England map & highlights
A “green and pleasant land” – England boasts a wonderful variety of landscapes that are ideal for walking and cycling vacations.![]()
If we can persuade you of one thing with this England travel guide, hopefully it will be to escape the confines of cities such as London and Oxford and to explore the country’s magnificent natural landscapes. You might spend a week in a country cottage buried deep in a national park, tackle a section of a famous long-distance walking route, or bring the family on an action-packed small group activity vacation in the beautiful Lake District. Wherever you base yourselves – coast, island, peaks or lakes – you’re generally well-served by public transport or roads, and of course one of England’s greatest charms is that you’re never far from a good country pub.
Our England Vacations
Devon eco lodge accommodation, England
Quirky eco lodges, 1 with Hot Tub, on a Devon nature reserve
From
£205 to £810
per accommodation per week
Lake District hike on the Cumbria Way, England
Hiking vacation in England's Lake District
From
£810 to £1116
10 days
ex flights
Devon self catering cottage in England
Cottage with lake view & wood burner on Devon nature reserve
From
£205 to £590
per week (sleeps 4)
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
Walking vacation in Kent, self guided walks
Discover hidden Kent, its people and their history.
From
£778
7 days
ex flights
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
Shakespeares Way walking vacation, Cotswolds to London
From Stratford-upon-Avon to The Globe Theatre
From
£595 to £1980
8 days
ex flights
Thames Path walking vacation in England
Self guided walk along the River Thames Oxford to Windsor
From
£660 to £954
7 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
Isle of Wight self catering accommodation, England
Quiet cottage on edge of Brighstone village, Isle of Wight
From
£435 to £929
per week (sleeps 2-4)
Isle of Wight self catering cottage nr Shorwell, England
Delightful cottage & garden in picturesque village location
From
£435 to £1035
per cottage per week (sleeps 2-6)
Lands End To John O'Groats biking trip
Britain's classic cycling challenge
From
£1895
16 days
ex flights
Yoga short break in Gloucestershire, UK
Letting Go - fears, beliefs, attachments...Open Your Heart
From
£550
3 days
ex flights
Lake District hiking vacation in England
Fells and lake views of Britain's Lake District
From
£749
8 days
ex flights
Dorset walking vacation, the Jurassic Coast
Experience England's most beautiful counties
From
£589 to £649
6 days
inc UK flights
Dales Way walking vacation in Yorkshire, England
The Dales Way self guided walking vacation
From
£765 to £1071
10 days
ex flights
Learn to sail, Darmouth to Falmouth, England
A week of sailing along the south coast of England.
From
£749
7 days
ex flights
Azores to UK sailing vacation
Join the second leg of the trans-Atlantic journey
From
£2099
15 days
ex flights
Cumberland Way hiking vacation in England
From coast to hill country in the Lake District
From
£699
8 days
ex flights
Suffolk hiking and gastronomy tour, England
Walking in unknown England at its prettiest
From
£2290
7 days
ex flights
Winchester to Canterbury Pilgrims way, England
Walk the Pilgrims Way from Winchester to Canterbury
From
£1569
14 days
ex flights
The Thames Path Source to Oxford walk, England
Walking on The River Thames from The Cotswolds to Oxford
From
£550 to £795
6 days
ex flights
Wye Valley hiking vacation in Wales
Secluded charm, ancient woodland and the river Wye.
From
£699
7 days
ex flights
Avon Valley River Path hiking vacation, England
Salisbury to Christchurch River walking vacation
From
£469 to £589
6 days
ex flights
Shakespeares Way & Thames Path walking vacation
Two fantastic traditional English walks.
From
£595 to £1180
8 days
ex flights
South West Coast Path hiking vacation, England
Bude to Newquay along the South West Coast Path
From
£720 to £992
9 days
ex flights
Thames Path walking vacation, England
Self-guided walk along the River Thames, England
From
£580 to £825
6 days
ex flights
North of England by train vacation
Tour Yorkshire and Hadrian's Wall by train
From
£715 to £795
8 days
ex flights
England Coast walking vacation Lydd to Ramsgate
Stunning walk along Kent's historic and iconic coastline
From
£516 to £949
8 days
ex flights
West Devon accommodation, B&B on organic farm, England
Farmstay in the heart of Devon
From
£75 to £85
per double room per night
1. Cornwall
2. Devon
3. Isle of Wight
4. Lake District
5. Peak District
6. South Downs National Park
7. Walking vacations
8. White Cliffs of Dover
2. Devon
3. Isle of Wight
4. Lake District
5. Peak District
6. South Downs National Park
7. Walking vacations
8. White Cliffs of Dover
Cornwall
1. Cornwall
England’s southwest corner has long been one of the country’s most sought-after – and therefore crowded – vacation destinations. Tension between locals and vacationmakers and second homeowners is also problematic. We recommend avoiding the Cornish hotspots in favour of a ramble along the famous South West Coast Path, or staying in the stunning Fowey River Valley.
Devon
2. Devon
Idling over Devon’s agricultural landscapes, the wilds of Dartmoor or the coves and beaches of the Jurassic Coast makes for a great break, ensuring cyclists and walkers will be in their absolute element. Eco-friendly accommodations, 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
3. 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
4. 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.
Peak District
5. Peak District
Stay in a traditional farmhouse near the market town of Ashbourne, with the option to self-cater or rely on your hosts for delicious homecooked meals. A fantastic option for walkers, families with young children (who will love collecting eggs and feeding the pygmy goats) and those with accessibility requirements. You’re just 20 minutes from Dovedale, one of the loveliest areas of the Peak District.
South Downs National Park
6. South Downs National Park
Close to our heart, because it’s so close to home for us, the South Downs National Park has over 3,000km of rights of way – the 161km South Downs Way from Winchester to Eastbourne being among the most popular walking routes. You might stay in a rural B&B, a self-catering cottage, even a yurt, to explore the park’s many market towns, walking and cycling trails or beautiful coast.
Walking vacations
7. Walking vacations
Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims, poets and saints with a vast number of walking vacations in England, taking you through some of the country’s most magnificent scenery. Well-known routes such as the Pilgrims’ Way, the Thames Path, Shakespeare’s Way, the South West Coast Path and the Cotswolds Way can easily be broken up into leisurely stages on tailor made routes.
White Cliffs of Dover
8. White Cliffs of Dover
One of England’s most iconic landscapes, the White Cliffs of Dover are for many travelers the last sight they have of home, and the first on their return. An eight-day walk takes you from Canterbury to Sandwich along the Saxon Shore Way, past historic castles and Roman ruins, and some of the finest coastal views in the country, all the while staying in a series of welcoming Kent inns.
Our top England Vacation
Devon eco lodge accommodation, England
Quirky eco lodges, 1 with Hot Tub, on a Devon nature reserve
From
£205 to £810
per accommodation per week
Accommodation
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about England or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
More about England
Check out our temperature & rainfall chart and find out the best time to visit England that suits you and your calendar.
As with all good England travel guides ours has an excellent map & highlights section to enable you to make the most of your time.
Read on to learn how to explore Devon on foot, on two wheels or even on the waves with a sea kayaking vacation.
Our England travel advice features specialist vacation companies and a selection of previous travelers, sharing their knowledge.
There are many aspects to responsible tourism in England, but here we concentrate on where you travel, and how you get there.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Luke Porter] [Fowey: Alison Day]
[Devon: Alison Day]
[Isle of Wight: Leandra Bischofberger]
[Lake District: Tobias Keller]
[Peak District: Simon Forster]
[South Downs National Park: Marcus Cramer]
[Winchester: Herry Lawford]
[White Cliffs of Dover: Callum Wale]
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