England is the largest country in the United Kingdom. Although the most popular destination for many is the capital, London, there’s a whole lot more to this beautiful country.
There is stunning coastline, rolling national parks, and countryside, historic houses and castles aplenty – all within easy reach of the capital, thanks to the country’s compact size and excellent transport connections.
There are a lot of traditions you can enjoy in England too; you might not get to have it with the Queen as some people expect, but try afternoon tea and cakes. Why not head to the coast for fish and chips? Or just simply head down to the local pub for a pint or two and make a few friends.
We’ve carefully selected the 15 best tours that you can do in England, to make your trip unforgettable and show you the many different sides and traditions that this country has to offer.
1. London Private Bicycle Tour
Source: getyourguide.comThis bicycle tour is a great way to see the sights of London. Because it’s a private tour, you have the guide to yourself; they will tailor your trip to see exactly what you want to see in London.
If you want to see Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, or just have a relaxing pedal along the Thames, no problem. Your guide will be a local expert, and although food is not included in the tour, they’ll be able to take you to the perfect place to tantalize your taste buds.
London is a big city, with a lot of cars and buses; however, it also has a great cycle lane network and you’ll be supplied with a helmet, so there’s no need to worry about safety on this tour. It’s a perfect way to see the city’s sights.
2. London: Top 20 Sights and Westminster Abbey
Source: Tono Balaguer / shutterstockAre you bowled over or intimidated by the sheer number of things to do in London? Don’t worry, many people are. That’s why it’s a great idea to do this six-hour tour which shows you the top 20 sights in England’s capital city.
In this whirlwind tour, your friendly guide will meet you at Green Park tube station before the first stop of the day, Buckingham Palace. Then it’s on to a number of important London sites, including Trafalgar Square, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and the Shard, just to name a few. You’ll end the day at Westminster Abbey, where many Kings and Queens are buried.
Make sure you wear a pair of comfortable shoes and bring an umbrella; the weather in London can be unpredictable even in summer.
3. From London: Stonehenge Special Access Morning Tour
Source: Supavadee butradee / shutterstockStonehenge is one of England’s most visited tourist attractions, and with good reason. The mystical stone circle is a fantastic sight to behold. This special access morning tour allows you in before the site opens, meaning that you can avoid the crowds and get some great pictures.
It’s a very early start, but you’ll be able to make up for any lost sleep on the journey to Stonehenge, which is in a luxury coach. When the crowds are still queueing up waiting for Stonehenge to open, you’ll head into Salisbury and see the beautiful cathedral, then enjoy free time to explore the city.
4. Day Trip: Cambridge from London
Source: Evikka / shutterstockThis day trip from London is a fantastic way to see the city, home to one of the world’s most famous education centers. After journeying up from London in a luxury coach, you’ll start the day with a guided tour with a friendly, knowledgeable guide who will show you Cambridge’s hidden secrets. Entry to the Tower of St. Mary the Great is also included.
After the tour and the tower, you’ll have the rest of the day to do as you please in Cambridge. There’s plenty to choose from; you could take a punt (rowing boat) out onto the river Cam, a really tranquil way to see the sights. Alternatively, for the more scholarly-minded, head to Cambridge’s esteemed and historical colleges or Trinity College library, where there are many original manuscripts of famous academic books and novels.
After you’ve exhausted yourself, it’s back onto the coach to head back to London.
5. Oxford: Harry Potter Film Locations Tour
Source: Kamira / shutterstockOne of the UK’s most famous exports in the last 20 years, Harry Potter is loved worldwide by children and adults alike. Why not take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the boy wizard’s world with a tour of locations from the films in the magical city of Oxford?
Your enthusiastic guide will take you through up to three locations where the movies were filmed, including New College, Christchurch, and the Bodleian library.
New College’s cloisters, built in 1379, are one of the most recognizable settings from the Harry Potter films; they are a great place to re-enact scenes from the films with your friends and family. This two-hour tour ends in the library, with a chance to test your knowledge about the series with a Hogwarts-themed quiz.
6. Stonehenge, Stratford, Bath & Cotswolds Day Tour from London
Source: Valdis Skudre / shutterstockThis full-day excursion is great for those who want to see a lot but are short on time. You’ll be picked up and driven to Stonehenge in a luxury air-conditioned coach, as your professional guide whets your appetite for the day ahead.
You’ll have time to explore the mysterious stone circle and ponder the reasons for its construction, before hopping back on the coach to visit the historic city of Bath, with a little free time to explore.
After some time in Bath, a beautiful journey through the Cotswolds allows you to see rolling countryside before stopping at William Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Here, you’ll have a private tour of Shakespeare’s birthplace before ending the day with a glass of champagne and strawberry scone reception. After filling up and possibly getting a bit merry, relax and reflect on a great day on the coach back to London.
7. Portsmouth Historic Dockyards & HMS Victory Day Tour
Source: mary416 / shutterstockThis full day tour is a must for anyone who is interested in naval history. You’ll be picked up from London by a private car for the drive to Portsmouth, where you’ll be met by a guide who will give you an interesting private tour of the city’s historic dockyard.
Not only will you be able to enter the Royal Navy Museum as part of the tour, but you’ll also be granted access to three legendary warships, including the HMS Victory, the HMS Warrior, and the Mary Rose. Weather permitting, you’ll tour the harbor by boat, feeling the wind and the spray cooling you down in the Southern English sun.
There’s no need to worry about being hungry; you’ll get a complimentary packed lunch to enjoy during your day out.
8. Devon and Cornwall 5-Day Small Group Tour
Source: Valery Egorov / shutterstockThis is a fantastic tour for those who have a few days to spare and want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Your knowledgeable and entertaining guide will show you the best that two of England’s southwestern counties have to offer.
