• A mist-shrouded island?
• Ancient stone circles?
• Roman villas or proud castles?
• Quaint villages of mellow stone?
• A cricket match on a village green?
• A lavish afternoon tea?

Whichever it is, you'd be right.

This island boasts stunning landscapes, more than 5000 years of history, top hotels and restaurants, a thriving art scene and modern, buzzing cities.

But it also has a quirky, unexpected side. A side that reveals itself when you step off the beaten track, stop for a while and open your mind.

We want to grow Essentially England into a goldmine of information that you can turn to whether you need recipes for a dinner party, historical facts for a crossword puzzle or just one more idea for your next holiday.

But we also hope to share our love for England's quirky side, which has survived the invention of theme parks and traffic jams and mobile phones, and which - if found - can turn your visit from 'just another holiday' into that one 'special memory.'

You'll find it if you dare to go where your whimsy takes you and do things you've never attempted before: