Calling all Anglophiles! Have you always wanted to visit the United Kingdom but the only thing you know about it is from what you’ve seen from documentaries? We have created a guide on why you should book a trip to this country that extends past the history of the royal family. 

England has been around since the B.C period; you could spend your whole trip just visiting the historical sites and buildings across the country! Plan a visit to the ever-mysterious Stonehenge in Salisbury. You will be transported back to 2,900 BC at this ancient wonder where you will find so many myths and legends about how this site was created! 

You can try to speculate for yourself or learn from the historians when you visit the exhibition to hear the tales for yourself. Make sure you leave some time to visit a place of literary dreams, Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare himself! Not only can you visit the same places that Shakespeare frequented, but you can also attend a Royal Shakespeare Company production at the famous Theatre on the banks of the River Avon.

England has a reputation of being a dreary place to visit, with weather similar to Washington State. However, many destinations are a must to visit no matter the weather!  If you want to immerse yourself in nature, you can visit The Lakes District (a UNESCO-protected site). You will see the land still being worked on by the traditional sheep farmers as you hike the countless trails. If you plan your visit during the Spring months, you can see the blooming wildflowers and experience the cooler temperatures as you stroll through the mountainsides. While you are there why not venture out to Ireland? You can go to the “Edge of the World” which is better known as the Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs themselves are thought to be more than 320 million years old and are featured in quite a few movies (ever heard of Harry Potter or The Princess Bride?). We recommend you walk along the cliff sides to catch a glance at some of the amazing marine life below, keep your eyes peeled for a whale or even a whale shark!  

If you enjoy immersing yourself in local culture and events, the United Kingdom has no shortage! You can attend a football game of one of the many teams that exist all over the country. If you don’t want to purchase tickets, you can always stop in at the nearest pub to join the locals in cheering on their favorite teams! Another sport to watch is Cricket. Cricket is the national sport of the United Kingdom and has been popular since the 17th century. Eighteen professional country clubs participate in the sport and, during the summer, you can catch them competing in the First Class County Championship.  Americans are most familiar with Tennis as the United Kingdom is the home of Wimbledon, where all of the top Tennis Players gather to compete in one of the four grand slam events. You may even catch a glimpse of a royal family member or too if you are there during the Wimbledon event!

For many the royal family is a fascinating group to watch, especially from over in the United States where there is nothing to relate to it. They can be just a doorway into the world of the United Kingdom and all else that it offers!