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A country rich in historic charm

Whether you’re an avid history fan, a keen hiker or just love dining at the hottest new restaurants, England holidays are sure to please. As England is a small country, it’s easy to travel around and reach all of its quirky corners. If you love the great outdoors, holidays to England will astound you. You could spend days hiking in the picturesque Lake District, exploring ancient woodland or rambling along the coast – the country is home to one of Europe’s longest coastlines, after all.

As a result, beach lovers are spoilt for choice in England – you can choose from wild and remote stretches of sand to cool little surf spots and colourful seaside towns. When it comes to history, England has 5,000 years’ worth to take in, meaning prehistoric stones, Roman baths, medieval cathedrals and crumbling castles are just waiting to be discovered. There are urban adventures to be had, too. England is crammed with fantastic museums and art galleries, with many of them free to enter.

There are plenty of shops, from upscale department stores to independent boutiques, that show off the work of up-and-coming designers. Then of course there’s the food – from Michelin-starred tasting menus to traditional pub grub, eating and drinking in England is always exciting. For an irresistible mix of history, wild landscapes and contemporary cool, holidays to England have it covered.

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Your England questions, answered

The climate varies from north to south, but during the summer there are plenty of warm days. The weather is famously changeable, so do bring an umbrella.
You won’t be disappointed if you fancy fish and chips and a cup of tea, but England is also home to some of the world’s most innovative new restaurants.
It's always a good time to visit England. The weather is changeable and definitely cooler in the north, but you'll want to go beach bathing in July or August. February to April are the best months for seeing spring flowers and woodlands and you can attend London's Chelsea Flower Show in May. June and July are good for visiting the country's many historic houses and gardens and, in late September and October, you can see the leaves turning and collect conkers. November and December can be cold and wet but are good for Bonfire Night fireworks, shopping and Christmas lights.
Cool cocktail bars, top-notch DJs, country pubs – England has it all. Manchester, in the northwest, has a reputation for some of the best nights out in Europe.
England is an island, so you're never far from a beach. You can choose whether you want to enjoy the fun in northern resort towns like Blackpool, Whitby or Scarborough, or catch some southern rays at Brighton or Worthing. Devon and Cornwall are renowned for their seaside resorts, where you'll find rocky fishing villages, sandy coves and famous surfing beaches like Newquay. The flat expanses in Essex and Suffolk meet sand dunes in Norfolk. In Kent, you'll choose from many seaside resorts around the south-east, including Whitstable, Eastbourne and Brighton, before reaching Weymouth and Bournemouth on Dorset's Jurassic Coast.
Yes, definitely, unless you plan to spend all your time in London. If you choose a city break, then public transport is your best bet. But, to get out in the countryside, a car is essential. Train and bus services are good for long journeys, but you'll need a car for pottering around or reaching trailheads for walking. You'll drive to stately homes, gardens and public monuments and, if you're staying in a remote cottage, you may well be driving to the pub for dinner. The more you want to see, the more you'll need a car to get there.
This depends entirely on what your plans are. If you want to see the Lake District and northern English castles like Alnwick, then you should fly to a northern airport. It'll take you a couple of hours to drive to the Lakes from Newcastle, and maybe half an hour less from Manchester or Liverpool. For London, you have a choice of Luton, Stansted or Gatwick, while Birmingham is central for the Midlands and destinations like Stratford-Upon-Avon. Head to Bournemouth for south coast walks and beaches, or Bristol for the beaches, moors and the cream teas of Devon and Cornwall,
Families love England, whether it's seaside holidays, adventure parks or castles. You'll find lots for children to do around the Lake District, from walking to climbing, boating, kayaking and archery. On the Jurassic Coast at Lyme Regis, your kids can search for fossils, picnic and swim, or visit the fossil museum. The country is full of theme parks like Alton Towers or Legoland while, at established resorts like Blackpool or Margate, you'll enjoy the roller coaster or a scenic railway. In London, you'll want to see the Tower and the Crown Jewels and get interactive in the Natural History Museum.
Some of England's unique attractions include Stonehenge and the Roman baths and Pump House at Bath. Theatre lovers will want to see a Shakespeare play at Stratford-upon-Avon, or visit the Minack clifftop amphitheatre in Cornwall. In London, you can't miss Buckingham Palace or the Tower and, in Oxford or Cambridge, you can punt along the river and admire the college architecture. You'll see a Viking village in York, as well as its famous Minster, and find the Brontes out on the moors. You can climb England's highest mountain in the Lake District to see some of the country's best scenery.