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England Planning a Trip

Visiting Trafalgar Square and London Eye

The city of London is one of the most well-known and popular destination on earth. As the capital city, London is often referred to as the capital of the world, and in fact has the largest population of any urban area in Western Europe. Visitors will find countless fantastic attractions in the city, from world-class museums and art galleries to historical landmarks like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the Tower and Bridge of London. Two of the most popular attractions in the city are the London Eye and Trafalgar Square. The following is an introduction to these two attractions.

The London Eye

This giant wheel is an impressive structure that dominates the skyline of England’s capital city. Due to a recent sponsorship deal, the official title has changed from the British Airways London Eye to the EDF Energy London Eye. It stands at 443 feet tall, and is located along the Thames River. As the tallest ferris wheel in the Europe, and the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel, it should come as no surprise that it the most visited paid tourist attraction in the entire country of England.

Each year, well over 3 million visitors take a trip on the London Eye and climb into one of the 32 glass domes, many of which have tour included within their London holiday packages. Each domed pod holds up to 25 people, who can sit or stand during the 30 minute revolution. The speed is quite slow, meaning anyone can ride it and few people complain of motion sickness or discomfort. Since the opening of the London Eye in 2000, it has become an icon in the city of London. For significant national occasions, the wheel is outfitted with stunning lights in themed colors. Recently, it donned patriotic colors to resemble the Union Jack for the royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton, and in 2012 it will be outfitted with the Olympic rings.

Trafalgar Square

This public space is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city of London. Created in the 19th century, it was designed to be a public area that was a central focus of culture and politics in the city. Indeed, it has served that purpose for decades. The focal point of Trafalgar Square is the Nelson’s Column, which dominates the look of the area. The column stands at 169 feet in height, and was created to in honor of Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died during the Battle of Trafalgar. At the four corners of the base of the column are lion statues, who are meant to guard the column constantly. Until the last decade, the square was known for the massive population of pigeons who called the square home, thanks to millions of tourists who fed them. Those were eventually removed and feeding made illegal, and today it is more commonly used for political demonstrations, screening sports events, and holiday celebrations like Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Photo by: Thamer Al-Hassan

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

10 Days in England: Itinerary Ideas

When we think about planning an itinerary in England, the obvious choice for a hub is London. Yes, the city is expensive, but offers plenty of day trips and you can easily find cheap airfare into one of its airports. Plus, with a bit of research, you’ll be able to find affordable hostels or hotels, too.

The best time to visit London if you want to save money is the low season (November, February, March), but then you’ll be skipping Brighton as a day trip if you planned to catch a tan, too. This itinerary focuses on London for 3 days and also includes 5 day trips (Stonehenge, Oxford, Stratford upon Avon, Brighton and Bath), ending in Liverpool. Of course, you can create your own itinerary based on this. For example, if you are not into Shakespeare, skip Stratford upon Avon and add Manchester to the itinerary.

Itinerary assumptions:

  • You will be flying into London and out of Liverpool (although you can travel back to London for your return flight).
  • You will be staying most of the time in London, in a hostel or hotel close to the tube
  • On your 3 days within the capital, purchase travel day cards to use on the tube and maximize your time in the city.

Day 1 , 2, 3 London

London is a huge city offering a lot of things to do and see. It’s best to travel by tube if you want to cover large distances. On your first day, get to know the area where you stay in and the closest sights. Walk a bit and find a pub or two to try the English food .

Start your second day with watching the changing of the guards in front of Buckingham Palace. Outside of summer, it takes place every other day, so do a bit of research ahead of time. Then, you can visit British Museum. Depending on what interests you there, you can easily spend between 2 h and 8 h checking out the artifacts. Stop by St.Paul’s Cathedral before going back to the hotel.

On the third day, start with the Tower of London , Big Ben and then cross the Tower Bridge. If you have a bit of money for splurges , catch a ride on London Eye. Otherwise, visit Westminster Abby and then walk toward Trafalgar Square. If you still have some time left, visit the National Gallery.

>>read more about 3 days in London

Day 4 Stonehenge

You can plan a day trip to Stonehenge on your own, but it’s going to be a bit challenging, unless you plan to rent a car and drive. Catch a bus to Amesbury (leaving at 2:10 p.m. and the fare is £16.50 one way). The travel time is slightly more than 2 ½ h so you’ll have about 2 h to visit the sight.

