Vacation to England

Vacation and Holiday Ideas!

Vacation to England

Why take a vacation to England? England itself has so many stories to tell. It is a nation that boasts a rich history, culture, and art which are all embodied by the series of cathedrals, museums, castles, gardens, monasteries, Roman cities, and abbeys. England is likewise known for its popular entertainment, sports, music, and literature.

Cities in England to Visit

Some of the more popular cities in England in which to vacation include:

London, England's capital. This metropolitan area is the seat of culture, finance, and fashion as well. Popular attractions include: Trafalgar Square, London Eye, Tower Bridge, Palace of Westminster, Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, Kew Palace, St. James Palace, London Zoo, Madame Tussaud's, Kensington Garden, and Hyde Park.

Manchester. You can take a walk and likewise enjoy going to the sports stadiums and arenas, theater and music venues, and art galleries.

Brighton. If you prefer the seaside view, then this city is where you want to be.

Liverpool. Of course you will associate this city with the Beatles. Visitors like you can marvel at the great music, sports, and architectural displays of the city.

Birmingham. Labeled as the second largest city in Britain, this place is best for sporting, shopping, entertainment, and cultural activities.

York. Get a taste of the past with the Gothic cathedrals, historic streets, medieval city walls, Roman streets, and the Viking and Medieval remains.

Visit an English Cathedral

Of course, any English cathedral is worth a visit. But, here are some outstanding examples:

Canterbury Cathedral - Canterbury, Kent, England

Has been attracting visitors since 1170, when Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in the Cathedral. Check out the incredible stained-glass windows; the earliest one dating back to 1176 AD.

Durham Cathedral - Durham, County Durham, England

Founded in 995 as a final resting place for the remains of Saint Cuthbert. Voted the nation's best-loved building in a nationwide BBC poll held in 2001. Be sure to visit The Treasures of St Cuthbert, which has on display Cuthbert's cross and coffin.

Ely Cathedral - Ely, Cambridgeshire, England

Best known for its octagonal lantern tower, built in the 1320s. Guided tours are offered from April through October.

St. Albans Cathedral - St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England

This abbey church is the second largest in England, afer Winchester. Check out the wall paintings on the piers of the nave, many of which date from the thirteenth century.

Wells Cathedral - Wells, Somerset, England

Featuring the finest medieval glass of 1340 in the east window stained glass, which depicts a Jessee Tree. Also known for the famous Wells clock, dating to the late 1300s, and still possessing it's original medieval face. Stick around for the quarter hour to witness the fun mechanisms of the clock, when jousting knights rush round above it.

Westminster Abbey - London, England

Begun by Edward the Confessor, whose tomb is behind the high alter. Also worth visiting is the Poet's Corner, where many famous poets and writers are buried, including John Dryden, Tennyson, Robert Browning, John Masefield, William Camden, Dr. Samuel Johnson, Charles Dickens, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Rudyard Kipling and Thomas Hardy. Others bured here also include composer George Frederic Handel and Laurence Olivier. There are also memorials to writers who are bured elsewhere.

Winchester Cathedral - Winchester, Hampshire, England

Winchester Cathedral, begun in 1079, is famous for its chantry chapels, where daily masses were said for the bishops buried within them. The cathedral offers several interesting tours, such as the Cathedral Tour, which gives an overview of the Cathedral; the Tower Tour, where you can see as far as the Isle of Wight and explore the bell chamber; and the Crypt Tour, which houses the Sound II sculpture by Anthony Gormely.

Worcester Cathedral - Worcester, Worcestershire, England

Located above the River Severn, and known as the burial place of King John and Prince Aurthur. Also home to an ancient library, which houses the second largest collection of medieval manuscripts in any cathedral in the UK.

Visit an English Castle

Castles are everywhere in England. In fact, you could design an entire trip doing nothing but going from castle to castle, many of which are thought to be haunted! A few standout castles you may want to visit on your next vacation to England include:

Berkeley Castle - Berkeley, Gloucestershire - Site of Edward II's brutal murder.
Berry Pomeroy Castle - Berry Pomeroy, Devon - Considered one of the most haunted castles in England, built in the mid 1500s.
Bodiam Castle - Bodiam, East Sussex - A moated castle, reached by three drawbridges.
Bolingbroke Castle - Old Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire - This castle is the birthplace of Henry IV.
Brougham Castle - Penrith, Cumbria - Located on the banks of the River Eamont.
Carisbrooke Castle - Newport, Isle of Wight - Charles I was imprisoned here in 1647. While trying to escape, he became stuck in a narrow window, which visitors can view today.
Chillingham Castle - Chillingham, Northumberland - Considered another one of the most haunted castles in England. Contains dungeons and torture chambers.
Old Wardour Castle - Wiltshire, Southwest England - Considered England's most romantic castle. Overlooks a lake, and was the setting for Kevin Costner's "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." Another castle with a reputation for being haunted.
Hever Castle - Hever, Kent - You guessed it - Hever Castle is also considered to be haunted. You need to visit this one. This moated, 13th century castle was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn.

Other Things to See and Do on Your Vacation to England

When you've run out of castles and cathedrals to see, and just want to have a little fun, might we suggest:

The BeWILDerwood in Norfolk - a family oriented theme park that is built using sustainable materials.
The Eden Project in Cornwall - home to the largest species of Biomes. This tropical rainforest lets you feel the virgin rainforest of Asia and Africa along with the natural climactic conditions of California and the Mediterranean.
Go Ape! - high-wire forest courses that feature rope bridges and the Tarzan swings and zip slides that goes up to 40 feet in the air. They're located all over England. Go to www.goape.co.uk for more information.
Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes - Interactive rides and activities.
The London Zoo - check out the Butterfly Paradise and Gorilla Kingdom.
Seal Spotting on the Herne Bay.
The Living Rainforest in Hampstead Norreys - features a unique live rainforest with piranhas, giant water lilies, dwarf crocodiles, and Goeldi's monkeys.
Tree House at Alnwick Garden in Alnwick, Northumberland - houses the biggest wooden tree houses in the world. They are all designed and built using all natural materials.
Titanic Spa in Linthwaite, Huddersfield - Great Britain's very first eco spa. The spa itself makes use of a 100 meter deep water bore hole that is regulated by means of utilizing salt water. Meaning, it is free from chlorine.
The New Forest in Southern England - National Park with fabulous walking and hiking trails.

Best Time to Visit England

The best time to visit England is during the months of July to September, when the weather is at its best and daylight hours are the longest. However, this is also the time when tourists visit England so the rates are higher, the streets are more crowded and the lines are longer. Low season is from November to March. If you do not mind the chilling cold of England winter and would like to take advantage of the cheaper rates, then take your pick from these months. Shoulder season is from April to June and the month of October.

To read more about visiting England, see our pages on:

London Weekend Break

Synonyms: vaction, vacations, vacaton, vactions, and vacatons are typos for "vacation."