One of the great things about visiting England is that you can enjoy all the sophistication of a large city like London, but still get out into the countryside relatively quickly and inexpensively.

Even more fascinating is the wealth of historical towns and villages, and still more fascinating is the breadth of their history, from Roman and Medieval times, to Renaissance, Georgian, Regency, and Victorian.

One Hundred & One Beautiful Towns in Great Britain (101 Beautiful Small Towns) is a wonderful book which captures some of the most picturesque towns in the UK, and comes complete with a full appendix on essentials you need to know before you go. It also covers Scotland and Wales, not just England, giving you a taste of the more exotic Celtic locales.

So whether you are an armchair traveler and just want to look at the gorgeous pictures, or you can’t wait to go, this is a great coffee table book and trip planner.

Know before you go:
The great thing about England is that many of these places are accessible by train or public bus, or rental car if you prefer totally independent travel. Just be prepared to pay even more at the pump than we do here.
As for the weather, yes, it does rain a fair bit, especially in the north, but if you dress in layers and have an umbrella handy, you should be fine.
The exchange rate has not been good for some time, so you will find it expensive, but it is a unique blend of ancient and modern, and museums are second to none.
As for food, you can find almost any cuisine in the larger cities, but Indian food is particularly popular. And you can pretty much always get a decent meal in a pub (pub grub) no matter what part of the country you are in, especially Sunday luncheon.
Accommodation ranges in price from 5 star to youth hostels and camping. Bed and breakfast is a good way to see the country without being tied down and you can go into any tourist board office to book a bed ahead. Be careful during the summer holiday season, especially in the more popular tourist towns like on the south coast and York and Cheshire. Also beware of half term holidays.
Another great solution is a cottage holiday, renting a flat or cottage for a week or two, which saves money and allows you to self-cater at least a few of your meals. This is especially handy if you have children. You can use the cottage as a base of operations to tour around. Just be aware that while the distance might be short on the map, you are not traveling on big American style highways for the most part.
We stayed in many different cottages on our frequent trips to England, and every single one of them was lovely, with an interesting history.
A holiday in England is your chance to experience the vitality of a modern nation with a prestigious past. Evidence of history is everywhere you look!
Many English traditions continue to this day, and all of this is waiting to be discovered on your trip to England.
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THE LAKE DISTRICT
On the way up to Hadrian’s wall, the vibrant Lake District is the most picturesque of England’s national parks. Covered with tranquil lakes and low mountains, the natural beauty of the Lake District attracts thousands of visitors every year. You can view Beatrix Potter’s cottage here.
The lakes are an ednless source of entertainment, but you can also horseback ride, hike, take a rural train through the Pennines, and sample the local fare, all of it deliciously fresh. It can get crowded in the summer at at Bank holidays and half terms, so check your dates before you go.
THE YORKSHIRE MOORS
Haworth, North Yorkshire is associated with the Bronte Sisters, and you can see the wuthering heights of Penniston Crag for yourself. It is very windswept and unspoilt, and you need to be hearty indeed to brave some of the nature walks in this area.
THE BORDERS
The western border town is the picturesqe one of Carlisle and to the east, Newcastle. Close by is the dramatic cathedral city of Durham in the north, surrounded by water on three sides. The Venerable Bede’s tomb is here and dates from the 9th century. The castle is quite lovely as well.
Heading towards the coast are Bamburgh Castle, another fine castle in good repair, and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where the famous illuminated manuscript was created. The great monastery is only accessible at certain times of the day and tidal conditions.

THE NORTH-EAST
Heading still further north is the impressive city of Lincoln, which has an incredible Christmas fair in the castle and cathedral grounds every December, and some remarkably steep streets and battlements not for the faint hearted.

Not far away from Nottingham is the famous Sherwood Forest, associated with Robin hood. It has some of the oldest trees in England there, as well as many species of birds, butterflies and insects.
Still further north is the largest cathedral in Europe is the Gothic masterpiece York Minster. The ancient city of York regards itself as the capital of northern England, and there is much to see and do here, and the food is fantastic.
A stroll along the ancient city walls is highly recommended. From here you can gain an idea of the fortress fortifications made all those years ago. Some of the castle is still standing, and is well worth a visit.
Also remarkable are the Shambles, the remains of the medieval part of the town, and quite a few relics of the time when it was a Roman settlement.
THE NORTH WEST
Chester, to the west, is very similar, except that the town is Regency in character, not medieval. The Roman ruins and museum in this area, and leading up to the historic border between England and Scotland, Hadrian’s Wall, is fantastic if you love Roman mosaics and artefacts.
Manchester, north of it, is a 19th century city which was the hub of the industrial revolution, and is a gateway to many other parts of the country, as is the midland town of Birmingham.

