Are you looking for things to do in England but not sure where to start? We have got you. This article will walk you through what we feel are the best things to do in England, the U.K.
When it comes to things to do in England it’s not easy to pick. There is so much to choose from and a lot of what you want to do depends on what you like personally.
England is a diverse country, especially for its size. From the wild-looking moors in Yorkshire to the pristine cities of Cambridge and Oxford, really deciding what you want to do in England depends on what you love and what you want to see more of.
So in this article, what we’ve done is list a variety of things to do in England that should suit every taste. These are things that we would recommend to someone else and things that we feel are worth people taking a look at. We have especially focused on things to do in England outside of London.
We’ve tried to include a mixture of all kinds of things to do in England so you can choose which ones work for you. We have included some obvious ones, like London and Cambridge, but also included some of the things that you may not be familiar with like the New Forest, Derbyshire, Bronte Country, and Cheddar Gorge. These are all things we feel show England off to its best.
We think that the things on this list really give you a feeling of what England is. England isn’t all quaint cottages, castles, and beautiful stone buildings. Yes, a lot of it is but some of it is very wild and there’s some excellent geography here that we think goes unnoticed too, so it’s on the list.
We’ve tried to include a little bit of everything. So please pick which feels the best for you and also know we have left so much out because we cannot include everything.
The question we always ask ourselves when we write one of these articles is if someone came over from another country, what are the things that we would want to show them? These are the things we would like to show you.
So are you ready to see the things to do in England we have chosen for you? Here is a list of what we think are the best things to do in England
18 Amazing Must-Do Things To Do In England
Go Sightseeing in London
Now the first thing that I have put on the list is obviously London. It has to be included in a list of things to do in England as leaving it off would seem ridiculous. I, Sarah lived in London for a very, very long time. London isn’t necessarily my personal favourite place. I find it very busy, crowded, and hectic. However, there were some really, really beautiful parts of London and I can absolutely see why people want to see London and I think it’s great to experience London.
London is a very multicultural city. It’s a very historic city. It’s a city where literally you can get anything at any time. It also can feel very impersonal and can get extremely packed in the summer, the tube on a hot summer day can be very challenging, so carry water with you.
It’s a very beautiful city with some incredible parts and incredible sights. Now obviously what you do in London is going to depend on what you love and what you like to do. There is nothing in London that is a waste of time so see what you feel most excited about.
However, there are some ways to make it easier for yourself when you’re visiting London.
The tubes are pretty easy to use, once you’ve figured out the tube lines and where the maps are, and how they operate. If you are up for sightseeing, using public transport is a great way to get around.
I think however there are two easier ways to see the sights. The first thing I would do is recommend getting on a tour bus. You can either stay on and see all the sights or hop on and off to what you want to see. It will take you longer though as the buses do get stuck in the London traffic.
The better way in our opinion is to go on a boat tour. There are so many boat tours, you can go on really huge boat tours, and small boat tours, and you can jump on Uber boat tours. Most of them go from Westminster pier.
Seeing London from a boat on the river is just a brilliant way to see so many of the sights. It’s also a great way to get your bearings and London really does look beautiful from the river. This way you are not dealing with the crowds so much and you can take note of the places that look interesting that you might want to go back and visit.
You will also get a great picture and view of Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament. In my mind, the river is the best place to see all this city has to offer. It’s especially great if you are short on time and want to cram a lot in.
London is well worth a trip but do it your way. If you want to have a more relaxed experience you can and if you want to do everything you can. Just don’t feel pressured to see everything and do the things you want to do.
Going to London is definitely one of the things to do in England.
Go Punting in Cambridge
The next city we are going to recommend to you here is Cambridge. We have chosen Cambridge over Oxford simply because it’s the one we prefer. While they are both different they are also similar in lots of ways too. You can do both but we prefer Cambridge. Visiting one is one of the things to do in England that we feel everyone should do.
Cambridge is a really really beautiful city and a very walkable city nearly everything you need to get to is within walking distance. In fact, you are likely to see more bicycles in Cambridge than you are cars.
Obviously, Cambridge is home to the University of Cambridge which was established in 1209 so you get to see some great old buildings here. It is an absolutely beautiful city. Much more beautiful and much easier to navigate than some of the much bigger English Cities.
