Essentially England
For Lovers of English History and Traditional English Food
What do you see when someone mentions England?
- 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?
Or do you see a bright, vibrant metropolis with busy streets, shops, restaurants, clubs, galleries and theatres?
Whichever it is, you'd be right.
The British Isles - of which England is the largest part - boast stunning landscapes, more than 5000 years of history, top hotels and restaurants, a thriving art scene and modern, buzzing cities.
But this country also has a quirky, unexpected side, deeply rooted in its long history. It has castles and ruins galore, unusual buildings, glorious parks and gardens, traditional festivals and events and truly wonderful regional food.
All these you'll find on the site along with:
English History
No matter if you prefer the Tudors or prehistoric stone circles, if you want to explore Norman castles or Saxon fortresses or if you want to know when Richard the Lionheart was king - you've come to the right place. Explore different periods in history, or browse our long and eventful history a month at a time.
English Food
Take a new look at English food. Check out the wonderful, regional foods made here, look up old favourites in the extensive recipes section or eat your way around our food festivals.
Travel Tips
Everything you need to know to plan a successful business trip or holiday. Travel information from visas to weather, from finding cheap flights to means of getting around and suggestions where to stay.
What to Do and See
Our ideas for the perfect holiday. Explore this island's counties - one at a time. Check out historical and picturesque sites, find ideas for amazing days out or try one (or more) of our England tours.
Turn your visit into that one special memory by sharing my love for this country's quirky side. So go where your whimsy takes you and do things you've never attempted before:
- Stay in a lighthouse or drive a steam train.
- Follow the invading Romans across the country.
- Solve an ancient murder.
- Join a cheese rolling contest.
- Walk in the footsteps of your favourite characters from books or films.
- Eat your way around the country if your waistline can handle it.
Or just sit back, relax and soak up the atmosphere.
Come with an open mind and discover the unexpected.
We will be here to welcome you!
THE GUIDE TO ESSENTIALLY ENGLAND
The England Blog
Site news and topical information about English history, food and travel from the team at Essentially England.
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Essentially England News
Essentially England News brings you all the latest information about England and the site straight to your inbox.
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Christmas in England
Send your wish list up the chimney, feed Santa's reindeer and make sure your stockings are big enough .... a traditional Christmas in England starts early and offers more than just food
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A Question About England
Travelling, moving or just curious? If you have a question about England, ask it here.
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Pictures of England: Remember the Magic
Let me share my favourite pictures of England, the moments when holidays in England become pure magic.
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Books About England
Share my library: all your favourite books about England in one place!
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England Travel Tips
A successful trip starts with good preparation. Find England travel tips and useful facts about England in this section of the site.
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Places to Stay in England
Whether you want a romantic castle, a cosy holiday cottage or a luxurious hotel: there are many places to stay in England.
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Things to do in England
From the interesting to the unusual to the downright wacky: this is my guide to feasts, festivals and fun days out and other things to do in England!
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Ideas for England holidays and tours
Driving, walking, boating? History lover or food buff? This page features tours and ideas for your England holidays.
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English Gardens
Perfect lawns, colourful borders, ornate knot gardens, or grandiose landscape parks: English gardens can be all these and more.
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England Travel Stories: Share your magic moments
Share the magic of England! Share England travel stories and pictures of England.
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England Travel Links - Helpful Sites
Information on these sites could come in useful planning your England travel adventure!
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Traditional English Food
If you thought English Food was a joke - stop laughing! Find out how good the old classics really are and how to make them.
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Traditional English Recipes
Want to cook Sunday lunch like grandma used to? Find out here how to prepare traditional English recipes, the Classics of English Cookery
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Food Festivals
Food Festivals: Eat your way around England (and through the seasons) with the best of English food.
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Made in England
Don't heed globalisation and standardisation. These products are still proudly Made in England!
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This month in history: an English history calendar
This month in history: Dive into the past and find out what happened in England
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English Monarchs
English Monarchs - Who Ruled England When (and How)
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Prehistoric England
From cave dwellings to stone circles and hill forts: the people of prehistoric England are as elusive as they are surprising.
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Norman England
From the Norman conquest to the end of England's first civil war: Norman England was a land in turmoil in a time of change.
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Northumberland
From empty beaches to remote mountain scenery to ruined castles and churches, Northumberland has it all!
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Norfolk: Endless Skies and Endless Beaches
Long known as a holiday paradise, Norfolk has a long, fascinating history and one of England's most wonderful nature reserves.
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Suffolk: The Peaceful County
Heath, shingle beaches, little lanes and pretty churches - Suffolk is a holiday location that's seriously peaceful. And it offers wonderful fresh fish and vegetables, too!
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Gloucestershire: Fashion and Opportunity
Gloucestershire does picturesque like few other English counties, but don't let that fool you. It's fashion-consicous and very modern underneath.
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Wiltshire - An Ancient County
Prehistoric stone circles, steam trains, quaint villages and endless open spaces - Wiltshire is an ancient county worth exploring.
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Devon: The Glorious County
Beloved of poets and holidaymakers alike, Devon is warm (for England), friendly, inviting and as spectacular inland as along its famous coast.
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About the site and its Author
Does England need another site advocating its charms? Find out about the site and why I'm turning my love for England into a website.
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Essentially England Privacy Policy
Essentially England Privacy Policy
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Share Essentially England
Share Essentially England: spread the word about the site for lovers of English history, food and culture.
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My Handbag: shopping tips from Essentially England
A handbag: an incredibly sensible place for storing all manner of bits and bobs. This page is a bit like that handbag.
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Contact Us
Need information? Have a question? - Contact essentially-england.com!
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Site Map
Lost in England or just looking for a specific topic? Use the site map to browse available topics or pinpoint the one you're looking for.
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Web to Success: Online business building made easy.
Web to Success: the site that helps you build a successful online business.
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Essentially England Advertising and Disclosures
Essentially England Advertising Information and Disclosures: Complete information about our sponsors, our compensation and ways to arrange advertising on this site.
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