Top 5 Things To Do In England
England might be small but it certainly packs a punch. From rich history and characterful architecture, to beautiful coastlines, rolling hills and rugged landscapes, England has something for everyone to enjoy. In this post we’ll go over the top 5 things to do in England.
A bus tour of London
Visit the Roman Baths
Road trip along the NLand250
Enjoy afternoon tea in the Lake District
Visit St. Michael’s Mount
A bus tour of London
England’s capital city is more than just hustle and bustle, it’s full of historic monuments, iconic attractions, great eateries and some fantastic shopping. Around each corner, you’ll easily see the remnants of London’s long, rich and powerful history, intertwined with the modern day vibrant city that people think of when they think of London.
There are 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the city and one of the best ways to get around and take in the sights is to do a bus tour. You can usually buy a 1, 2 or 3 day ticket and some offer a ‘hop-on-hop-off’ service, so you can go off and explore the attractions that take your fancy whilst easily navigating around the city.
Visit the Roman Baths
History doesn’t come much richer than this! The fascinating Roman Baths, in Bath, are located below modern street level, waiting for you to discover their 2000 year old story. The terrace you come to when first entering the site overlooks part of the baths but doesn’t give you the whole picture. The site of the baths extends under nearby streets and squares, you wouldn’t even realise from the terrace above! It’s no surprise this is among the top 5 things to do in England.
In Roman Britain, this site was one of the greatest religious spas of the ancient world, where people would come to worship the goddess Sulis Minerva and bathe in the waters of the natural thermal springs. The waters still flow with hot water today!
Today, you can explore the Roman Baths complex, made up of 4 main parts; the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House and ‘finds from Roman baths’. You can walk on the original Roman pavements and see the ruins of the Temple of Sulis Minerva as well as explore artefacts from the Baths.
It’s advisable to buy tickets in advance, especially during peak times.
Road trip along the NLand250
Described as ‘the ultimate road trip’, the NLand250 is a 250 mile road trip through stunning Northumberland in the Northeast of England. The route is a loop so you can pick it up at any point, enjoying both the beautiful landscape as well as Northumberland’s heritage coastline along the way. The International Dark Sky Park, Hadrian’s Wall and The Holy Island of Lindisfarne are all part of this incredible road trip so make sure you have comfortable walking shoes and plenty of space on your camera!
The whole route takes roughly 5 to 7 days to complete, if you want to properly take in all of the sights but of course you can do choose to do as much or as little of the loop as you want.
Enjoy afternoon tea in the Lake District
The Lake District is England’s largest National Park and, arguably, one of its most beautiful. Its contrast of rugged landscape and delicate, breathtaking vistas represent the English countryside at its finest. And no pastime is more quintessentially English than afternoon tea, so it takes the perfect pairing. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to afternoon tea in the Lake District but some of our top picks are The Wild Boar in Kendal, The Fizzy Tarte in Windermere, Lodore Falls Hotel, Derwentwater or for a truly memorable experience, The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.
Visit St. Michael’s Mount
This one takes you all the way to the far corner of Western England. The incredible tidal island of St Michael’s Mount sits off the coast of Cornwall. Legend has it that the Island was built by a giant who used to head to the mainland and steal livestock. Calls were made for a giant slayer and a young boy named Jack came forward! As for the Islands history, it said to have been a key trading port for England as far back as the Bronze Age and its importance has not wavered since, with the first warning beacon being lit warning the English of the incoming Spanish Armada. In 495, St Michael was rumoured to have been spotted by fishermen atop the island, cementing it as a major religious shrine by the 6th Century.
Today, you can get to the island either by ferry or, during low tide, via the famous cobbled causeway. Visit the stunning 12th Century Castle and Garden, once a priory, then a fort and now home to the St Aubyn family, who have resided there since the 17th Century. Then, stroll around the harbour and the village and enjoy some warm Cornish hospitality. It’s easy to see why visiting this magical Island is one of the top 5 things to do in England!
Always check the tide times and the official website for up to date information, opening times and tickets.
Have you been to any of these places in England? Or have any other top things to do in England you would like to share? Leave your suggestions in the comments!
As always, sharing is caring so please share this guide with your family and friends and inspire them to head out on their own English adventure.
