
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.
Rekindle your romance in the Peak District
Put a spring in your step with a tete-a-tete in a country house hotel, share a walk with heart-stopping views and chill out in a relaxing spa.
Location: Castleton, Derbyshire
Sip Earl Grey where it was created: Howick Hall
Earl Grey tea is enjoyed – usually at around 4pm – all over the world, but few know it was invented in Northumberland for Charles, 2nd Earl Grey.
Location: Howick, 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
Be inspired with a visit to Tudor House
Tudor House is one of the most prominent buildings in Broadway which houses objects and artefacts on loan from the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
Location: Broadway, Worcestershire
Encounter wildlife on the UK's first boating ring
Set sail on a narrow boat trip on the historic Droitwich Canals to the River Severn and beyond, the Mid Worcestershire boating ring now offers a perfect weekend getaway.
Location: Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire
Enjoy fresh, local produce on The Vale Trail
Have a unique horticultural experience in one of England's most fertile lands. Sample fresh produce from local food and drink producers.
Location: Evesham, Worcestershire
Discover Jane Austen’s legacy in Hampshire
Celebrate Jane Austen at the Jane Austen Regency Festival in June and visit her much loved home in Hampshire and the countryside that inspired her.
Location: Alton, Hampshire
Follow the Shipwrights Way sculpture trail
Walk or cycle through beautiful English countryside along the Shipwrights Way, where sculptures tell stories of Hampshire’s history and culture.
Location: Bentley near Farnham to Portsmouth, Hampshire
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
Get up close with the farm animals at Staunton Country Park
Come and meet friendly farm animals, have a rainforest experience in Victorian glasshouses or get lost in the maze.
Location: Havant, Hampshire
Be inspired by the grand Malvern Hills
Enjoy great views on top of the Worcestershire Beacon and follow in the footsteps of writers and composers including Sir Edward Elgar and C.S Lewis.
Location: Malvern, Worcestershire
Explore the Midsomer Murders locations
Follow in the footsteps of Inspector Barnaby as you explore Causton, Midsomer Newton and more on the trail of the Midsomer Murders locations.
Location: Wallingford, Oxfordshire
July events: Holmfirth Art Week
Over 400 artists combine art, music, comedy, theatre and literature for the UK's largest open art exhibition.
Location: Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
Explore an ecological paradise at Marsden Moor
Walk, cycle or climb your way across this rugged wild landscape steeped in history that has inspired people since prehistoric times.
Location: Marsden, West Yorkshire
Explore Hawkstone Park Follies fantasy land
Spend the day exploring an historic woodland fantasy with cliffs, crags, caves, deep woods and towers built hundreds of years ago.
Location: Weston under Redcastle, Shropshire
Full steam ahead on a loco driven by you
Many would love the chance to drive a steam engine, well now's your chance: become a train driver for the day at Telford Steam Railway.
Location: Telford, Shropshire
Exploring rural Herefordshire
Cider, swans and spectacular views. Three reasons why you’ll love Herefordshire.
Location: Herefordshire
Slow things down in Hidcote Manor Gardens
Forget about the outside world for a few hours in this perfect spot of Gloucestershire.
Location: Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
Retreat to Ruthern Valley
Get some peace and quiet in a wooded valley inhabited with squirrels and wild rabbits.
Location: Bodmin, Cornwall
Go wild camping on Dartmoor
When it comes to experiencing the unspoiled and unique environment of the wilds of Dartmoor, nothing compares to wild camping.
Location: Dartmoor, Devon
Enjoy countless attractions with one ticket at Beaulieu
Set in the heart of the New Forest, Beaulieu is an award winning day out where one ticket grants access to many of the village’s attractions.
Location: Beaulieu, Hampshire