David Else - Lonely Planet England

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Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Manchester United, The Beatles. England does icons like no other place on earth, and travel here is a fascinating mix of famous names and hidden gems.

Tower Bridge () over the River Thames
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From the Roman remains of Hadrians Wall to the medieval architecture of Canterbury Cathedral, England is full of astounding variety. In the cities, the streets buzz day and night, filled with tempting shops and restaurants, and some of the finest museums in the world. After dark, cutting-edge clubs, top-class theatre and formidable live music provide nights to remember. Next day, youre deep in the English countryside admiring quaint villages or enjoying a classic seaside resort. There really is something for everyone, whether youre eight or 80, going solo or travelling with your friends, your kids or your grandma.

Ajourney through England is a journey through history. But not history thats dull and dusty, history you can feel and re-live. You can lay your hands on the ancient megaliths of a 5000-year-old stone circle, or walk the battlements of a medieval fortress just as they were patrolled by knights in armour many centuries ago. Visit the sites of the legend of King Arthur, Shakespeares sonnets and the palaces of royals past and present. Then fast forward to the future and youre admiring 21st-century architecture in Manchester, or exploring the space-age domes of Cornwalls Eden Project.

And while England has developed a culture and traditions that may appear complex, on the surface at least its familiar to many visitors thanks to a vast catalogue of British film and TV exports. The same applies when it comes to communication; this is home turf for the English language. For many visitors this means no need to carry a phrasebook although you might get a little confused by local accents in places such as Devon or Liverpool.

A final thing to remember while youre planning a trip to England: travel here is a breeze. Granted, it may not be totally effortless, but its easy compared with many parts of the world. And although the locals may grumble (in fact, its a national pastime) public transport is very good, and a train ride through the English landscape can be a highlight in itself. But whichever way you get around, in this compact country youre never far from the next town, the next pub, the next restaurant, the next national park or the next impressive castle on your hit list of highlights. The choice is endless, and weve hand-picked the best places to help steer you from place toplace but dont forget to mix it with making your own discoveries.

Lake District, Cumbria ()
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Mysterious and compelling, Stonehenge () is Englands most iconic ancient site. People have been drawn to this myth-rich ring of boulders for more than 5000 years, and we still dont know quite why it was built. Most visitors gaze at the 50-tonne stones from behind the perimeter fence, but with enough planning you can arrange an early morning or evening tour and gain access to the inner ring itself. In the slanting sunlight, away from the crowds, its an ethereal place. This is an experience that stays with you.

DAVID L. RYAN / GETTY IMAGES

Hadrians Wall

Hadrians Wall () is one of the countrys most revealing and dramatic Roman ruins, its 2000-year-old procession of abandoned forts, garrisons, towers and milecastles marching across the wild and lonely landscape of northern England. The wall was about defence and control, but this edge-of-empire barrier also symbolised the boundary of civilised order to the north lay the unruly land of the marauding Celts, while to the south was the Roman world of orderly taxpaying, underfloor heating and bathrooms.

DAVID ELSE / GETTY IMAGES

Oxford

A visit to Oxford () is as close as most of us will get to the brilliant minds and august institutions that have made this city famous across the globe. But youll catch a glimpse of this rarefied world in the cobbled lanes and ancient quads where student cyclists and dusty academics roam. The beautiful college buildings, archaic traditions and stunning architecture have changed little over the centuries, leaving the city centre much as Einstein or Tolkien would have found it.

SEAN CAFFREY / GETTY IMAGES

The Lake District

William Wordsworth and his Romantic friends were the first to champion the charms of the Lake District () and its not hard to see what stirred them. The dramatic landscape of whale-backed hills, deep valleys, misty mountain lakes and high peaks (including Englands highest summit) makes this craggy corner of the country the spiritual home of English hiking. Strap on the boots, stock up on mint cake and drink in the views: inspiration is sure to follow.

Tarn above Elterwater ()
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York

With its Roman and Viking heritage, ancient city walls and maze of cobbled streets, York (), the worlds largest collection of historic locomotives.

The towers of York Minster
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Bath

In a nation packed with pretty cities, Bath () still stands out as the belle of the ball. Founded by the Romans, who established the spa resort of Aquae Sulis to take advantage of the areas hot springs, Bath hit its stride in the 18th century when the rich industrialist Ralph Allen and architects John Wood the Elder and John Wood the Younger, oversaw the citys reinvention as a model of Georgian architecture. Awash with amber town houses, sweeping crescents and Palladian mansions, Bath demands your undivided attention.