England travel guide
It really doesn’t matter whether you’ve lived in England all your life or you’re visiting from distant lands; there are plenty of country tracks, coastal trails and historic towpaths to invigorate even the most wizened of world-weary travelers. There’s no better way to get around other than two feet or two wheels and packing your bag for every eventuality, weather-wise, gets you out of doors without a moment’s thought.
Get out of the cut-and-paste high streets and into the rural lanes and remote villages as a vacation in England lets you walk, rest and play all year round.
Crossing counties unlocks dialects and colloquialisms unbeknown to the rest of the country and if you’re ever asked the question: ‘does one apply jam or cream first to a scone?’ having first-hand experience is essential prior to confidently committing to an answer. Outdoor summer festivals, frosty winter mornings, newborn spring lambs and autumnal bonfires making dark nights sizzle; there’s a reason why England’s a great place to visit but that, of course, would be telling.
Our England Vacations
Devon eco lodge accommodation, England
Award winning lodges on a wildlife-rich Devon farm
From
£205 to £810
per accommodation per week
Devon self catering cottage in England
Cosy self catering cottage with woodburner in rural Devon.
From
£205 to £590
per week (sleeps 4)
Lake District hike on the Cumbria Way, England
Hiking vacation in England's Lake District
From
£675 to £981
10 days
ex flights
Lands End To John O'Groats biking trip
Britain's classic cycling challenge
From
£1945
16 days
ex flights
York to Fountains Abbey hiking vacation, England
The Prior Richards way self-guided 12th century hike
From
£250
4 days
ex flights
Fowey accommodation in Cornwall, sleeps 2, England
Cottages looking down the valley towards Fowey and the sea
From
£125 to £145
per cottage per night
Thames Path walking vacation in England
Self guided walk along the River Thames Oxford to Windsor
From
£624 to £888
7 days
ex flights
Small group tour of Great Britain
Short but comprehensive tour of Great Britain
From
£879
7 days
ex flights
Pilgrims Way self guided walking tour, England
Discover Kent's history, its landscape and its people
From
£649
6 days
ex flights
Peak District self catering log cabins, England
Self-catering log cabins in the Derbyshire Peak District
From
£475 to £940
per cabin per week (sleeps 4-6)
Shakespeares Way walking vacation, Cotswolds to London
From Stratford-upon-Avon to The Globe Theatre
From
£595 to £1980
8 days
ex flights
Isle of Wight self catering cottage nr Shorwell, England
Delightful cottage & garden in picturesque village location
From
£385 to £945
per cottage per week (sleeps 2-6)
Yorkshire guided hiking vacation, The Prior Richard Way
A guided 12th century hike, York to Fountains Abbey via Ripon
From
£350
4 days
ex flights
Walking vacation in Kent, self guided walks
Discover hidden Kent, its people and their history.
From
£778
7 days
ex flights
Country hotel nr Beaulieu, New Forest, England
A former coaching inn on the outskirts of Beaulieu.
From
£57
per person per night
Isle of Wight self catering accommodation, England
Quiet cottage on edge of Brighstone village, Isle of Wight
From
£395 to £845
per week (sleeps 2-4)
Dorset walking vacation, the Jurassic Coast
Experience England's most beautiful counties
From
£589 to £649
6 days
inc UK flights
Pilgrims Way guided hiking vacation, England
Discover any of our walks with guide
From
£15
1 day
ex flights
Dales Way walking vacation in Yorkshire, England
The Dales Way self guided walking vacation
From
£657 to £963
10 days
ex flights
Jurassic Coast walking vacation in Dorset, UK
Explore stunning UK coastline
From
£699 to £719
6 days
ex flights
The Thames Path Source to Oxford walk, England
Walking on The River Thames from The Cotswolds to Oxford
From
£510 to £730
6 days
ex flights
England spiritual tour
Visit Avebury, Stonehenge and Glastonbury steeped in myth and legend
From
£1879
8 days
ex flights
Seven Sisters bed and breakfast, South Downs
16th century farmhouse set in the Seven Sisters Country Park
From
£120 to £350
per room per night
South West Coast Path walking vacation, England
Minehead to Barnstaple walk on the South West Coast Path
From
£560 to £798
8 days
ex flights
Highlights of Hadrians Wall hiking vacation, England
Self-guided walk along the Hadrian's Wall Path
From
£300 to £396
5 days
ex flights
Northumberland coast hike, England
Self Guided Walking Vacation in Northumberland Coast Path
From
£560 to £798
8 days
ex flights
South West Coast Path hiking vacation, England
Bude to Newquay along the South West Coast Path
From
£640 to £912
9 days
ex flights
Irish Sea to the North Sea cycling vacation
Join the classic coast to coast cycle challenge
From
US $600
4 days
ex flights
Barnstaple to Bude South West Coast Path walk in England
South West Coast Path in England walking tour
From
£560 to £798
8 days
ex flights
Scotland and England castles tour by train
Castle hotels, hadrian's wall and beautiful rail scenery
From
£1375 to £1485
7 days
ex flights
Our top England Vacation
Devon eco lodge accommodation, England
Award winning lodges on a wildlife-rich Devon farm
From
£205 to £810
per accommodation per week
Accommodation
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about England or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
England map & highlights
The North of England may be seen as bleak by some shandy-drinking southerners but it certainly packs a punch when it comes to height with Cumbria, Derbyshire and Yorkshire providing the three lions’ share of upland areas. Folds flatten, slightly, south of the Pennines, with the Cotswolds, Chilterns and North and South Downs providing ample hillside views whilst the uninhabited moors and rugged coastlines of the West Country, including Devon and Cornwall, offer much wilder, woollier, alternatives. The best time to travel in England is out of the summer vacations with the spring producing blankets of bluebells and twittering birds whilst the autumn is all about kicking up leaves and flasks of hot pumpkin soup.
