crowded.
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See & Do
England's "green and pleasant land" hides many attractions of note. Naturally many people come here to soak up the history and culture of the land of Shakespeare, kings and queens, and the Industrial Revolution, but there are also the natural attractions of the beautiful Lake District and England's hundreds of miles of coastline. And of course, no visitor can come to England without experiencing London, the nation's capital and one of the world's greatest cities.
Although we've included the best of London here, for the full rundown on the capital's many attractions visit our independent guide.
The British Museum - London
The British Museum remains England's greatest cultural attraction. Replete with the accumulated wealth of an Empire its galleries can almost boast more world class art works and attractions within its walls than exist in the whole city without.
The entire complex is now oriented around its splendid Great Court, opened by the Queen in 2001. Around this large covered space and on floors above and below are over 80 galleries packed to the rafters with pieces from the world of art and history. The collections span the entire globe, exploring cultures and societies through artefacts that range from housekeeping to warfare. Naturally Britain is well represented, through displays such as the Mildenhall Treasure (a priceless collection of Roman silver discovered in Suffolk in the 1940s) and the remains of Lindow Man, an early Briton pulled from a peat bog in Cheshire.
However you'll also find pieces from all corners of the earth, returned to the country by Britannia's sons. The British Museum can thus boast one of the largest Egyptian collections outside Cairo, as well as extensive Greek, Roman and Japanese galleries. Some of the pieces are only on display in the face of controversy. The presence of the Elgin Marbles in particular has long been a bone of contention between the museum and Greece, but for now it remains one of the museum's biggest attractions.
Great Russell St. Open: Sat-Wed 10h00-17h30; Thu & Fri 10h00-20h30. Note that some galleries such as the Mausoleum of Halikarnassos open at limited times only. Admission: free. Tel: +44 (0)20-7323-8299.
See our London guide for more details of the city.
The Tate Modern - London
The most successful of the capital's Millennium projects, the Tate Modern art gallery occupies the massive Bankside power station building, on the south side of the Thames. Now fronted by the glittering Millennium Bridge that connects the attraction to St Paul's it is no exaggeration to say that the gallery has revolutionised the way people see Modern Art in Britain.
The addition of a glass roof has been the only external change from when the gallery was a power station, and the distinctive central tower has turned from eyesore into cultural exclamation mark in most people's minds. An incredible five and a quarter million people visited the gallery in its first year of opening, and with a constantly evolving collection of art on display over its three exhibition floors, people are guaranteed to return time and time again.
Inside you can find works from Britain's enfants terribles of Modern Art: Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst and anyone who's anyone have all exhibited here. You'll also find classic works that sparked the Modern Art movement such as Marcel Duchamp's "Urinal" and Salvador Dali's "Lobster Telephone".
Bankside Powerstation, Thames South Bank. Open: Sun-Thu 10h00-18h00; Fri & Sat 10h00-22h00. Admission: free (optional donation). Tel: +44 (0)20-7887-8000.
See our London guide for more details of the city.
The British Royal Family
As it has for centuries, the world remains fascinated by the British Royal Family. In modern times, global travel and communications mean that we know a lot more about the Royals than ever before, and the curious flock to see the places where they live - hoping to catch a glimpse of the Queen (who celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2002), the Prince of Wales or one of his sons, the immensely popular Princes William and Harry.
London's Buckingham Palace is the main Royal attraction and no visit to the capital is complete without taking the obligatory walk along the tree-lined Mall and taking a picture of the city's most famous abode. When the family is absent for their summer vacation you can tour parts of the palace, but even when visits aren't possible crowds throng outside for the changing of the guard at 11h30 daily (summer). Other Royal residences of note include Windsor Castle in the Thames Valley, which can be visited most of the year.
Lake District
In England's Northwest lies the country's largest National Park and the nation's most popular outdoor destination. The area is extremely popular with walkers and climbers, and includes England's highest peak, Scafell Pike, but is equally accessible to the less active visitor.
The scenery, comprised of lakes and mountains in equal measure, is simply breathtaking, while the bustling towns of Ambleside, Keswick and Kendal provide less strenuous entertainment against a no less picturesque backdrop. The townspeople are old hands at catering for the hordes of tourists that visit each year and you'll find there's more going on than you might expect.
