England is the largest of the four nations in the United Kingdom, complete with the Isle of Wight. England covers 50,000 square miles of land, and the furthest inland point in England is only 75 miles from the coast.
Some key geographic stand-outs in England include the picturesque and hilly Lake District in the northwest, the sandy beaches and green coastal cliffs of Cornwall in the southwest, the famed white cliffs of Dover in the southeast, the coastal and rural region of Norfolk in the mid-northeast, the majestic hills and peaks at the Peak District, the lush green lands and preserved medieval villages of the Cotswolds, the historic coastal towns Brighton and Southampton in the south and the vast moors of Yorkshire in the northeast.
There are different kinds of tourist attractions in England, from ancient Roman ruins to royal palaces. Some tourists choose to spend more time in London with its theaters, museums, international cinemas and restaurants, while some choose to hike through the seemingly endless national parks and peaks.
Standard sights for tourists in England are London sights. These include Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, British Museum--home of the Rosetta Stone--and the lively West End Theatre district.
Other popular destinations include Shakespeare's Stratford-Upon-Avon, the grand universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Leeds Castle, the Beatles sites in Liverpool, the homes of famous English writers like Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters and Thomas Hardy, Stonehenge and the Roman baths in Bath.
Military history buffs have plenty to keep them busy in England. The Imperial War Museum exhibits war relics and memorabilia from the United Kingdom's major wars and minor conflicts. Tourists may experience a walk through a reconstructed model of the trenches of World War I and sit through a simulated blitzkrieg bombing from World War II. The Royal Airforce Museums in Cosford and London exhibit RAF aircraft used in various wars and struggles.
Tourist season in England is March through September. Hotel prices are generally 20 percent higher than normal during this time due to demand. England's winter is not ideal as it is cold and the sun sets just after 4 p.m., but tourists braving the cold and rain will avoid the crowds and increased prices of high tourist season.
England is not synonymous with Britain. Rather, England is a part of Britain, which consists of the United Kingdom--England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland--and the Republic of Ireland. England itself has diverse dialects and accents throughout the country, from the cockney accent in London to the twangy sounds of the Yorkshire accent.
