England is by far the most populous country in Great Britain, with approximately 54 million inhabitants. Much of the land is extremely fertile, notably the wheatlands of East Anglia. Elsewhere, the countryside is divided into a characteristic patchwork of fields separated by stone walls or hedgerows. American visitors will want to explore smaller cities such as Bath, Winchester, Oxford, Cambridge, Chester, York and Durham, as well as the castles, country houses and justly celebrated gardens. Getting around is relatively simple: The roads are good and well-signed, though often crowded in the south. And the mainline trains are fast, though expensive. Excellent food has spread from the sophisticated restaurants of the capital and can be found throughout the land. Some gastropubs even boast Michelin stars.
The weather is changeable and generally mild. Summers may be warm and sunny, but there is no guarantee of fine weather. On balance, the best months for a visit are June, July and September.
To phone hotels and restaurants in England, Wales or Scotland, dial 011 (international access) + 44 (Great Britain code) + city code and local numbers in listings.
Five hours ahead of New York (EST).
British pound sterling (£). Fluctuating rate valued at £1.00 = US$1.33 as of April 2019.
Passport (valid for six months beyond end of stay). Visit www.travel.state.gov, and for travelers’ health information, www.cdc.gov.
London, Tel. (44) 20-7499-9000.
Andrew Harper members have access to full travel-planning services through Andrew Harper Travel.
1 (800) 375-4685
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