Stonehenge - Salisbury Plain
Of all the pre-Roman monuments that dot the British Isles, none is as famous as Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain. Erected in the Bronze Age, Stonehenge remains shrouded in mystery and mysticism. Was this a site of ancient and bloody human sacrifice, or of more peaceful Druidic ceremonies? Some believe visitors from outer space erected the edifice, for a purpose that will remain permanently alien to us. Many others connect the crop circles that regularly appear in the area's surrounding fields with the structure - others think these are merely a hoax.
For most visitors Stonehenge is only enhanced by the mysteries that surround its construction, and the stones remain an enigmatic reminder of the early Britons' ingenuity.
3km west of Amesbury, near Salisbury. Open: 09h00-19h00 (Jun-Aug); 09h30-16h00 (Oct-Mar); 09h30-18h00 (rest of the year). Admission: GBP5.50, adults; GBP2.80, children. Tel: +44 (0)1980-624715.
The Oxbridge Colleges
The two oldest universities in the English-speaking world, Oxford and Cambridge, are known and celebrated all over the globe. Each institution is made up of a number of separate colleges, some of which date back to the founding of the universities in the 13th century.
Many of England's and the world's finest minds were educated at one or other of the uiversities and both towns exude a heady air of history and importance. Many of the colleges are open to the public, and the mixture of careful preservation and continued use serves to give a wonderful flavour of the life in these most English of institutions.
In addition, the towns of Cambridge and Oxford themselves are very attractive, offering picturesque walks around the town centres, cosy old pubs and tea shops, and the opportunity to go "punting" along their respective rivers. Both are within easy reach of London.
Leeds Castle - Kent
In the heart of Kent and with its rolling lawns, silver lake and palatial architecture, Leeds Castle is probably the most photogenic of all Britain's castles and is certainly one of the best preserved. Listed in the Domesday book there has been a fortified structure here for the last 1,000 years, although the building as you see it today has been updated and renovated many times since. It has a fascinating history, having been home to Saxon princes, Norman overlords and British royalty.
Within the extensive 500-acre grounds there is an intriguing maze, an aviary and even a golf course. The park was first established in the Middle Ages, while the formal gardens that immediately surround the castle date back several centuries. An 18th-century survey reveals that they were here over Tudor times at least although the existing gardens were laid out in the 18th and 19th centuries when the castle was still a private residence.
Maidstone, Kent. In the peak months a complimentary ferry service runs from Bearsted train station to the castle. Grounds open at daily at 10h00. Admission: GBP13, adults; GBP9, children. Tel: +44 (0)162-276-5400.
Battle - Surrey
Everyone who's studied even the most sketchy English history will know the story of 1066 and the Battle of Hastings. With the death of Edward II the English throne was taken by his son Harold. After defeating a Scandinavian invasion in the North, Harold had to race back to London to face a Norman army led by William the Conqueror, who also laid claim to the throne. They met on a small hill near to Hastings, at what is now a town simply called Battle.
Although fierce, the clash was relatively small - despite the high stakes there were probably less than ten thousand fighting men all told. What makes the Battle of Hastings fascinating is that it changed the history of Britain and was recorded in the famous Bayeux Tapestry. Harold, of course, lost the day and his life, and William instituted the historically unique Domesday Book census.
Accompanied by an audio guide you can walk the field where the two armies met, learning the history behind the conflict and finding out about the arms, personnel and tactics employed by both sides on the day. You can also tour the ruined abbey that William was instructed to build to make amends for his bloody victory.
Battle near Hastings. Admission (to battle site and abbey including audio guide): GBP5, adults; GBP2.50, children. Open: 10h00-18h00 (Mar-Sep); 10h00-16h00 (Oct-Mar). Tel: +44 (0)1424-773-792.
York
The beautiful walled city of York is one of the oldest settlements in England and was once its capital. York is dripping in history, and if you are at all interested in England's heritage you can't afford not to pay a visit here. The Vikings, Romans and Normans all settled here, leaving their mark in buildings such as the splendid Minster, Northern Europe's largest Gothic church, which houses some of the most stunning stained glass windows in the country.
One of the best ways of seeing the city is by walking along the well-preserved city walls. Otherwise, wander through the winding cobbled streets of the "Shambles", an alleyway of medieval butchers' shops - in recent times the meat has been replaced by postcards and souvenirs. York has several museums worth visiting, the most famous being the Jorvik Centre, a recreation of a Viking town, but you should also make time to see the National Railway Museum and the York Castle Museum, with its social history exhibits.
