England

England, a vital part of Great Britain, offers a rich heritage filled with authors, adventurers, scholars, and countless others.

Dive into London, one of the world’s premier cosmopolitan hubs. Every corner of this city is steeped in centuries of history and is destined to remain a center for culture, education, and industry for many years to come. The skyline's architecture ranges from the historic Palace of Westminster, Tower Bridge, and St. Paul’s Cathedral to the contemporary Shard, Gherkin, and Cheesegrater.

Once you've explored the vibrant streets of London, venture into the countryside to uncover its many hidden gems: the Roman ruins of Hadrian’s Wall in the North, the serene lakes and peaks of the Midlands, charming thatched cottages in the Cotswolds, the medieval spires and libraries of Oxford and Cambridge, the stunning turquoise beaches of Devon and Cornwall, the iconic chalk cliffs of Dover, and the complex network of caves that sheltered the WWII home front.

England is a great place to visit for families. Almost every museum, castle or historic site will have something for parents to enjoy, as well as something hands-on for the younger adventurers. Enjoy experiences such as London’s Harry Potter Studio Tour, Beatrix Potter’s woodland friends in the Lake District, or wonderful family-friendly shows in the West End from Matilda to School of Rock.

Home of the ill-fated Titanic departure, Southampton has a long maritime history.

Henry V’s fleet bound for the battle of Agincourt left from here, as did the Mayflower, Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary. Today Southampton is the cruise capital of Northern Europe.

If you're visiting Southampton, there are several fun things to do while you're in the area.

Highlight’s include:

Southampton's High Street

Holy Rood Church

The Bargate

SeaCity Museum

Mayflower Theatre

Tudor House & Garden

Guildhall Square

The Port of Southampton has five cruise terminals:

City Cruise, Horizon, Mayflower, Ocean, and QEII.

Depending on which terminal your ship arrives at, you can easily walk to the city center within 5-30 minutes. Taxis, arranged driver’s and shuttles are also available for your convenience.

Southampton Central Station is the closest railway station to the port, at about 5 minutes away.

If you're arriving by air, the nearest airport is Southampton International Airport, situated on the outskirts of the city. Trains from the airport to Southampton Central Station run every 10-15 minutes and take around 8 minutes.

Distance from Port:

London- 1.5 hours

Stonehenge- 1 hour 10 minutes

Salisbury- 1 hour

Avebury- 1 hour 30 minutes

Portsmouth- 45 minutes

Winchester- 40 minutes

Windsor- 1 hour 10 minutes

Hambledon Vineyard- 45 minutes

One of the world's greatest natural harbours, Plymouth is a city with a rich maritime past.

Highlights include:

Barbican and Sutton Harbour

Plymouth Hoe

Royal Citadel

Plymouth Distillery

The National Marine Aquarium

The Box

Dartmoor Zoological Park

Mount Edgcumbe House

Dartmoor National Park

Mayflower Steps

The city center is home to fantastic shopping, dining, and is extremely walkable.

Make sure to visit Cornwall Street, Drake Circus, Plymouth Market, and The Barcode.

Southside Street is home to the world famous Plymouth Gin Distillery, antique stores, galleries, boutique shops and cafes.

Sutton Harbour, is perfectly placed near historic landmarks and some of the city’s best attractions. The National Marine Aquarium is at the entrance to the harbour, and visitors can also take boat tours from there.

Visit the famous Mayflower Steps and discover Plymouth’s maritime heritage with the one-mile Sutton Harbour Heritage Trail walk.

Set in a beautiful location overlooking the sea at the tip of Plymouth Hoe and voted one of the top best outdoor pools in Europe, Tinside Lido is an attraction not to be missed.

Open during the summer months the outdoor salt water swimming pool is a great place to swim, sunbathe and relax.

Culinary

Fish and chips: As quintessential as they come, and best enjoyed in seaside towns like Brighton. The highlight of any island nation is the quality of the fish and seafood. Pollock, haddock, and cod fillets are battered, deep fried, and served with chips (thickly cut French fries).

Pasty: Especially common in Devon and Cornwall, where this tasty savory pie was a traditional meal of the local tin mine workers. Traditionally filled with minced beef, potato, onion, and swede (rutabaga), its crimped, crusted edge could be held without getting any poisonous metal in the food. Nowadays, this tasty handheld treat can be found in cafes, with alternatives such as veggie tikka masala, chicken and mushroom, or eggs-bacon-and-sausage for a breakfast meal ordered to go.

Afternoon tea/cream tea: As English a tradition as you can find, take every opportunity to sit down and enjoy tea and scones. Cream tea is usually a pot of tea and a scone with sides of jams, preserves and cream. Afternoon tea is a larger selection of teas, sandwiches, savories, and sweets, with an optional glass of sparkling wine. When enjoying a tiered selection platter at afternoon tea, start from the bottom and work your way up. You should begin with the savories – a selection of small finger sandwiches or savory pastries such as quiche or tarts. Next, move up to scones which you can split either with a knife or break apart along the seam by hand; enjoy with jam and clotted cream (the debate of whether jam or clotted cream goes on first still rages on across the country!). Lastly the sweets – petit fours, truffles, or cakes.

Traditional Sunday roast: This is where you will find the locals on a Sunday afternoon to recharge for the week ahead. Most pubs throughout England will have a Sunday roast. This hearty meal includes a roasted meat such as roast beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, or pork, served with roasted potatoes, an assortment of roasted or blanched vegetables, and gravy. Essential to the plate includes Yorkshire pudding – not a sweet pudding, but rather a light and fluffy pastry which is excellent at sopping up gravy.

Full English breakfast: Fried eggs, bacon, sausage, grilled tomatoes and mushrooms, toast and fried beans. “It will put hair on chest and cure what ails ya!”

Gin: Be it in a gin and tonic with local botanicals, or in a traditional Pimm’s Cup, there is nothing more English than a cup of Mother’s Ruin.

A proper pint: Brewed for thousands of years, and especially with the resurgence of the craft beer movement, local beer is a must-try while in the UK. Stay away from name brands you can get back home like Budweiser or Fosters and try a local pint. Cask Ale – or Real Ale – is a real treat, brewed with traditional ingredients and poured right from the container from which it was brewed! Don’t be surprised if these beers are served at room temperature – it’s meant to allow the full flavor profile to come through.

Language

English, French + many more

British vs. American English – Common areas of confusion with British naming conventions can occur. In England, soccer is football. Football is American football. Toilets are loos. Fries are chips. Chips are crisps. Cookies are biscuits. Biscuits are scones. Underwear are pants. Pants are trousers.

Currency

Britain’s national currency is the pound sterling (£).

Electricity

In England the standard voltage is 220-230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The plugs in England are Type G

The country code for the UK is +44.

Films Filmed in England

The Crown

Doctor Who

Sherlock

Downton Abbey

Elizabeth

Paddington