9 things you must do in England

OK. It’s a taken as a given that you’re going to visit Stonehenge. And with the opening of the impressive new visitors’ centre, it’s worth going in rather than just snap a couple of pics from the road. (Tip: Book online in advance to avoid the queues.) But there are other ancient stone rings in England that are worth visiting as well. They are just as impressive, more accessible and far less crowded.

Ancient stone circle in Avebury (Shutterstock.com)

Avebury Ring is the most famous and has the advantage of being just up the road from Stonehenge. It is older and larger than Stonehenge and, once you’ve made your way through the flocks of grazing sheep, you can still access the stones. There’s a small village nestled in the site, including a pub, so you can take it all in over a refreshing pint.

Elsewhere in England, you’ll find the Merry Maidens Circle in Cornwall, the Castlerigg Stone Circle in the Lake District and Long Meg and her daughters in Cumbria. Or peruse our list of top neolithic sites.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and voted one of the Greatest Natural Wonders in Britain in 2005, this crumbling, fossil-rich coastline was created over 100 million years ago when massive earth movements pushed up and tilted ancient layers of rock. It was here that Mary Anning found the first plesiosaur skeleton. With erosion constantly altering the coastline, who knows what you’ll find?

Durdle Door in Dorset (Shutterstock.com)

You’re best bet is to wander along the well-marked South West Coast Path National Trail – quite literally, a stroll through time. Stretching from East Devon to East Dorset for 153km, the Jurassic Coast offers more exploring possibilities than can be covered in one long weekend, but if time is tight one of the best places to base yourself is Lulworth Cove.

Enjoying a freshly-pulled pint at the pub, short for ‘public house’, is an integral part of the English experience. And there is no better place to whet your whistle than England’s oldest watering hole, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem. Backing into the network of caves built beneath Nottingham Castle, ‘The Trip’ was frequented by Richard the Lionheart’s crusading knights. Try a pint of the house dark ale then take a tour of the pub’s rear drinking rooms and cellars, which are stuffed with unusual relics.

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (Shutterstock)

Once you’ve had a drink at England’s oldest pub, how about another at the country’s highest, The Tan Hill Inn in the Yorkshire Dales? Or the most haunted, Ye Old Man & Scythe, in Bolton? If it’s all about the ale, seek out the craft beer pubs that have sprung up in the more hipster parts of the country like East London, the Northern Quarter in Manchester, Digbeth in Birmingham and the Baltic triangle in Liverpool.

Bristol is where Banksy, the world’s most notorious street artist, got his start and the city has embraced his legacy. You can take an official Banksy-themed tour or seek out examples of his early work yourself. The Mild Mild West mural is in Easton, Cat and Dog on Foster Street and the famous Masked Gorilla is on Fishponds Road. The Grim Reaper, originally painted on the side of a ship, has been cut out and hung in the M Shed museum.

Mild, Mild West mural (Shutterstock.com)

Other big names like Stik and Inkie have left their mark on the city too.

Bristol is home to more than 200 street artists, so think of the city as a constantly evolving urban gallery. Start at Broadmead and head towards the waterfront. Narrow alleys, side-streets and under-passages make the happiest hunting grounds. Leonard Lane is a treasure trove.

English cities are not as cycle-friendly as their European counterparts and are best avoided. The rolling green hills of Surrey are the spiritual home of Mamils (Middle Aged Men in Lycra) and offer a variety of rides, including sections that were used as part of the 2012 London Olympics. Elsewhere in the country you’ll find a selection of rides to suit your mood and experience, on the road or off it.

Cycling in the Lake District (Shutterstock.com)

The spin from Gwithian to Coombe in Cornwall will reward you with sea views, meadows and woodland and a refreshing pint at the Sunset Surf Café at the end. For something more challenging, try the route from Bonsall to Winster in Derbyshire. The climb up East Bank will wake your legs up, but there’s an 180-degree view out over the peaks waiting for you at the top. The Monsal Trail, following an old dismantled railway line, is worth a pedal too.

Every year on the last Monday of May, a group of what can only be described as crazy people hurl themselves down a very steep hill in pursuit of a large 7-8lb Double Gloucester cheese. The tradition is centuries old and is apparently rooted in a pagan ritual celebrating the return of spring. While we’re not suggesting you take part – indeed, our lawyers would recommend we do everything in our powers to stop you – it is quite a surreal and utterly English sight.

Chasing cheese (Shutterstock.com)

Indeed, gathering to celebrate ancient pagan traditions is quite the common event in England. In Hastings, locals celebrate Jack-in-the-Green, by painting their faces and covering themselves in leaves. The Whittlesey Straw Bear Festival in Cambridgeshire sees a bear made from straw dance for food and money. And Bonfire Night in Lewes in Sussex is a pyrotechnic free-for-all where any thoughts of Health and Safety are banished.