VISIT ENGLAND

From the bustling megalopolis of London to charming storybook-like villages in the Cotswolds, England is an eclectic country present in many travellers’ bucket lists

Currency

£ - Pound sterling (1£ ≃ 1,1€ ≃ 1,21$)

POPULATION

56 millions

MAIN LANGUAGE

English

AREA

130,279 km²

TIME ZONE

UTC / UTC+1

FLAG

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

England is the largest constituent of the United Kingdom and one of the most influential countries in the world. London, its capital, is renowned for being one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, with an amazing selection of museums, stores, and restaurants. Although a large portion of the nation is relatively flat, there are hilly regions in the north, including the Lake District. In the south, there are lovely regions with little seaside towns, charming villages, and expansive beaches. The Cotswolds are well-known for their "quintessentially English" beauty, which includes gorgeous green rolling hills, stone walls, woods, and quaint tiny towns and villages.

There are a couple of things to know before travelling to England:

Water: Tap water is considered safe to drink in England.

Driving: Traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road. The main speed limits are as follows: 30 mph / 48 mph on main roads within built-up areas, 60 mph / 96 kph on single carriageways, and 70 mph / 112 kph on motorways and dual carriageways.

Plugs: The plug type used in England is: G, which has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. England operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency.

Tipping: As a general rule - although welcome - tipping is not compulsory in restaurants and cafés in England, but it is common to leave around a 10% tip if you are happy with the service provided. Some places add on a service charge by default.

Payment: Bank cards - either debit or credit cards - are widely accepted across England, the most common ones being Visa and Mastercard. American Express cards can be used in fewer places. The use of cash money is still very common, especially for low-value purchases.

Holidays and closing days: Sunday is a closing day for many stores, especially outside of London and other main cities. There are 11 official public holidays in England: New Year's Day (January 01), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May (May 01), Spring bank, Summer bank, St Andrew's Day (November 30), Christmas Day (December 25), Boxing Day (December 26). On these days, most businesses and offices will be closed, and many attractions may be shut or have limited opening hours.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The information below is provided merely as an indication and applies for short-term tourism visa purposes only. Before your trip to England, or if you are planning to come to England for another purpose (work, studies, ...), check the official information on the UK Government website: https://www.gov.uk/

✅ No visa needed (6 months stay maximum) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:
Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Austria; Bahamas; Barbados; Belgium; Belize; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei; Bulgaria; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Dominica; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Kiribati; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macao; Malaysia; Malta; Marshall Islands; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia; Monaco; Namibia; Nauru; Netherlands; New-Zealand; Nicaragua; Norway; Palau; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Samoa; San Marino; Seychelles; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; Solomon Islands; South Korea; Spain; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Sweden; Switzerland; Taiwan; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; United States of America; Uruguay; Vanuatu; Vatican City

🛂 Standard Visitor Visa required (6 months stay maximum) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Comoros; Congo; Congo (Dem. Rep); Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast); Cuba; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; Gambia; Georgia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; North Korea; North Macedonia; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian territories; Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Serbia; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Venezuela; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe

💡 Visitors from the following countries can get an electronic visa waiver instead of a visa: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

December – February: Christmastime is one of the busiest times of year in England, especially in London. It's hard to miss the festive atmosphere when historic buildings, streets, and shops are decked out in eye-catching Christmas decorations and shimmering lights. On New Year's Eve, London has a massive fireworks show on the River Thames in addition to numerous other events. During winter, the temperatures in London usually range from 3°C (38F) to 9°C (48F).

March – May: The countryside starts to spring to life as the days get longer and warmer after winter. For this reason, it is one of the best moments for travelling to the Cotswolds, when the beautiful vegetation of the lush hills makes scenic sights. Additionally, it's easier to get cheap lodging. If you can, avoid the Easter holiday, which can bring crowds.

June – August: The summer is the busiest season to travel to England. Seaside towns like Brighton or Whitby experience summertime traffic problems, particularly during weekends and holidays. It is a great time to enjoy the parks, beer gardens, and rooftop bars. It is also a popular time to visit areas like the Cotswolds, Cornwall, and the Lake District. During summer, the temperatures in London usually range from 12°C (54F) to 24°C (75F).

September – November: In September, the weather is typically pleasant and there are fewer tourists, making it an excellent time to travel to places in England, especially in more rural areas. At this time, you can enjoy the beaches and little towns in the country without the crowds of tourists, or experience London or Manchester's urban lifestyles.

Prepare your trip

Pick a (English) destination

Make your choice from the list below or the map to access all the articles related to specific cities or regions of England.

ENGLAND HIGHLIGHT ATTRACTIONS

SEE STONEHENGE MONUMENT

One of England's most recognizable landmarks is this prehistoric structure. It is made out of a vertical outer ring of sarsen standing stones that are each about 13 feet high, seven feet wide, and weigh around 25 tons

EXPLORE LONDON

London, arguably the most cosmopolitan city in Europe, is renowned throughout the world for its tremendous selection of historical sites, museums, stores, and restaurants.

GET SOME FRESH AIR IN CORNWALL

On the wild southwest corner of England is the county of Cornwall. One of the top vacation spots in the UK, it is a peninsula that includes untamed moorland and many beaches.

SPEND A WEEK-END IN BATH

Beautiful Bath was created as a haven for leisure and relaxation and has been a wellness destination ever since the Roman era. This city is charming, walkable, and historically significant, making it the ideal English weekend getaway location.

ROAD TRIP THE COTSWOLDS

Recognized as an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty', the Cotswolds are well known for their distinctively English environment of lush green rolling hills, stone walls, woods, and quaint tiny towns and villages.

ETHICAL WILDLIFE TOURISM IN ENGLAND

SEE BEAVERS IN DEVON AND CORNWALL

The Eurasian beaver is native to Britain, but was hunted to extinction in the 16th century. In the past years, they have been reintroduced in England and officially became a protected species in 2022.

Did you know?

England’s national emblematic animal is the Lion.

ALL ENGLAND BLOG ARTICLES

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