VERDICT: WE GAVE 5 OUT OF 5 TICKETS AND HERE’S WHY!
This guide forms part of our complete United Kingdom Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across the UK.
This article is part of our English Counties Travel Guide. We’ve explored some of England’s most popular counties and regions, from Cornwall and coastal Dorset to Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, Merseyside and Greater London. Along the way, we’ve discovered historic cities, royal landmarks, spectacular coastlines and unforgettable road trips.
Explore our firsthand county travel guides to help plan a better, more informed English vacation.
Top places by county to visit:
- Cornwall – St Mawes
- Dorset – Lulworth Cove
- Hampshire – Portsmouth
- Somerset – Bath
- Wiltshire – Stonehenge
- Merseyside – Liverpool
- Berkshire – Windsor Castle
- Greater London – Westminster Abbey
Royal Landmarks, Ancient History and Unforgettable British Road Trips
Our travels have focused mainly on London and southern England, where every return feels both familiar and full of discovery.
England packs an extraordinary amount of history, culture and scenery into a relatively small country. In London, we’ve explored Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, London Eye , British Museum, Churchill War Rooms and the River Thames, alongside more modern attractions including the Frameless and the O2.
Beyond the capital, our travels have taken us through some of southern England’s most historic landscapes. From our base in Bath, we’ve visited the Roman Baths, Royal Crescent and the Circus, as well as Stonehenge, Avebury and Salisbury Cathedral. We’ve travelled the spectacular jurassic coastline around Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove and headed south to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, where we boarded HMS Victory, Admiral Nelson’s legendary flagship.
Further west, our road trips have taken us deep into Cornwall, exploring Land’s End, Penzance, Mousehole, St Michael’s Mount, Falmouth, Newquay and St Mawes, along with the atmospheric Bodmin Jail and a drive across Dartmoor.
We’ve also visited Oxford, Liverpool, Bradford on Avon and Windsor Castle, discovering everything from ancient universities and magnificent cathedrals to castles, harbours, beaches and centuries of British history.
England remains especially meaningful to us because my husband was born in England and family brings us back regularly. These are places we know through repeated visits, road trips and days spent exploring, not simply destinations we’ve passed through.
Our firsthand England travel guides bring those experiences together, helping you discover London, southern England and beyond, plan memorable day trips and build your own English road trip with confidence.
England is a blend of iconic cities, rolling countryside, dramatic coastlines, and centuries of history stitched into every village and street. From London’s world-famous landmarks to the charm of the Cotswolds, the beaches of Cornwall, and heritage cities like Bath and Wells, England offers travellers a rich mix of culture, scenery, and storytelling. Our England guides highlight the best places to visit, scenic drives, food experiences, hidden gems, and practical travel tips to help you plan a journey that captures the country’s character, diversity, and incredible history.
TOP TEN CASTLES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Visit the Top 10 Castles in the UK
Windsor Castle – The world’s oldest occupied castle and a working royal residence just outside London.
Edinburgh Castle – Scotland’s most important fortress, dominating the capital skyline.
Caernarfon Castle – A UNESCO-listed symbol of English power in medieval Wales.
Tower of London — Crown Jewels, executions, and 1,000 years of royal intrigue.
Stirling Castle — Central to Scotland’s wars of independence and royal history.
Warwick Castle — A dramatic medieval stronghold with immersive visitor experiences.
Alnwick Castle — Famous for film locations and grand interiors.
Dover Castle — England’s frontline fortress overlooking the English Channel.
Bamburgh Castle — A stunning clifftop castle facing the North Sea.
TOP TEN CATHEDRALS AND ABBEYS
Westminster Abbey — Coronations, royal burials, and British history in stone.
Canterbury Cathedral — The spiritual heart of the Church of England.
St Paul’s Cathedral — Iconic dome and panoramic city views.
York Minster — One of Europe’s greatest Gothic cathedrals.
Durham Cathedral — A Romanesque masterpiece overlooking the River Wear.
Bath Abbey — Site of England’s first coronation and Georgian centrepiece.
Lincoln Cathedral — Once the tallest building in the world.
Salisbury Cathedral — Home to the Magna Carta and England’s tallest spire.
Winchester Cathedral — Burial place of kings and Jane Austen.
St Giles’ Cathedral — Central to Scotland’s religious history.
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Featured Road Trips:
Favourite Destinations:
WINDSOR CASTLE: Explore Britain’s oldest occupied castle, royal apartments, St George’s Chapel and magnificent grounds.
ST MAWES, CORNWALL: Discover Cornwall’s picturesque harbour, coastal walks, sandy beaches and historic St Mawes Castle.
ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL: Climb the iconic dome, explore historic galleries and admire London’s sweeping skyline views.
STONEHENGE: Walk among ancient stones, uncover prehistoric mysteries and explore the surrounding Wiltshire landscape.
HISTORIC HARBOUR PORTSMOUTH (Video): Explore warships, naval museums & uncover Britain’s remarkable maritime history.
LACOCK (Video): Explore medieval Lacock Abbey, charming village streets and famous Harry Potter filming locations.
BRANKSOME CHINE: Relax on golden sands, follow wooded trails and enjoy beautiful Dorset coastal views.
Best Experiences:
ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS(Video): Recreate the Beatles’ famous crossing and visit the legendary Abbey Road Studios exterior.
SCALING O2 (Video): Scale London’s O2 rooftop for panoramic city views and an unforgettable urban climbing adventure.
HOP ON HOP OFF BUS: See London’s greatest landmarks aboard an iconic open-top double-decker sightseeing bus tour adventure.
LONDON THEATRES: Experience world-class West End musicals, landmark theatres and unforgettable live performances in London.
TOWER OF LONDON: Explore the Crown Jewels, meet resident ravens and uncover centuries of royal intrigue.
MORE EXPERIENCES
Explore these places in England
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- 🚗 Rental cars
- 🎟️ Top-rated tours & attractions
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- 🎒 Travel gear from The Venturio
With every trip, we offer feedback to travel companies along with honest views for you, the reader. We rate adventures on a scale of one to five tickets, judged on quality, service, memorability, and price. A perfect ‘Ticket Rating’ of a five-ticket score means the experience was flawless and we’d eagerly return. Your desire to go back is the ultimate measure of a trip’s worth. Exclusive to My Return Ticket.
