Things to see and do in England

The city of Blackpool has been attracting holiday visitors ever since 1735, when the first guest house opened. In the 19th century, it became a popular working-class destination among the British and, in 1896, Blackpool Pleasure Beach was opened. Today, this amusement park has a variety of rides to suit all tastes and ages. The 156m (518-ft) Blackpool Tower houses a ballroom, an aquarium and play area and dominates the skyline along Blackpool's lively promenade. Most visitors head to the top of the tower for views back across the city or out across the Irish Sea. The viewing deck includes the Walk of Faith, a clear glass platform enabling visitors to see the world passing by beneath their feet.

Canterbury Cathedral's history as a religious site dates back to AD 597 when Pope Gregory's missionary, St Augustine, was given a church in the town by King Ethelbert. The cathedral is a masterpiece of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Inside, visitors can see stained glass windows dating from the 12th century and the medieval tombs of King Henry IV and Edward the Black Prince, as well as those of numerous archbishops. The cathedral is also the former site of the shrine to the Archbishop Thomas Becket, who was murdered in the northwest transept in 1170. His shrine, which was desecrated in 1538 during the Reformation, became one of the most visited by pilgrims during the Middle Ages, many of whom travelled the famous Pilgrims' Way from Winchester to see it.

The spectacular Cheddar Caves and Gorge complex has been attracting visitors for over 200 years. The largest and most famous cave is Gough's Cave, so named because it was discovered by a Sea Captain named Richard Gough in 1890. It stretches 0.4km (0.25 miles) underground and is often referred to as a cathedral because of the vast caverns - such as the magnificent Diamond Chamber and Solomon's Temple - that were carved out by Ice Age melt waters over a million years ago. When Gough's Cave was blasted with dynamite to open it up for further exploration, archaeologists discovered what's now known as Cheddar Man, the oldest complete skeleton found in Britain that's thought to date back over 9,000 years. Other archaeological finds date human habitation in and around the site back over 40,000 years. The smaller Cox's Cave was discovered by local mill owner George Cox in 1837 when one of his workers fell through a hole in the roof of the cave whilst collecting rocks for a new building. Above ground, a series of 274 steps known as Jacob's Ladder take visitors from the foot of Britain's biggest gorge to the very top where the Lookout Tower and the cliff top Gorge Walk are located. Caving, climbing and abseiling courses can also be arranged at the site.

Wander the cobbled streets of Medieval Durham in the northeast of England. Its Norman cathedral and 11th century castle are famous around the world.

Great Yarmouth's Pleasure Beach is set along a nine-acre seafront site on the picturesque East Anglian coastline. The Pleasure Beach is a traditional seaside resort built around a lively promenade and is a popular attraction for families. The Pleasure Beach's attractions include traditional fairground rides, arcades, flower gardens, mini golf and candy floss and ice cream stalls. It may have lost some of its grandeur but it nevertheless remains one of the most popular attractions in East Anglia and attracts close to 1.5 million visitors each year.

Sublime walking and thrilling mountain biking can be had on the Fells (mountains) of the northwest England. Lake Windermere is the most impressive body of water, and visitors can hire peddle boats and miniature motorboats.

Britain's capital is one of the greatest and most diverse cities on earth. Visit London's huge range of museums, houses, churches and galleries; spend away in its vast choice of shops and markets, and indulge in the vast network of bars, pubs, restaurants and night clubs. Look out over the capital from the London Eye (www.londoneye.com), located on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Westminster, or spend an afternoon ogling at the crown jewels in the Tower of London.

Go to the Salford Lad's Club, immortalised by 1980s rock band The Smiths, before taking in the rest of Manchester's (www.visitmanchester.com) musical heritage. And then see where the Beatles first performed at the Cavern Club in nearby Liverpool (www.visitliverpool.com).

Poole Harbour is a vibrant quay on England's southern coast that bustles with an array of bars, cafes and restaurants. Visitors wanting to learn more about the history of the region can follow the newly developed Cockle Trail discovering myths and legends about Poole's smugglers and ghosts of yesteryear. A series of brass plaques mark the way charting 750 years of Poole's history culminating at the Waterfront Museum. Popular sports in and around the harbour include windsurfing, kitesurfing, water-skiing, wakeboarding, surfing, snorkelling and kayaking. Of course, boat trips are popular and visitors can sail out to the National Trust's Brownsea Island, protected for its wildlife and peaceful woodland walks.

Situated on the north Suffolk coastline, Southwold is a traditional seaside town that forms part of the Suffolk Heritage Coast. With its brightly painted beach huts, working lighthouse, harbour and bustling fish markets, Southwold is a quintessential English resort town of yesteryear with none of the razzmatazz of a pleasure beach.

Erected between 3000 and 1600 BC, Stonehenge is a giant stone circle that stands on Salisbury Plain and is considered today to be one of the most famous surviving sites from the ancient world. The stones, which are up to 6.7m (22ft) high, attract hundreds of visitors every day, who come to marvel at the ingenuity of those who engineered the construction of the site and the techniques used to move and position the stones. There are also many burial mounds nearby, as well as long barrows from the Neolithic Age, the most famous of which is West Kennet Long Barrow.

The ruins of the legendary 12th-century Tintagel Castle stand on windswept cliffs in North Cornwall on one of England's most dramatic coastlines. The medieval castle was built in around 1250 by Richard, Earl of Cornwall and is believed to be the birthplace of King Arthur who, as legend has it, was protected from the evil magician Merlin by his magical sword, Excaliber. The castle is shrouded in mystery and little is actually known about its history. Today, the remains of the castle stand on rugged cliffs high above the sea. Over the years, the mainland has been eroded by the elements and the castle is now only accessible via a narrow bridge and steep steps. Many claim that Tintagel is one of the most romantic places in the UK, with beautiful walks along the Cornish Coastal Path.

Whether at the country grounds of Edgbaston in Warwickshire or on a village green, an afternoon sat watching men in white playing a game of cricket is a quintessentially English experience.

Windsor Castle, overlooking the Berkshire town of Windsor, is one of the official homes of Queen Elizabeth II and is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world. It was constructed under William the Conqueror (c. 1028-1087) as a means of guarding the western approaches to London, due to its position high above the River Thames on the edge of a Saxon hunting ground. Since then, it has been continuously inhabited by Britain's monarchs who have created both an impressive fortress and a regal residence. The castle was painstakingly restored after fire swept through more than 100 rooms and St George's Chapel in 1992. Visitors can now once again enter many parts of the castle. One of the highlights is St George's Chapel which was founded in 1475 by King Edward IV and completed by King Henry VIII. It is one of the best examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in Britain, and contains the remains of numerous British sovereigns, including King Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, Charles I and George V. 200 hectares (500 acres) of Home Park surround the castle. A popular place to go walking is in the sweeping 700-hectare (1800-acre) expanse of Windsor Great Park, which can be accessed by the Long Walk, a broad path lined with elm trees planted under the instructions of King Charles II in 1685.