A lot of people think of England as being the land of bad teeth, bad food and bad weather, but also spectacular views, a rich history and a mixture of many cultures. Despite the stereotypes, England is not all bad teeth, food and weather – in fact England has a mixed pot of the best foods from around the world and only has around 100 days of rainfall a year, not too bad! But it is true that it has an amazing countryside, richly cultured cities and areas where history can be seen dating back thousands of years.
- Lake WindermereEnnor / Water Photos / CC BY-NC-SA
If you’re planning a trip in England, you’ll want to base yourself somewhere fairly central in order to be able to explore the country as much as possible. It’s also recommended to hire a car from somewhere like Sixt in order to be able to reach all the places you’d like to see as the countryside doesn’t have the best public transport.
The Lake District is one place that attracts tourists year in year out from all around the world. Not only does it offer some beautiful scenery, it is the place to go for anyone who loves the outdoors. As the name suggests, there are hundreds of lakes, from the big such as Lake Windermere where you can hire a boat and row out to the middle, to the smaller ‘tarns’ that you can walk around in less than an hour. The area is also renowned for its numerous cafes and tearooms, so make sure to stop in for a traditional afternoon tea, but don’t expect it to be as prim and proper as what you’d find in a fancy hotel in London – it is the countryside after all and you’re bound to find most eateries filled with hikers in muddy boots! The most popular activities to take part in in this area are hiking, rock climbing and biking, so if you love the outdoors, this is the place for you.
England is one of the more historic countries of the world, with a huge number of historic sites, dating from recent years to ancient times, very well preserved. If you’re a fan of history, make sure to check out some of the Roman archaeological sites scattered around the country. Head to the north to take a walk along the crumbling Hadrian’s Wall, or if you’re staying further down south, Bath is a wonderful place to explore, with its original Roman bathing rooms as well as gorgeous architecture from the Victorian times. York is celebrated as being the capital of Roman Britain in the north and is packed with ruins, particularly in the Museum Gardens.
Some of the best shopping in the world can be found in England, which has some of the best high street shops in Europe. The best way to see these is to get out to smaller cities where prices will be lower, but you still have a fantastic range. Many people love to explore the numerous charity and vintage shops that also dot the high streets of many towns where they find unique and sometimes designer pieces at a fraction of the price you’d usually pay.
