In the West Country, Wiltshire is a county of chalk downs that meet the Cotswold Hills on the boundaries with Somerset and Gloucestershire. As one of the most fertile regions in England there’s abundant farmland in Wiltshire, interspersed with well-looked after towns, and villages prized for their cute thatched cottages. The county’s hilltops are crowned …
Far from the London sprawl, West Sussex is on the south coast where the English Channel shoreline is lined with continuous towns and seaside resorts. Many of these, like Chichester and Arundel are historic and have compelling Roman, Saxon and medieval monuments. Others, like Worthing and Bognor Regis are holiday centres, harnessing the sunny climate …
On the southeast coast, East Sussex is a county that will take you back to England’s very foundation. The decisive Battle of Hastings was fought here, and William the Conqueror built his first fortresses in East Sussex. Amid all this history is Brighton, England’s most progressive city, and a sort of miniature London on the …
It goes without saying that Cambridge overshadows the county around it, and so it should, with one of the world’s great universities, and all of the history and culture that radiates. But there’s still a great deal to sink your teeth into in the rest of Cambridgeshire. It can be hard to imagine now, but …
With no big cities, most of Buckinghamshire’s residents live in beautiful market towns historic centres. In this county you can hardly travel a mile without bumping into a distinguished country estate, and many of these are owned by the National Trust or English Heritage so are open to visitors: Cliveden, Waddesdon Manor, Hughenden Manor, Stowe …
In East Anglia, Norfolk is a mostly rural county with rich farmland beloved for its big skies, windmills, country towns and waterways. The fabulous heritage city of Norfolk is loaded with period architecture and has a spellbinding cathedral, prized as one of England’s finest pieces of Norman heritage. On the coast you have a choice …
Gloucestershire is everything people love about rural England. The county is rich in history, idyllic landscapes, architecture, the list goes on. Rising in the centre of Gloucestershire are the Cotswolds, limestone hills of incomparable natural beauty, sheltering gorgeous towns and villages, all built with a yellowy stone that resembles nothing else. Gloucester is a fitting …
In England’s West Country, Dorset is a rural place without a single city. But what Dorset does have is the most romantic countryside and heroic coastal landscapes that make up the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast. Wherever you go there’s always something memorable to see close by. On the sea are atmospheric ports, perfect sandy beaches, massive …
One of the Home Counties, Berkshire’s bucolic rural scenery coupled with being close to London makes it a place where most people will pay handsomely for property. The county can be extremely fancy, and has been home to royalty since the early 1100s when Windsor Castle was built. The presence of royalty can be felt …
The City of Durham is one of those magical places that outdoes itself at every turn, and merits the trip to this county by itself. After seeing every historic site and seeing the tomb of Venerable Bede and the treasure of St Cuthbert, you’ll be wiser about England’s mysterious years before the Normans came. Two …