This green land and pioneer of parliamentary democracy, is one of the most eccentric and intriguing places on Earth. It owes that to an unrivalled cultural mix of peoples and influences from all across the world, from the Vikings, through the Romans, the Normans, Afro-Caribbeans, Indians, Europeans and the New World.
From Hadrian's Wall to the theatres of London, England is full of astounding variety, from the tempting city shops and restaurants, to some of the finest museums in the world. After dark, the clubs, performing arts and formidable live music provide a string of nights to remember. Next day, you could be somewhere deep in the English countryside or enjoying a classic seaside resort. There really is something for everyone, whether you're eight or 80, going solo, or travelling with your friends, your kids or your grandma.
Time Travel
A journey through England is a journey through history that you can feel and re-live. You can lay your hands on the ancient megaliths of a 5000-year-old stone circle, or walk the battlements of a medieval fortress – just as they were patrolled by chain-mail-clad defenders many centuries ago. You can visit the sites of the legend of King Arthur, the sonnets of Shakespeare and the palaces of monarchs, past and present and then get right up to date admiring 21st-century architecture in London or Manchester, or exploring the space-age domes of Cornwall's Eden Project.
We speak English!
While England has developed a culture and tradition that may appear complex, much of it will be generally familiar to many visitors, thanks to the huge back-catalogue of British pop music, films and TV programmes that have been exported around the world. The same applies when it comes to communication – this is, after all, the home turf of the English language. For many visitors this means there’s no need to carry a phrasebook, although you might get a little confused by local accents in places such as Devon or Liverpool.
Travel here is - mostly - a breeze
It may not be totally effortless, but travel around England is relatively easy compared with many parts of the world. Public transport is generally good, and a train ride through the English landscape can be a highlight in itself. Whichever way you get around, in this compact country you're never far from the next town, pub, restaurant, national park or castle on your hit list. Here are just a few to choose from:
Stonehenge
An ultramodern makeover at ancient Stonehenge has created an excellent visitor centre and restored an intrusive road to grassland. The result is a much stronger sense of historical context, with dignity and mystery returned to this archaeological gem.
The massive stones are framed by a pathway and, although you can't walk in the circle, unless on a recommended Stone Circle Access Visit, you can get close-up views. Admission is through timed tickets – secure your place well in advance.
There are many theories about the purpose of Stonehenge and it’s generally thought to be a place of worship or contemplation. It could have been used to mark the cycle of the year and to worship the Sun. Nobody knows for sure. The first phase of building started around 3000 BC, when the outer circular bank and ditch were erected. A thousand years later, an inner circle of granite stones, dragged 250 miles from Wales, known as bluestones, was added.
Around 1500 BC, Stonehenge's main stones were dragged to the site, erected in a circle and crowned by massive lintels to make the trilithons. The sarsen (sandstone) stones were cut from an extremely hard rock found on the Marlborough Downs, 20 miles from the site.
Prehistoric pilgrims would have entered the site via the Avenue, whose entrance to the circle is marked by the Slaughter Stone and the Heel Stone, located slightly further out on one side.
Plans for a road tunnel beneath Stonehenge look likely to go ahead. The proposed tunnel should reduce traffic around the site, although some commentators fear it could damage other, as yet undiscovered, monuments in the area.
Admission to the site is free for English Heritage and National Trust members.
Oxford
One of the world’s most famous university cities, Oxford is a beautiful place, steeped in history. Against the backdrop of its wonderful ancient architecture, Oxford still maintains the feel of a young city, thanks to its large student population. The elegant buildings of the university’s colleges, scattered throughout the city, frame tranquil courtyards along narrow cobbled lanes. Inside their grounds, you’ll experience a purposeful, studious calm - most of the time. Oxford is a great place to wander: the oldest colleges date back to the 13th century, and little has changed inside their hallowed walls since. Of course, along with the rich history, tradition and energetic academic life, outside those walls there’s a busy, lively world, where the city’s non-university majority outnumber the academic elite.
The Lake District
The Lake District is by far the UK's most popular national park. Every year, some 15 million people come to explore the region's fells and countryside. It's not hard to see why. Ever since the Romantic poets arrived in the 19th century, its postcard panorama of craggy hilltops, mountain tarns and glittering lakes has been stirring the imaginations of visitors. There are outdoor opportunities galore, from lake cruises to mountain walks, but many people visit for the region's literary connections: among the many writers who found inspiration here are William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Arthur Ransome and, of course, Beatrix Potter, a lifelong lover of the Lakes, whose 150th birthday was celebrated across the national park in 2016.
Title Image Credit: Gary Ullah (Image Cropped)