Welcome to England
This green and pleasant land, this sceptred isle, this crucible of empire and pioneer of parliamentary democracy: England is eccentric, exhilarating and endlessly intriguing.
Lyrical Landscapes
It might be small, but England packs a lot of scenery into its pint-sized shores: green fields and rumpled hills, chalk cliffs and breezy plains, ancient woods and moody moorland. There are 10 national parks, 34 Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) and miles of craggy, beach-fringed coastline – 2795 miles, in fact, making England’s coast one of Europe’s longest, and the only one to have a public coast path the whole way round. Whether you’re tramping over the South Downs or wandering above Dover’s fabled White Cliffs, England is a never-ending feast for the eyes.
Living History
With a story that stretches back more than 5000 years, England is a place where the past is a constant presence. Ruined castles perch on lonely hilltops. Mysterious menhirs, barrow tombs and stone circles sit in the corner of forgotten fields. Medieval cathedrals, regal palaces and ostentatious stately homes pop up with bewildering regularity. And every English city, town and village has its own tale to tell: a sprawling, historical epic of kings and commoners, industrialists and inventors, dreamers and rebels that’s as fascinating as anything Shakespeare, Dickens or JK Rowling could dream up.
Urban Experiences
From York’s cobbled streets to Oxford’s dreaming spires, from Bristol’s Floating Harbour to the Liverpool Docks, England’s cities are main attractions. London, of course, is the trump card: a trendsetter, history-maker and game changer for more than a thousand years, encompassing everything from royal residences to world-class museums, landmark theatres and vast urban parks. But there’s a varied urban landscape to explore outside London, too: delving into Manchester’s pulsing music scene, visiting Newcastle’s innovative art galleries, admiring Bath’s glittering Georgian architecture or browsing for bargains along Brighton’s quirky shopping streets.
Easy Does It
Travel here is a breeze. Granted, it may not be totally effortless, but it’s easy compared with many parts of the world. And although the locals may grumble, public transport is very good, and a train ride through the English landscape can be a highlight in itself. But whichever way you get around, in this compact country you’re never far from the next town, the next pub, the next restaurant, the next national park or the next impressive castle on your hit list of highlights. The choice is endless.
Why I Love England
By Oliver Berry, Writer
I’ve travelled all round the world, but England is where I’m from, and I always find myself being drawn back home. I’ve hiked, biked and road-tripped the nation, from the tip of Cornwall to the coast of Northumberland, and it’s the landscapes that make it special: its topography of craggy cliffs, green meadows, rolling hills, rural valleys and wild moors, all stitched together by miles of drystone walls, hedgerows and footpaths. And, wherever you wander, you can always be sure of one thing – a village pub is never too far away. Now that’s my kind of country.
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