United Kingdom: Travel Information

England 

England, for a small area of land, is packed with so much variety that it takes time to discover the amazing and varied attractions the country has to offer. England can generally be divided into three regions, the South, the Midlands and the North each with its own characteristics and with deep historical and linguistic roots. These can be further divided into counties most of which also have long histories.  

England is probably best known for its ‘Royal” aspects which express themselves physically through the palaces and other residences of the royal family. This aspect is one of the biggest attraction for visitors. However, other very “English “ images come to mind such as idyllic villages, wild moorland, castles, country houses, cathedral spires, the ubiquitous inn or pub and crashing waves against imposing cliffs. Then there is the ‘Englishness” of the people (a vast subject on its own). All of the above is definitely to be found.  However, because the World comes to England and especially London, this has left its mark on the overall culture, cuisine and the citizens to add to the flavor of the country.

London, the capital city of both England and the United Kingdom, is a global capital of finance, fashion, entertainment and culture.  You will find the rest of England to be very different so bear in mind, if you only visit London, you haven’t “seen England”.  However, because distances are short, you can easily visit a number of iconic places such as Windsor, Oxford and Cambridge, Brighton and Stratford upon Avon plus many others. 

In London, the list of attractions is unending. There is Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and the many beautiful and serene parks all centrally located. One can attend concerts and performances at the many theatres and music venues.  The list of amazing museums and art galleries is endless. Then there is dining at your choice of restaurant, having a drink at a pub dating back hundreds of years and so much more. 

Outside of London, travelling northward is the Midlands. Perhaps, the name does not conjure up the charm of other regions in England but almost every metropolitan area has something historical or cultural to offer. An example of this is Georgian Stamford of which the author, George Elliot waxed lyrically. 

The North has its own distinct character, be it the people or the countryside. Industrial cities live side by side with the wildest and some o0f the most provocative countryside imaginable. Three areas that epitomize this are the Lake District with its pastoral charm, the Yorkshire Dales, home of the Bronte sisters and the North Yorkshire Moors, home of the renowned James Herriot stories.

Other significant places to include on your list are Devon and Cornwall with their rustic charm and beautiful coastlines and the nearby untamed National Parks of Dartmoor and Exmoor , the Cotswold’s, possibly representing  the very essence of the English countryside, the many cathedral cities which include Canterbury, York, Salisbury, Lincoln, Gloucester,  Ely, Winchester etc., the Spa towns such as Bath and Harrogate and the multitude of beach resorts which are dotted around the lengthy attractive coastline of England.

On the food front, traditional English dishes still exist such as bread and cheese (ploughman’s lunch), roasts, game pies and both fresh and seawater fish. Other meals, such as fish and chips, which were once urban street food eaten from newspaper with salt and malt vinegar, and pies and sausages with mashed potatoes, onions, and gravy, are now matched in popularity by curries from the Indian subcontinent, and stir-fries based on Chinese and Thai cuisines. French cuisine and Italian cuisine are also now widely adopted. 

Whatever your interests, England will offer it to you. These could include energetic pastimes such as hiking or walking to cultural pursuits such as the theatre, museums, art galleries and historical sites. Indeed a great variety of reasons to travel to England.

United Kingdom Travel Information

At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy to navigate travel information section dedicated to United Kingdom.

Learn about the history and culture of United Kingdom, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about United Kingdom's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips, as well as our visa and health information will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering United Kingdom for yourself. Start exploring… book one of our United Kingdom tours today!