England has a rich and proud heritage, dating back thousands of years. London, the capital city, boasts some spectacular sights, including iconic Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and the brooding and imposing Tower of London. Travelling out of the hustle and bustle of London, you see some more of what truly makes England great.
From ancient Stonehenge and Viking York, to the wild, desolate beauty of the Yorkshire Moors and the colourful houses and sandy beaches of the Cornish coast, there is a lot to see and do, much of it accessible from the comfort of England's fantastic railway network.
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Great Rail Journeys offers customers a range of exciting, enjoyable and memorable rail holidays in England. Whether marvelling at the breath-taking scenery of the Lake District, discovering the beautiful landscapes and charming villages of Yorkshire, or sampling the coastal highlights of the English Riviera in Devon and Cornwall, every itinerary we create is designed to offer the most enjoyable experiences at the best value for money.
All transport, quality accommodation, an itinerary of entertaining excursions and activities and, depending upon the tour, selected meals are included in the cost of our rail tours of England. Our customers also benefit from the services of an experienced, friendly and knowledgeable Tour Manager who will provide assistance, answer questions and ensure that you get the maximum enjoyment from your trip.
We hand-pick our overnight accommodation, ensuring that it is conveniently located and offers the high standards of comfort, service, quality and value that our customers expect. Often these will be family-owned or run establishments which offer customers a more personal service and relaxed environment.
England manages to cram an incredible historical, cultural and natural legacy into a compact geographical space. Diverse and cosmopolitan, England has something to surprise and delight everyone. London, the capital city, is the country's political and economic hub, home to the Queen and Royal Family and offers a wealth of historic and modern attractions, famous landmarks, museums, galleries and world-class shopping and dining opportunities. England's other great cities - including Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Bath, York and Newcastle - are similarly compelling.
Rural England, meanwhile, is renowned for the natural beauty of locations such as the Lake District, Salisbury Plain, Dorset's Jurassic Coast and Derbyshire's Peak District. England's unique and entertaining coastal resorts, many of them established in Victorian times, are equally unmissable in summer.
The English are slightly reserved by nature and their social culture rests upon politeness, good manners and a sense of fair play. Mentioning anything about the weather is a good way to spark a conversation, but the English also have an excellent sense of humour. Despite strong competition from coffee, tea remains the national drink and popular English dishes include fish and chips, roast dinners, meat pies - particularly steak and kidney, and sausages and mashed potato (a.k.a. 'bangers and mash'). A thoroughly multi-racial society means that England has wholeheartedly embraced international cuisine, with Indian, Chinese and Asian food enjoying particular popularity. England is renowned for its beer which is deeply-rooted in the country's culture and history and is available in many different styles and strengths.
England enjoys a temperate climate, which means that summers are generally warm, winters mild and extreme temperatures rare. Rainfall can and does occur at any time of year in England although autumn is typically the wettest season. Generally the south of the country enjoys slightly more warmth and sunshine than the north, but the English are philosophical about the weather and rarely let it spoil their enjoyment of outdoor activities.
In addition to its national rail network, England also boasts a collection of around seventy heritage railways. Located throughout the country, typically in areas of historic interest or outstanding natural beauty, our guided tours on England's heritage railways recreate a golden era of train travel and offer an unforgettable railway experience.
28/04/2023 · By Ian Holt
Rail travel has played an important part in British Royal life since Queen Victoria hopped aboard the Paddington train from Slough – and King Charles III, who had an input into the 1980s redesign of the Royal Train, is already upholding this tradition.
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14/05/2020 · By Sukie Chapman
'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness' begins the famous ode, 'To Autumn' by John Keats, in which he extolls the virtues of finding beauty in unexpected places.
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08/01/2020 · By Rashmi Guha Ray
There’s something deeply romantic about train journeys. In a fast-paced world where the skies are dotted with aeroplanes and air traffic has become the norm, the nostalgic appeal of trains can hardly be denied.
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28/10/2019 · By Georgia Shipley
Travelling by train has been a tradition for decades across the world. Whether you're commuting, going on a weekend away or further afield then travelling by rail travel is a popular way of getting around.
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