Things to do to see here include King’s College and the famous mathematical bridge that’s appeared in quite a lot of films. You’ve also got the Cambridge Botanical Gardens, Corpus Christi College, Trinity College, and all the main colleges there. You also have the wonderful Fitzwilliam Museum that’s actually beautiful and free to enter.
Again, I do believe the best way to see Cambridge is to get on one of the boats. You can either share a tour boat or book your own. This is a much easier way to see the sights, especially the colleges.
Lots of the West End theatre shows also tour Cambridge so it’s worth seeing if there is a show on when you are here.
If you come in the summer, Cambridge really has a vibe. It’s a buzzing place with a really alfresco sort of atmosphere. You’ll get music on the greens and in the park, you’ll find people eating, drinking, and having fun in the green spaces.
Cambridge really is a user-friendly city and a lovely place to visit. It’s one of the best things to do in England for couples.
Marvel at Cornwall
On the southwest tip of England is the county of Cornwall. It’s a big county with 441 miles of coastline and seeing this is one of the things to do in England for everyone.
Cornwall is a mix of wild moorland, sandy beaches, quaint towns, and spectacular cliff tops. Honestly, anywhere you go in Cornwall is beautiful.
The part of Cornwall we love the most is the Lizard Peninsula. It’s the southernmost part of Cornwall and is 14 miles of rugged coastline. Apart from being beautiful it also tends to be a little quieter than some of the more tourist areas.
There are also some incredible harbour towns and villages here such as Coverack, my favourite. This area is such a mix of beauty and rugged landscape there is something magical about it. There are also times you might find yourself totally alone on the beach.
Wherever you look in Cornwall it gives off Poldark vibes and yes, most of it was filmed here. A Poldark trip around Cornwall is next on our list. Holywell Bay is a great place to visit if you are a Poldark fan.
Cornwall really is a treat for the eyes, while it’s not the easiest location to get I highly recommend taking a trip if you can because it really is beautiful.
Visiting Cornwall is one of the things to do in England in summer.
Walk The Walls of York
The next city we are going to advise you to go to is York. York is one of Sarah’s favourite cities in the UK. It’s way up in the northeast of the country and a bit of a drive, particularly if you’re down in the south of the UK. But honestly, this city always takes our breath away. York is a walled city that was founded by the Romans. It has a huge 13th-century cathedral, York Minster, and some beautiful medieval streets. York is a very, very walkable city. And one of our favourite things to do when we go there is to actually walk around the wall or what is remaining of the wall because you get to see everything.
York Minster is just a beautiful example of a gothic-style cathedral and is high on any to-do list. The Shambles is the really old medieval streets and are just quaint and delightful. Everywhere you go in York you will see something unusual, different, and something so old, it’s almost unbelievable to think about. Seeing the minster is one of the things to do in England at night.
The best way to see everything is on the hop and hop on hop off-tour buses. This way you can see everything and get off as you need to and unlike London, you are unlikely to be sitting in traffic for ages.
The city is very user-friendly and very easy to get around and everyone here is just so friendly. If you have only got time to take one longer trip or see one city make it York.
Visiting York is one of the best things to do in England for families.
Be A Historian In Bath
The next city we are going to suggest you go to is Bath. When it comes to beautiful cities Bath really has it nailed. Bath is in Somerset in the southwest of England. It’s another Roman city named after even the Roman-built baths there.
It’s in the valley of Avon and is about 97 miles west of London. It’s actually really easy to get to from London.
Bath is full of history, with Georgian buildings, and a medieval cathedral. It’s just beautiful, pristine, and very well looked after. The city is also quite small and everything is easily walkable.
Everything is just darling, really it’s almost like you’ve walked into a sort of film set. The downside is that it gets very busy especially in the summer or around Christmas time. Sometimes so busy, it’s hard to move, so avoid these times if you can.
Again the best way to see this city is the hop-on hop-off tour bus especially if you want to see some of the further away sights such as The Crescent.
Definitely go to The Baths if you can. They really are spectacular and make sure you try some of the spring water, it’s an acquired taste for sure.
There really isn’t another city like Bath in England. It’s much grander and elevated than any of the other cities and you can really tell this is a place the wealthy came to get out of the city.
A visit here should be at the top of your list of things to do in England.
Climb A Mountain in The Lake District
The next place we are going to recommend to you is the Lake District. We think the Lake District is one of the most beautiful places in the UK.
