Matador's Ultimate Guide to England

Picturesque countryside, an iconic capital, and underrated island hopping ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [England]( Matador's Ultimate Guide to England Hi all, If you're visiting England, you'll probably spend some time in London, the most visited city in Europe. There are endless things to see and experience, from [world-class museums]( to must-see sites such as: - [The Tower of London]( - [Big Ben]( - [Tower Bridge]( - [St. Paul's Cathedral]( But there’s far more to England than its famous cities. It’s steeped in history with [centuries-old royal residences]( the cottages of [the Cotswolds]( the quaint and Shire-like [Lake District]( or castles out in the countryside. England is also a highly-underrated place to hike, kayak, and island hop. No matter where you’re looking to travel in jolly ole’ England, we’ve got trip-planning articles to help you along the way. [EXPLORE ENGLAND]( GET INSPIRED [Lower Slaughter, Gloucestershire]( 7 Picture-Perfect English Villages Just a Train Ride From London If you’ve ever watched the Christmas-themed rom-com The Holiday, you’ve probably been gripped by the urge to leave your job behind, abandon the hectic urban energy that permeates your everyday life, and retreat to a cottage in a cute English village. While quitting your job on a whim may be a dream that’ll never come true, renting an adorable little house in the English countryside is much easier than you think. [READ MORE]( [Brighton]( The Ultimate Day Trip To Brighton From London If you’re staying in London for more than a few days, it’s worth getting out of the city and exploring the surrounding area. If you only have time for one day trip, head south to Brighton. In the 18th century, Brighton was a sleeping fishing village that became a popular holiday destination toward the end of the century after the construction of the railways. Throughout the years, the town and its beautiful coastline became a creative hub of writers, performers, and artists. [READ MORE]( [LGBTQ Guide London]( The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide To London London tops the charts as not only one of the most multicultural cities in Europe but also one of the best LGBTQ+ destinations. Gay London is the heartbeat of queer life in the UK. Take a stroll through Soho, just one of the city’s many gay districts, and it’ll be quite clear that this city has much to offer LGBTQ+ travelers. From riotous drag shows at upscale cocktail bars to gay history collections at some of its premier museums, LGBTQ+ culture is never more than a tube ride away. [READ MORE]( [Castle Combe]( Castle Combe Is the Quintessential Medieval Village in the English Countryside Castle Combe in Wiltshire, England, is a charming village known for its bucolic beauty and tranquil atmosphere, making it the perfect place to explore and relax. Take a walk down cobbled streets lined with medieval churches, sprawling manor homes, and cozy cottages — it’s easy to see why Castle Combe is often called the prettiest village in England. [READ MORE]( [Lincolnshire, England]( The Most Wishlisted Pubs That You Can Actually Stay in on Airbnb Getting the full pub experience means not just throwing back a pint, but actually spending the night there. That’s why many pub owners are turning their watering holes into Airbnbs all around the UK, and unsurprisingly, it’s proven to be one of the most popular travel and lodging trends. [READ MORE]( NATURE + ADVENTURE [Old Harry Rocks]( Old Harry Rocks May Be the Coolest Place To Go Kayaking in England Old Harry Rocks is a natural landmark on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England. It consists of tall, tower-like chalk formations subjected to several million years’ worth of erosion by powerful sea waves, which gives them their unique shape. They’re some of the most dramatic features along England’s southern coastline. [READ MORE]( [Isle of Scilly]( The Balmy Isles of Scilly Are England, but With Soft Sand and Palm Trees Just due west of Cornwall, you'll find a group of islands with gin clear water, sandy beaches, hidden coves, and balmy breezes. Located far enough into the Atlantic to benefit from the warming effects of the Gulf Stream current, even palms and tropical pandanus trees grow here. With 55 islands and islets to explore, most uninhabited, there’s a beach for everyone. [READ MORE]( [Hyde Park]( The 7 Best Parks in London, England, for First-Time Visitors The history of London is intimately connected with its parks and green spaces as they’ve served as meeting places, performance venues, hunting grounds, and even military training areas over the centuries. As the city grew and developed, these green spaces became increasingly important, providing spaces for relaxation, exercise, and recreation for people of all ages in a place that’s otherwise extremely developed and sprawling. [READ MORE]( [River Thames]( The Secret Islands of the River Thames That Tourists Don’t Know About Finding an island in the middle of a metropolitan maze-like London may seem a bit out there, but there’s more to the River Thames than spotting seals. More than 150 islands span the length of the river that bisects the UK capital. While some isles are no larger than a double-decker bus, others can quite comfortably host entire communities of people. A handful of these islands fall within London’s limits, their inhabitants ranging from hairy German snails to Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. [READ MORE]( FOOD + CULTURE [street food]( London’s Essential Food and Drink To Try on Your First Trip London’s restaurant scene can be overwhelming. There’s every type of food imaginable in the capital city, and tens of thousands of restaurants and pubs to eat and drink at. Traditional chip shops sit next to Jamaican restaurants and Indian spots serving classic English-Indian dishes. When it comes to fine dining and global restaurant recognition, there are nearly 70 Michelin-starred restaurants in London. Visitors are truly spoiled for choice when deciding where and what to eat. Narrow it down on your first trip to London by seeking out these essential dishes and drinks. [READ MORE]( [Bath, England]( How To Bathe Like the Romans in Southwest England The legacy of the Romans’ ingenious designs to harness water and unique cultural practices endured long after their retreat, and today those thermal waters still flow through the ruins of the Roman Baths, which are one of Britain’s top tourist attractions. Not only can you visit the ruins of the baths, but you can even take a swim in the sacred water at Thermae Bath Spa, just like the Romans did so many centuries ago. [READ MORE]( [Kitchen Gardens]( A Dreamy Visit To One of the Largest Working Kitchen Gardens in England’s Peak District To drive onto the grounds of Chatsworth House, in Derbyshire, England, at the edge of the Peak District, is to be transported. You leave present-day England the moment the tires hit the pavement driveway leading to the house, and enter an idyllic 18th-century oil painting of the English countryside. Tucked away in the upper left corner of the grounds, in the hills above the house, is the Kitchen Garden, a sprawling 3-acre garden where the estate grows fruit, flowers, herbs, vegetables, and leafy salad greens. [READ MORE]( [Island Social Club]( The Best Black-Owned Restaurants in London London is a famously multicultural city, shaped by the immigrant communities that have built their lives there. Much like the city itself, black-owned restaurants here span the width of the African diaspora. From the kitchens of the American South to Addis Ababa, these black-owned eateries transcend borders and passport stamps. Basically, you don’t need to leave the Big Smoke for an authentic yet diverse taste of African culture and identity. [READ MORE]( [GuideGeek](bit.ly/42GCAEz) EPIC STAYS Take the headache out of planning and check out our staff picks for places to stay [British Airbnbs]( [London Hotels]( [London Airbnbs]( [English Hotels]( [Manchester Airbnbs]( [Cabins to rent]( [castles to rent]( [castles to rent]( [Royal Favorites]( [Royal Favorites]( [Epic Stays TikTok]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( [TikTok]( [Pinterest]( [Update your email frequency and topic preferences here](. Or [unsubscribe from our newsletter.]( We'll be here when you need us! Copyright © 2023 Matador Network, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Matador Network, PO Box 7775, Suite 40021, San Francisco, CA 94120, United States