You will journey in a luxurious Mercedes minibus. During the trip, you’ll see a mixture of historical landmarks – such as Stonehenge, Tintagel castle and the Roman city of Exeter – and the natural beauty of Land’s End, Dartmoor National Park, and Cornwall’s gorgeous coastline.
You’ll stay in local guesthouses and B&Bs, giving you a true taste of authentic England. Each day you’ll wake up to a delicious breakfast, all included in the price.
9. Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour from Birmingham
Source: COO7 / shutterstockWhat better way to immerse yourself in the world of Harry Potter than by taking a luxury air-conditioned coach from England’s second biggest city, Birmingham, to Warner Brother’s studios London.
This nine-hour tour includes your entrance ticket to the Warner Bros. studio, where you’ll walk through the Great Hall, board the Hogwarts express at platform 9 ¾, and drink a tasty butterbeer in the café (great if you have a VERY sweet tooth).
Not only will you experience the locations, but you’ll also see how the props and make up for the film were made, before a truly magical surprise ending.
10. Manchester United Museum and Stadium Tour
Source: COO7 / shutterstockOld Trafford – also known as the “Theatre of Dreams” – is the biggest club stadium in England and home to one of the world’s greatest clubs. This 70-minute tour is the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with the proud history of Manchester United.
Your friendly and knowledgeable guide will meet you at the entrance to the club museum before walking you through then down into the changing rooms. You can sit in the seats that have been warmed by the likes of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, and David Beckham.
You’ll then head out of the player’s tunnel and onto the side of the pitch, where you can sit in the dugout before heading into the press room, center of a lot of controversy during José Mourinho’s stint as manager.
This stadium tour is a magical and unforgettable way to learn about England’s most successful club football team.
11. Liverpool & Beatles Walking Tour with 48-Hour City Bus Tour
Source: getyourguide.comMore than 50 years after releasing their first singles and albums, the Beatles are still influencing musicians all over the world. Why not learn more about them and their music by taking a tour of the city the Fab Four called home?
Soak up the city’s musical history with this 90-minute guided walking tour; you’ll visit the Cavern Club and the John and Yoko exhibition at the Liverpool City Museum.
However, this tour isn’t just for Beatles fans; it comes with a ticket for the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus, where you can get up close and personal with Liverpool’s Chinatown, the Georgian Quarter, and both of the city’s magnificent cathedrals. The ticket is valid for 48 hours from validation, giving you plenty of time to see everything.
12. Lake District, Yorkshire Dales & Hadrian’s Wall 5-Day Tour
Source: Michael Conrad / shutterstockThis five-day tour is perfect if you love the countryside and have a few spare days to get out and experience it. Your arrival day – where you’ll disembark the train at Windermere station – is yours to do what you wish. On day two, the fun really starts.
You’ll be whisked to the Yorkshire Dales in a luxury minivan, with the chance to see a number of famous villages which have starred in British TV shows. It’s back into the minivan on day three too; you’ll be chauffeured around England’s beautiful Lake District. Take in the stunning scenery surrounding the ten lakes that you’ll visit, as well as stopping in the pretty market town of Keswick.
On day four, you’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Hadrian’s Wall, a large portion of which is still standing after 2,000 years! On the final day, check out of either your luxury 4-star hotel or local B&B (both are included in the tour) and head back to Windermere train station. This tour is sure to create enduring memories.
13. Best of the Yorkshire Dales Full-Day Tour from York
Source: Daniel_Kay / shutterstockEscape the city and head into Yorkshire’s beautiful countryside on this 8 ½ hour tour of the Dales. This whirlwind tour will take you through green landscapes dotted with quaint villages and historical castles.
You’ll have free time in the village of Reeth to wander through the cobbled streets. You’ll see one of Britain’s best-preserved castles – Castle Bolton – and you can unleash your intrepid side when you explore the ruins of 12th-century Jervaulx Abbey.
Transportation between each stop is in a comfortable 16-seater Mercedes minibus. Your friendly guide will explain the landscapes and recount the history behind each site.
14. Guided Cycling Tour of York
Source: getyourguide.comThis tour will see you spending 2 ½ hours cycling around the beautifully preserved walled city of York in the North of England. Supplied with your bike, a helmet, and a bell, you’ll be using the city’s excellent cycle paths, meaning that you’ll be safe and sound for the whole tour.
Your friendly and funny guide will regale you with tales and facts of the history of York. Although you wouldn’t think it now, the quaint and pretty town has a grisly past and has been conquered by Vikings, Romans, and Normans in the past.
The tour is done at a leisurely pace, meaning that it’s perfect for both beginner and enthusiastic cyclists.
15. From Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria
Source: iLongLoveKing / shutterstockYes, this nine-hour tour may begin in Edinburgh, but it will allow you to see one of England’s most beautiful and evocative counties – Northumberland. Your friendly and knowledgeable guide will drive you down the east coast across the border and into medieval Northumbria.
Your first stop is Holy Island, where the famous Lindisfarne Gospels were written. Here, you’ll wander around the monastery and taste some of the Monk’s mead. This part of the tour depends on tide times, as Holy Island is only accessible from the mainland via a causeway.
After Holy Island, you’ll head south along the Northumberland coastal route, passing the imposing Bamburgh castle before arriving in the market town of Alnwick. A real slice of old England, you’ll surely love strolling around before a guided tour of the castle and gardens. Harry Potter fans might recognize Alnwick castle from the flying scene in the first film.
On the way back to Edinburgh, there’ll be a quick stop at Flodden Field, a famous battle side near the Scottish border.