England Vacations

Famous for its succulent oysters, which have been harvested off these warm shores since Roman times, Whitstable has an unspoiled charm far removed from other regional resorts. Still a humble fishing village at heart, its streets sport names like Squeeze Gut Alley and Skinner’s Alley, and a host of venerable old seafood restaurants. The shingle beach is barbed with rows of groins, but is a pretty stretch nonetheless, dotted with multicoloured beach huts and overlooked by sharp cliffs east of town. And from atop the grass-topped Tankerton Slopes you can spy the Street, a narrow shingle ridge stretching half a mile out to sea but only exposed at low tide.

Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to a bit of classy charm, Whitby blows all of northern England’s coastal resorts out of the water. The narrow medieval streets are lined with restaurants, pubs and cute little shops, and everything more or less leads down to the handsome harbour, where colourful fishing boats move in and out during the day. Keeping a watchful eye over the whole scene is the ruined and utterly atmospheric abbey atop one of the cliffs that hems the town.

Read the rest of this entry »

Stripey deckchairs, candy-floss stalls, rickety windbreaks and Punch & Judy booths line the beachfront at the well-worn seaside town of Weymouth, once a favoured holiday haunt of the English gentry, and now more popular with bawling nippers, family day-trippers and members of the blue rinse brigade. Depending on your point of view, it’s either a glorious example of British kitsch or a soulless summation of everything that’s wrong with the domestic seaside experience. Whatever you make of the present-day town, Weymouth looks set for a massive transformation over the next five years, having been chosen as the sailing centre for the 2012 Olympics.

Read the rest of this entry »

Think West Yorkshire and you’ll probably come up with textiles. You’re not far wrong, for that tough and unforgiving industry drove the county’s economy and defined much of the landscape for centuries. But that’s all in the past, and West Yorkshire’s other identity – the softer, prettier one – has seen the transformation of a once hard-bitten area into quite the picture postcard. They may have gone a little soft round these parts, but don’t say it out loud, for it wouldn’t do in this no-nonsense, down-to-earth part of the world to suggest that West Yorkshire folk didn’t eat nails for breakfast.

Read the rest of this entry »

Serene West Sussex comes as a little light relief after the faster-paced adventures of Brighton and East Sussex. The tumbling hills and valleys of the South Downs dominate the countryside. And both dreamy Arundel and dignified big sister Chichester make good bases from which to explore the county’s winding country lanes and scout out its remarkable Roman ruins.

Read the rest of this entry »

West Cornwall contains some of the county’s wildest scenery, a classic landscape of sea-battered cliffs, churning surf, crumbling mine-workings and wheeling gulls. The West Penwith area was one of the oldest Celtic settlements in Cornwall, and the area is littered with prehistoric sites.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tiny Wells is England’s smallest city, and only qualifies for the title of ‘city’ thanks to its magnificent medieval cathedral, which sits in the heart of town beside the grand Bishop’s Palace – the main seat of ecclesiastical power in this part of Britain since the 12th century, and still the official residence of the Bishop of Bath and Wells. Medieval buildings and cobbled streets radiate out from the cathedral green to the main marketplace, which has been the bustling heart of Wells for some nine centuries. These days Wells is a quiet provincial city, with some good restaurants and busy shops, and makes a good launch pad for exploring the Mendips and northern Somerset.

Read the rest of this entry »

Seen on a chill, mist-shrouded winter’s day, there’s something inescapably sinister about the inky black lake of Wastwater, the deepest in England (79m). Perhaps it’s the brooding crown of mountains that frames the lake’s shores, or the shattered slopes of scree that tumble into its waters from the surrounding hilltops. More likely it’s simply that this is still one of the wildest locations in the Lakes, a little-visited area that’s home to just a few houses and a single sturdy inn, all of which are dwarfed by the majestic peaks of nearby Scaféll Pike and Great Gable. It’s a world away from the hustle and buzz of Lake Windermere, which makes Wastwater a favourite spot for walkers looking to experience the Lake District’s more untamed side.

Read the rest of this entry »

Warwickshire got lucky: it could have been just another picturesque English county but history makes it one of the most visited areas outside of London. Shakespeare’s birthplace at Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick’s superb castle are the main draws. Other, lesser known attractions can be just as rewarding, however: try the hauntingly atmospheric Kenilworth Castle ruins or visit the cathedrals (yes, plural) that shaped Coventry’s history.

Read the rest of this entry »

The magnificent turreted castle is the lure for most of the visitors to this quiet county town. It’s an awe-inspiring sight – as are the queues in summer. Several other sights are less over-run, but also well worth stopping for. A gentle stroll round the centre reveals well-preserved historic buildings – survivors of a fire in 1694 that destroyed much of the town – as well as absorbing museums and fine riverside views.

Read the rest of this entry »