Home to the Beatles, the Queen and Harry Potter, and featuring world-renowned sites as Big Ben, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Sherwood Forest, England is loaded with activity. From Buckingham Palace to Oxford University, hop a quick flight to England and travel the land of history, fantasy and royalty.
The capital city is London, where history meets modernity and fine fashion falls in line with fine dining. Cheap flights to England are usually found by way of London, and from there travelers have multiple options to explore England’s other regions. For a peaceful England getaway, head to North Country where the lakes, mountains and castles create a picturesque landscape. Need a bit of excitement? Liverpool and Manchester live up to their reputation of hosting the best sports teams and a riveting nightlife. Oxford’s scholarly acclaim still resonates throughout the city while the seaside villages South of London attract visitors seeking distraction from the rest of the world. Flights to England’s various regions offer endless opportunities for any traveler. Whether you’re into royalty, history, wizardry or just feel like crossing Abbey Road, England flights are only a booking away.
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England weather is very changeable and unpredictable, but generally summers are warm and winters are cold, and temperatures are milder than those on the continent. Temperatures do not usually drop below 32F in winter, and in summer they hardly reach 90F. July and August are the warmest months, although they are also the wettest, while January and February is the coldest time of year. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, but late winter/early spring (February to March) is the driest period. The Lake District is England's wettest region.
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Peak Season:
If visiting London, almost every part of the year is peak season. There is so much to do – and most of it is inside – that wintertime, especially Christmas, can be as popular as the summer. Along with the summer months, big holidays and events usually signify high season, and flights to England should be purchased well in advance. British school holidays also mean more crowds.
In more rural parts, particularly in the North, such as the Lake District, the summer months dictate the most popular tourist seasons.
Off season:
Winter months can mean that many outdoor attractions located away from big towns will be shut down, usually between October and May. Many countryside areas will be very wet and cold, and not at their best – however, holed up in a cosy cottage, with a blazing fire and a good local pub, most weather is endurable and even enjoyable… You can likely find cheap flights to England's remote destinations and get a good deal on a romantic hideaway.
The early months of the year, from January to early March, are traditionally the least popular with tourists, so you may find better rates for accommodation and cheaper England flights during this time.
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Flying domestically is very easy, thanks to a host of low-cost airlines. Many are based in London – especially at Stansted Airport – and fly to destinations throughout the country. Ryanair and easyJet are the biggest carriers.
Trains are frequent and (mostly) prompt. It is possible to travel to almost anywhere you want to go by rail, though you may need to book your ticket in advance in times of heavy travel, such as Christmas.
Buses and coaches are also prevalent. Booked far enough in advance (a month is normally fine) you can travel to many destinations from London for £1 with certain companies. Buses are always slower and often more uncomfortable than trains, but cost much less.
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- England, especially London, can be an expensive place to visit. But there are ways of doing things on the cheap. The permanent exhibitions in all public art galleries and museums are free to visit. From the Natural History or Science Museum in London, to Tate Liverpool, there is a plethora of things to see and do. The Visit Britain Web site has a page with many suggestions for some of the most popular galleries and museums with free admission. )
- Get away from the capital. Yes, London is fun and there is enough there to last a lifetime, let alone one short holiday, but the rest of the country has plenty going on too. There are vibrant urban towns in the North, such as Manchester and Newcastle, seaside resorts of varying kitschness along the extensive coastline and more quaint villages throughout the country than you can shake a stick at.
- One of the big draws for many visitors is England’s history and old houses. Many heritage houses and grounds are owned and preserved by the National Trust, and are open for visits at certain times throughout the year, no matter what else they are used for. The statistics of properties cared for by the National Trust is impressive: 28 castles, 215 houses and gardens, 150 museums, 127 factories and mines, 57 villages, 47 dovecotes, 25 medieval barns, 78 mills, 19 pubs, 12 lighthouses, 31 nature reserves, 704 miles of coastline and 600,000 acres of countryside. You can search online to find attractions close to where you are traveling, or with features that you are interested in.
- For a taste of real Englishness try and take in one of the events of “The Season.” The Season is, essentially, the summer months and a series of sporting and social events that the aristocracy traditionally took part in. Among the highlights are Ascot, the Henley Royal Regatta, the Chelsea Flower Show and the Oxford/Cambridge boat race.
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Main airports:
Heathrow (LHR) (tel: (0870) 000 0123) is located 15 miles west of central London.
Gatwick (LGW) (tel: (0870) 000 2468) is located 28 miles south of central London.
London City Airport (LCY) (tel: (020) 7646 0088) is located 6 miles east of the City of London.
Stansted (STN) (tel: (0870) 000 0303) is located 30 miles northeast of central London.
Luton (LTN) (tel: (01582) 405 100) is located 32 miles northeast of London.
Birmingham (BHX) (tel: (0870) 733 5511) is located 8 miles southeast of the city center.
Manchester (MAN) (tel: (0161) 489 3000) is located 10 miles southwest of the city center.
Newcastle (NCL) (tel: (0870) 122 1488) is located 6 miles northwest of the city center.
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If a visa is not required, travelers should hold a return or onward ticket, or proof of funds for the duration of stay. Passports must be valid for the period of intended stay in the UK; nationals of the EU require a passport valid on arrival. All nationals of non-EEA member states travelling to the UK for more than six months require an Entry Clearance visa.
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U.S. travelers must hold a valid passport; a visa is not required. UK Immigration officials will decide on length of stay up to six months depending on reason for travel.
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A New England native but explorer at heart, Melisse has lived in four U.S. cities, spent a summer in Hawaii, made her way through wine-producing regions in Australia and New Zealand, and traveled around Europe while studying abroad in London. She is the Content Manager for the U.S. and Canada at Cheapflights.