Day 5 Oxford

Oxford is the oldest university city in the UK, easily accessible from London. If you like Medieval and Gothic architecture, this is a must-see on your itinerary. Trains leave from London Paddington and the fares start at £4 one way. The bus is cheaper (from £1 if booked in advance) and take about 1 ½ h.

>>read more about Getting from London to Oxford

Day 6 Stratford upon Avon

For those fascinated by Shakespeare’s work, a trip to Stratford upon Avon is definitely a good idea. The market town located on River Avon is where you’ll find the birthplace of Shakespeare. Henley Street, one of the town’s oldest streets, Sheep Street , the residential quartier in the 16th century , and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre are among the places you shouldn’t miss while visiting the city.

Trains depart from London Marylebone Station and take 2 h 15 min. A return fare (advance) starts at £10. Trains depart every two hours.

Day 7 Brighton

On this day you can escape to the sea-side. Brighton is located about 1 h by train from London. You can catch a train from either London Victoria or London Bridge stations and the single fare starts at £6.75. The resort is very popular among Londoners during the weekends so, if possible, try to go on a weekday (unless you like crowds). Aside from spending time on the beach, you can also visit the Royal Pavilion , a former royal palace and the Clock tower.

>>read more about Getting from London to Brighton

Day 8 Bath

Bath is a historic Roman and Georgian spa city , located about 100 miles from London. Aside from the Roman and Georgian architecture, you can also see lovely Medieval buildings. Bath is the oldest tourist destination in England.

The Roman baths are a must-see while here, but don’t forget about the Abbey , Pulteney Bridge, museums and parks.

Trains depart from London Paddington Station every half hour and take about 1 ½ h. The single fare starts at £22.50 (but depends on how far in advance you purchase the ticket). It’s cheaper (from £5 one way) to travel by bus but it takes almost 3 ½ h.

Day 9, 10 Liverpool

Instead of going back to London, catch a train to Liverpool via Bristol. The single fare to Bristol Temple Meads is £6.60 and trains leave Bath every 10 min to ½ h. The travel time is about 15 min.

>>read more about Getting from Bath to Bristol

From Bristol catch a train to Liverpool Lime Street. The single fare starts at £38.00 and the travel time is about 3 h. You’ll have to change trains in Stafford [STA].

Alternately , catch a bus from Bath to Liverpool (with two stops in Bristol and Birmingham). The single fare starts at £36.50 and the fastest travel time is about 6 ½ h.

Liverpool dock has been added to the UNESCO world heritage sites since 2004 and the most famous dock is Albert Dock, home to some interesting museums. You can also visit some cathedrals and if you are a Beatles fan, don’t miss The Beatles Story, the only museum in the world dedicated to The Beatles.

Photo credits: London by Cristina Puscas and may not be used without permission, Stonehenge by yvestown , Oxford by UGArdener , Stratford upon Avon by BigTallGuy , Brighton by zilverbat , Bath by wallyg , Liverpool by Adrian S Jones

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England travel guide

What to Eat in England: Famous British Foods

British cuisine has never been regarded as a tasty or healthy cuisine. Looks like the early British people had more fun doing anything else than learning to cook. But things are improving and modern British cuisine is not that terrible. Actually, you might even like it.

Fish and chips

It’s the quintessential food of England, and you can find chippies all over the place. You can also get this dish in pretty much any pub. The cod is fried in better and in served with French fries (chips). Peas are also served (either normal or mashed) and you are often asked if you care for onion rings as well. The dish goes well with beer.

Full English Breakfast

It’s terribly unhealthy but an icon of the British food. What you get on the plate includes: baked beans, black pudding, bread, eggs, bacon, sausages and mushrooms.

Black pudding is made with pig blood , pig fat, flour, onion , hulled and crushed cereal grain and seasoning.

Jellied eels

It’s a dish which requires a bit of getting used to the texture. The chunks of eels are in a clear jelly and are served with mashed potatoes and , sometimes , gravy.

Bangers and Mash

Bangers are sausages and mash is mashed potatoes. And you also might be asked if you want a side of onion rings, too.

Pies

Shepherd’s Pie is one of the most popular in this category and is made with minced lamb and vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes and baked until golden.

Cottage Pie is made the same way, but the meat used is beef.

Steak and kidney pie contains a mixture of beef, kidney and fried onion, served with brown gravy.

Pork pie is made with pork meat and lard. Variations do exist and they contain either turkey or chicken meat.

Most pies are served with mash.

Lancashire hotpot

It’s a stew made from meat and vegetables. It’s slowly cooked in the oven all day and draped with sliced potatoes.

