England

A journey through England is a journey through history - from the ancient megaliths of Stonehenge to the space-age domes of the Eden Project in Cornwall.

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population, whilst its mainland territory occupies most of the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain. England shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west and elsewhere is bordered by the North Sea, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, Bristol Channel and English Channel.

The capital is London, the largest urban area in Great Britain. London is ceaselessly thriving, and inevitably, it is the one place that features on everyone's itinerary.

The southwest of England with the rugged moorlands of Devon and the rocky coastline of Cornwall is another spot worth discovering.

Much of England consists of rolling hills, but it is generally more mountainous in the north with a chain of low mountains, the Pennines, dividing east and west. Other hilly areas in the north and Midlands are the Lake District, the North York Moors, and the Peak District.

England has a temperate climate, with plentiful rainfall all year round, although the seasons are quite variable in temperature. However, temperatures rarely fall below −5 °C (23 °F) or rise above 30 °C (86 °F).

The National Health Service (NHS) is the publicly funded healthcare system in England responsible for provided the majority of healthcare in the country. The NHS provides most services at no cost to the patient though there are charges associated with eye tests, dental care, prescriptions, and many aspects of personal care.

Since England is on an island, it is not possible to drive directly into England from outside Great Britain. Motorists have two choices to enter England from outside Great Britain, by various car ferry routes, or the Channel Tunnel.

The M6 motorway is the country's longest motorway running from Rugby through North West England to the Scottish border. Other major roads include the M1 motorway from London to Leeds up the east of the country, the M25 motorway which encircles London, the M60 motorway which encircles Manchester, the M4 motorway from London to South Wales, the M62 motorway from Liverpool to Manchester and Yorkshire, and the M5 motorway from Birmingham to Bristol and the South West.

If you are 60 or over, a resident of England and are 'eligible disabled', you may be entitled to free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England. Local authorities also offer concessions for children and young people. In London everyone under 16 can travel free on buses and trams. This includes residents and non-residents.

There are around 7,100 km (4,400 mi) of navigable waterways in England, of which roughly half is owned by British Waterways. An estimated 165 million journeys are made by people on Britain's waterways annually.

Eurostar links mainland Europe to England. Trains run from Paris, France and Brussels, Belgium (via Lille and Calais) crossing into England via the Channel Tunnel. BritRail Passes are also available to non-UK citizens which allow the traveller unlimited rail travel in England on one ticket.

Bed and Breakfasts can range from a single room in a private home to large historical buildings with dozens of rooms. In many towns the tourist office has a list of rooms available and can help you call around.

Hotels in cities and towns, and near motorway junctions, as well as some grand Country House Hotels.

Hostels, both private institutions and those part of a hosteling networking usually offer dorm style accommodations, sometimes with a simple breakfast included. Many hostels in popular destination cities fill up during the busy summer season, so try to book ahead.

Camping, there is a widespread network in country locations of campsites which welcome tents, caravans, or motor homes. Sites may welcome some or all of these. But don't expect to find many close to cities and major tourist attractions.

Motels, mostly in the form of large chains such as Travel Inn and Travelodge, with hundreds across the country.

While rooms are generally comfortable, rooms at the lower end of the price scale may be small and usually come without air conditioning, cable TV, coffee machines, and other amenities.

Take advantage of hundreds of fantastic offers on attractions and accommodation in England.

Further Information Regarding England

Driving Tour of Thames Valley
Rising at Thames Head in Gloucestershire, the River Thames is the second longest in the UK. The area centered around the river is called the Thames River Valley and dotted along its route you'll find Eton, Windsor, Maidenhead and of course 'The City of Dreaming Spires', Oxford.