England for foreign visitors
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*All work including photos and writing on this page is my own, except the link to the Tourism video, freely available on Youtube.
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There is so much to see and do in England, you will need at least a week even to just skim through a few cities. Don't forget the countryside too, this is the real England! The weather, well it doesn't rain every day, but the weather is unpredictable so have a rain jacket on hand just in case. The summer is usually warm from May - September, in the low 20's. January is the coldest month and can get below zero sometimes. Snow is rare though and usually in the north only. If we do get snow in the south it rarely lasts more than a day.
Steeped in History and culture, with a real aura of refinement, England has so much to offer. The cities I would recommend combining on a trip to England, would be London, Windsor, Oxford and Bath, as these are fairly close to each other, there are many other great cities you could also visit if you have more time, such as York, Cambridge and Liverpool for music fans. LONDON Any trip to England, must surely start in London. London is a huge city, with so much to see and do. Whether you like to visit the historical sites, the museums (which are all free!), the shopping centres, theatres, markets, or just a tour of all the sites, there is really something for everyone here. London has the largest population in the EU, with 8.5 million people, speaking over 300 languages. It certainly is a diverse melting pot of a city. The benefits of this include the amazing culinary experience in London, you can find food and restaurants from all over the world. Also I find it extremely educational to be able to make friends with people from all over the world. I think this makes the English people, on the whole (there are always a few exceptions) very open minded, tolerant and welcoming to the newcomers, that have come to make this city such an interesting and exciting city! The main economy in London these days is really the finance sector, although I.T, education, the hospitality sector, art, fashion and many other industries are still flourishing here. With so much to see I would recommend looking at Tripadvisor to see which sites interest you the most. Amongst my favourites are these places:
The Tower of London and London Bridge UNESCO world heritage site Buckingham Palace Covent Garden Knightsbridge/Hyde Park/Oxford Street/Regents street. (Can be combined for one day of shopping!)) The houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey UNESCO world heritage site The London Eye and the Duck Tour Trafalgar Square St Pauls Cathedral Shakespeare’s The Globe theatre My daughter also loves Camden Market. The main Museums not to miss are: The Natural History Museum The National Gallery The British Museum The Science Museum The Royal Opera House The Royal Albert Hall There are so many beautiful theatres in London, try to get to see a show in one of them if you can. Whilst in London the easiest way to get around is on the underground trains called the Tube. Here is a guide on how to use the Tube. Below London at night. Below the Berkshire Village of Yattendon, a typical ENGLISH village. Weather
The Weather in the U.K does have a distinct North/South divide. The south experiencing milder winters and warmer summers than the north. Yes it does rain a lot, similar to cities such as New York and Seattle, but rain isn't confined to any season in the U.K. It can happen anytime of year although most common in the autumn.The summer months are usually warm from May to September, however the temperature can vary greatly from one day to the next. The winters are usually wet rather than snowy, although some snow is possible, especially over higher ground and further north. July is the warmest month with an average temperature of 66°F (19°C) in the south, although it can reach 30c on the odd day and the coldest is January at 41°F (5°C) with the odd day below zero. Below are views from my walks in the Berkshire countryside.
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Windsor is very well know for it's Royal connections, sitting in the Royal county of Berkshire and home to Windsor Castle, one of the Queens favourite residences.
There is plenty to do in this small, upmarket town. Besides the castle, there are some lovely shops, cafes and restaurants. It is a perfect day trip. Nearby is the Legoland theme park, which is excellent for young children. Windsor Great Park is also a great place for a walk,cycle or horse ride and picnic in the summer months. It is over 4,800 acres in all. When most people think of Oxford, they think of the World Famous University. This is of course well worth a visit. The Colleges are dotted all over the city and the main ones are open to the public at certain times of day. There are other points of interest in Oxford too, the Ashmolean Museum for example usually has some great exhibitions and there are theatres too. The shopping in the city centre is also very good. This is all walking distance to the main University colleges. Also visit the Eagle and Child Pub, near the museum, where C.S Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien used to sit and discuss theology and their books over a pint. You can even sit in the same place they sat!
BATH UNESCO world heritage site The Roman town of Bath is most famous for it's spectacular Roman Baths however it is a beautiful city to explore as well. There are shops to suit all the family and plenty of cafes and restaurants too. This is a great day trip destination. If you get time you can take a detour to visit Stone Henge from here.
Whilst on your way back from Bath to London, stop off at the market town of Newbury. This town is famous for it's racecourse and is a great place to stop for lunch as it is halfway along the M4 motorway between Bath and London.
If you are visiting on a Thursday or Saturday, you will notice the market that has been in this town for hundreds of years. Take a stroll along the canal. Have lunch in one of the many cafes and restaurants in Newbury. You can also visit nearby Highclere Castle, just a ten minute drive and the real life location of the TV show Downton Abbey. Here is a link to the pubs and restaurants in this area. Restaurants My favourites are the Vineyard and The Woodspeen if you want quality food! For nice pubs in Newbury town centre try The Newbury for good pub food, or the Lock Stock and Barrel for a nice view.
If you wish to travel around the English county side, the Cotswolds are the quintessential English village scene that you see on a postcard. With rolling hills and limestone cottages, many with traditional thatched roofs, these medieval villages are every photographer's dream.
The Cotswolds is an area of countryside designated the largest area of outstanding natural beauty in the country. This area gained it's designation in 1966 and has become a magnet for tourists ever since and a sought after place to live for people wishing to escape life in the cities, with good road and rail links to London. This area was regularly painted by artists such as Constable and Turner. Leave home early if you are doing a day trip. A good place to start is a village near Oxford, just on the edge of the Cotswolds called Eynsham and head for breakfast at this little brunch place that is a favourite with the locals. It's a small cafe called Cherry Tree Cafe situated in the Market Garden shop, pictured below. My children live in Eynsham and it has all the charm of a Cotswold village, but without the tourists as it isn't officially in the Cotswolds. It's just 5 miles from Oxford too! Some of the most popular villages to visit are Bourton on the water, Chipping Campden, Moreton -in Marsh, Burford, Castle Combe, Stanton and many more. The Cotswolds are spread over several counties, but Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire have the most concentrated area of beautiful villages. A hotel I can recommend in nearby Cheltenham is Ellenborough Park. There are many boutique hotels though all over the Cotswolds that are perfect for a short break of hiking and sightseeing. These villages can get very busy in the summer holidays. The picture below at Bourton on the water was taken in October 2020. I took this video of a walk around the village of Eynsham, on the edge of the Cotswolds, 5 miles from Oxford in July 2022
CRIME England is relatively safe, especially in the smaller towns and villages. However in the cities always be aware of pick pockets that do target tourist areas. Keep your money in a safe place where pick pockets can't get at it. If you hire a car, don't leave belongings in the car and certainly not visible if you do have to. Driving is on the left side of the road, but even if you don't hire a car, remember to look both ways when crossing a road. If you experience an emergency just dial 999 from any phone. You will be asked if you require police, Ambulance or fire services. You will not be charged for any of these services. If you need medical assistance which is not an emergency you can go to a pharmacy, such as Boots the chemist, where a pharmacist can offer you free medical advice. You can also call 111 for non emergency free medical advice, they will advise you whether to seek further medical assistance and where you should go to receive it. There is also 101 to talk to a police representative for non emergencies. |
Transport
The transport links in London are great. You will not need a car in London, use the underground train system and buses. You can buy all sorts of day passes/ weekly passes etc. Look at this website for details. Transport for London
You will however need to hire a car if you do venture outside of London. Public Transport is very expensive in England, so do budget for this. Petrol and diesel prices are also high.
Transport
The transport links in London are great. You will not need a car in London, use the underground train system and buses. You can buy all sorts of day passes/ weekly passes etc. Look at this website for details. Transport for London
You will however need to hire a car if you do venture outside of London. Public Transport is very expensive in England, so do budget for this. Petrol and diesel prices are also high.
Food
The food in England is good and varied. Popular English dishes are: Shepherds Pie, Roast Beef dinner, Toad in the Hole, all kinds of savoury pies, fish and chips and delicious desserts such as bread and butter pudding, trifle, all sorts of chocolate puddings, spotted dick, Eton mess, sponge cakes etc. The Christmas food is my favourite, if you are visiting in December. Try the traditional Turkey and stuffing, mince pies with brandy cream, Christmas cake, all washed down with some mulled wine, delicious!! For summer the main drinks are gin and tonic or Pimms and elderflower for a non alcoholic drink. Any kind of drink with citrus and other fruits in, as featured below are popular in the summer. Don't forget afternoon tea with fresh scones, jam and Cornish clotted cream. You must try a good quality afternoon tea somewhere on your trip! A cream tea is just scones, a proper afternoon tea is scones as well as small sandwiches and other cakes with a cup of tea or coffee and sometimes Prosecco or Champagne. Most hotels and some cafes will service Afternoon tea in the afternoons around 2-4pm.
The food in England is good and varied. Popular English dishes are: Shepherds Pie, Roast Beef dinner, Toad in the Hole, all kinds of savoury pies, fish and chips and delicious desserts such as bread and butter pudding, trifle, all sorts of chocolate puddings, spotted dick, Eton mess, sponge cakes etc. The Christmas food is my favourite, if you are visiting in December. Try the traditional Turkey and stuffing, mince pies with brandy cream, Christmas cake, all washed down with some mulled wine, delicious!! For summer the main drinks are gin and tonic or Pimms and elderflower for a non alcoholic drink. Any kind of drink with citrus and other fruits in, as featured below are popular in the summer. Don't forget afternoon tea with fresh scones, jam and Cornish clotted cream. You must try a good quality afternoon tea somewhere on your trip! A cream tea is just scones, a proper afternoon tea is scones as well as small sandwiches and other cakes with a cup of tea or coffee and sometimes Prosecco or Champagne. Most hotels and some cafes will service Afternoon tea in the afternoons around 2-4pm.
Where to stay
For Accommodation check Trip Advisor for something in your price range. However for locations I would recommend Central or West London, Somewhere in Bath and somewhere in or near Oxford also. You can visit all the locations I have mentioned easily if you stay in these three cities.
For more information visit this website; Tourism England