There are so many places to go and things to see in the East of England you’ll find it hard to fit it all in! Each of the region’s counties has its very own unique character and all of them have a wealth of places to explore and treasures to discover. Step into the East of England and you step into a subtly different world. Senses are somehow heightened beneath the great wide skies that arch above the area due to its flat landscape.

It’s England as you like it - the perfect mix of soft and gentle countryside, ancient cities, stately homes and gardens, charming towns, storybook villages, bird-reserved beaches and old-fashioned seaside fun. And all with that special additive - so very unique to the East of England - a very quirky individuality. In Stilton, Cambridgeshire, they roll cheeses down the street. At Grimston, Norfolk, they race snails on the cricket pitch for prizes. And at Great Dunmow, Essex, they have a mock trial, complete with a bewigged judge, to find a couple who ‘haven’t had a brawl for the last 12 months and a day’. Delightfully different!

There are ghosts galore throughout the region. At Blickling Hall, Norfolk, it’s not just the horseman that is headless - but the horses, too, along with poor Ann Boleyn who sits with her head on her lap. On the Norfolk Broads there’s a phantom skater and a ghost wherry. And at Dunwich, Suffolk, now lost beneath the waves, you can listen for the church bells of a huge and prosperous town.

Follies are a favourite in the eccentric East. You’ll find all shapes and sizes from the giant rotunda of 18th century Ickworth House to the House in the Clouds on the Suffolk Coast - a former water tower converted into a unique holiday home. And then there are those other oddities - like the huge Tudor Dovecote at Willington in Bedfordshire, where there are also remains of a Viking harbour down by the river. And to get really confused - try and puzzle out the ancient earth maze at Saffron Walden, Essex. Or how they built the Mathematical Bridge in Cambridge without any nails.

Like the rest of England, the Heart of England is charmingly individual, but the bonus is that the Heart of England is at the hub of Britain’s road network, so exploring every last bit of it is made very easy! You don’t have to fly into London because there is the international airport at Birmingham right in the centre of the region. Birmingham is also now able to offer a world-class cultural scene, superb shopping, top attractions, fantastic nightlife, major international events and exhibitions

Take some time to visit the Cotswolds, taking in the many honey-coloured villages. The potteries of Staffordshire to the north of the region are juxtaposed with Shakespeare’s Stratford-on-Avon and the nearby lesser-known parts of Warwickshire. Close by lies the Black Country, and a visit here will reveal a rich seam of art, crafts, tradition and culture with modern architectural design sitting alongside villages from the Victorian era.

Explore the counties of Herefordshire and Shropshire along the beautiful borderlands of England and Wales, sampling the myriad of excellent restaurants and locally produced food. Don’t forget to discover the real taste of the countryside in Herefordshire’s famous cider.

In Worcestershire you can find fine churches, historic buildings and a thriving arts scene with internationally acclaimed festivals and events.

This is just a taster of what’s on offer in the Heart of England, you have to come here yourself to discover the rest!

The South West is a region of contrasts - Wiltshire, where South West England begins less than an hour from London; Gloucestershire, home to the Forest of Dean and the Cotswolds; Dorset, an area of outstanding natural beauty and bordered by the Jurassic coastline; Bristol and Bath, with centuries of history and culture; Somerset, a mix of heather covered Exmoor and the levels of Sedgemoor; Devon, with two coastlines and wide open spaces; Cornwall, bounded by the sea and steeped in Celtic tradition with the delightful Scilly Isles, each with its own features and attractions.

Majestic cathedrals grace cities like Salisbury, Gloucester, Wells, Truro and Exeter while Bath boasts famous Roman remains and Georgian splendour. Maritime history features strongly in Plymouth from where the Pilgrim Fathers and Sir Francis Drake sailed. And for contemporary arts, Bristol, the largest city in the South West, is home to the wonderful Arnolfini.

Wherever you go you will see spectacular scenery, wonderful countryside and a beautiful coastline. Walk the coastal paths, discover sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, secluded coves and picturesque fishing villages, or visit the larger and livelier resorts. Inland, visit prehistoric sites, villages with thatched, cob cottages and riverside pubs, stately homes with landscaped gardens or the wide open spaces of the wonderful National Parks, Exmoor and Dartmoor.

South East England is a region rich in experiences. It has something to offer every age group and every traveller. Whether you are looking at visiting for a weekend or a month this region has everything you could want.

Over the years, authors of novels to writers of classics have lived in and gained inspiration from, the South East of England, with its rich mix of historical cities and wonderful sea bordered countryside. The stunning scenery and historical attractions have also provided the perfect setting for many movies and TV shows.

The South East has played an important role in the military history of Britain from great naval battles to world wars there are sites across the South East that play tribute to this past. Strong royal connections, royal residences, stately homes, castles, fortresses and momentous events mean’s the region has seen many Royal visitors and residents.

Relax in the tranquil settings of some of the most beautiful gardens and parks, stroll through the streets, villages, towns and cities and experience the architectural heritage on offer.

For a spot of retail therapy the South East has it all: premier shopping centres, unique boutiques and designer outlets - pure heaven!

