England is a super easy place to explore on your own — the roads and other infrastructure are in great shape, there's plenty of accommodation (including a wealth of AirBnbs) in all corners of the country and for most travelers, there's also no language barrier!

Although England is not a small country, driving distances are quite reasonable. From London, it takes about two hours to drive to Brighton, Birmingham or Bristol; three hours to Leeds or Sheffield; four hours to Manchester and Liverpool; five hours to Newcastle; and seven hours to Glasgow or Edinburgh in Scotland.

Although England is one of the most densely populated areas in Europe, it is safe to say that it is still possible to get lost in it. Cornwall, Norfolk, Northumberland, and other parts of it are rural and remote enough, not to mention the Highlands of Scotland and Central Wales. Getting a rental vehicle with an up-to-date GPS — or at least a traffic app — is definitely a good idea for finding your way around the less-traveled parts of the country.

While traffic accidents are comparatively rare in England, you can still find the occasional reckless driver. Statistically, rural roads are less safe than urban roads and main highways. Although it might seem counterintuitive, the main reason for this is that the lower amount of traffic leads to more speeding and careless maneuvers.

Overall, England is a very safe travel destination and most travelers don't run into any issues. The police are mostly trusted and respected by locals (the general emergency numbers in the country are 999 and 112). Like anywhere else on the planet, though, there are some caveats and things worth keeping in mind.

Petty crime, especially pickpocketing, can be an issue in and near popular tourist sites and in public transit systems like the London Underground. It's probably a good idea not to flash any valuables and to keep a good look at your belongings at all times.

Over the last few years, London has attracted media attention with its problem with knife crime. While the issue certainly exists and is very serious, it is mostly connected to gang violence and foreign travelers are never specifically targeted. There are definitely some dodgy neighborhoods in London (mostly in the southern part) and other English cities but no definite no-go areas.

Similarly, Britain has a reputation for fights frequently taking place publicly on Friday and Saturday nights. As can be imagined, these are usually connected to excessive drinking — not partaking in it yourself, not visiting or hanging near shady looking pubs and nightclubs, and avoiding visibly inebriated individuals and groups should help to keep you safe.

Food. British cuisine has been stereotyped as bland and uninteresting, often by the Brits themselves, so it might come as a surprise that food is quietly one of the most enjoyable things in England. Melting pots like London and Manchester are absolute culinary meccas, offering not only authentic Indian and Chinese food, but also intricate cuisine from such far-flung places as East Africa, the Levant, and the Caribbean that can be hard to find elsewhere. If you've any space left, add the classic full English breakfast, iconic fish n chips, and some of the best vegan restaurants on the planet, and you're in for a foodie adventure to remember.

Dinosaurs. Well, not the mighty reptiles themselves - that'd be too bold a claim for any destination - but their impressive fossils that have been found along the so-called Jurassic Coast in Southeast England. Nowadays a scenic coastal stretch of some 150 km (95 mi), it was once inhabited by such fantastic beasts as ichthyosaurs and giant pliosaurs, not to mention ancient sharks, hyenas, and rhinos. Visit the children-friendly Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester, then drive to see the coast itself - places like Lyme Bay and Lulworth Cove are as picturesque as anywhere you'll find in England.


Bath. Inhabited since at least the Iron Age, known to Romans as Aquae Sulis and hailed in Old English poems, this historic city's hot springs have attracted visitors since the time immemorial. The old Roman Baths are one of the most interesting landmarks in Britain, and the impressive city abbey, many fine examples of Georgian architecture, and the Herschel Astronomy Museum are just as fun to explore. As good as its name, Bath also maintains a number of high-quality spas, both of natural hot waters and of more modern origin.