The cities of England are really fascinating. It’s hard to choose the most beautiful and inspiring ones, but we’ve separated the ones that you certainly shouldn’t miss. Check out!
England is a country full of history and amazing places to visit. With many castles, palaces, unique architecture, pubs and spa towns, it’s worth putting the Queen’s Land on your list of places to visit. After six months living there I can say that I got to know a lot about the country and today I’m going to give you tips on what to visit and how to set up your England travel itinerary.
Planning tips for your trip to England
If you want to have the trip of your dreams, you need to think about every detail, after all, on an international trip, anything can happen. Check out important tips related to currency, international chip, travel insurance and much more!
England Currency
The currency of England is the pound. You can exchange pounds before you travel or as soon as you arrive at an exchange office. Also always carry one or two credit card options authorized for use abroad or debit cards such as Visa Travel Money.
Immigration in England
England is not part of the Schengen Area and you will need a visa to enter the country. For stays of less than 6 months, the visa is issued at the airport, when you stamp your passport. It is important to have printed the following documents and booking vouchers in English:
- Valid passport;
- Round-trip air tickets;
- Proof of stay ( hotel reservation, Airbnb, etc);
- Financial vouchers for visiting the country;
- Itinerary or tourist places you are going to visit.
If you are staying at a friend’s house, it is important to have an invitation letter in English with all your and your friend’s details (including occupation, telephone, address, etc.). If you live in Europe and are going to visit England, don’t forget to bring your Residence Permit.
The 10 best cities in England: tourist tips
Check out the list of things to visit in England. To visit all the cities on the list, the ideal is to stay at least 10 days in the country, with at least 3 days in London. Check out our travel itinerary and the best cities in England to visit:
1) London
London is the capital of England and one of the most amazing places in the world. It is possible to spend at least 30 days in the city and still not see everything! Attractions, pubs, restaurants, theaters, churches, palaces! Many entire neighborhoods have amazing things to do, as is the case with Notting Hill.
Start your England travel itinerary in the English capital. There are at least four airport options in the city and you can choose to land at Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick or the more central London City Airport (smaller planes).
Getting around the city is easy and public transport works very well! The subway is always the fastest option to avoid traffic and be able to see more attractions in a single day.
In London, be sure to visit Big Ben, the London Eye (famous Ferris wheel), Buckingham Palace (open to visitors only in summer), the Changing of the Guard (11:00 am – Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). See the complete schedule on the official website.
Visit the beautiful Tower Bridge and the banks of the River Thames in London, Westminster Abbey, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus.
Also, take the time to stroll and have lunch in Camden Town, stroll the Notting Hill market, visit the fantastic museums and see the city’s parks. Among the museums, my favorite is the Natural History Museum in London , an amazing tour for both children and adults.
London’s main attractions:
- Big Ben and Palace of Westminster
- London Eye
- Buckingham Palace
- Westminster Abbey
- Saint Paul’s Cathedral
- Trafalgar Square
- Piccadilly Circus
- Oxford Road
- Camden Town
- Notting Hill
- Tower Bridge
- Hyde Park
- Natural History Museum
- British Museum
2) Cambridge
Driving up the country to the north, it is best to rent a car when leaving London. Or take a train or bus to Cambridge. By car it is 102 kilometers from the capital and about 2 hours of travel. By train, the journey takes 54 minutes.
In Cambridge it is possible to spend the day and go up towards the north. Visit the famous University of Cambridge, take a guided tour and discover the second oldest university in the world still functioning (founded in 1209).
3) Cities in England: Lincoln
In Lincoln, stroll through the streets at the top of the city where Lincoln Castle and the beautiful Cathedral are located. Wander the streets of Steep Hill and enjoy the local cuisine. A cute town to spend the day or a morning. It is worth knowing and putting in your travel itinerary England.
4) Peak District National Park – Bakewell, Buxton
In the center of the country is the Peak District, a national park with lots of greenery and charming small towns and cities. It feels like you are traveling through time. Among the places that most enchanted me in the national park were the cities of Bakewell and Buxton. Don’t miss the imposing Chatsworth Palace and be enchanted by the hospitality of the English residents of the countryside.
To get to know the Peak District the best way is to go by car and stop at pubs, churches, waterfalls and villages. The park also has grottos, caves and places to go hiking, jogging and cycling or horse riding.
5) York
To close the trip with a flourish, go to YORK! Simply the cutest city in the world! A charming place, full of amazing shops, pubs and jaw-dropping architecture.
The city is fully walled and the Gothic York Minster Cathedral is from the 13th century. The place is quite touristy and with incredible hotels of all stars. York’s Chocolate Story is one of the attractions for chocolate lovers. In addition, the city has several amazing bakeries (very rare in England). The ma-ra-vi-lho-so caramel shortcake is worth trying.
To return to London, you can drive (4 hours trip – 326 kilometers) or return by train in just 2 hours.
To rent a car in Europe, the best option is the Rental cars website, it compares the prices of several rental companies and you can save a lot during your trip to England.
6) Brighton
Brighton is in the south of England and is a popular summer destination. The first reason is obvious: the city is on the English coast, the other reason is the short distance from the capital, London, (only 76 km). In addition, Brighton has been named the happiest city to live in the UK.
