Apply for a passport if you don't have one. At least two months prior to your departure, submit a passport application. All non-European Union visitors to England need a passport, so planning this far in advance will ensure it arrives on time and will save on expedite charges.
Buy a guidebook on England. Even though there is a ton of travel information on the Internet, a good guidebook is still a must for travel. Being able to flip through pages of information on activities and attractions, review maps and take it all with you is irreplaceable at this point. Lonely Planet is a good choice for budget/off-the-beaten-path travel. Frommer's is a good choice if you want a more traditional or upscale trip.
Create a budget for time and money. Decide how many nights you can spend in England and how much you can afford. As of 2010, you can expect to spend about $120/day in England (based on double occupancy in a mid-range hotel and meals in cafes or pubs), according to Lonely Planet. Add about 35% for travel in London.
Decide when to go. Summer has warmer temperatures but it is also high season, which means more crowds and higher prices.
Make a list of attractions you would like to see and any special activities. Decide which are musts and figure out what areas you need to visit in order to see them.
Pick a base city and plan day trips to nearby attractions. For example, if you would like to visit the Cotswolds and Stonehenge, you can visit both as day trips from Bath, so that may be a good base rather than packing up and moving for each destination.
Purchase airline tickets. The Internet is a great place to search for deals on air travel. Search Internet travel sites as well as individual airline sites. Use the flexible date option to find the best rates.
Make reservations for hotels in the areas you have chosen. Try Internet travel search sites but extend your research beyond that. Use the names of hotels you find on search sites and find their individual websites to look for special deals. You may also want to email the hotel and ask for special rates for longer stays, paying with cash or off-season travel. England is known for their bed-and-breakfasts. Staying in B&Bs provides a true look at the English home and can save money over hotels. They also provide breakfast, saving you the cost of a meal.
Purchase rail passes or make car reservations. To take advantage of BritRail passes, you must buy them before you leave home. BritRail's family pass is a great deal for groups; children travel free with a paying adult. Keep in mind that England is relatively small and the rail is fast. So, you can travel the length of the country in one day.
Do some entertaining research. Check out movies filmed in England from the library, make some fish and chips and have a Brit night. Or, if you have kids, have an afternoon tea to get them excited for the trip and give them an introduction to English culture.
Pack in layers. English weather can be a bit tricky, so expect anything. Dressing in layers will help keep you prepared for any sort of weather. Be sure to bring a raincoat and an umbrella, as rain is a given in England anytime of the year.
Pack good walking shoes. Whether you plan on a whirlwind tour of London or a hike through the English countryside, comfortable shoes are vital to happy travel days.
Check airline luggage restrictions. Many airlines have rules about the weight of your checked luggage. So, to avoid delays at the airport and overage charges, check your airline's website for luggage restrictions. Weigh your bag at home to be sure it is under the weight limit.
Split up the types of money you are bringing. Bring a few traveler's checks. They are not as necessary as they once were, as there are ATMs on the Star and Plus networks all over England but they are good in a pinch. Bring some cash in dollars and change some into British pounds before you leave. A credit card is good to have in an emergency.