1. Devon
2. Isle of Wight
3. Lake District
4. New Forest
5. Pilgrims Way
6. South Downs
7. Yorkshire
2. Isle of Wight
3. Lake District
4. New Forest
5. Pilgrims Way
6. South Downs
7. Yorkshire
Devon
1. Devon
Idling over Devon’s agricultural landscapes, the wilds of Dartmoor or via the coves and beaches of the Jurassic Coast is the stuff of dreams, ensuring cyclists and walkers will be in their absolute element. Log fires in country pubs, the debate over jam or cream first on a scone, healthy, happy, muddy kids and dogs; you name it and Devon has got it in bucket loads.
Isle of Wight
2. Isle of Wight
Step on a ferry bound for Cowes, Yarmouth or Ryde, and you’ll be transported to a vacation destination that boasts 100km of beach, 300km of cycle trails and over 800km of well-signed walking paths. Historic properties, such as Osborne House and Carisbrooke Castle, provide the cultural interludes with numerous parks, gardens and even vineyards adding to the island's appeal.
Lake District
3. Lake District
Although Windermere can get busy, especially during the summer, there are numerous lesser-visited shores where views and peace are completely unhindered. Tackling parts of walking routes, such as the Cumbria Way, will take you through some of the national park’s rarely seen areas with farmland, rivers and fells adding to the classic scenes you’ll find en-route from Ulverston to Carlisle.
New Forest
4. New Forest
Wisteria-clad cottages, historic mansions and untold acres of grass, heath and woodland make the New Forest a treat for the senses and a great opportunity to get outdoors and experience the very best of southern England. Cycling or walking is the only way to travel with woodlarks, warblers and lapwings nipping in and out of heathland and wild ponies casually meandering wherever the heck they please.
Pilgrims Way
5. Pilgrims Way
Tackling the near 200km historic walking route from Hampshire to Kent is a fabulous excuse to explore the ancient tracks between towns such as Winchester, Canterbury and Guildford, as well as the open chalk hills, grassy meadows and areas of woodland associated with the North and Kent Downs. Grab a guide book, slip on your boots, pick a pub for lunch and you’re off.
South Downs
6. South Downs
Close to our hearts, as our office is on its doorstep, the South Downs National Park is the breathing space of burgeoning SE England. Just an hour from London, this undulating, chalky landscape is a magnet for hikers, bikers and families wanting to escape. Hike all or part of the South Downs Way (161km), check out Transition Town of Lewes, and don’t miss our beloved Sussex Heritage Coast.
Yorkshire
7. Yorkshire
Following rivers through valleys and over hill and dale is what walking in God’s own country is all about and if you’ve packed your bag with a healthy slice of Yorkshire brack to enjoy with a flask of tea against a dry stone wall then you won’t need any further persuasion. The Dales Way, from Ilkley to Lake Windermere, is an 82 miler that incorporates some of the county’s most quintessential landscapes.
More about England
Any time’s the best time to visit England as from cosy country pubs and uncrowded walking routes to sensible packing tips and where to see wildlife, check out our temperature & rainfall chart and find out the best time to visit England that suits you and your calendar.
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: Luke Porter] [Top quote: Dimitry B.]
[Map top box: Dmitry Dzhus]
[Devon: Phil Gayton]
[Isle of Wight: Andrew]
[Lake District: Jorge Franganillo]
[New Forest: Supermac1961]
[Pilgrim's Way: Mikael Leppä]
[Yorkshire: Peer Lawther]
[South Downs: Marc Berry Reid]
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