The Clean Green House Blog: Top 10 Things To Do and See In England

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Sydney loves all things music, beauty, and travel. She’s a little bit obsessed with Broadway musicals, and always has her suitcase ready for her next adventure. She lives in Hong Kong with her handsome British husband, and tries to make the best out of any situation. Her favorite mottos are: kill them with kindness, and laughter is the best medicine. Take it away, Sydney!

England is diverse, exciting, and beautiful. From enormous, ornate castles to tiny, quaint cottages, England has so much to offer. The amount of history and culture embedded into this small country is astounding, and it is also very accessible. In fact, it only takes approximately ten hours to drive from top to bottom. So you could spend one morning touring around London, and spend that same afternoon admiring Stonehenge!

While I am not from England, I feel like I’ve been indoctrinated. My husband was born and raised in this breathtaking country, and because of his roots, I’ve been able to visit England a few times. I have experienced both the touristy visits as well as the not-so-touristy visits, and I believe there are locations throughout England that cannot be missed!

Top 10 Things To Do and See In England:

Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, and Big Ben!

If you only have time for one stop, this area will give you the biggest bang for your buck. Within a mile radius, there’s the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, The Tower of London (where the crown jewels are located), and 10 Downing Street (where the Prime Minister lives). It’s easy to remember which tube stop to get off on because it’s called Westminster station!

Westminster Abbey is one of my favorite stops in England. I’m a little bit of a history lover, so coming here is like Christmas. Seeing the tombs of people like Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, Queen Elizabeth I, as well as other monarchs and historical figures makes visiting Westminster Abbey so enticing. It is also where many major royal events happened, including Prince William and Princess Kate’s wedding. I love Princess Kate, so knowing she was married there makes it all the more enchanting.

Tip: Westminster Bridge gives you a great shot of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

The British Museum

I’m a sucker for museums, and this one is worth the hype. It has items from all different countries and eras, and has some of the most famous pieces from history. The actual Rosetta Stone is located here, as well as Parthenon sculptures, famous mummies, and Samurai armor. It even has the Easter Island statue Hoa Hakananai’a, aka the, “Hey dum-dum, you give me gum-gum!” statue from the movie “Night At The Museum”- one of my favorites! The British museum gives insight into times long ago, and allows you to see things from around the world – all from the comfort of one building.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Talk about detail! This stunning structure is one of the most famous in Europe for good reason. The dome shape allows sound to echo beautifully, and every day the cathedral choir sings songs that fill the entire hall. There is also an option to climb to the top of the dome, with a grand total of 528 (yes, 528) steps to the top – wow! Even though it seems like a lot, I promise it’s worth the climb. The view of the city is breathtaking!

Covent Garden

Covent garden is the entertainment district of London. It has great shopping, quaint restaurants, and free street performers. They are hilarious and talented! Every time I go to London, I always stop here.

Tip: Check out Ben’s Cookies in Covent Garden for a delicious sweet treat!

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is one of the most famous ancient wonders of the world, and for good reason. Surrounded by lush, green grass, it stands tall compared to its surroundings. It is a mystery how Stonehenge was made and why it is there, which adds a level of intrigue to this ancient wonder.

Tip: I recommend taking an audio tour to learn more about Stonehenge while you are there.

Visiting the city of Cambridge

Cambridge is a dream. I have wanted to live there ever since I laid eyes on it. With its cobblestone paths, historical architecture, and stunning schools, who wouldn’t! There’s punting down the river in the summer months, the weekend market in the town square with items like vintage vinyls, fresh cut flowers, and pick n’ mix candies, as well as one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world – Cambridge University. I promise, when you see this school, you’ll wish you could attend. It’s basically a real-life Hogwarts, without the witchcraft and wizardry.

Tip: Cambridge roads are really tiny and busy with very limited parking, so I suggest parking outside the city and using the city’s Park and Ride system. Unlike some places in the UK, Cambridge has the public transport system down to a tee, with its own bus roads that take you right into the heart of the city.

Alton Towers

Theme parks have always been my jam. Send me to Disneyland and I’ll be happy for the next year, so of course I have to recommend my favorite theme park in England. Alton Towers is geared more to tweens and teens, but they have some kid rides as well, so there’s something for everyone. What I love about Alton Towers is that it’s built on what was once a large estate called Alton Abbey. The estate is still there, with all the rides and attractions built around it. It’s the craziest thing being at the top of one of the roller coasters, and seeing the beautiful, misplaced manor house right in the center. Who would’ve thought!

photo courtesy: www.altontowers.com

Wells-Next-The-Sea

This may come as quite a shock to most of you, but Wells is in fact next to the sea. (Well done, England for making it glaringly obvious). This one’s a little off the beaten path, but if you are feeling like taking the scenic route and looking for a not-so-touristy place to enjoy the sea, then Wells-next-the-Sea is the perfect spot for you. Beaches in England can be quite hit and miss, but Wells is great for taking a leisurely stroll, playing around in the sand dunes lining the beach, and soaking in the nice ocean breeze. When it comes to food in this area, there are some really traditional Pub lunch places, as well as local fish and chip shops to get your English food fix.

Warwick Castle

If you want to see what England looked like during the medieval period, look no further than Warwick Castle. Going there will make you feel like you’ve travelled back in time to when peasants, merchants, and royals lived there. The castle itself is magnificent, and the surrounding land is well preserved. There are live actors playing the part of different castle inhabitants, including the princess and different dungeon guards.

photo courtesy: www.warwick-castle.com

Lake District

This district in England is more mountainous and rural, with cottages along the road, old stone walls, grazing sheep, hiking, and fishing. It is a great place to go camping in the summer, or just a beautiful area to take a scenic drive.

If you are looking to see the famous sights, or want a more quiet, relaxing vacation, England offers both. I highly recommend visiting this incredible country with your family, and soaking in all the wonder and beauty it has to offer!