Want to know England? This guide brings together everything you need to know: how to get there, when to go, what to do, how to prepare, and more!
England is a unique and charming nation. It is known for being the queen’s land, featuring the famous red phone booths, the Big Ben tower, being the birthplace of the Beatles, having the tradition of five o’clock tea, harboring beautiful castles, playing host to many ancient battles, contain the megalithic setting of Stonehenge and offer numerous top universities. There are plenty of reasons to travel to this country.
A member of the United Kingdom, England is considered one of the great powers of Europe. The country has a unique beauty and an ancient culture, and has a multifaceted character, which brings together cosmopolitan features.
The traditional and modern air, at the same time, is what most attracts the thousands of tourists who disembark each year to visit this amazing place. In addition, fate is a favorite of students when it comes to exchange. After all, the official language of the country is English.
Want to know how to travel more and know this charming destination? So you are in the right place. This article will work as a true handbook, where you will learn more about England and its main features.
How to travel to England?
The tourist relevance of England is extremely high. Each year, the country receives thousands of travelers from all over the world. In this sense, there are several ways to reach this destination. But of course the main form remains the traditional airplane.
Flight Options
England has a large territory. Therefore, there are several airports around the country, such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton (in London), as well as others located in major cities such as Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, Liverpool, East Midlands etc.
Direct flights from Brazil – from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro – to major English cities can be found. Similarly, it is common to find airline tickets with stops in other European destinations much more affordable. It all depends on the airline you choose to buy your tickets for.
In this sense, British Airways usually offers direct routes from Tom Jobim – Galeão International Airport (Rio de Janeiro) and Guarulhos International Airport (São Paulo) directly to London (Heathrow Airport), without stops.
In turn, LATAM makes the route to London only from Guarulhos Airport.
However, if you want to know a little bit about another European city, you can opt for other airlines, such as EasyJet, TAP Air, Ryanair, Vueling, Norwegian and Transavia.
Whatever airport of arrival you choose in England, the tourist will find convenience. All terminals in the country have excellent infrastructure and are well connected with the city centers they serve.
It is possible to leave the airport and take public transport with ease and safety (train, subway and bus, mainly). However, you need to check the departure and arrival times of the cars in advance so as not to lose time and have to wait for the next drive with heavy luggage.
By the way, avoid peak hours, as the wagons may be crowded and you may have some baggage squeezes on international flights.
Road
If you are already in Europe, you can reach England by train. The route is offered by Eurostar. The most common routes are Paris-London (this is an exciting underground trip on the English Channel which costs around £ 40) and Brussels-London (costs around £ 40). Throughout the tour, the tourist finds comfort and sophistication.
Maritime way
It is also possible to reach the country by sea thanks to the ferry boats. England has a high quality port structure and its main ports (Portsmouth and Dover are great examples) offer routes across the European continent.
Why travel to England?
If you want to enjoy adrenaline, visit castles, immerse yourself in English culture, enjoy beautiful landscapes, meet different cultures and taste typical dishes of delicious cuisine, then England is the right destination for you.
Here are some of the sights you should not miss during your trip to this beautiful country.
Hyde park
This huge park is in London and has about 150 hectares of green area. It is common to see tourists and locals resting and picnicking on the grass, especially in summer. In addition, the space houses several centuries-old works of art.
Windsor Castle
The castle is situated very close to the English capital (about 40 km) and is considered one of the most beautiful in all of England, serving as the royal family’s summer residence.
The place has beautiful flower gardens. The tourist can get to know some rooms inside the castle through guided tours. Also, famously the official guard change happens over there too.
Stonehenge
Situated in Salisbury, this concentric circle-shaped monument with stones about 5 meters high and weighing over 50 tons is still one of the great mysteries in English lands.
Despite the formulation of various theories, the origin and function of these megaliths remains uncertain. It is very worth knowing the place!
Manchester Stadiums
If you enjoy football, you will love to see Manchester City Stadiums, home to two English league giant teams: Manchester City, with Eithad Stadium, and Manchester United, with Old Trafford, also known as the Theater of Dreams.
London Eye
The London Eye is a 122 meter high ferris wheel that offers a beautiful panoramic view of London to visitors. If you are in the city, be sure to climb this attraction and see the English capital from above.
Big ben
The bell on the world’s most famous clock tower is one of England’s leading postcards. Unfortunately, the structure is in the process of restoration and is expected to be ready by the end of 2020.
