DELVE INTO EUROPE

England has never ceased to amaze. In London,   it has one of the great world cities, with incredibly rich and diverse culture.

There is its history and pageantry, from the 950-year-old Tower of London to Buckingham Palace and its daily royal rituals.

The rest of the country is equally rich and diverse.

Within two hours of the capital there is Canterbury Cathedral, headquarters of the Anglican church worldwide, Windsor Castle, Cambridge and Oxford, two of the greatest universities on the planet, with architecture to match.

There’s also the Channel coast, with everything from wonderful laid-back, right-on Brighton to the Word Heritage Jurassic Coast to the west in Dorset.

Throw in some more spectacular coastline around Devon and Cornwall, one of the best-known prehistoric sites in the world in Stonehenge, the Georgian grandeur of Bath and Clifton in Bristol, and start planning at least a second trip.

Throw in some more spectacular coastline around Devon and Cornwall, one of the best-known prehistoric sites in the world in Stonehenge, the Georgian grandeur of Bath and Clifton in Bristol, and start planning at least a second trip.

The Midlands and central England could easily detain you a very long time, whether it’s hiking in the lovely Malvern Hills, following in Shakespeare’s footsteps at Stratford-upon-Avon or sampling some of the best Asian food in the country in Birmingham.

Charming medieval Chester is the gateway to the north west, with its two rival cities, Liverpool and Manchester both fascinating, both having made immense cultural – especially musical – contributions to the world.

Beyond the former industrial heartland of Lancashire lies the Lake District, which has some of the country’s best mountain scenery.

To the east, the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales both have stunning countryside to explore. York Minster is worth a long detour, one of the four or five most impressive cathedrals in the UK.

The east coast has some wonderful resorts, including Whitby and Staithes. Beyond lies the former industrial north east, with stops in Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne leaving just the beautiful rural county of Northumberland before you reach Scotland.