The Sunday Roast

It’s a traditional meal served, you guessed it, on Sundays. It contains roast beef, served with steamed vegetables (carrots , cauliflower, etc) and roasted potatoes. Yorkshire pudding – made from a simple batter of flour , milk and eggs – is served with the meat and vegetables.

Ploughman’s Lunch

It’s not exactly lunch; it’s a piece of pungent cheese, served with crusty bread , a pickle and pickled onion.

Beer

My first encounter with a London pub also lead me to having no idea what beer to order. There are so many varieties that an advice from a local is a good idea. Any type of beer goes with pub food though. Oh and English beer is known as “lager”.

Mince pies

These are made for Christmas and now contain a filling of dried fruits, spices, fat and brandy (in the past, they contained minced meat).

Trifle

It’s a classic desert made from custard, sponge cake , fruit , fruit juice and whipped cream. The ingredients are arranged in layers.

>>also read about What to Eat in London: Famous British Foods

Photo credits : Trifle , Mince pies , Beer , Ploughman’s Lunch , The Sunday Roast , Lancashire hotpot , Shepherd’s Pie , Bangers and Mash , Jellied eels , Full English Breakfast , Fish and chips

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

England in June

Summer sets in and June is filled with events and festivals. From the Queen’s Birthday to the Midsummer’s Day bon fires…you won’t be staying still if you visit England now. It’s perfect weather to explore the outdoors but you’ll also have fun in the cities.

Weather

June is the first month of summer, which means the weather tends to be warmer but it’s just as unpredictable as during spring. So, bring an umbrella and a sweater…just in case. It’s lovely now to plan hikes in the outdoors.

Sample temperatures

Bath avg high 18C / avg low 9C
Birmingham avg high 18C / avg low 9C
Bristol avg high 18C /avg low 12C
Leeds avg high 18C / avg low 10C
Liverpool avg high 17C / avg low 10C
London avg high 18C / avg low 10C
Manchester avg high 17C / avg low 10C
York avg high 17C /avg low 8C

>>read more about Weather in England

Flights and Accommodation

The start of summer also means more tourists coming to England. So, book the flight in advance (stay within the 1 to 2 months range, if possible) and look for deals. If you don’t mind the carry on restrictions, low cost carriers can offer good deals, but you need to book the ticket pretty much on the spur of the moment.

Accommodation-wise, hotels tend to be quite prices in the summer, but of course, there are always some discounts available. Or just look for hostels but remember to book well in advance.

Things to do

Warm weather means you can explore the cities without having to find a warm place by 4 p.m. But you’ll probably want a place to get your dose of caffeine, anyway. Still, June is a good month to plan exploring the outdoors or just walk in the cities. Of course, expect crowds, especially in places such as London or Manchester.

>>read more about the Things to do in Manchester

June 13 marks the Birthday of Queen Elisabeth II which means: Trooping the Colour (Carrying of the Flag), a military parade held for the event.

The longest day – Summer Solstice (June 21 – June 22) – is celebrated at Stonehenge where people gather to see the sunrise. But Midsummer’s Day is associated with myths and witchcraft, so large bonfires are burn all over the country.

Glastonbury Festival also takes place in June ; or you can attend the Edinburgh International Film Festival, unless you are found of Rock Ness.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

England in May

Warmer weather attracts more visitors – and so do the many festivals – but it’s still affordable to travel to England in May and the crowds haven’t taken over the sights yet. Spend time in the outdoors, plan to visit the sights and enjoy the early summer (or last days of spring).

Weather

May still falls during spring – albeit by the end of it – so the weather is not exactly reliable, however it’s one of the best times to visit England. Sure, you might end up having sunshine during your entire stay. But, as always when you plan to visit England, pack an umbrella and a sweater.


Sample temperatures

Bath avg high 15C / avg low 6C
Birmingham avg high 15C / avg low 6C
Bristol avg high 16C /avg low 8C
Leeds avg high 16C / avg low 8C
Liverpool avg high 15C / avg low 7C
London avg high 16C / avg low 6C
Manchester avg high 15C / avg low 7C
York avg high 15C /avg low 8C

>>read more about Weather in England

Flights and Accommodation

May falls during the end of summer and, by now, the prices start to increase. Make sure to plan your flight in advance (stay within the 1 to 2 months range, if possible). If you don’t mind the carry on restrictions, low cost carriers can offer good deals.

As for accommodation, the large cities don’t exactly have season variations when it comes to room prices but you can find discounts online, if you take your time to do some homework. And if hotels are too expensive, there are always the hostels to relay on but remember to book well in advance.

