England Travel Guide

England, the largest of the four constituent nations of the United Kingdom by population and size, is among the world's most popular tourist destinations. England sports lively cosmopolitan cities, such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool, picturesque seaside towns and cities such as Bristol, Brighton, and Newcastle, humble hedge-lined country villages, and countless historic monuments including Hadrian's Wall and Stonehenge. Regardless of your travel plans or where you plan to travel in England, there are countless travel opportunities for adventurers of all sorts, be it backpacking students, the whole family, or even individuals who just need a break from the monotony of work and living in one place day after day.

Auto Europe has over 60 years of experience in the travel industry. Take advantage of our expertise and expertise to help you plan the perfect travel itinerary for your upcoming self-guided tour of England. If you'll be traveling beyond England, utilize our comprehensive UK travel guide or other European destination travel guides for extensive information to assist you in preparing for the perfect vacation.

Additionally, if you have any specific questions that have not been answered in this guide, check out our UK FAQ guide and our generic car rental FAQs, and if they still haven't been answered, don't hesitate to contact our travel experts at 1-888-223-5555 24/7, from anywhere in the world.

Weather in England

 Ever since the Roman soldiers began writing home from their garrisons in the British Isles, England has been portrayed as having consistently gray, cold, rainy weather. The reality is that temperatures are rarely uncomfortable, as intense heat and cold are rare on the Isles. England also isn't nearly as rainy as many suggest, London for example receives lower annual rainfall than Paris, New York, Sydney, or Rome, and it's not uncommon for parts of England to go entire months without rainfall. The northern and western corners of England are without a doubt it's wettest and coldest, as they are pummeled by prevailing winds from the north bringing cold, moist air from the Atlantic ocean.

Regional Climate in England

Worried about your trip getting rained out or wondering about the best time to visit London? Conversely, southern and eastern England (home to the country's illustrious capital city) are the sunniest, driest, and warmest areas of England. In fact, there are significant water restrictions in southern England as rainfall is often inadequate to supply the millions of inhabitants. The truth of the matter is England is indeed wet and cloudy, but rarely consistently raining.

Snow is particularly rare in the south east, although northern regions certainly receive a considerable amount of snow. If you'll be driving in northern England during winter, Auto Europe recommends you invest in additional equipment (such as snow tires or chains) to reduce the likelihood of a collision or snow-related accident while driving your English rental car. Looking for more info? Review our section regarding weather and climate in London for a more specific look at the weather you'll likely encounter by season in London and the United Kingdom.

Driving in England

Driving in England is a true pleasure, once new drivers have become familiar with the rules of the road, signs in the UK, and how to drive on the left side of the road. England, and the United Kingdom in general, have among the safest roadway systems in the world, with a well-organized and well-enforced highway code that clearly outlines what is acceptable and what is not while on the road. With well-designed traffic regulations, signs, and road systems, acquiring a rental car in England for an extended tour of the country or elsewhere in the UK is arguably the most convenient and affordable way to explore this magnificent region of Europe.

As England is an instrumental part of the United Kingdom, we recommend reviewing our driving tips for the UK for specific information on driving on the left side of the road, navigating roundabouts, and other pertinent information drivers should become familiar with before heading out on their tour of the UK.

Attractions in England

English history is rich and varied, originally inhabited by Celtic peoples, there are countless ancient monuments littering the countryside which were constructed by Celtic peoples thousands of years ago, the most famous being Stonehenge. Later, the Romans occupied the islands and laid the foundation for many of England's great cities, such as London, Colchester, and Birmingham. Many of England's medieval monuments and castles were constructed by Saxons who had emigrated from Germany and Eastern Europe, and were renovated by the Norman's under William the Conqueror, who conquered in England in 1066 after defeating the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings. With such a rich ancient and medieval culture, England is a superb destination to explore historic monuments ranging from pre-Roman settlements, to 19th century Victorian palaces proliferated across the rural and urban landscapes found across England. Below we'll make some recommendations for popular attractions in England worth visiting, check out our comprehensive London travel guide if you're looking for recommendations on some of the best attractions in London.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge, the remains of a ring of standing stones set within prehistoric earthworks, is arguably one of the most famous and well-known attractions in Europe, never mind England. Radiocarbon dating conducted in 2007 and 2008 suggests the monument was constructed as recently as 4,200 years ago, or as early as 5,000 years ago. Stonehenge has been known of since medieval times (and possibly even earlier) and in modern times, has become a place of pilgrimage and religious significance for neo-Druids and other neo-Pagans. Located about a two hour drive from Bristol or two and a half hours from London, any travelers who will be in the Salisbury plain area or driving through on their way to another destination should make it a point to stop and explore arguably Britain's longest standing and most misunderstood structure.

White Cliffs of Dover

The White Cliffs of Dover, the inspiration for Eric Johnson's 1990 grammy award winning rock instrumental, are cliffs which form part of the southern English coastline directly facing Cap Gris Nez in France. The cliff faces reaches over 350 feet, and has marveled travelers for millennia with its dramatic façade and high chalk content, which makes the cliffs white. The White Cliffs of Dover have a large place in English identity, as the crossing at Dover was historically the primary crossing route to Continental Europe where the English Channel is at its narrowest, where invasions have often threatened England and from which the cliffs symbolize a natural guard to the invaders. Travelers coming via ferry from Calais, France will likely witness the impressive cliffs as the make their way to England, and should make it a point to stop and bird watch for the many cliff nesting species, such as the black-legged Kittiwake.

