England has long captured the imaginations of travellers from all parts of the world — including people from the United States, like me. There’s a lot to love about the UK. Here are several of those things.
The English are optimists
With even the briefest slice of sunshine, you’ll find us outdoors — with memories of the morning’s drizzle long forgotten. Happily, England has some of the best national parks and private gardens: from April onwards, you’ll find live music and theatre performances in London’s Royal Parks and fine stately spots all over the country (check the National Trust’s events calendar for highlights).
In Kent, Hever Castle, the grand home of Anne Boleyn (second wife of Henry VIII), boasts beautiful landscaped gardens and lakes, plus a super-splashy ‘water maze’. It’s great on hot days when the kids are on summer holidays. The outdoors fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down, either: Exmoor National Park is Europe’s first Dark Sky Reserve. The area was awarded the title for its top-notch stargazing conditions, minimal light pollution and thrillingly remote setting.
There’s always something to do if it rains
Don’t worry — you’re not the only one to have rain blight your holiday: venture to the Isle of Wight and you’ll find Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s holiday home. OK, so she had a private beach and lots of lovely gardens (access to both is included in the ticket price), but you can guarantee it poured down for her, too.
When the heavens open, the English don’t just head indoors for weather-proof fun: they venture under the ground (to explore Anglo-Saxon cave carvings in Nottinghamshire), or even under the sea (to watch sharks and turtles in East Yorkshire’s The Deep — the world’s only underwater aquarium). Hell, we’ll even brave the elements outside in our cozzies, for an atmospheric dip in some of Britain’s best outdoor pools! Thermae Bath Spa, England’s only natural thermal pool spa, has a rooftop pool with charming views of the city, while the Lymington Sea Water Baths in Hampshire is the country’s oldest sea water pool — it’s so large you can hire kayaks, too.
Their road trips are world-class
Forget Highway 61 — you need the A149 instead. This surprisingly picturesque route along the East Coast twists from the cliffs of Hunstanton 70 miles east to Great Yarmouth — a windswept pass rich in dramatic ocean views and some very English stop-offs along the way. If you feel you’d enjoy the ride more as a passenger than a driver, consider hiring a chauffeur service like Cars Exec. Stretch your legs at Burnham Market to pick up artisan cheeses and jams, and don’t miss the seals of Blakeney Point, which is accessible only by boat from Blakeney Harbour.
If you’re down south, the A39 (or ‘The Atlantic Highway‘) takes in some of the area’s loveliest terrain: pick up the road in Selworthy, then stop in Exmoor National Park for a picnic and a glimpse of some wild horses or red deer. The coastal town of Minehead, Somerset, is a family-friendly spot for some seaside fun — the beach is sandy, and the promenade is busy with fairground rides and sideshows during the summer months.
Chauffeurs are still a common sight
Because you seldom see a chauffeur in the U.S., it might not occur to you to book a ride with a chauffeur service when you’re in the United Kingdom. Don’t pass it up! Riding in style and comfort, motored about by a smartly dressed chauffeur who knows the roads and the English sites and attractions, can’t be beat. You might not want to schedule a day long road trip (though of course you’re welcome to), but at a minimum you should try an airport transfer. Whether you’re going to London, Southampton, Bath, or anywhere else in the UK, it’s a great feeling to be greeted upon arrival at the airport by a chauffeur who will carry your baggage to a waiting Mercedes and drive you safely and comfortably right to your hotel.
There’s wildlife in abundance
Covering 230 square miles, Northumberland’s Kielder Forest is the UK’s largest forest — and at its heart lies Kielder Water, a man-made lake with a whopping 27 miles of shoreline. What really makes this place special, though, is its colony of red squirrels (some of the largest numbers in England), and the unspoilt woodland which is perfect for bluebell walks in spring.
The coast of Northumberland is wildlife-rich too: every summer you’ll find over 37,000 pairs of loved-up puffins clinging to the cliffs of the Farne Islands, as well as thousands of seal pups in the autumn.
They’re more exotic than you think
You don’t have to venture to Asia for tea plantations: Tregothnan in Cornwall has a tea estate all of its own. It’s been growing tea bushes since 1334, and its signature blends include Earl Grey and chamomile, as well as black tea.
If wine is your poison, weave your way to Three Choirs in Gloucestershire: every year, it harvests 400 tonnes of grapes, which are transformed into 14 varieties of wine (some of them award-winners). If you indulge during a wine tasting, you can kip for the night in one of the timber lodges that overlook the vineyard and valley.