Things to do

May Day (May 1) now stands for the beginning of the summer and Labor Day (in Europe). For the ancestors , May Day was a major festival day, celebrated with dances and music. Traditionally, girls rushed out on May Day to wash their faces with the May due as it was believed to have magic proprieties.

A variety of festivals take place in May all over England. From the Brighton Festival – which is all about music and arts – to the May Day festivals and North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival.

Should you plan to get married in May, please not that it’s considered an unlucky month (all over the continent; but I certainly many couples who wed in May and they are still together decades after the wedding day).

May is a lovely month to explore the cities and the countryside. There isn’t such thing as shoulder season in large cities, including London, for example, so do expect crowds – and by now they are getting bigger -, but it’s still relaxed and you can soak up the city’s atmosphere.

>>read more about the Things to do in Manchester

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from Manchester to Birmingham

When visiting either Manchester or Birmingham – or why not, both of them – travelers have plenty of choices when it comes to transportation. First of all, they are just 80 miles apart, so you can fly into either of them or into London – especially if you come from other parts than Europe – and then travel by land.

Buses and trains offer excellent connections between Manchester and Birmingham. You can also rent a car if you prefer the freedom at moving at your own pace.

Quick summary

The cheapest way to travel between Manchester and Birmingham is by bus. Fares start at £3.00 one way and the travel time is about 2 hours. Trains are slightly faster, but more expensive.

Trains from Manchester to Birmingham

Birmingham’s main station is New Street, which offer direct connections to Manchester Piccadilly , about every 10 to 15 min daily. The travel time is 1 ½ h to 1h 50 min and single fares start at £32.50.

Details, schedules and prices can be found here .

>>read more about Train Travel in England

Buses from Manchester to Birmingham

All intercity buses arrive at Birmingham Coach Station, a modern new station which is located close to the city center.

National Express offers daily connections, departing hourly or every two hours from Manchester Coach Station. The travel time is between 2h 50 min and 3h 15 min and the single fare starts at £5.50.

Megabus offers nine departures per day, about every 2 hours. The travel time is close to 2 h and the single fare starts at £3.00 and depends on the time of the departure.

>>read more about Bus Travel in England

Driving from Manchester to Birmingham

You can rent a car in Manchester and drive the 83 miles to Birmingham in about 1 ½ h. Of course, the travel time depends on the traffic on M6.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from Bristol to Birmingham

Bristol is located in South West England . It is the sixth largest city in England and also one of the warmest and sunniest cities in the country, which makes it a pleasure to explore the city any time of the year.

Bristol and Birmingham are just 88 miles away, so there is no reason to fly between the two cities. So, you are left with traveling overland: by train, bus or car.

Quick summary

The cheapest way to travel between Bristol and Birmingham – or the other way around – is by bus. Even the fastest bus fare (which is more expensive than the slowest) is half as expensive as the train fare (and trains are only ½ h faster).

Trains from Bristol to Birmingham

National Rail operates trains between Bristol Temple Meads station and Birmingham New Street station, daily, every 30 min. The travel time is 1 ½ h and the single fare is £35.50.

>>read more about Train Travel in England

Buses from Bristol to Birmingham

National Express offers daily connection, about every hour, between Bristol and Birmingham. The fastest bus takes 1h 50 min and the single fare starts at £8.50 (on the slower bus – 3h) . Still, even on the fastest bus the fare is cheaper than the train fare (£10.50 or £20.50 depending on the time of departure).

>>read more about Bus Travel in England

Driving from Bristol to Birmingham

You can rent a car in Bristol and drive the 88 miles to Birmingham in about 1 ½ h on M5. Of course, the drive time also depends on the traffic.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from Liverpool to Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is a British Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea, between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. It has its own government and parliament and is an associate member of the European Union.

Being an island, there are only two ways to get from Liverpool to the Isle of Man: by air or by water. The fares are similar (for foot passengers) but you might end up paying bookings fees when flying (so take that into account, too).

Flights from Liverpool (airport code: LPL) to Isle of Man

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) serves the city of Liverpool and the North West of England. Hub for EasyJet and Ryanair, the airport handles domestic flights as well as flights to European cities.

Isle of Man Airport (IOM) is located in Ronaldsway, near Castletown on the Isle of Man. It is not hub for any airline and receives a handful of flights from Ireland, Great Britain and other European countries.