No vaccinations are required for entry into Britain. Citizens of all EU countries and those with a reciprocal health care agreement are entitled to free medical treatment at National Health Service hospitals. If you don’t fall into either of these categories, you will be charged for all medical services, in which case health insurance is strongly advised. Indeed, even though EU health care privileges apply in Britain, visitors from elsewhere in the EU would also do well to take out an insurance policy before travelling to cover against theft and loss as well as illness or injury

Trains

In the recent past Britain’s rail network has suffered a foolhardy privatization process and a chronic under-investment, resulting in a severe decline in services. With the ownership of the track and stations put into the hands of Railtrack, but the trains and services run by a tangle of private companies, there has been no little confusion when it comes to trying to figure out routes and prices. Spiralling prices and unreliable services had already caused many passengers to run for their cars, but it was the train disasters at Paddington in 1999 and Hatfied in 2000 that brought the crisis on the privatized railways to a head; an urgent and long overdue overhaul of the tracks followed, but public confidence in the privatized system - and Railtrack in particular - hit an all time low. At the end of 2001, the government finally pulled the plug on troubled Railtrack, and a re-evaluation of how the privatized network shall be run in the future is currently underway.

Despite this bleak picture, it is fair to say that most trains run more-or-less to schedule (except on Sundays when maintenance work takes place) and that there are but a few major towns that cannot be reached by rail. Travelling across country - or reaching remote corners - can be more tricky, however, and at best will involve connections with several different services.

You can buy tickets at the train station on the day of travel, but it should hardly come as a surprise to find that booking as far ahead as possible ensures the cheapest fares - or that travelling most places on a Friday, or just turning up at the station to buy a ticket, are the most expensive ways to go. In all instances, an essential first call is National Rail Enquiries (we’ve listed rail contacts), which can advise on booking, routes and services throughout the country. Credit-card bookings are made through the privatized rail companies; if you’re booking three or more days in advance, you can do this through any of the companies, otherwise you will need to contact the network that covers the station you depart from. National Rail Enquiries will supply the necessary contact name and number.

At the time of writing, there were four types of reduced-fare ticket - Saver, SuperSaver, SuperAdvanced and Apex - all with byzantine restrictions which are often different from route to route and company to company (for instance, it’s often cheaper to travel return from the north to London, than it is from London to the north). Apex tickets are issued in limited numbers on certain intercity journeys of 150 miles or more, and have to be booked at least 7 days before travelling; a seat reservation is included with the ticket. To give you an idea of the differing fares, using the London-Manchester service as an example, an open return fare costs £164, a Saver £49, a SuperSaver £47 and an Apex £30, with special deals bringing the fare as low as £15 at certain times of the year. For all special-offer tickets you should book as far in advance as you possibly can - many Apex tickets are sold out weeks before the travel date.

Children aged 5-15 inclusive pay half the adult fare on most journeys - but there are no discounts on Apex tickets. Under-5s travel free, although they are not entitled to a seat.

At weekends and on public holidays, many long-distance services have a special deal whereby you can convert your second-class ticket to a first-class one by buying a first-class supplement , which costs between £5 and £15 and is well worth paying if you’re facing a five-hour journey on a popular route - every Brit has a horror story about having to stand all the way from London to Glasgow in a smelly second-class carriage.

If the station’s ticket office is closed - which is likely at rural stations at weekends - or does not have a vending machine, you may buy your ticket on the train. Otherwise, boarding without a ticket will render you liable to paying the full fare to your destination

Bus

Inter-town bus services (known as coaches in Britain) duplicate many rail routes, very often at half the price of the train or less. The frequency of service is often comparable to rail, and in some instances the difference in journey time isn’t great enough to be a deciding factor; buses are generally comfortable, and the ones on longer routes often have drinks and sandwiches available on board. There’s a plethora of regional companies operating buses and coaches, but by far the biggest national operator is National Express , whose network extends to every corner of the country. With rail prices becoming exorbitant, National Express services are so popular that for busy routes, and on any route at weekends and during holidays, it’s advisable to book ahead, rather than just turn up.

Local bus services are run by a bewildering array of companies, most private, a few not. In many cases, timetables and routes are well integrated, but it’s increasingly the case that private companies duplicate the busiest routes in an attempt to undercut the commercial opposition, leaving the farther-flung spots neglected. Thus, if you want to get from one end of a big English city to another, you’ll probably have a choice of buses all offering cut-price fares, but to get out into the suburbs or to a satellite village, you may have to wait several hours. As a rule, the further away from urban areas you get, the less frequent and more expensive bus services become, but there are very few rural areas which aren’t served by at least the occasional privately owned minibus.

Car

In order to drive in Britain you need a current full driving licence . If you’re bringing your own vehicle, you should also carry your vehicle registration or ownership document at all times. Furthermore, you must be adequately insured : check your existing insurance policy.

In Britain, you drive on the left , a situation which can lead to a few tense days of acclimatization for overseas drivers. Speed limits are 30-40mph (50-65kph) in built-up areas, 70mph (110kph) on motorways and dual carriageways (freeways) and 50mph (80kph) on most other roads. As a rule, assume that in any area with street lighting the speed limit is 30mph (50kph) unless otherwise stated.