Places to visit in Brighton include the Royal Pavilion, Brighton Deck, British Airways i360, Sea Life Brighton and Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. Visiting these places, you will enjoy a lot and get to know the city a lot.
7) Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne or Newcastle is one of the cities of England and is located in the North East of England. The River Tyne cuts through the city, which is the most populous in the region. When visiting Newcastle, head to Tyne Bridge, Newcastle Castle, Grainger Town, including Grey’s Monument and Theater Royal. Also, know that the nightlife there is very busy and there is no shortage of leisure options.
8) Birmingham
One of the cities in England that you need to visit is Birmingham. It is the second largest city in the United Kingdom and has a population of 1.1 million people, however, its metropolitan area is huge and exceeds 4.3 million inhabitants. Birmingham is 160 km from London and is considered the social, cultural, financial and commercial center of the Midlands.
Birmingham’s economy is dominated by the service sector and the city is a major international trade center as well as a major hub for transportation, retail, events and conferences. After London, the city’s five universities make it the second largest center of higher education in the country.
When visiting Birmingham, include the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Cadbury World, Black Country Living Museum, National Sea Life Center Birmingham, Birmingham Library, The Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum, and The Bullring. It is worth it!
9) Nottingham
Nottingham is a city in central England that is closely linked to the legend of Robin Hood. With around 330,000 inhabitants, its metropolitan area has more than 1.6 million inhabitants and its economy is the seventh largest in the United Kingdom. Include in the visit Nottingham Castle, Wollaton Hall Park (very beautiful) and in the central part, the National Justice Museum and the Old Market Square.
10) Manchester
Another of the cities in England that you need to visit is Manchester. With over 500,000 inhabitants, it is a large city that is notable for its architecture and culture. In addition, the city stands out for its scientific and engineering production, sports clubs and transport connections.
When in town, visit the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester Art Gallery, National Football Museum, Manchester Museum, Old Trafford Stadium (home of Manchester United), Imperial War Museum North, John Rylands and Manchester Cathedral.
Best time to visit England
England is beautiful in all seasons of the year, but in autumn and winter it rains a lot! The best time to visit England is in the summer, between the end of June and the end of August. Even so, it is necessary to be prepared with waterproof coats, boots and warm clothes. Because the summer averages are at 20°.
It’s important to know that the UK socket is different from other countries, but you can buy a socket adapter once you get there. The best stores are Poundland, Savers, Home Bargains. Or even at the airport (which is a little more expensive).
Is it worth taking a eurotrip to England?
Of course it’s worth including England on your next eurotrip ! And the reasons are several: the first is because it is easy to access the country (plane, bus or train) and the second is because England is a country very rich in culture and history. In other words, including England in your next eurotrip is an excellent idea!
How to save money on a trip to England
Initially, you need to understand that there is a myth surrounding England because of the currency. The pound sterling is stronger (or once was) than the dollar and the real, for example, so if you do a simple conversion (1 pound = 6 reais) you will find everything expensive. The right thing is to find ways to save and, for that, we are going to give you some tips:
Food: opt for supermarkets and avoid eating only in restaurants. Always visit supermarkets to buy groceries (food, hygiene products…) and make your own meal. It may be simple, but in the end, it makes a big difference.
Accommodation and transport: if you want to save on accommodation, you will spend more on transport. This is because, generally, the more distant accommodations are the cheapest, however, the difference in value will often be used in transport (metro, taxi and train are expensive in England). So, do the math and see if it’s not worth getting better located to not spend so much on transport.
Invest in good shoes: yes, having comfortable shoes will make you walk with more quality (and less pain). So, when visiting England, have comfortable feet so you can visit as many places and attractions as possible and, whenever possible, travel on foot (within London this can generate great savings).
Documents needed to go to England
To visit the cities of England and enter the country, only your passport will be required by the local immigration authorities as a document. No prior visa is required to enter England, however immigration officers will check your passport, ask questions about what you want and intend to visit and how much money you have for the expected time of travel.
The ideal thing is to take everything printed (and in English) and have your place of accommodation, your updated bank account statement, the tourist attractions you are going to visit and cities you want to know at hand and organized. Do everything right so you don’t have problems with immigration!
Tips for a perfect trip to England
England is an excellent country for tourism. There are many leisure options, a lot of culture and history. Therefore, it is ideal for you to plan what you intend to visit in each of the cities in England that you visit, but, in addition, here are two essential tips:
Buy tickets in advance
Buying tickets in advance can save you a lot of money. Therefore, research tickets to England with plenty of time and, when buying the ticket, do not forget to opt for the one that contains the option to change the date at no cost. It’s just that, with the conflict in Europe and the pandemic, things can change quickly.
Travel to England in low season
Traveling around Europe in the summer months is synonymous with spending more than usual. So, visit England before the European holiday season and avoid the months of June, July, August and September. May is a great month, as is October, as it’s still not too cold (nor too hot) and you don’t pay the price in the face of things.
Cities in England: discover the most charming and small
There are many cities in England that are small but great to visit. See a list of them below:
- York;
- Buxton;
- Bakewell;
- Matlock;
- Beaconsfield;
- Canterbury;
- Cambridge;
- Lincoln;
- Brighton;
- Durham;
- Bournemouth;
- Lamington Spa;
I hope it helped you to put together your England travel itinerary. Have a good trip! Enjoy your time in England!
