Things to Do in England

1. Visit the Tower of London- A guided tour to this historic castle which holds centuries of dark history of London city is one of the best things to do in England. It served as an execution site, a Royal mint, Her Majesty's prison, a Royal Menagerie, an observatory and a military storehouse down the years.

The site hosts special events, medieval reenactments and family activities throughout the year which makes it one of the popular attractions in England. In a guided tour you can walk along the battlements, appreciate the Royal Armouries in the White Tower and see the place where Anne Boleyn was executed by Henry VIII.

Location: St Katharine's & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom
Price: For members entry free, adults £25, Child £12.50
Timings: March- October from 9.30am- 5.30pm, November- February from 9.30am- 4.30pm. (Sunday and Monday opens from 10am)

2. Explore Buckingham Palace- The grand royal residence of the British Monarchy which is popularly recognised as the home of Her Majesty, is the focus of Britain's national identity, pride and glory. In exclusive guided tours you can visit the State Rooms that are magnificently decked and open for public view.

Buy a few pieces of royal souvenirs such as artworks, homeware, jewellery and other knick knacks from the Buckingham Palace Shop. End your day trip with tea, coffee, sandwiches and cakes in The Garden Cafe which overlooks the Palace garden- one of the highly recommended England things to do in your tour.

Location: Westminster, London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom
Price: Adults £(26.50-49), senior citizens £(24-44.5), student £(24-42), under 17/disabled £(14.50-26.50), under 5 entry is free, family (2 adults and 3 under 17s) is £(67.5-124.5).
Timings: July- August from 9.30am- 6.30pm and September- October from 9.30am- 6.30pm

3. Explore Big Ben- The iconic clock tower is one of the most famous things in London city for tourists to explore which is globally acclaimed for its gigantic bell and accuracy. Formerly Big Ben was known as St. Stephen’s Tower until 2012. On the auspicious Diamond Jubilee ceremony of the Queen which commemorates her 60 years’ reign on the British throne the tower was christened the Elizabeth Tower.

Being located in the heart of London city, you can reach the place on a bicycle tour and explore other attractions nearby. Climb 334 steps upstairs to reach the belfry where the bells are installed. Another impressive feature of the tower is the Ayrton Light which lies atop the imposing tower and is lit when the House of Parliament sits after dusk.

Location: Palace of Westminster, London
Price: £15 for adults, £10 for children, £37 for 37 for families, £6 for children (between 5-16) years. Children below 5 years of age have entry free.
Timings: 9:15am- 4:30pm all days except Wednesday (1.15pm- 4:30pm)

4. See Stonehenge- For the enthusiasts of history, this World Heritage Site is a must visit place in England as it is the best Neolithic monument in Europe known till date. In a guided tour from London to Stonehenge, you can walk around the famous Stone Circle and get to know the mystery behind Stonehenge.

In your trip you can also visit the other famous site, the City of Bath which has a repute for its ancient Roman baths and brilliant Georgian architecture.

Location: Salisbury SP4 7DE, United Kingdom
Price: £21.50 for adults, £12.90 for children between (5-17) years, free entry for members
Timings: Sunday- Saturday between 9.30am till 5pm

5. Visit the British Museum- The British Museum stands high as the first museum of the world which upholds the different cultures spanning over continents and landmasses. It stands apart in housing a unique collection of eight million artefacts of paramount historical importance, beauty and gravity.

These artefacts spanning over 2 million years of human civilization provide fair insight into archaeology and ethnography belonging to different races across the world. Among the famous holdings of British Museum are Elgin Marbles, Rosetta Stone, a 1st century cameo glass, Chinese ceramics of the Ming dynasty and others.

Location: Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1B3DG
Timings: Monday through Sunday from 10am- 5:30pm. Fridays between 10:30am- 8:30pm

6. Take blessings at St. Paul's Cathedral- Overlooking the diminutive Ludgate Hill, the cathedral is one of the famous things in England standing tall for more than 300 years. The imposing sepulchre of the cathedral which was inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican is revered by the Londoners as a symbol of pride and resilience and adds to the beauty of the city’s skyline. Although not all areas of the cathedral are accessible to the visitors, you can attend the cathedral choir i.e. the Sunday Eucharist (11:30am) or Evensong (Monday-Saturday at 5pm, Sunday at 3.15pm) with prior online booking.