Fuel is expensive compared to North American prices - unleaded petrol (gasoline) and diesel cost in the region of 77p per litre, leaded 4-star 80p. The lowest prices of all are charged at out-of-town supermarkets; suburban service stations are usually fairly reasonable; and the highest prices are charged by motorway stations.
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Considering the temperate nature of the British climate , it’s amazing how much mileage the locals get out of the subject: a two-day cold snap is discussed as if it were the onset of a new Ice Age, and a week in the upper 70s starts rumours of a heatwave. The fact is that summers rarely get hot and the winters don’t get very cold, except in the north of Scotland and on the highest points of the Welsh and Scottish uplands. Rainfall is fairly even, though again mountainous areas get higher quantities throughout the year (the west coast of Scotland is especially damp, and Llanberis, at the foot of Snowdon, gets more than twice as much rainfall as Caernarfon, seven miles away). In general, the south gets more hours of sunshine than the north.

The bottom line is that it’s impossible to say with any degree of certainty what the weather will be like. May might be wet and grey one year and gloriously sunny the next; November stands an equal chance of being crisp and clear or foggy and grim. If you’re planning to lie on a beach, or camp in the dry, you’ll want to visit between June and September - a period when you shouldn’t go anywhere without booking your accommodation in advance. Elsewhere, if you’re balancing the clemency of the weather against the density of the crowds, the best months to explore are April, May, September and October

In terms of the number of tourists they attract, the biggest occasions in the English calendar are the rituals that have associations with the ruling classes - from the courtly pageant of the Trooping of the Colour to the annual rowing race between Oxford and Cambridge universities. In Scotland many visitors home straight in on bagpipes, ceilidhs and Highland Games; such anachronisms certainly reflect the endemic British taste for nostalgia, but to gauge the spirit of the nation you should sample a wider range of events.

London’s large-scale festivals range from the riotous street party of the Notting Hill Carnival to the Promenade concerts, Europe’s most egalitarian high-class music season, while the Edinburgh Festival and Welsh National Eisteddfod are vast cultural jamborees that have attained international status. Every major town in Britain has its own local arts festival, the best of which, along with various other local fairs and commemorative shows, are mentioned in the guide; we’ve listed the very biggest ones.

To see Britain at its most idiosyncratic, take a look at one of the numerous regional celebrations that perpetuate ancient customs , the origins and meanings of which have often been lost or conveniently forgotten. The sight of the entire population of a village scrambling around a field after a barrel (that they call a bottle), or chasing a cheese downhill is not easily forgotten. Some of these strange rituals are mentioned in the guide and included in the list. Bear in mind that at a few of the smaller, more obscure events casual visitors are not always welcome. If in doubt, check with the local tourist office.

Also included in the list are the main sports events , which may often be difficult to get tickets for, but are invariably televised. In addition to these, there are of course football matches every Saturday (and some Sundays) from late August till early May, and cricket matches every day throughout the summer - both interesting social phenomena even for those unenthralled by team sports.

Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire
Autumn is the best time to appreciate the majestic beauty of this amazing collection of trees and plants set in peaceful countryside.

Cowes Week, Isle of Wight
The spirited atmosphere and sense of occasion at this yachting jamboree every August draw thousands, infecting even the staunchest landlubbers.

York Minster
Britain’s biggest Gothic church has a thousand-year history and treasures to match, including the world’s largest medieval stained-glass window.

A pint down the pub
From trendy micro-breweries to ancient coaching inns, England’s pubs are an essential part of any visit.

St Ives Tate, Cornwall
Southwest England’s best arts collection occupies a superb site overlooking Porthmeor Beach, and has a wonderful rooftop cafe.

Oxford
The famous old university town boasts many beautiful buildings, including the imposing Italianate rotunda, Radcliffe Camera.

Surfing, Newquay
The beaches strung along the north coast of Devon and Cornwall offers some great breaks, and Newquay is still the top place to see and be seen.

Royal Crescent, Bath
After visiting the baths, head to England’s most elegant Georgian terrace, perfectly sited for views across the town.

WOMAD
Celebrations of World Music, Arts and Dance are now held all over the world, but the first and best is staged at Reading’s Rivermead Leisure Complex each July.

Punting on the Cam
The handsome university town of Cambridge is justifiably popular, and punting on the River Cam is de rigueur.

As you’d expect of such a small and densely populated island, just about every place in Britain is accessible by train or bus. However, costs are among the highest in Europe - London’s commuters spend more on getting to work than any of their European counterparts - while cross-country travel can eat up a large part of your budget.

It pays to plan ahead and make sure you’re aware of all the passes and special deals on offer - note that some are only available outside Britain and must be purchased before you arrive. It’s often cheaper to drive yourself around, though fuel and car rental costs again are among the highest in Europe and will seem prohibitive to North Americans. Congestion around the main cities can be bad, and even the motorways are liable to sporadic gridlocks, especially on public holidays when what seems like half the population takes to the road.