The Lake District is a region and a national park in Cumbria, right up in northwest England. It’s a very popular place, particularly for those that like walking and hiking.
It’s an area that can get busy in the summer but I’m not sure if you ever feel like there are loads of people there.
It’s known for its glacier ribbon peaks, rugged mountains, and of course lakes. If you love lakes and mountains then the Lake District is the place to go.
There are also lots of beautiful market towns here such as Kendal, Ambleside, and Keswick. Everywhere up here is just lovely so It’s almost a pin on the map to choose where to go.
We have been to many locations in the area and can’t pick a favourite. We tend to favour the wilder and out-of-the-way locations but it’s about personal choice.
You will need a car here as public transport is lacking and you will want to drive around this area. Trust us, getting in your car is the easy way to see some of the scenery.
The best thing about the Lake District is once you get here everything is free, nature costs nothing. So if you are looking for cheap things to do in England this one is for you.
Go Back In Time At Stonehenge
The next thing we are going to put on the list is Stonehenge. It’s actually a place we have only visited once and it wasn’t that long ago.
While it really is worth seeing it’s also in a really difficult place to get to, well not difficult as such but out of the way. It’s a place where more people drive past on the route to somewhere else.
Unless it’s somewhere you really want to go I would combine visiting here on the way to or from another destination such as the New Forest. It is located on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument consisting of an outer ring of vertical sarsen standing stones, each around 13 feet high, seven feet wide, and weighing around 25 tons, topped by connecting horizontal lintel stones. There is no doubt it’s a marvel to look at.
There is a charge to get in and we recommend getting the audio tour which puts it all into perspective otherwise it’s honestly just a pile of stones to most.
It’s not a place where you spend a lot of time, two hours at the most and it can get cold and very windy as the plain is very exposed, so make sure you wrap yourself up or come prepared.
If you have the time this is definitely one of the things to do in England, UK.
Walk In The Bronte Sister’s Footsteps
Bronte Country is an area of West Yorkshire and the East Lancashire Pennines in the north of England. Called Bronte Country because of its connections to the Bronte sisters.
This is a place that holds a special pull for me, Sarah, and is a place where you see England in a different light. I absolutely love the topography here; it’s heather and windswept moors with views for miles. This is one of the things to do in England if you want to see the countryside.
This area is sparse yet surprising and beautiful. It is also a place where you can often find yourself alone with no other soul around and just be at one with nature.
If you are someone who loves dark gothic-style literature such as Wuthering Heights then this area is going to mean so much to you.
You can visit the areas the Bronte sisters loved, climb to places that inspired scenes in famous books and visit the gorgeous quaint village of Haworth where they spent their childhood.
Walking to Top Withens ( a place similar to that which inspired Wuthering Heights) is a lovely hike. Pondon Kirk is also a great place to visit that is featured in the films although this hike is a little more challenging.
For the easiest walks and a stunning location try Bronte Waterfall. It’s an absolutely stunning location and a short walk from Haworth. Talking of Haworth, you have to visit this town. It is one of the cutest most aesthetic places I, Sarah have visited.
There’s just something about this whole area, it’s overlooked by most which I think is a real shame as it’s stunning. When you visit you will know why this area has inspired so many writers. If you love literature this is one of the things to do in England.
Visit The King At Windsor
Ok, so you can’t visit the King really but he may be here, the late Queen loved this place and he does too. And the way to tell if he is there is to look at the flag if it is The Royal Standard he is if it’s the Union Jack he is not.
If you want to visit a historic city in the UK that is easy to get to and close to London this is it. It’s about 20 miles west of London and easy to get to by train.
Obviously, the biggest draw here is Windsor Castle at over 1000 years old; this is mainly where the queen is staying currently. It’s the oldest inhabited castle in the world actually.
Windsor is just a very beautiful place with cute shops and streets and a lovely atmosphere. The castle dominates everything, even as you travel into Windsor driving or on the train, you can see it.
So if you want a really great day out with a great castle, and a very historic location you will want to see the pretty town of Windsor.
It’s an easy town to get around, there are lots to see and do and the castle is open 5 days a week. Definitely, one you should put high on your list.
This is one of the best things to do in England if you love history.