THE MIDLANDS
Taking London as our reference point once more, Oxford and Cambridge are the two most important university towns in the country.
Oxford is northwest, toward the midlands of the country, while Cambridge is north and slightly east, in the very flat East Anglian countryside. Both college towns are steeped with tradition, history and impressive buildings.
Not far from Oxford is Stratford on Avon. If you did not manage to get to the theatre when you were in London, now is your chance. The Shakespeare combined ticket that allows you to view all the National Trust properties is well worth it.
Not far from here is Warwick castle, one of the best preserved in all of England and reputed to be haunted. If you love a moat, you will adore Warwick.
Heading into Derbshire is Matlock Spa and Chatsworth, and the Peak District. The Spa dates from the Victorian times, and Chatsworth was the model for Pemberley in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. The Peak district is one of those little pockets of perfection, unspoilt countryside ideal for the hiker.
There is also Tissington Village, not quite a model village like Milton Abbas in Dorset, but one in which everyone works communally and you need to apply to the lord of the area for permission for any changes in the district.
As the name suggests, there are wonderful peaks to climb, including one called the Devil’s Arse, two granite buttocks. It is one of the most unspoilt areas in an already remarkably rural yet sophisticated country.
The freshness of the food is also well worth visiting for.

WEST OF LONDON
Much more ancient is prehistoric Stonehenge, near Salisbury and the Regency town of Bath. Stonehenge is a giant circle of huge stones which dates back at least 5000 years. Marvel and wonder at this overwhelming sight, then decide on your answer to the eternal question: how did they build it? Some of the stones come from a special quarry in Wales over 150 miles away.
Bath is a remarkable Regency town which you will probably recognize from many BBC costume dramas. It has been immortalized in the works of Jane Austen, just as Dorset has been in the works of Thomas Hardy, and Cornwall in the Poldark novels of Winston Graham. Fans of any of these novelists will be delighted to learn that little of the countryside has changed.
Lyme Regis, south of the Bath, is a charming seaside town made famous in the novel Persuasion, and revisited in the French Lieutenant’s Woman. The undercliff is spectacular and has the most fascinating Jurrasic fossils.
Glastonbury is a remarkable town with an incredibly well preserved Abbey and tower atop its imposing hill, known as Glastonbury Tor. It has many associations with King Arthur, and is said to be one of the most haunted towns in England. It has also become a center for new age culture due to the legends, and is quite remarkable for such a small rural hamlet in somerset.
Just north of it travelling back towards Bristol and Bath is the cathedral town of Wells, very old, with a charming museum and regular farmer’s market. Not far away is the famous town of Cheddar, so if you are a cheese lover, you won’t want to miss it. If you are inclined to hike, there is the spectacular Cheddar Gorge.
Traveling still further along the welsh border is the lovely cathedral town of Worcester (pronounced WOOSter) and Ludlow, with its impressive castle. Still north again is Liverpool, once a bustling seaport, now mainly famous for its associations with the Beatles.

SOUTH EAST OF LONDON
But if you do decide you want to venture out of the city, why not head to the suburb of Greenwich, famous for the maritime museum, and the Royal Observatory founded by Charles II in the latter part of the 17th century. The building and parks are completely unique, and yet are less than an hour’s ride on the bus from the British museum, or about 30 minutes on the train. The Cutty Sark is there as well, one of the last of the great Clipper ships which traded between England and India in the 19th century.
SOUTH SOUTH EAST OF LONDON
Another atmospheric experience not too far from London is a visit to historic Canterbury Cathedral, which is more than 800 years old and a national treasure. Many of the towns in the area have an association with Charles Dickens.
Continuing on in this direction, you will get to the white cliffs of Dover, also the port city for ferries to the continent.
SOUTH OF LONDON
Heading straight south from London is the seaside town of Brighton, a fascinating Regency (late 18th and early 19th century) town with the wonderful and ccenttric Royal Palace known as the Royal Pavillion. The pier that stretches out into the English channel about a mile is full of entertainment, food, and amusement park rides, and gives you and idea of a typical day at the English seaside.
SOUTH WEST OF LONDON
Going west are the cathedral towns of Winchester and Salisbury. Going south west is the remarkable Arundel castle, and the town of Portsmouth, home to the Vicoty, Nelson’s ship which helped him win the Battle of Trafalgar, in which he was killed.
Over the water is the Isle of Wight, extremely quaint, with a wonderful Civil War manor, Areton, and a pub which boasts over 500 different whiskeys.

An trip to England is your chance to discover the unique blend of the historic and traditional as well as the ultramodern that England has to offer. Going out of the capital of London, you can also experience quiet villages, picturesque countryside, and traditional English teas.

LONDON
The huge capital city of London is home to many world-famous landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, the home of the British Royal Family.
The ornate neo-Gothic architecture of the Houses of Parliament, and the spiritual presence surrounding Westminster Abbey, St Martin’s in the Fields, and St. Paul’s Cathedral are unforgettable.
In addition, the museums and galleries are second to none. Many of the collections specialize as well, so for example, the Army Museum near the banks of the River Thames is a must see for history buffs, just as the National Gallery is for art lovers.
And just around the corner from it is the National Portrait Gallery, not as well know, but with exquisite paintings dating back to the famous portrait of Richard III painted before his death in 1485, and ranging up to and past the famous portraits of Lady Diana, the Princess of Wales.
Just across the street is the Academy of St Martin’s in the Fields, which has a very inexpensive open air market, and the most fabulous crypt underneath, where you can do the very British brass rubbing, and have a fantastic lunch. All the proceeded go to support the homeless in the area. And more often than not, there are free concerts in the Church by the world-renowned performers there, well worth listening to.
Then there is the Tower of London, and the Soane Museum, as well as the British Museum. Any one of these attractions would take several days to go through to see everything. As a famous writer once said, if you’re tired ot London, you’re tired of life.

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