Location: St. Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD, United Kingdom
Price: £20 for adults, £8.5 for children
Timings: Monday-Saturday 8:30am- 4:30pm

7. Visit Peak District National Park- With rivers and springs, moors and dales, hillocks and caverns, the Peak District National Park introduces you to a world of contrasting natural beauty and offers a surfeit of things to do in England.

From the high, moorland plateaus in the north to the deep dales and rolling verdant hills in the south of the Peak District, the place is ideal for walking and cycling excursions. Among the other activities are cable car ride to the Heights of Abraham, wildlife sightings at Peak Wildlife Park or White-Knuckle Ride at Alton Towers Resort.

Location: Castleton, Hope Valley S33 8WS, United Kingdom

8. Stroll and shop around Oxford Street- If you are a true shopaholic, then this is your place to be on an England tour. The 1.5-mile-long avenue lined with wall-to-wall shops, retail outlets, departmental stores and smattering of cafes and restaurants fairly boasts of being the premier shopping destination in England and one of the busiest retail areas in Europe.

Oxford Street is known for its eclectic mix of shops ranging from mainstream fashion names to lower-end shops to provide something for every buyer. Although shopping is the chief attraction at Oxford Street, you can check out the nearby places of attractions that include Oxford Circus, Marble Arch, St. Christopher’s Church and others.

Location: Oxford Street, London W1W 8LG England

9. Explore The Regent's Park- Located in Central London, visiting Regent's Park is one of the most famous things in England. The splendid variety of wildlife includes an impressive population of 200 species of birds, 21 species of butterfly, amphibians, grey squirrel, hedgehogs, woodmouse and other mammals.

The park property is divided into several manicured gardens namely- Queen Mary's Garden, The Avenue Gardens, St. John's Lodge Gardens and others that offer a refreshing gateway to the Londoners. The other attractions of the park are London Zoo, an open-air theatre and an array of sports and recreational facilities.

Location: Chester Road Regent’s Park, London NW1 4NR, England
Timings: Sunday- Saturday between 5am- 9.30pm

10. Visit the beautiful Windsor Castle- This is the oldest and the largest occupied castle in the world which has 900 years of royal history to its credit and probably the most famous thing in England to see.

The castle which was founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century has been the residential abode of 39 monarchs of Britain and is the present home of Her Majesty where she spends most of her private weekends and uses the property for state occasions and other official ceremonies.

Location: Windsor SL4 1NJ United Kingdom
Price: £(13-60), free entry for children under 5.
Timings: March- October every day between 10am- 5.15pm, from November- February between 10am- 4.15pm. Last entrance to the castle is 90 minutes prior to closing time.

River swimming in Oxfordshire- The clean and tranquil waters of the Thames flanked by typical English countryside offer a rewarding open-water swimming expedition to those who want to dip their toe in this sport. The expedition touches the riverbank from Buscot Lock to Buckland Marsh along England’s breath-taking watercourses.

Coasteering in Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim- Coasteering is a unique activity which allows you to test your skill and offers you a refreshing break during your England trip. Explore the rugged Causeway coast by leaping, scrambling and swimming and sometimes a bit of cliff jumping which is collectively called coasteering. Plunge into the turquoise waters along with a local guide and discover the hidden coves and islands and get to know more about the thriving marine creatures and wildlife of the region.

Climbing Scafell Pike- Scafell Pike is England’s highest peak which is located in the Lake District National Park. After a moderately difficult climb up to its summit you will feast your eyes on the stunning landscape views.

Surfing Sennen Cove- The white powdered beach of Sennen Cove with stunning seascape and caerulean waters of the Atlantic Ocean makes it a sought-after destination for surfing round the year. Being located in a village idyll, you can enjoy great views of the scenery while surfing the sea waters.

Canoeing across River Wye- As the weather in England warms up, the locals and tourists gear up in testing their canoeing skills across the Wye Valley. Even if you are a beginner in this sport you will be in safe hands while canoeing the River Wye and the rapids at Symonds Yat as you will be under strict vigilance of a team of expert guides.

Family adventure break in Nottingham- In England things to do are really countless and the Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens in the northwest of Great Yarmouth is one of the best sites for an adventurous family day trip. You can go canoeing or ride on a paddleboard through the genteel waters at The Waterside and enjoy great lunch along with splendid views of the wildlife area.

Kayaking in River Dart- Kayaking the River Dart in Dartmouth is certainly one of the best activities to do in England as it takes you through the beautiful woodlands of Dartmouth Moors. The expedition ranges from Grade 5 which is tried by the advanced kayakers to gentle tidal waters near the sea where beginners can indulge in playful kayaking.

