England Country Guide | Guide to England
Country Guide England
When Victoria was queen, the sun never set on England's vast empire. Fueled by the Industrial Revolution, Great Britain extended its reach into every continent, every sea, nearly every port. In this century, the British have been forced down from their imperial heights, but England and its people still retain their distinctive charm. To this day, social climbers the world over imitate English habits, from the cut of their Savile Row suits to the scones and clotted cream that adorn their tea tables. Indeed, the peculiarly English combination of emotional reserve and buttoned-down elegance define what it means to be upper-class.
England itself seems a small country to command such a formidable reputation, but within its borders are a dramatic range of natural and cultural differences. The wild country of the far north, where accents become nearly incomprehensible, contrasts sharply with the green hedgerows and genteel charm of the Home Counties in the south, where most visitors' impressions of England are formed. The fens and flats of East Anglia suggest a Dutch landscape worlds apart from the dark hills and valleys of the West Country. Most of all, England preserves its past. Travelers can find Roman ruins at York and Bath, but an even older age claims the visitor's attention at the gigantic monoliths of Stonehenge.
Undergraduates in cap and gown still scurry about the quadrangles of Cambridge and Oxford, but the somber pre-Reformation cathedrals of Canterbury and Durham now preside over a country that must come to grips with its new status and new responsibilities.
The center of English life remains London . Despite the traditional nature of British society, the capital's cultural life is increasingly dominated by immigrants from its former colonies, and you are more likely to hear steel drums in its street than a symphony by Handel. Theater, always an English strength, thrives in London, while the music sc ene makes it one of the world's cutting-edge cities. However, real Anglophiles prefer to leave town on the weekends and head for Kent or Surrey, with their rolling green fields ideal for cricket and old-fashioned tearooms. Other frequently visited sites include Canterbury and its Cathedral, Stonehenge, the Roman ruins at York and Bath, and the university towns of Oxford and Cambridge.
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England Facts
Festivals in England
Lulworth Castle Medieval Festival [article] Bedfordshire Medieval Festival [article] Bonfire Night - Guy Fawkes Night [snippet] Secret Garden Party [snippet] Secret Garden Party [photo gallery] Notting Hill Carnival - London [photo gallery] Bonfire Night - Lewes [video] Cowes Week [video] Secret Garden Party [web site] Bestival [web site]England Accommodation
Hotels in United KingdomEngland Flights
England Tours
Tours in EnglandEnglish Reading
From the bars and clubs of Soho to the lochs and glens of the Highlands, Britain is a land of proud contrasts. Discover them all with this essential guide.
- insider tips on the best places to eat, drink and be merry, from John O'Groats to Land's End
- in-depth coverage of Britain's cultural attractions and heritage
- cycling walking and water sports: practical info on outdoor activities
- accommodation options to suit every taste, whether you fancy rural retreats or boutique chic
- section on Bizarre Britain reveals the nation's taste for the weird and wonderful
- with 153 detailed maps
Purchase from: Amazon.com
Purchase from: Amazon.co.uk
England DVD
As seen on TV and formally known as Lonely Planet the Pilot Guides are undoubtedly champions of the travel world.
Sitting at the edge of continental Europe, England is a tiny island nation, which gave birth to an Empire that once ruled half the world. Today, almost a quarter of the world's population speaks it language.
Traveller Justine Shapiro embarks on an historic journey across England, exploring its rich past still remembered and alive today; while Jonathan Atherton decides to explore London, Europe's largest capital, a vibrant mix of history, culture, and rock and roll, spiced up by the influence of over 200 different nationalities!
Along the way
- Live a re-enactment of the Battle of Hasting between the Normans the Saxons
- Visit the abbey of Whitby which inspired the novel Dracula
- Join a Beatles "Magical Mystery Tour" in Liverpool
- Experience the awe-inspiring site of Stonehenge
- Visit Ottery St-Mary where locals run through the narrow streets carrying huge flaming barrels to celebrate Guy Fawkes night
- Experience London's traditional East End, glamorous West End, trendy Camden and, south of the Thames, Brixton, the black capital of Europe
Purchase from: Amazon.com
Purchase from: Amazon.co.uk
Further England Resources
Fancy That of London Souvenirs [web site] England Vacation Rentals [web site] London Guided Walks and Tours [web site] Hotel London [web site]Click here for the full range of England web resources
