The 16 best places to visit in England

With a story that stretches back more than 5000 years (and likely long before), the past is a constant presence in England. If you want to explore urban historic centers, admire mysterious monoliths, walk through scenic landscapes and enjoy rugged coastlines and national parks, then be inspired by these 16 highlights of a trip to England.

When it comes to getting around, train and long-distance bus services connect most major destinations. You may need local buses, taxi services, organized tours or your own wheels to get to the smaller places.

1. Bath

Best for Georgian architecture

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 area’s 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 city’s reinvention as a model of Georgian architecture. Awash with golden stone townhouses, sweeping crescents and Palladian mansions, along with appealing pubs and restaurants, Bath demands your undivided attention. 

2. Hadrian’s Wall

Best for a long-distance walk in England

Hadrian’s Wall is one of the country’s most 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. This wall was about defense and control, but this edge-of-empire barrier also symbolized the boundary of civilized order – to the north lay the unruly land of the marauding Celts, while to the south was the Roman world of orderly tax-paying, underfloor heating and bathrooms. Near Newcastle you can visit Segedunum, the wall’s last stronghold, for an insight into life during Roman times.

Planning tip: Hiking the full 84-mile distance coast to coast along the national trail takes around a week, but if you have less time and your own car, you may want to select from a few of the wall’s highlights.

3. Brighton

Best LGBTQIA+ scene in England

It’s barely an hour’s train ride from the capital, but the seaside city of Brighton has a quirky character that’s completely…