England Guide

Don't forget England is also the home of Manchester - birthplace of Oasis and home of two of Europe's greatest football teams as well as the world famous university towns of Oxford or Cambridge. And then of course there is the English countryside full of rolling green hills and dotted with pretty villages - the perfect place to enjoy a traditional English tea of scones with jam and clotted cream and cucumber sandwiches.

England is also a country full of history. There can be few countries in the world that have been occupied, and in turn occupied others, as England. The Romans, the French, the Vikings, they were all here and left their imprint on the culture and monuments of the land. But don't forget also that England is the home of Democracy as we know it. Concepts that were exported to France and then on to America. And of course England was the birthplace of the industrial revolution and the first factories which shaped the economy and the way we all live today.

There can be few countries in the world that have been occupied, and in turn occupied others, as England

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Travel in England

There are many ways to get around once you are here. England enjoys very good transport links but be warned because some of it can be a little bit expensive. For travellers on a budget or even if you just want to save a few pounds there are plenty of busses and private coaches that go up and down the country to all the major cities. Often you'll find coach stations next to or near train stations and the price is often less than half the cost of a train. Most coach companies also let you book online which can save you a further few pounds too.

If you do want to take a train, make sure you book well in advance as turning up in the morning and taking a train to Manchester or Liverpool could cost you hundreds of pounds. Often as much as a return air ticket to France, Spain or Greece!

turning up in the morning and taking a train to Manchester or Liverpool could cost you hundreds of pounds

If you use the London Underground also make sure you buy a day pass. The more you pay the more regions you can travel in. You will often find that the cost of one single journey underground ticket is the same or even more than a ticket for the whole day. You can buy all tickets from machines but don't be shy if your English isn't great - England is a very multicultural country and you'll certainly hear plenty of accents in your travels. English people also call the undeground 'the tube' and an underground station is also sometimes called a 'tube station'.

Of course the ideal thing is to have your own car. It gives you the freedom to truly go wherever you want and actually get out of London. And believe me you'll meet more French, Spanish and Japanese people in the tourist hot spots in the summer than English people anyway. Luckily, taking your car from Europe to England is incredibly easy. Just drive on the ferry and drive off. Make sure your you are covered by your insurance - normally if you have full insurance in the EU you are free to drive anywhere - just drive on the ferry and drive off.

Of course the ideal thing is to have your own car. It gives you the freedom to truly go wherever you want and actually get out of London

The only tricky part is driving on the left - and not forgetting that fact as you drive along an empty country road - believe me it's happened to me and you get a nasty shock when someone comes straight for you on YOUR side of the road and you momentarily think "What is HE doing?!"

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Places to visit and things to see

I am from Oxford so I guess you might expect me to recommend it but Oxford and the surrounding area should definitely be on your list. Not only is Oxford a beautiful and charming city full of unique architecture but there are many wonderful free museums. There is the world famous Ashmolean where you can see great paintings of the Oxfordshire countryside by John Constable.

There is also the Museum of Natural History and the science museum where you can see important artefacts of some of the greatest scientific discoveries of our time. One piece on display is a little wooden box. It doesn't look like anything special but this little box is in fact a radio that Guglielmo Marconi used in his famous public demonstration of wireless radion in London's Toynbee Hall in 1896. The audience were astounded to hear a bell ring in the box every time Marconi pressed a button on the stage.

Just half an hour away from Oxford by bus is the charming village of Woodstock which is also the home of Blenheim Palace - the home of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. The palace and it's garden - a typical example of the English landscape garden - are well worth a visit.

Of course, England is an Island too and some of the best beaches in the world are in the English county of Cornwall in the South of the country. You will have a great time in on Cornwall's 320 miles of beaches and coastline with fantastic waves for surfing and glistening golden sands as well as spectacular countryside views.

Cornwall is also famous for it's ice-cream and seafood. I wouldn't recommended combing them but food lovers will also love this county - just be careful in pubs as many may promote food 'prepared on the premises' but this might mean they simply put it in the microwave!

Cornwall is also famous for it's ice-cream and seafood. I wouldn't recommended combing them but food lovers will also love this county

Okay, okay, last but not least London. London may be extremely popular with tourists but there are good reasons. The London Eye, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Oxford Street, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square and, if you go in June or July, Wimbledon where Federer and the Williams sisters please excited tennis fans and you can snack on strawberries and cream. Just be sure to reserve early and don't worry if you can't get on to the bigger courts or they are too pricey. You can still get the full Wimbledon experience with a ticket to the minor courts and if you go early on in the tournament, there is still a good chance that you'll see a famous name - maybe the new tennis sensation Andy Murray. Just don't forget he is Scottish not English - that is unless he wins in which case he is a national hero no matter where he comes from!

Just don't forget he is Scottish not English - that is unless he wins in which case he is a national hero no matter where he comes from!

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In conclusion, England really is a great place to visit and if you've already seen London, or even if you haven't, why not try visiting somewhere else. You might find you actually enjoy it a whole lot more than London. And of course the best way to truly explore is with your own car. So, what are you waiting for? Book your ferry to England today.