Windsurfing- While making a list of England things to do, you cannot miss out windsurfing. This versatile sport is a combination of sailing and surfing in which adventurers start on a large board and gradually surf the wind rather than the waves. Some of the best spots of windsurfing in England are the seas in Lancashire and Fox Lake.

By air: There are a number of direct flights from all of the four metro cities to the capital London. It takes about 9 hours 25 minutes or 9 hours 40 minutes (depending upon the carrier) for a direct flight to reach London from India. There are three major airports in London namely Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick and you may land in any of one of them. The most preferred carrier from India to London is the British Airways.

By sea: There are cruise ships from the US that reach England in about 6-9 days from port to port. Variables such amenities, shipboard events and activities may differ from one liner to another. One of the premium cruise lines for transatlantic voyages. There are ferry services from France, Belgium, Spain and other countries to major ports of England.

Due to an overall temperate climate, England can be visited at any time of the year. But the best times of the year to visit England and explore its enthralling countryside are during summer (June through August), spring (late May to Early June) and autumn (September through November).

During these months the climate is relatively warmer and pleasant making it congenial for sightseeing and keeping yourself occupied in a wide range of activities in England. Early spring and late autumn are a little chillier but pleasant enough to bring out the tourists and locals to the outdoors.

England is considered a safe country to visit and a favourite of wanderlust souls. With a few exceptions the country is overall safe for visit. There is barely violent crime but pickpockets are pretty common.

Use your common sense while venturing out to see the famous things in England and you will gather a lifetime of experiences in one of the best travel destinations of the world.

Blessed with some of the most panoramic village idylls of Europe and an array of attractions to indulge in, England is one of the best travel destinations of the world. The other famous things in England include literature, music, sports, architecture, food, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historical monuments and mansions (Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London etc), museums, idyllic villages, shopping destinations, art galleries (Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Tate Britain etc), pristine beaches and some of the best universities of the world.

- Union Jack items
- Museum souvenirs
- British chocolate
- Homeware collections
- Beauty products
- Designer outfits
- Wine
- Buckingham Palace merchandise

By air: There are direct flights from all four metro cities and some other major cities of India to London and few other major cities in England.

By sea: Ships from the ports of Chennai, Kolkata, Mundra, Visakhapatnam and Nhava Seva reach various ports of England in 29-44 days. The major ports of England are London Gateway, Southampton, Grangemouth, Belfast and Felixstowe.

To cover the most famous things of England you will need at least 10 days to tour around this state which has too many things to see in a single trip.

Gaze at the night sky in Galloway Forest Park- Sprawling over 300 square miles of prime Scottish woodland, Galloway Forest Park has fairly earned the title Dark Sky Park where you can sit and marvel at 7000 stars that are visible in naked eyes.

It is certainly one of the best things in England to experience. On a clear day when pollution level is minimum, look up to heaven and see the stars gleaming like diamonds in the sky- trust us it's like stepping back to time; the same sky under which our ancestors lived.

Spend an evening at Lane 7- If you have had enough of sightseeing in England, it's time to divert your attention to something frolicsome. Hit Birmingham’s luxury bowling at The Cube in Lane 7 and try a hand in games like karaoke, retro arcade games, beer pong and nine walnut bowling lanes. Being located within the city centre and bestowed with an eclectic bar it is a must visit place at night in your England trip.

Enjoy live music and entertainment at The Leadmill- The city of Sheffield is a city fairly boasts of being as vibrant at night as it is during daytime and if you are by chance visiting the city on a Wednesday, make sure to visit the Leadmill’s Comedy Club.

It is guaranteed that it will be one of the most exciting activities to do in England with live music, delectable street food and a night of laughter and fun. Also, visit the Peddlers Night Market which carries a similar Sheffield vibe with live music and great food for you to tuck into.

Experience a fun-filled night at The Edge- The long-established gay club refurbished to offer an ectlectic range of recreation for party animals. There is an immaculately lit dance floor, a VIP lounge, an upscale bar and alfresco sitting area.

Enjoying fine dining in the allotted inhouse space along with pop classics played by renowned DJs and dance is certainly one of the highly recommended things to do in England.

Cruise down The Thames in London- According to most travel buffs, London’s skyline at dusk is one of the most famous things in England and if it is in a luxurious cruise down the Thames, it is certainly worth experiencing.

Enjoy a 4 course meal with a glass of wine and listen to fine jazz music played in the background as you cruise past the Big Ben, Tower of London, The Shard and other iconic landmarks of London city.