Explore Sherwood Forest

Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, the historic home of the notorious Robin Hood, is one of many royal forests found throughout England and the United Kingdom. Sherwood is an ancient forest, and is an important habitat for countless ancient trees (most oak trees), invertebrates, and various unique species of fungi. Every August, the forest celebrates a week-long celebration in Robin Hood's name in the Birklands and Bilhaugh section of the woods, which are where he was and his merry band were believed to have lived, in fact, one can even see the "Major Oak", a nearly 1,000 year old tree which, according to local folklore, was Robin Hood's primary hideout. The festival itself is part of a growing Renaissance and Medieval festival scene in the United Kingdom, where jugglers, jousters, rat-catchers, and fire dancers entertain and room-temperature ale flows freely. Even if you won't be in Sherwood for the festival, it's an excellent place to hike and relax on a beautiful sunny day.

Tour Bath, England

The city of Bath, located in south west England, is a popular day trip destination owing to its Roman ruins and Georgian architecture. Visited by nearly 4 million people per year, Bath began as a Roman spa when hot springs were discovered by local traders. Bath became a cosmopolitan city in the 18th century, when several cultural buildings were constructed, such as the Royal Crescent, the Circus, and the Old Orchard Street Theatre, several famous painters and sculptures lived in the city during this time, and some of the earliest camera technology was developed here by William Friese-Green, known as the inventor of cinematography. In modern times, a visit to Bath means exploring the Roman baths and taking a dip yourself in a modern thermal spa, before exploring the various architectural marvels and parade gardens found throughout the city. If you're planning on traveling to Wales, you'll likely find Bristol and Bath to be wonderful starting points before continuing your trek onwards.

Hit the Pubs in Newcastle

Newcastle upon Tyne, commonly known as Newcastle, is a city hugging the north eastern coastline of England situated upon the north western bank of the River Tyne. Like many prominent cities in England, Newcastle began as a site of Roman development and commerce. In modern times, Newcastle is noteworthy for its tourism infrastructure, nightlife, cultural centers, and retail outlets, as well as being the home of Newcastle Brown Ale and Newcastle United F.C., a popular Premier League soccer team. Many travel experts have noted Newcastle has among the best nightlife in the UK, and it's nightlife was actually voted the #1 tourist attraction in Great Britain by the Rough Guide to Britain. According to Tripadvisor, Newcastle was voted as the #3 city for nightlife in Europe (after London and Berlin) and #7 in the world. With a wide variety of ethnic restaurants, including Indian, Persian, Japanese, Mexican, Greek, Polish, Malaysian, Mongolian, and Moroccan restaurants (the list goes on), Newcastle is a superb place to stop for the evening and head down to the pub district to grab a bite to eat and a brew before driving onwards to Scotland or south to other destinations in England.

FAQs for Traveling in England

Are you planning an upcoming trip to England, but have some basic travel-related questions? We've complied a list of the most frequently asked questions we've recieved from our client's who are traveling to Enlgnad. 

"Are euros or US dollars accepted in England or the UK?"

The norm is that the pound Sterling is acceptable and nothing else is, however, certain tourist-centric establishments will accept Euros, such as any historic monuments run by the Heritage of Wales foundation (CADW). You are highly unlikely to be able to pay a restaurant bill or hotel accommodations in US dollars or Euros however, for example. Additionally, if any vendors were to accept Euros or US dollars, they would likely offer you a poor exchange rate, so for that reason it's best to convert your foreign currency into pounds if you'll be spending extensive time in England or the UK.

"What side of the road do you drive on the in England?"

In England and the United Kingdom, vehicles are driven on the left side of the road, with the driver's side on the right side of the vehicle, as opposed to the left. If you're looking for specific info or tips on driving on the left side of the road, check out our tips for driving in the UK section of our comprehensive United Kingdom travel guide.

"When is the best time to travel to England?"

There is no right or wrong answer to this question, the right time to travel to England is when your travel plans perfectly align with the weather. If you're hoping to enjoy sunshine and green pastures, your best bet would be to visit in the late spring or early summer. If you're hoping to avoid the crowds and check out all the historic monuments and attractions around London, late winter to early spring would be ideal.

"Can I get a discount on my car rental while in England?"

Auto Europe certainly offers discounted car rentals in England, especially for extended rentals. One special promotion we offer is for a long-term car rental if you'll be renting for 21 days or longer you can acquire a factory-new Peugeot tax-free at a heavily discounted rate and return it to many other destinations in Europe, such as Paris, Berlin, or Madrid.

"What if I find a better deal for a car rental in England?"

Auto Europe guarantees the best rates and service in the car rental industry, so if you should find a cheaper price for a comparable rental, we invite you to fill out our Guaranteed Best Rate form. Not only are you receiving a great price for any type of rental, including sports cars and van rental options, you can rest easy knowing you're getting the best rate for your car rental to be found anywhere in the travel industry.

"Can Auto Europe help me with other travel arrangements, such as hotels or flights?"

Of course! Auto Europe can assist you in making any travel arrangements you may need, be it hotel accommodations, flights to Europe, luxury car rentals, or riverboat cruises. Additionally, if you package your car rental or hotel arrangements with your flights to Europe, you may qualify for a package discount which could save you hundreds on your next vacation.