Buckingham Palace
The official residence of Queen Elizabeth II impresses with its grandeur. If you visit London in summer, be sure to set aside a few hours on your itinerary to enjoy the interior of this beautiful building and learn more about British royalty.
Greenwich Observatory
This is the landmark that represents the famous Greenwich Meridian, that is, it is where the geographical line divides the terrestrial globe into west and east.
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral began construction in the 11th century and was completed in the 16th century. It served as a monastery for Benedictine monks and was the venue for several memorable events, such as the coronation of King Edward and the marriage of Queen Mary I of England and King Philip II of Spain. The site also houses the remains of several famous religious, political and cultural figures.
Cambridge University
Famous for being frequented by big names in science, such as Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton, the university is housed in an imposing eleventh-century building. This beautiful medieval architectural monument is worth knowing.
Abbey Road
This crossover became famous after setting the scene for the iconic Beatles CD of the same name in the 1960s.
Seven Sisters Cliffs
This set of cliffs bordering the English Channel forms a cliff and creates a true cinematic landscape. The site is located between the towns of Seaford and Eastbourne in the south of England.
Lake district national park
The park in Cumbria County is set in a mountainous and open country that houses several lakes and forests.
There is the largest mountain in the English territory, the Pico Scaffel, with 978 m of altitude.
When is the best time to travel to England?
Located in the northern hemisphere, England is in northwestern Europe, bordering Scotland to its north and Wales to its west. In addition, it is bathed by the waters of the Irish Sea (northwest), the Celtic Sea (southwest), the North Sea (east) and the English Channel (south).
Because of this location, England has a predominantly temperate ocean climate. This means that there is a high incidence of moderate to light rainfall throughout the year. Similarly, temperature variations are large between seasons.
In this sense, it is common to find a winter with temperatures with negative degrees (-5ºC, for example), while in summer, the thermometer reaches over 30ºC. In general, the average temperature is around 15ºC.
But after all, when is the best time to take a vacation and get to know England’s top destinations?
Autumn and spring (mid season) have a milder and more pleasant climate. So if you don’t want to catch a harsh winter, but you don’t want to suffer from the European summer either, consider visiting England at the end of months like April and August.
Winter (late December, January, February, and first half of March) is the low season in England. The country is very cold and rainy, with high chances of frost and snow during short periods of the day. In addition, the days are very short and negative temperatures are quite common.
In turn, summer (late June, July, August and September) has higher temperatures, between 20 to 30 º C, and less air humidity. The days are long – usually dawn at 4 o’clock and dusk only from 21 hours. During this season, cities gain more life and joy. Residents enjoy outdoor activities. The sights are open late and various music, cooking and cultural festivals are organized during this period.
What are the requirements for travel to England?
Brazilians wishing to visit England for tourism purposes do not encounter major difficulties. In this sense, trips with a maximum duration of three months are allowed. If this is your first international trip, be aware of all the details.
Documentation
Entry into English territory is controlled through the Federal Immigration Service. Therefore, it is necessary to gather some documents and present them to the guard:
- valid passport with a maturity of more than six months;
- landing card (required form required for non-European citizens);
- proof of ties with Brazil, that is, some document certifying that the tourist does not intend to stay in the country (work card, payroll, pay stubs etc);
- financial statement (bank statement and paycheck, for example);
- tourism vouchers (return ticket, travel hotel reservation, itinerary planning etc).
It is important to gather all this documentation on international travel and take with you during your time outside Brazil.
It may even be that the immigration officer does not request it. This is an unpredictable situation that depends only on the airport employee. So it’s better to be safe than sorry, isn’t it?
Vaccines
England does not initially impose any proof of immunization to authorize the entry of Brazilian tourists into its territory.
Exchange
The currency of the country is the pound or simply sterling (GBP).
It is important to exchange the real for the pound before arriving in England to take advantage of a more favorable exchange rate, as our currency is not highly valued there.
If you prefer, you can use credit card. Visa and Mastercard flags are accepted at establishments throughout the country.
What foods to taste in England?
English cuisine has many positive surprises for tourists. These are the main typical English dishes:
- fish and chips (fish fingers, fried or seasoned with chips);
- roast beef (roast beef with sauces to taste);
- yorkshire pudding (traditional dumpling in the country);
- toad in the hole (sausage accompanied by red onion with wood sauce);
- bangers and mash (mashed potato sausage);
- cornish pasty (roast beef with potatoes, stuffed onion and hot sauce);
- steak and ale pie (beer and bacon pie);