When tourists are asked to visualize the country, they will probably mention iconic red phone booths, the giant observation wheel on the Thames, and the King's official residence. However, move twenty miles outward from central London, and you will discover a completely different version of the country. England is a nation, not a single urban hub; think of gently sloping green elevations, collapsing medieval keeps, Devon-style cream offerings, and shorelines whose beauty has been sung by bards since the Romantic era. In-depth information on avoiding entertainment scams in the UK can be found at the online resource.
The Cotswolds. This is the England of postcards: houses built from warm golden limestone, entryways draped in climbing roses, and charming settlements bearing monikers such as Castle Combe and the Venice of the Cotswolds. The optimal method of discovery involves renting a car or walking the designated footpath known as the Cotswold Way. Do not miss the opportunity to indulge in scones with two essential toppings clotted cream (from Devon or Cornwall) and strawberry jam, but be forewarned: if you choose a side in the jam-or-cream-first argument, someone from the opposite county will correct you.
Brighton & The Seven Sisters. A short sixty-minute journey from central London, Brighton delivers an offbeat vacation by the ocean. Amble across the classic seaside pier built during Queen Victoria's reign, dine on golden-fried fish and chunky potato wedges, presented in a paper wrapping, and visit the eccentric Royal Pavilion, a building that seems to have been transported directly from the Indian subcontinent. Heading east for a short while brings you face to face with the magnificent Seven Sisters spectacular vertical faces of white calcium carbonate that ascend straight out of the English Channel. Traverse the ridge on foot to witness panoramas that will literally catch the words in your throat.
The Lake District. Honored by UNESCO and beloved by generations as the place where England goes to play outside. This is where William Wordsworth wandered "lonely as a cloud".
Ascend the summit of Scafell Pike, which rises higher than any other English mountain, glide over Windermere's famous waters, which stretch for nearly eleven miles, or for a less active approach, plant yourself in a traditional watering hole, nurse a locally crafted ale, and let the famously frequent rain do its work on the moors and mountains. Should you have a passion for all things medieval, the city of York is simply not optional. Walk the city walls, wander without direction through the Shambles, a famously tight medieval lane that provided direct visual inspiration for Harry Potter's Diagon Alley, and enter the glorious York Minster, a building that took over 250 years to complete and remains one of northern Europe's supreme ecclesiastical achievements.
Those who enjoy being frightened should consider an evening devoted to ghost stories and haunted locations. York claims to be the most haunted city in Europe. Lying just a short drive from both Manchester and Sheffield, the the national park showcases rugged open moors, gleaming reservoirs, and idyllic villages do not miss Bakewell, the spiritual home of the Bakewell pudding (different from the Bakewell tart). If your perfect weekend involves walks across open country followed by plates of sandwiches, pies, and ale, then this is your destination.
Cornwall, at the southwestern finger of the nation, carries the atmosphere of a distinct kingdom. Here you find harsh, dramatic cliffs plunging into the sea, water that sparkles in jewel-like shades of turquoise, and the surfing hub of Newquay, where Atlantic swells roll in consistently. Explore St. Ives, whose narrow streets lead to both world-class modern art and lobster, crab, and mackerel pulled from the bay that morning, explore the open-air Minack Theatre carved into a cliffside, and try to find evidence of Camelot's most famous king among the ruins of Tintagel Castle, which clings to a headland on Cornwall's north coast.
The county also gave the world the Cornish pasty a D-shaped baked crust packed with a savory mixture of meat, potatoes, and the root vegetable swede. Use your fingers; the pasty's rolled edge is intentionally made to keep your hands clean while you hold it.