See Ponies At The New Forest
Yes, it really is called The New Forest and no it is not new. It was actually created by William the Conqueror as his ‘new hunting forest’. He named it ‘Nova Foresta’, which evolved into its English name meaning ‘New Forest’.
The New Forest is one of the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland, and forest in Southern England. It covers southwest Hampshire and southeast Wiltshire.
While the area is beautiful, what it is most known for are the ponies that roam freely. There are believed to be about 5000 of them.
There are some lovely scenic hiking routes and a great driving route that takes you through the area. The best way to experience this place though is definitely on foot. 90 % of the land here is owned by the crown and most is accessible with locals known as ‘commoners’ having rights to graze animals and walk on the land.
It’s located between Southampton and Bournemouth, below Salisbury, so it’s something that you could also combine with Stonehenge. The area covers 219 square miles and is a designated national park and an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Telegraph Hill is where you’ll find a lot of free-roaming animals and stunning views. Beaulieu is one of the best villages to see the ponies and Lymington and Brockenhurst are great places to visit.
If you are looking for the great countryside in England this is the place for you.
Enjoy Holkham Beach
Where we live in the Uk you couldn’t be further from the beach, so to get to a beach we have to drive, therefore we make sure it’s worth it by going to what we feel is one of the best beaches in England.
If you are after a beach that is wild, huge, and never busy this is the beach for you. True, there are many more famous beaches in England but we prefer this one. It’s also one of the cheap things to do in England, U.K.
Firstly this beach is huge, well at least for England it is, four miles to be exact. Secondly, it’s the beach the Queen used to visit as a child, and thirdly it’s the beach where the horses of the Household Cavalry come on holiday.
Located in Norfolk near Holkham Hall, there is a car park, cafe, and toilets at the entrance and then you have to walk to get to the sand. The walk is across a boardwalk and a flat area that can get muddy and wet. Getting there is something of an adventure.
But once you’ve got through that you have the most stunning beach and coastline that opens up before you.
The area is actually also a nature reserve. It’s very quiet and incredibly well maintained and totally not commercial. You will need to bring everything with you and the walk back to the toilets is a long one.
If you can try and get there the first week of July as this is when they take the Household Cavalry horses there for a vacation. It is something else seeing these horses playing in the water.
I highly recommend a visit to this beach if you are after something a little different. It’s one of the best beaches in England.
This is one of the things to do in England with kids.
Go Hiking In Derbyshire
Derbyshire is an area that isn’t on many people’s things to do in England list but it really should be. The Peak District National Park really is like nowhere else in England.
The Peak District is famous for its caves, with the deepest being over 400 meters below the ground. It is also an area with some amazing hiking opportunities.
The area comprises five counties; Cheshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, and Greater Manchester covering an area of 555 sq miles. The part that is in Derbyshire is the southern end of the Pennines, known as the upland “spine” of England.
What the area is most known for is the purest natural mineral water in the world, and is famous for brands including Buxton and Ashbourne.
It’s British scenery at its finest; hills, lakes, babbling brooks, cliffs, views, waterfalls, it has everything. There are also some really quaint and very cute towns and villages in the area too.
The area we love the most is Hope Valley. It is one most popular parts of the Peak District National Park and with good reason. It offers some of the best views and the most picturesque villages in the country.
If you want to see a little bit of everything England has to offer then this is the place to come.
Explore Brighton
Another beach on the list but this one is here because if you want to see a British seaside town that can be easily accessed from London this is it.
Brighton is famous for its seaside, observational tower, pavilion, and Palace Pier. It’s an English seaside and then some, Brighton does not do anything by halves.
It’s also an extremely LGBTQ+-friendly area and has a huge LGBTQ+ population. It’s colourful, exuberant, bohemian, liberal and so alive.
Brighton is also really easy to get to from London and is so close it’s known as London by the Sea.
There is so much to see and do here and a visit to Brighton Pavillion is a must. Oh, and just so you know the beach here is stony and not sandy so it’s not necessarily a sunbathing beach.
I feel like everyone needs to experience Brighton, it’s something else and while it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, if you love quirky, outrageous places you are going to love it here. Definitely one of the things to do in England with friends.
Eat Oysters At Whitstable
For as quirky and outrageous Brighton is, Whitstable could not be more different. This is a seaside of a time gone by, vintage in every way. If you want to experience seaside towns in England as they used to be then this is the one for you.
