The capital is a whirlwind of glitzy West End theatres, energetic East End markets, green swathes of royal parkland and architectural feats. Think gothic spires, Georgian townhouses and abstract skyscrapers resembling razors and shards – even gherkins. Step outside the 'big smoke' and relax in green spaces including Kent's (known as the Garden of England), the undulating Sussex downs and Hampshire's lush New Forest – pack your bike and riding hat. History lessons in the Home Counties transport you back in time with Irons Age forts, motte-and-bailey castles and Jacobean mansions. The scenic southeast coastline is a Hollywood star, making cameos in iconic films like Brighton Rock and The White Cliffs of Dover.
London and South East England
Visit top chef Tom Kerridge’s Michelin pub in Marlow
Located in the charming Georgian town of Marlow, the Michelin starred Hand and Flowers is all about great food in luxurious surroundings.
Location: Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Midsomer Murders in the Chiltern Hills
Recognisable by many Midsomer Murders fans, The Stag and Huntsman is located in the beautiful village of Hambleden.
Location: Hambleden, Buckinghamshire
Eat delicious seasonal food at the Wild Rabbit Inn
Pop in for a drink by the fire or a locally-sourced meal, and then stay over at this charming inn in the idyllic Cotswold village of Kingham.
Location: Chipping Norton, Cotswolds
Eat and drink by the riverside, at The Trout pub, Wolvercote
Sample local Oxfordshire food at this famously good pub on the banks of the River Thames.
Location: Wolvercote, Oxford
Drink a beer at The Bear Inn – Oxford’s oldest pub
Sit back, relax and sample the cask ales and pub grub at Oxford’s oldest drinking hole.
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire
Spend an afternoon in the gardens of The Fishes pub
Eat away the afternoon at the Fishes, a serious gastropub with beautiful views in the Oxfordshire countryside.
Location: North Hinksey, Oxford
Enjoy a touch of class in a riverside Cotswold inn
The kind of place you dream of but seldom find – an old stone inn, full of charm and history, in the beautiful Cotswold village of Burford.
Location: Burford, Oxfordshire
Enjoy a pint in ‘England’s oldest pub’
Experience a meal at Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, ‘England’s oldest pub’ according to Guinness World Records, where Oliver Cromwell dined in the 1600s.
Location: St Albans, Hertfordshire