Top Things to See
England is loaded to the hilt with treasures that come in the form of enthralling cities, charming towns, and enchanting villages. London is the number one attraction but there are many more places with special allure, such as the Roman town of Bath, historic Stratford-Upon-Avon and the beautiful Lake District. Major attractions include Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Salisbury Cathedral.
 Bath The spa town of Bath in the southwest of England is a beautiful medium-sized city with stark Georgian architecture and the famous spa facilities left over from the days of the Romans. The ancient Pump Room and Roman Baths are the main attractions and lie just below Bath Abbey. Grand squares and buildings abound, including The Circus, which dates from 1754, while cafes, boutiques and an air of quiet sophistication fill the town.
 Buckingham Palace
The official London residence of the royal family is one of London’s highlights, lying amid several parks in the plushest part of town. The building features 670 rooms, many of which overlook the stunning 40-acre garden. The palace lies at the end of The Mall and is easy to reach by bus or taxi. A sizeable portion of tourists take a tour of the palace, but get here early if you fancy it. Website: www.royal.gov.uk
 Cornwall Located in the extreme southwest of England, Cornwall is one of several gorgeous coastlines, fantastic surfing beaches, attractive fishing villages, good weather and a Celtic past. Major sights include the surfing resort of Newquay, the beaches of Bude, the ancient village of Tintagel, the city of Truro, and Land’s End at the southernmost point.
 London
London is a true world city; a 2,000-year-old mega-metropolis hailing from Roman times which has grown into a world-leader in fashion, shopping, finance and theatre. The largest city in Europe includes fashionable districts as Chelsea, and features attractions such as Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar square, and some amazing museums.
 Stonehenge
Stonehenge is that mysterious circle of rocks on the mystical Salisbury Plain in the south of England which hails from the days of the druids. The rocks are impressive as one approaches; stretching high into the sky and weighing many tens of tons a piece. The rocks were originally dragged to Salisbury Plain from miles away to form the monument, which is said to either be a druid temple for sun worship, an astronomical calendar, or a burial ground. Visit this website for further information about Stonehenge.
The Cotswolds
Also in the south of England, the Cotswolds are a collection of rolling hills and picturesque villages covering 800 square miles between Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. Highlights include the villages of Bourton-on-the-Water, Chipping Campden and Moreton-in-Marsh. Look out for Tewkesbury Abbey, Chastleton House and Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe. One of the main attractions of the Cotswolds is the distinctive sandy-coloured structures built from local stone.
 Stratford-upon-Avon
Millions of visitors come to Stratford every year to see Shakespeare’s birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. The town is attractive and is ideal for strolling, with numerous terraced cafes and bookshops to add further appeal. Holy Trinity Church is another major sight for those on a Shakespeare pilgrimage as this is where he and his family are buried. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, located on the River Avon, has regular performances, while other attractions include the Teddy Bear Museum, Europe’s largest Butterfly Farm and traditional pubs.
 Lake District
The Lake District is England’s most beautiful region and the country’s largest national parks. The Lakes, as they are known locally, are situated in Cumbria in the northwest of the country and feature a heady mix of stunning lakes set amid smooth mountain landscapes. There are 16 lakes here in all, including the largest, Lake Windermere, as well as dozens of smaller ‘tarns’, glaciated mountain lakes. Pretty towns and villages are interspersed among the lakes and mountains and the main attraction here is the walking, boating and fresh air. Scafell Peak, England’s highest mountain at 3,200 ft features on the Lake’s most popular walk. The most happening town is Keswick and is popular with those on adventure holidays. Website: www.lake-district.gov.uk.
Tower of London and Crown Jewels
The Tower of London is around 1,000 years old - holder of the Crown Jewels since 1303 - and has famously been a palace, prison, treasury, zoo, and arsenal. Successive monarchs resident in the tower run from William the Conqueror in the 11th century to Henry the VIII in the 16th century. Be sure to tour the tower to the top and check out the fine London views as well as the impressive range of armoury, the ‘clipped’ ravens in the yard, and, of course, the Crown Jewels on the travelator. Phone: +44 870 756 6060; website: www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon
 Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is another of London’s must-see sights and has the distinction of being the largest working castle in the world. The castle is resplendent in art and furnishings with Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck and Holbein masterpieces in the State Apartments. William the Conqueror built the first castle here in 1080 to take advantage of the nearby royal hunting forest, and today it is one of the queen's official residences. Website: www.royal.gov.uk.
Top Things to Do
Board a double-decker bus for a 90-minute London sightseeing tour. See the capital’s best sights on a traditional double-decker bus complete with commentary. Hop on and off wherever you like and see the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Big Ben. Children get on at a knock-down price. Website: www.theoriginaltour.com
Drive through the Cotswolds and see some of the most beautiful villages in the country set amid lush rolling hills and hewn out of local rock. Be sure to check out the towns and villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh, the hugely popular town of Broadway, and the picturesque village of Chipping Campden.
 Explore the legendary Tower of London and see the clipped ravens and the priceless Crown Jewels. The Tower is one of London's most famous and ancient landmarks. Visitors can see the prison cell of Sir Walter Raleigh as well as discern what it must have been like when lions, bears, traitors, and lords used to live here. Phone: +44 870 756 6060
Go see the controversial Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon in Athens at the revamped British Museum in London. After you have enjoyed the marbles, take a look at the Egyptian exhibits. Website: www.britishmuseum.org
Go walking in the Lake District and scale Scafell Pike, England’s highest peak. Take to the water aboard a cruise of one of the 16 lakes, of which lakes Windermere and Coniston are the most popular. Follow that with tea in the hillside town of Keswick with its multitude of cafes, shops and pubs.
Pay a visit to Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon in the middle of England in every sense of the word. The beautiful, sophisticated town on the Avon contains the graves of the aforementioned playwright and those of his family. Also see if you can spot the American connection (Harvard) in town after experiencing an open-top bus tour.
 Ride the London Eye and experience the best views of London aboard the world’s former largest Ferris wheel. The non-stop ride will send you on the trip of your life for 30 minutes of gob-smacking vistas and perfect photo opportunities which include the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the River Thames. Phone: 44 0870 500 0600; website: www.londoneye.com
Take a look at the Gay Village in Manchester, which is on Canal street and is just as suitable for straight people to wander around. The Gay Village is one of the most interesting parts of the city for nightlife and comes complete with bars, clubs and restaurants.
Walk York City Walls which encircle this fine northern medieval city for three miles. One can discern the original Roman wall structure around the well maintained and restored barrier followed by a walk around the town where the stunning York Minster cathedral can be seen; another of England’s great and massive edifices. York Minster website: www.yorkminster.org
 Watch the Changing of the Guards which takes place daily outside Buckingham Palace in the spring and summer – alternate days in autumn and winter – and is a must if you are near the palace for the 45-minute handover. Listen for the Guards’ band playing traditional military marches and even familiar pop songs.
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