When most people think of England, they immediately think London – but there’s so much more to this United Kingdom country than its famous capital city.
England is home to wild and rugged landscapes in the north and bucolic countryside and stunning beaches in the south. You’ll find cool, emerging cities like Liverpool and Brighton, along with history-packed towns like Oxford and Bath.
This little country is also home to a lot of culture. From Shakespeare to The Beatles to fish and chips, England has provided the world with great literature, music, food, and more.
England quick facts
- Population: 56 million
- Language: English
- Currency: Pound sterling (GBP)
- Capital city: London
- Country size: Roughly 50,000 square miles
- High season: Summer (especially July and August)
Top 10 things to do in England
- Do all the touristy things in London
- Get to know Harry Potter’s London
- Admire the beauty of the English countryside in the Cotswolds
- Explore the university towns of Oxford and Cambridge
- Visit the beautiful York Minster in historic York
- Walk across England following the ancient path of Hadrian’s Wall
- Visit the mysterious monuments at Stonehenge
- Explore some of England’s lesser known cities like Liverpool or Hull
- Attend the International Balloon Fiesta in Bristol
- Hit the beach on England’s beautiful Cornwall coast
Getting around
England is a relatively small country, which makes getting around very easy.
Within London, you can easily get around via public transportation: London’s Underground and the city’s iconic red double-decker buses will get you anywhere you need to go. Other cities have robust public transportation options as well.
Trains and buses connect most major cities and towns in England, and buses are the more cost-effective options of the two.
If you want to explore more rural areas like the Lake District or the Cotswolds, renting a car will be your best bet. Keep in mind that drivers in England use the left side of the road! (Search for rental cars here.)
I was very disappointed to read that your visit to the UK encompassed England, Scotland and Ireland (although Ireland is not politically part of the UK) but that you missed out on visiting Wales – the location of Snowdonia National Park (home to the highest mountain in England and Wales), the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and the rugged Brecon Beacons National Park where the world famous S.A.S. do their training.When you include the beautiful cities of Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and Newport, Dylan Thomas’s writing perch at Laugharne, the Preseli Mountains from whence came the Bluestones of Stonehenge, the Gower, the immense and numerous castles, the immaculate beaches and a culture full of song, poetry and the glorious language that is Welsh (the OLDEST continuously spoken language in Europe!) a visit to the UK without the Wales experience is an opportunity lost for understanding art, history and heritage.
Not to fear, Jerry! I’m young and will surely be making many more trips to the UK – Wales is certainly on my list, since my last name is actually Welsh!