Flights between Liverpool and Isle of Man are operated, year round, by EasyJet and Flybe. The flight time is 40 min. In the summer of 2012, expect to pay from £35 one way on EasyJet, but do remember that additional fees (booking fee, checked baggage fee) might be added to the price.

Make sure to book your ticket about 4 to 8 weeks in advance in order to get the best rates. If you need more luggage than the accepted carry on can handle, purchase the checked baggage before going to the airport (to cut down the fees).

>>book a cheap flight to/from Liverpool

Ferries from Liverpool to Isle of Man

The ferries between Liverpool and Isle of Man are operated by the Steam Packet Company . Depending on when you plan to travel, special fares may be available. At the time the article was written, a single ticket between the two ports costs £34.50 for an adult (transaction fees applied only when you pay with credit card).

At the time the article was written (March 2012) there is one departure available daily between the two ports. The travel time is 2h 45 min and the ferries leave Liverpool Sun to Thu at 4:15 p.m., Fri at 11:15 a.m. and Sat at 7:15 p.m. On the way back, catch the ferry at 3 p.m. Sun to Thu, at 7:30 am on Fri and Sat.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from York to Manchester

York has a history which dates back to the Roman times and is home to some of the best preserved historical buildings in England and Europe. In Roman times, it was known as Eboracum and was one of the important Roman cities in Britain. The Vikings also ensured a major urban revival for the city. Nowadays, it’s a small but charming English city , home to plenty of festivals.

The closest airport to York is Leeds but it doesn’t offer too many options for flights. In fact, it’s a more expensive option than Manchester’s Airport , which is the largest British airport outside of London, served by a variety of carriers.

Quick summary

Getting from York to Manchester is easy: the cheapest option is the bus, but the fastest is the train (and the fare difference is not too much between the two means of transportation).

Trains from York to Manchester

Trains connect York to both Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road. The travel time is similar : about 1 ½ h , but it’s cheaper to travel to Manchester Piccadilly at certain hours. Single fares start at £12.00 and there departures every 15 to 30 minutes daily. Details, schedules and prices can be found here.

First also operates daily trains between the two cities, leaving every 10 to 30 minutes. The travel time is the same and the fares start at £12.00 one way.

>>read more about Train Travel in England

Buses from York to Manchester

National Express offers buses every hour, daily between York and Manchester. The travel time is 2 ½ h and the single fare starts at £10.30 but depends on the time of departure.

>>read more about Bus Travel in England

Driving from York to Manchester

You can rent a car in York and drive the 75 miles to Manchester – or the other way around. The travel time is about 1 ½ h but it does depend on the traffic.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from Bristol to Bath

Bristol, located just 15 miles / 25 km from Bristol , is a historic Roman and Georgian spa city, well known for its hot springs. It is a UNESCO Heritage Site which offers a lot of things to do and see.

Bath is the oldest important tourist destination in England. The hot springs were sacred to the Celtic goddess Sulis, which later became Minerva for the Romans. During Roman times, a vast spa complex was built here. But it wasn’t until the 18th century that the spas were rediscovered. However, the city still has plenty of buildings dating from the Medieval times, when it was prosperous. Unfortunately, the city was badly damaged during World War II but was later reconstructed.

The closest airport to Bath is Bristol International Airport (BRS), which is served by two major low-cost carriers: EasyJet and Ryanair. The airport handles domestic traffic as well as traffic to/from European cities and Mexico. The best alternative is to fly into one of London’s major airports and travel by train, bus or car to Bath.

Quick summary

The cheapest option to get between Bristol and Bath is the bus, but the fastest (and not much more expensive) is the train. However, there are only 2 buses per day, while the trains leave either city every 20 minutes.

Trains from Bristol to Bath

Bath Spa is a new rail station, recently opened to serve the city of Bath. It is located right in the city center.

National Rail lists all trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa. There are departures about every 20 minutes on a daily basis. The travel time is about 12 min and the single fare is £6.60.

>>read more about Train Travel in England

Buses from Bristol to Bath

Bath got a modern bus station in 2009 , which is located right near the train station. National Express operates a handful of buses (2 per day) between Bristol Coach Station and Bath Spa. The fastest one takes 45 min and the single fare is £4.40, regardless of the time of departure. Note that buses leave Bristol at 4:15 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. On the way back, catch the morning buses to Bristol.

>>read more about Bus Travel in England

Driving from Bristol to Bath

You can rent a car in Bristol and drive the 13 miles on A4 to get to Bath. Technically it takes about ½ h, but the driving time definitely depends on the traffic.

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Photo credits : Roman Bath ; Railway Station