Directory of Destinations

Devon Feature

GHD goes in search of the Devon he knew from childhood holidays, and takes a caravan break by the seaside.

Favourite peninsula out in the west

Our best loved peninsula. And now the ancient duchy is officially voted the nation's favourite holiday destination.

Will’s home town is great theatre

A trip to Will Shakespeare’s home town, where they keep finding new ways to entertain us.

Darwin drives evolution of English borders town

This handsome border outpost within an almost circular loop of the River Severn has become one of England’s most attractive day trip and short break destinations.

Wall across England at the end of Empire

The many places to see the best, surving sections of Hadrian’s Wall - travelling east from Carlisle by bus, train, bicycle, car or on foot.

City of dreaming spires, and TV murder victims

Oxford is one of the most familiar cities in Britain. Its fine wide streets and noble buildings have been the backdrop for countless TV programmes and films. Recently the famous old Pitt Rivers and Ashmolean museums reopened, the first refreshed, the second extended.

Pint sized county offers a Magnum of a visit

Rutland - motto “Much in Little”- is the smallest English county, a scenic slice of Middle England bursting with things to see and do.

Following the Beatles - on foot

The writer joins a tour around upmarket London, a scene full of Beatles' associations.

The star-crossed landscape of England

The Lake District? Think Austrian Alps, Italian lakes and Norway's steep U-shaped valleys, packed into a precious piece of England just 35 miles across. And now the BBC is to adapt Arthur Ransome's much loved children's saga Swallows and Amazons, set in Lakeland.

Aliens in West Wiltshire

270 year old village pub, owned by the Marquis of Bath, has just been given a quirky makeover into a boutique hotel

New praise for old York

York’s central location makes it one of the most easily reached cities in Britain. And with trains running in from all parts of the compass, it’s an ideal destination for a day trip or a weekend away at any time of year.

National Treasure City

Durham is a top contender for finest city in England. The cathedral has been voted the nation’s best loved building, Together with the castle, it forms part of our first World Heritage Site.

Land of the Golden Wonder Walls

Glorious wanderings in the Cotswolds. The pluperfect hunk of England is threaded by pretty rivers and studded with gold-clad villages nestling in cosy valleys under dreamy hills, cross-hatched with dry stone walls.

Portsmouth -- towering city on the south coast

The tallest tower outside London is one of the top new attractions in this historic South Coast city.

Wander of the world.

Today it is possible to walk the entire length of Hadrian’s Wall, or put together a short visit at many points along the way.

Brighton, star of the South Coast.

Less than an hour by rail from London, the famous old resort still sparkles, from old shopping streets full of serendipity, to the grandest converted farmhouse inn the world.

Mr Darcy’s country seat

Jane Austen's Pemberley, the real Chatsworth House

Dale and Hearty - tucked away in deepest Yorkshire

A day trip into the Yorkshire Dales. The writer visits Swaledale, a stumpy, richly meadowed valley in the Yorkshire Dales, with its place names straight from the Norwegian fjords

Chalk up and walk in the Chilterns

Some of the finest walking country in England is under an hour from Leicester Square, by Tube and train -- the perfect day trip out of the capital.

Medieval mosaic of a landscape.

Britain's smallest national park, the New Forest, is not so different from how it was when William the Conqueror set it up as his hunting haunt.

Shop in style on broad boulevards of...Lancashire

Visit England has named Southport as one of the best places for shopping in England. The famous shopping Mecca of Lord Street: “The splendour of its preserved Victorian architecture is matched by the incredible array of goods turning a shopping trip into something special.“

Beat over the Mersey to a polished peninsula

The Wirral, the small-scale and very distinctive peninsula between Liverpool and North Wales, is the film location for the new BBC TV comedy Candy Cabs

Cathedral city gem on the river

Worcester, on the banks of the Severn, under the majestic cathedral, is one of England's finest shire towns.

Jet black town with a rosy, Gothic future

Whitby is one of our most perfect little seaside resorts, with its historic heart tucked cosily down a deep valley on the North Yorkshire coast. It’s an ideal short getaway destination.

The high-speed Canterbury story

England's tranquil cathedral city in Kent is now only an hour of London by a high-speed javelin train. Canterbury tales -- the latest edition.

Central county too often overlooked

Cheshire is a county too many of us hurry on through, on our way to somewhere else. But this convenient, centrally placed destination has lots to offer, as Gareth Huw Davies discovered.

Story book setting

The Isle of Purbeck is a beautiful tucked-away corner of Dorset with gorgeous National Trust landscapes, nature reserves and stunning views.

Rising Star of the East Midlands

This Midlands city on the move has one of Britain’s newest theatres, a daring new shopping mall, and the museum which inspired the Attenborough brothers. Visit England chose it (Spring 2011) as one of its top English cities.

Tourism Tor hold in wide open county out west

There is more to Somerset than the annual mud fest at Glastonbury. From the majestic heights of Exmoor, the Quantocks and the Blackdown Hills, to a string of seaside resorts. And all that cheese and cider.

Ancient city turns pamper weekend capital

Chester keeps Germanic opening hours for its Christmas market, starting at the end of November and continuing right through until Christmas Eve. Picture (c) cityofchester.org

City of the high thrills

Lincoln, one of England's finest old cities, dominated by its glorious cathedral high on a hill, has many smaller-scale marvels too.

Traditional caravan holiday upgraded

West Sussex’s aerial ballroom dancing team performed on my roof - and other memorable caravan moments.

Devon - staying south in the two coast county

South Devon - from the palm-tree fringed English Riviera of Torbay to Dartmoor's noble wilderness.

Look north in the two coast county

The top half of this great West Country draw, from the wild breakers at Bude to the heights of Exmoor.

Southern city of wonders

Nice church - great rocks. You see the soaring spire of Salisbury Cathedral from afar, while Stonehenge literally stops the traffic.

To Hull and back - sharks allowing

For one of the best views of the ocean from inside, head for Hull and walk the underwater tunnel beneath Europe's largest fish tank within The Deep.

A walk in the estate that time forgot

The National Trust has charted a circular walk through the national nature reserve that wraps around the 300 year old Calke Abbey.

Heart of Britain’s newest landscape treasure

30 miles SW of London, suburbia cedes to wide rolling Sussex downland, laced with secret wooded valleys. It’s part of Britain’s newest landscape treasure.

Eyes Wight

The Isle of Wight is one of Britain's best loved destinations. There's plenty to see and do, whether you visit for a daytrip, a pop festival, a spot of yachting or a longer break.

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England