England

The centre of British dominance and the heart of one of the world’s most enduring empires, England is a conglomeration of vibrant, buzzing cities, lush pasturelands, and monumental scenery.
London offers an exceptional cultural backdrop, with thousands of years of history on display, uncountable artistic masterpieces to discover, an incredibly diverse ethnic community and some of the best shopping to be found on earth. Further afield, the south of England offers delightful seaside cities bursting with nightlife, stunning natural scenery and as well as quaint, sleepy villages that live life at a quieter pace; the Lakes District in Cumbria is a landscape of never-ending beauty with dramatic peaks, beautiful valleys, and stunning lakes; in the north of England, history abounds. Experience the medieval history of Chester, circled by Roman-built walls and featuring distinctive 19th-century architecture, and in York, you'll find the oldest shopping street in Europe, Viking history and ghosts a-plenty.
London

Regional England

Natural Wonders

Must-do Experiences

Points of Interest
Generally, Australians travelling to the UK as tourists for a period of up to six months do not require a visa. However, it is ultimately the prerogative of the UK authorities to determine who is granted entry. Any individual they believe is entering the UK for any non-tourist purpose and does not hold the corresponding visa, may be refused entry. Australians planning to do paid or unpaid work, to volunteer or get married in the UK are required to obtain a visa before they depart Australia. For more information visit - www.smartraveller.gov.au.
Best Time to Visit
Activity | Time |
---|---|
Catch a Megastar performance at a summer festival | Glastonbury Festival (July) / Reading Festival (August) |
Watch a huge fireworks display | London's Southbank on New Year's Eve |
Watch grown men and women roll cheese down a hill | Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling Festival is held in May |
Getting Around
Getting around England is easy. If you're in London, make the most of the impressive Tube system. Pre-purchased Tube passes can be bought from your travel agent, or at any newsagent or Tube station once in London.
England's train network is a great way to visit the other parts of the country, with most of the country well covered by rail services. Be sure to book advance tickets if possible to save money.
Car hire is another great way to get around (it's worthy to note that most lead-in hire cars are manual in Europe, you'll need to pay for an upgrade if you want to hire an automatic), England's road numbering system makes it easy to navigate, and handy motorway signs like "The North" let you know you're heading in the right direction.
Dining
It's not all just Fish & Chips, Bangers & Mash and Curry! England has some incredible cuisine on offer, from small village Gastropubs to the high-end celebrity chef-run restaurants of London, the British table is surprising varied.
Of course, if you are after some traditional delights, be sure to try some West Country Cider, a Melton Mowbray pork pie, a traditional Devonshire cream tea, Cornish pasties and incredible cheeses like Stilton or West Country Farmhouse Chedder.
For truly gastronomic delights, the Visit Britain website offers a list of the Best British restaurants.
Shopping
From affordable High Street chains like Top Shop and H&M, to famous designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith and Burberry, England is a fantastic shopping destination. England's High Streets and Shopping centres have become quite generic, with the same department stores and chains popping up in all corners of the country - this does mean you'll find consistent products and pricing wherever you are. If your are looking for something unique, London plays host to some fantastic marketes, including Brick Lane and Spittalfields in the East End, as well as the world-famous Portoblello Road and Camden Markets.
If you are planning to grab some British bargains, you can claim your VAT back at the airport when you leave - visit the VAT Refunds Website for more info.
What to Pack
Although not a land of extremes, England is always hard to predict the exact weather for your trip. If you are travelling in the summer months, pack the shorts and summer dresses, but make sure you include jeans and a jumper for those cooler nights, and if you are travelling in winter, be sure to pack gloves, scalf and a beanie. Spring and Autumn are variable and you are probably best to pack for all seasons!
With so much culture, history, music, theatre, scenery and amazing experiences to immerse yourself into in Britain, you'll be spolit for choice on what to do next - check out some of our favourites below - or drop by the Visit Britain website.