No trip to England is complete without a trip to London, of course.  A trip to the theatre is highly recommended as London has one of the most active theatre scenes around.  Most tourists should probably make an effort to visit the following:

  • The British Museum to see one of the most incredible collections in the world
  • St. Paul's Cathedral for the incredible architecture and great views of the city
  • House of Parliament and Big Ben to get the quintessential "I visited London" photograph
  • Westminster Abbey where the kings and queens are crowned
  • Buckingham Palace and the Crown Jewels
  • Trafalgar Square (don't feed the pigeons!)
  • The Tate Modern museum
  • The National Gallery/The National Portrait Gallery
  • The London Eye
  • Piccadilly Circus
  • The Museum of London and Museum In Docklands

London contains a number of the great attractions in England, but don't neglect what the rest of the nation has to offer.  A trip to Windsor Castle, just west of London, can be a fun day trip if you want to check out the Queen's less-than-humble abode.  If you decide to visit Oxford and its famous university, you may also want to make a side trip to see Blenheim Palace which could be considered the Versailles of England.

Scenic drives through the Cotswolds are a popular pastime, as you will get a chance to see idyllic images of England.  Bath is a good stop if you want to check out the Roman Baths that the town was named after.  Many visitors will insist on going to Stonehenge, considered one of the worlds greatest prehistoric monuments; Trip Advisor travellers who have experienced it can tell you whether it's worth the trip.

Literary types will find plenty to see in England.  Poets may want to visit Keats House while in London or Dove Cottage (now part of the Wordsworth Museum) in Grasmere, while a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon is essential for any Shakespeare buff.  Those who have read Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility may find Jane Austen Country (around Bath) a familiar setting.  And what Robin Hood fan could resist the Sherwood Forest?

If you want the more 'wild and woolly,' then places like the Yorkshire Moors, the Lake District, Dartmoor and Exmoor are great places to visit.

For more history and things to do in Portsmouth on the South Coast of England, most within the city limits: