by Sally Longson

Created on: July 09, 2008

England has an enormous amount to offer outside London, as much as within the old capital. As soon as you even think about heading to England for a holiday, visit sites such as www.enjoyengland.com, where you can pick up ideas of places to go on day trips, and ideas for themes such as city breaks, rural escapes, heritage and culture, family fun and relaxing breaks.

One option is to focus on a corner of England, rather than do all of it, or remain in London, and there are an increasing number of international flights heading into England and cities such as Southampton and Bristol in the south, Birmingham in the Midlands and Manchester further north.

Consider what you want to get from your visit to England and what is reasonable in the time, and how you will get around. One option is to take a tour, rather than attempt to do it all on your own. Be ready for rain at any time, regardless of the time of year, and pack light wet weather gear. The weather can change at a moment's notice, and that's all part of England's charm.

Make sure you include some of the smaller cities, market towns and villages if you can. Many of these can be reached through the public transport system, although as a rule, the more rural an area, the less frequent buses etc are likely to run, and a car may be useful.

Mug up on a good guidebook to the UK before you go so that you are familiar with the different terms the Brits use, such as a lift instead of an elevator. It's all part of the fun.

Try out the local food: fish and chips, afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream; a take-away curry; steak and kidney pie with pastry on the top; and all those wonderful puddings designed to keep the cold out, such as treacle pudding with custard. And do have a pint at a pub to experience English life at leisure. Many pubs have local brews, while others belong to large breweries which produce their own brands.

To work off all that food and build up an appetite for your next meal, do get in some walking. England has an enormous number of woodland, wetland, nature reserves, moors, coastal areas and country walks with a great deal of wildlife. The Ramblers' Association (www.ramblers.org.uk) has information on paths, routes, accommodation, walking groups and more. There's nothing like the countryside in England, so do make a journey to rural England while you are there.

If you get a chance to go to a country show, do so - the South Of England Showground, just south of London, has a number of shows every year, but most villages and towns have their own events. In addition, many farms offer bed and breakfast to give you a real flavour of life in the English countryside.

Many towns have a tourist office, always worth a visit for ideas and up-to-date information. More and more shops are opening up seven days a week, but especially in small places, that isn't always the case. Some towns have "late opening" one evening a week. And if you want to go to church, you may find that rural churches share clergy, so check with church notice boards. Drift into churches to have a look if you get the opportunity - many may be locked. Post-offices and small shops often have useful information in their windows which give you a flavour into life in the area.

Do your planning and work out what interests you in England, find out where you can get stuck in. It's a country of many contrasts, with accommodation to suit most budgets (although it will be expensive in London). Most importantly, enjoy your visit!

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