On the coast of Kent five miles north of Canterbury is the cute seaside town famous for oysters. In fact, if you have seen a picture of this location it is probably in front of the famous Wheelers Oyster Bar.
It’s an Instagram kind of place, but you will have to get up early to get pictures with no one else in it because boy, does this place get busy. It also has a castle, though we haven’t been.
Wandering around the streets here you can almost imagine what life was like many many years ago and how important local fishing was to this area.
If you are after a seaside town that is picture perfect and down in the London area then this is a great one. There are also some very picturesque seaside towns in Yorkshire, but they are much more difficult to get to.
See The Grandeur At Chatsworth House
So when we were picking a stately home in England to suggest for you to visit, there were so many it was hard to choose. We have been to a lot of them but the one for us that is shoulders above the rest is Chatsworth House.
Nine miles east of Bakewell, it stands on the east bank of the River Derwent, across from hills between the Derwent and Wye valleys.
The house is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire and has belonged to the Cavendish family since 1549. Known as ‘the jewel in the Peak District’s crown’, Chatsworth was used as the location for films such as Pride and Prejudice (film 2005, BBC TV series 1995), The Duchess (2008), and The Wolfman (2009).
It’s hard to explain how stunning the house and gardens are but let’s just say I’ve seen a lot and this one still takes my breath away. It’s also incredible at Christmas Time.
What I love most about this place is how friendly the staff are. Believe us, that is not always the case but here it is. If you are looking for a stately home to visit that gives you a little bit of everything I highly recommend Chatsworth.
Enjoy The View At Cheddar Gorge
You may have heard of this place or you may not have, either way, if you are someone who likes big landscapes then this is a place you need to visit.
There aren’t many places where you can see things in England on this scale but this is one of them. Cheddar Gorge is a limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills near the village of Cheddar, yes the villages where Cheddar Cheese comes from.
The gorge is also the site of the Cheddar show caves. This is the place where in 1903 Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton, Cheddar Man, estimated to be 9,000 years old was found.
The area is somewhat magical prehistoric looking. It wouldn’t look out of place in a Lord of the Rings film. It’s a truly awe-inspiring destination.
You can walk around the gorge which is about a 4-mile hike or you can drive through and stop for photos.
The gorge is public land and free to walk or drive you will need to pay to visit the caves though.
It’s a stunning place to visit in England and if you can we highly recommend a visit.
Be A Knight At Warwick Castle
I feel like this wouldn’t be a list of things to do in England if I didn’t include a few castles so here it is one of the best in our opinion.
Warwick Castle was originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068. It’s an impressive medieval castle developed from a wooden fort.
Situated near Warick in Warwickshire the castle is on the River Avon and is an incredibly historic day out. Currently owned by the Merlin Entertainments Group the same people who own other well-known Alton Towers this is not a castle you spend a few hours at its a full-day experience.
There is so much to see and do here, far too much to mention but if there is a jousting competition on when you are there you really must watch, they are so much fun.
If you are after a fun day out at a historic location then this is it. The children will love it here and you can even stay on-site. This is one of the things to do in England for families. if you have toddlers they will also love it here.
Feel The Force At High Force
Now England isn’t necessarily known for its waterfalls although there are some. Most of the best waterfalls are in Scotland and Wales however there is one that is quite special.
High Force is located at Forest-in-Teesdale, in the heart of the Durham Dales, Co. Durham. Its located in the Upper Teesdale countryside in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The area is stunning and a dedicated dark sky location meaning stargazing here is beyond amazing. The waterfall cascades 21 meters and has been doing so for thousands of years.
It’s the biggest waterfall in England and is reached by a pretty woodland walk of about a third of a mile. While it is spectacular anytime, winter tends to see it at its best, especially if it’s after heavy rainfall.
There is a small charge which allows for the maintenance of the area but it’s only around 2.50. This is one of the things to do in England that everyone will enjoy.
As you can see when it comes to choosing things to do in England it’s not easy. This is just a small section of the places to visit in England but I hope it helps you plan your holiday.
We have included lots of different things to do in England here and we believe there is something that will suit everyone. Whether you want a busy city in England or to visit the countryside in England we have included it in this list.
Please let us know if you visit any of these places in England or feel there is something we are missing here.