When you poll travelers about their mental image of England, and they will likely describe red telephone boxes, the London Eye, and Buckingham Palace. Yet go only twenty miles from the capital's limits, and a distinct realm appears before you. England is not just a city; think of gently sloping green elevations, collapsing medieval keeps, Devon-style cream offerings, and shorelines whose beauty has been sung by bards since the Romantic era. In-depth information on protecting your money from online fraudsters can be found on our website.

The Cotswolds. Welcome to the England photographers dream of capturing: honey-colored stone cottages, rose-covered doors, and villages with names like Castle Combe and Bourton-on-the-Water. Your best bet is to take a vehicle or put on sturdy boots for the Cotswold Way walking route. Stop for a cream tea—scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, but be forewarned: if you choose a side in the jam-or-cream-first argument, someone from the opposite county will correct you.

Brighton & The Seven Sisters. Only one hour south of London by train, the quirky city by the sea serves up an unconventional break from London's intensity. Stroll along the historic pleasure pier from the 19th century, enjoy a portion of battered cod alongside thick-cut fries, served in a paper cone, and take a tour through the whimsical Royal Pavilion, a building as bizarre as it is beautiful. Venture only a few minutes east behind the wheel, and you will arrive at the Seven Sisters Cliffs — spectacular vertical faces of white calcium carbonate that ascend straight out of the English Channel. Follow the trail that traces the cliff edge for views so arresting, your conversational threads will simply drop away.

The Lake District. Carrying the official UNESCO World Heritage label, this area is also the go-to spot for British nature lovers seeking physical challenge. This landscape famously inspired the Romantic poet William Wordsworth, who wrote of strolling "lonely as a cloud" above the valleys.

Make the trek to the top of Scafell Pike, England's crowning elevation, sail on Lake Windermere, or or do as the locals do: withdraw to a stone-floored pub, drink a pint of something dark and malty, and watch the grey skies empty themselves onto the green slopes. If you love medieval history, York is unmissable. Take a promenade along York's well-preserved defensive walls, which encircle the historic core, explore the Shambles — the real-world inspiration for a certain boy wizard's favorite shopping alley, and pay your respects at York Minster, a cathedral whose sheer size and architectural complexity can genuinely inspire religious feeling even in secular visitors.

For a spooky twist, join an evening ghost tour. York's tourism board — and its ghost tour operators — will tell you that this is the spirit capital of the entire continent. Closer to Manchester and Sheffield, the you will find in the Peak District expansive moorland plateaus, reservoir lakes created to supply water to nearby cities, and beautiful villages — among them Bakewell, famous for its namesake confection. This landscape works wonderfully for a short break combining outdoor rambling with traditional English pub food.

The tip of southwest England — known as Cornwall — has a personality so unique you might forget you are still in the same country. Rugged cliffs, turquoise waters (yes, turquoise), and excellent surfing in Newquay. Make a stop in St. Ives, a picture-perfect harbor town celebrated for its thriving artist colony and exceptionally fresh maritime cuisine, climb down into the Minack Theatre, a breathtaking example of one woman's vision realized in concrete and stone against a dramatic coastal setting, and hunt for traces of the legendary King Arthur at Tintagel Castle, the medieval fortress famously associated with Arthur's conception.

The county also gave the world the Cornish pasty — a D-shaped baked crust packed with a savory mixture of meat, potatoes, and the root vegetable swede. The correct method involves nothing more than your fingers gripping the pasty's folded crust.