England already exists in your imagination, from the idyllic countryside of the Shire to Sherlock Holmes’ foggy alleys in London. Picture the ancient oaks of Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest and 007 gallivanting in the Underground, and so on. Traces of its history remain in ruins left by Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans.

Start your journey in London and don’t miss out on all that England has to offer. Wander along the rugged paths in the Lake District. Explore charming stone cottages in the Cotswolds. Go punting in Cambridge. Unravel the mysteries of Stonehenge. Explore the wild coastlines of Cornwall. Catch one of the Bard’s plays in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Must Sees | Food | Transportation

MUST SEES: LONDON

Big Ben

Big Ben is the nickname of the Elizabeth Tower at the north end of the Houses of Parliament. Technically, Big Ben is the giant bell in the tower. Augustus Pugin designed the clock tower in the Gothic Revival style. Its iconic shape is a symbol for the city and the nation.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey has witnessed coronations of 40 monarchs and 16 royal weddings. This is the final resting place of monarchs plus greats such as Newton and Darwin. Poet’s Corner has memorials for the likes of Chaucer and Dickens.

Tower of London

William the Conqueror originally built the imposing stone White Tower as a fortress and royal keep. It has also been an infamous prison and torture chamber. Beefeaters lead engaging tours of the dark history and its ravens. See the crown jewels, crowns, and Koh-i-Noor diamond.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is London’s grandest bridge, a marvel of stone and steel above the Thames. Horace Jones designed the combined suspension and bascule spans. The bascules rise in the center to allow shipping. Its Gothic façade matches the Tower of London.

London Eye

In a former life, the Millenium Wheel was the world’s largest Ferris wheel. This may be the best way to see London. Its 32 glass pods rotate 30 minutes for ever-changing views. Spot iconic landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral, the Shard, the Gherkin, and the Tate Modern.

Buckingham Palace

In front is the Victoria Memorial with a gilded statue of Winged Victory on the marble monument. Queen Victoria sits on a throne facing the mall. Watch the Changing of the Guard every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 10:30 am.

Convent Garden

Convent Garden is a buzzy area with lively markets, street performers, pubs, and eateries. The bookshops in Cecil Court inspired Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley. Seven Dials is a cobblestone junction at the center of seven streets. And colorful and charming Neal’s Yard is perfect for al fresco dining.

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is centrally located between Leicester Square, Soho, Trafalgar Square, Chinatown, and Covent Garden. The curving Piccadilly Lights LED screen is as large as the entire building it’s attached to. At the Fountain of Anteros, the god of requited love is ready to shoot his arrows.

Trafalgar Square

At the Battle of Trafalgar, Horatio Nelson’s outnumbered fleet thwarted Napoleon’s invasion by sailing into the Franco-Spanish fleet. Try not to climb on the four bronze lions guarding Nelson’s Column. See what’s currently on at the rotating contemporary art installation at the Fourth Plinth.

Greenwich

At the Prime Meridian, stand on the western and eastern hemispheres. Astronomers at the Royal Observatory watched the stars for measuring longitude at sea. Also, visit the Cutty Sark, one of the world’s fastest clipper ships for bringing tea from China.

Globe Theatre

Catch a play at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The wooden open-air theatre had three stories for holding up to 3,000 spectators. At the base of the stage, people (the “groundlings”) could pay a penny to sit on the dirt-covered yard.

King’s Cross

King’s Cross was the site of the legendary battle between Queen Boudicca and Roman invaders in Londinium. Today, look for the “Platform 9¾” sign. This is where Harry Potter and his friends dashed through a brick wall to board the Hogwart’s Express.

Leicester Square

Leicester Square is an entertainment hub with many theatres and cinemas. The square is home to historical figures with statues: Sir Isaac Newton and William Shakespeare. Find statues of beloved fictional characters, such as Paddington Bear, Harry Potter, and Mary Poppins.

National Gallery

The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square with over 2,300 paintings from the mid-13th century to 1900. This is where to see London’s finest collection of European paintings by the Old Masters.

FOOD

Sunday Roast

This is a go to tradition for an indulgent Sunday meal. The roast beef is succulent and the potatoes are crispy on the outside. The main event is the Yorkshire pudding, a fluffy popover made from eggs, flour, milk, and pan drippings. Let the jug of beef gravy flow freely.

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea stems your hunger until dinner. A pot of tea is accompanied by a selection of freshly prepared finger sandwiches filled with cucumber or egg salad. The highlight is the warm scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserves. There’s also an assortment of cakes and pastries.

Fish and Chips

Fish and chips is a popular, locally-sourced staple in England. Check out Rock and Sole Plaice, a chippy with fresh cod that is moist and flaky on the inside. The batter is crispy, golden, and light. Season the chunky chips with malt vinegar and salt.

Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s pie is a humble dish of minced meat topped with mashed potato, baked for a crunchy topping. Some say shepherd’s pie should only contain lamb while cottage pie only beef. At The Ivy, their version is actually both since it has lamb and beef for more complexity.

English Breakfast

The traditional full English breakfast contains bacon, sausages, eggs, black pudding, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, and toast.

Trifle

Traditional trifle includes a sponge cake base layer soaked in sherry. A fruit layer may vary from canned fruit to fresh berries. Fruit gelatin suspends the cake and fruit. The custard layer adds richness and smoothness. Top if off with whipped cream.

Spotted Dick

Spotted dick is a steamed pudding with suet and dried currants or raisins. The spots are the dried fruit and dick is a contraction of the old term for pudding, puddick. English is a cheeky language. Custard sauce is a must and is poured over the pudding. Head to Sweetings for the best spotted dick.

Scones

There’s nothing more quintessentially English than scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream. The best scones have a flaky tender interior with a slightly caramelized exterior. Clotted cream is thick, rich, and buttery. At Orange Pekoe, try the Cream Tea, a pot of tea with a plain scone and a sultana scone.

Hot Cross Buns

Here in London for Easter, get a hot cross bun! A hot cross bun is a spiced bun with small pieces of fruit and marked with a cross on top. Go to Toklas Bakery for soft pillowy buns with the perfect amount of spice.

 

TRANSPORTATION

The Tube

The London Underground rail network (aka the Tube) makes it easy to get around London. Remember to mind the gap!

Ferry

The P&O Ferry has up to 15 daily crossings from Dover to Calais. The trip takes 1.5 hours.

Eurostar

Eurostar International Limited (EIL) operates international train services between Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Brussels via the Channel Tunnel.

Black Cab

Only black cabs can be hailed in the street. Check whether the yellow taxi sign is on.

 

Double-Decker

The red bus has two stories in support of mass transport objectives in London.