Guide to England
England Facts & Info
England sits in the North Atlantic and is part of the European continent. It shares borders with Scotland and Wales. It has been occupied by humans going back to the Upper Paleolithic time period, more than 12,000 years ago. England has been occupied by numerous groups in the past including the Romans, the Normans, and the Vikings. The United Kingdom has had tensions with Scotland, Wales, and Ireland over who rules over who, but in the 10th century they became unified and England later made treaties with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to fall under the rule of Great Britain. Learn more in this Guide to England.
Want to read about other countries in Europe? Head over to our Guide to Europe page to read about other featured countries.
England, Great Britain, or United Kingdom?
Let’s talk about the difference between England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. These names have been used interchangeably by many but they are completely different. England is it’s own country. Great Britain refers to the 3 countries that are connected together: England, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which is on a separate island. To make it even more confusing, Northern Ireland and Ireland, or Southern Ireland, are together on the same island but Southern Ireland is not part of Great Britain. It’s its own separate country and doesn’t fall under the rule of Great Britain.
Guide to England: What you need to know
Currency: The British Pound
Language: The English language originated in England and is the official unofficial language, but Cornish and Welsh are also 2 other indigenous languages in England
Population: Around 53 million
Voltage: England’s voltage is 230V
Food: England is a melting pot and you can find foods from just anywhere in the world here but Fish & Chips is probably it’s most well known dish.
Stonehenge: England lays claim to one of the oldest man made structures on Earth.
Weather: England is known for it’s rainy weather but does reach hot temps in the summer. In 2022 England set a record high temperature of 104.5 degrees!
England is known for it’s rain so it’s pretty impossible to avoid it. Summers will be the most crowded so if you want to avoid huge crowds, opt to go in the spring or fall.
Most people arrive in England either at Heathrow or Gatwick which are the closest airports to London. However, if you’re coming from another country in Europe you also have the option to arrive by train. The “Chunnel”, short for the Channel Tunnel, connects England to France and even allows for vehicles. You can also choose to take a ferry from England to several countries in Europe.
Traveling in England is not cheap. From hotels to food to activities, plan on spending some money. Have a budget and figure out where you’re willing to splurge a bit and where you can cut back. Maybe you’re willing to stay outside of the main touristy areas where hotels will be cheaper. Or if you don’t want to compromise on location, find a hotel that offers breakfast with your stay and try to avoid high end restaurants.
In my opinion, the best way to get around England is by public transportation. From the subway system (known as the Tube), to those famous double decker red buses (check out the hop on, hop off tickets), this will be the most cost efficient way to travel in and around London. If you want to travel outside of London, England has a great to get you anywhere you want to go. Just be sure to book early for a better price. You can also take buses anywhere you want to go. Although they are slower than flying or traveling by train, they are definitely budget friendly.
England has hotels to fit every budget but do expect to pay more in London than the rest of England. You can stay in high end name brand hotels, boutique hotels, and even hostals in London. Again, if you’re on a budget then staying outside the center of London and away from the tourist spots will be your best bet if you’re looking to save money. Just remember that you will have to travel more either by taxi or the subway to get to the places you want to visit. Explore more of what to see in our Guide to England.
There are so many things to see and do in England that you could be there for a whole year and barely scratch the surface. Most of us don’t have a whole year to travel through England but it’s nice to dream! There are so many things to see just in London alone. I would definitely do no less than 1 week. From there adjust up from 10 – 14 days if this is your first trip. Plan on seeing the major sites in London and maybe 1-2 tours outside the city if you want. You won’t be able to see everything in one trip but just remember, you can always come back!
Guide to England: Bucket List Ideas
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England Travel Guides
