Countryside
Both genteel and wild, there’s nothing quite like the English countryside for rural escapes with its patchwork hills, dramatic dales, ancient woodlands and winding country roads. All well and good, but what is there to do in England’s countryside exactly? Quite a lot, actually. Admire the grand interiors of a stately home before catching a play in the surrounding gardens, travel back in time with visits to ancient stone circles and crumbling castles, or step into a chocolate box of quaint villages and market towns and live like a local, trying farmhouse cheeses, cream teas and real ales along the way.
Enjoy creature comforts at the Dandelion Hideaway
Down on the farm there are tents that think they’re cottages, roll-top baths, proper beds, fresh food, plenty of fresh air, and plenty to see and do.
Location: Osbaston, Leicestershire
Star gazing like a Roman at Cawfields Roman Wall
Built in AD122, Hadrian’s Wall was once the largest frontier in the Roman Empire and remained that way for 300 years.
Location: Haltwhistle, Northumberland
Stay in a cottage built by an amazing Victorian inventor
Experience Cragside in Northumberland as many have never seen it before – by staying in the spectacular and dramatic grounds of the Cragside Estate.
Location: Rothbury, Northumberland
Enjoy scenic holiday routes in style with a Morgan car
Hire a Morgan Motor Car from the original Morgan factory which still produces British cars in Malvern Link over 100 years since production began.
Location: Malvern, Worcestershire
Travel across Hampshire’s countryside on the Watercress Line
Witness the sights, sounds, smells and magic of steam travel from a bygone age and journey through Hampshire’s countryside on a restored steam train.
Location: Alresford, Hampshire
Dine like Lords and Ladies at Langley Castle
For those with a taste for the finer things in life, Langley Castle Hotel near the historic market town of Hexham is the ideal gastro getaway.
Location: Langley-on-Tyne, Northumberland
Enjoy a luxurious camping trip at Crafty Camping
Luxury glamping in a beautiful forest setting alongside Guy Mallinson’s Woodland Workshop, featured in the BBC Mastercrafts series.
Location: Holditch, Dorset
Take a visit to Looe Island
Looe Island Nature Reserve is a haven for diverse and fascinating wildlife, from silver-washed fritillaries to grey seals.
Location: Looe, Cornwall
Rise above it all with a stay at Chewton Glen’s treehouses
Escape to your very own luxury treehouse for panoramic views and nature at your fingertips at Chewton Glen.
Location: New Milton, Hampshire
Luxury camping in idyllic North Yorkshire
Enjoy the great outdoors in style at this luxury campsite where life is particularly good.
Location: Buttercrambe Moor Wood, near Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire
Drive through the Lake District in a classic car
Explore the Lake District in style. Only the sexiest sports car will do, the top has to be down, and the roads have to be winding.
Location: Lake District, Cumbria
Cruise though the Wiltshire countryside in a vintage car
Discover the England you love on a vintage car break in Wiltshire.
Location: Melksham, Wiltshire
Trek across the North York Moors with a team of huskies
Set out on an intrepid adventure holiday with Pesky Husky, an adrenalin-pumping experience for active types looking to feel the wind in their hair.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Retreat to your very own wood cabin in the forest
Double sunken baths, riverside walks and panoramic views make this luxury forest retreat a truly romantic destination.
Location: Shadwell, Norfolk
Luxury treehouse adventures in England's safari country
Experience a unique safari experience with a luxurious twist in the heart of the English countryside.
Location: Lympne, Kent
Journey underground at Castleton's Caves
Go underground and visit any of Castleton’s four spectacular show caves to experience the Peak District’s hidden underworld secrets.
Location: Castleton, Derbyshire
See thousands of cute puffins on the Farne Islands
Around 150,000 breeding pairs of seabirds make the Farne Islands their home each summer. Hop on a boat to see and hear them up close!
Location: Farne Islands, Northumberland
Look to the night sky on Exmoor
This National Park of diverse landscapes, woven together in a rich tapestry, provides inspiration day and night
Location: Exmoor, Devon/Somerset
A night with the Northern Lights in Northumberland
Forget Norway and Iceland. The skies above Northumberland are darker and clearer in the winter months, the perfect time to see the Aurora Borealis.
Location: Coast AONB, Northumberland