See our York guide for more details of the city.
Bath
Bath was founded by the Romans on the site of natural hot springs that rise through the rock in this part of the West Country. The town was named Aquae Sulis in honour of the Roman goddess and the waters were popularly thought to have restorative qualities. Elaborate bathing facilities were erected to provide rest and relaxation for well-to-do Romans.
In the 18th century, when the upper middle classes of the British Empire started once again to take the waters here, the baths were easily restored and can still be seen today, with many characteristics of the Roman baths they once were. The images of these times, Bath's second period of fashionability, have been forever preserved in the novels of Jane Austen, which perfectly capture the follies of the upper class people who flocked here for the season from both town and country.
Bath remains a spectacularly beautiful town; the architecture, predominantly Georgian, is realised in buildings of golden sandstone. The history of the town dates back over two millennia to the time of the Romans and beyond.
Hadrian's Wall
All along England's Northern border with Scotland lies Hadrian's Wall, one of the Roman Empire's most ambitious projects. Designed to keep the troublesome Pict tribes from venturing south, the wall was erected under the orders of Emperor Hadrian in 122AD. When first built it spanned 73 miles across the country and was a consistent five metres in height.
Today much of the wall is little more than the footings of the original, however it remains a poignant place to visit, evocative of ancient times. There are various wall-related attractions in the locale, and naturally you can still see the ruins of the Roman watchtowers, forts and outpost settlements that formed the limit of the Empire's influence in Britain. The best place to get a feel for the wall as it was is at Vindolanda. Here part of the wall has been replicated to its formidable original dimensions. The nearby Roman Army Museum is on the Walltown Crags section of the wall itself, one of the best sites to see the original fortifications.
Both sites are on the A69, near to the town of Bardon Mill. Sites open: 10h00-16h00 (Feb-Nov; later in summer months). Admission: Vindolanda: GBP4.50, adults; GBP2.90, children. Roman Army Museum: GBP3.50, adults; GBP2.20, children. Combined ticket for both sites: GBP6.50, adults; GBP4.30, children. Tel: +44 (0)1434-344277 (Vindolanda).
Cornwall
The Southwest is widely considered to be the best beach destination in England, and being divided from the rest of the country by the vast bleak moors of Exmoor and Dartmoor, Cornwall is a place apart.
The region's isolation only enhances its beauty and the fact that it enjoys more sunshine than the rest of England makes it the perfect summer destination. Newquay on the north coast of the Cornish peninsula is popular with surfers and beachlovers alike. But Cornwall can also boast one of the oldest histories of any of the counties. Just east of the town is Tintagel and its castle - said to be the home of King Arthur - the legendary Camelot.
Head for the south coast for the distinctively Cornish fishing villages, some of which date back to centuries BC. Communities like Fowey sit in tiny bays that make development impossible, even if anyone desired to try. Consequently these isolated villages have remained unchanged for centuries. The area was once the home of smugglers as well as fishermen and there are many tales to be heard in the the quayside pubs that used to act as houses for the contraband.
Also on the south coast is the city of Penzance and beautiful St Michael's Mount, a former benedictine priory seperated from the mainland by a causeway, submerged at full tide. Further west is Land's End, the very tip of England from where there is nothing but the vast Atlantic ocean between you and America.
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury, east of London, is one of the nation's most venerated and oldest towns. The original settlement was much enlarged and maintained by the Romans, and was a city of some import.
What defines Canterbury today is its magnificent cathedral, the head of the Church of England and arguably the finest religious building in the country. There has been some sort of Christian religious site here for over 1400 years, since it was first established by St Augustine and it has been constantly added to over the centuries.
The most famous incident in the cathedral's history occurred in 1171. The then archbishop Thomas Becket had infuriated Henry II with continued opposition to the crown. Enraged, Henry asked who would rid him of "this turbulent priest" whereupon four knights, interpreting this as an order, rode to Canterbury and brutally murdered the archbishop in the north transept during vespers.
The cathedral today contains some of the finest stained glass windows found anywhere, as well as numerous shrines, memorials and tombs, including those of King Henry IV and Edward the Black Prince. The surviving cloisters and monastic buildings are some of the best-preserved in England, particularly the arcaded Great Cloister, which survived Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries.
