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England Travel Guide

England | Destinations | Europe | Travel Guides

England consistently ranks as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and it’s easy to see why. With its rich history, iconic landmarks, and vibrant culture, there’s something for every type of traveler. Most visitors understandably flock to London, with its world-famous attractions like the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben. But beyond the capital lies a treasure trove of charming towns, stunning countryside, and unique experiences—often with far fewer crowds.

After living in England back in the late ’80s, we were eager to return and see how much had changed—and stayed the same. We arrived in Portsmouth, fresh off the ferry from Caen, France, ready to dive into nearly three months of exploration. From Portsmouth to Bishop’s Waltham, Derby, Southampton, Andover, Walton-on-Thames, London, Oxford, and Plymouth, we packed in unforgettable experiences.

While we did spend time exploring London (because how can you not?), the primary focus of our trip was to revisit smaller towns across England to see if one of them might be the perfect fit for our future home.

Our journey took us to the quaint village of South Hinksey and the historic university city of Oxford in Oxfordshire, the bustling maritime hubs of Portsmouth and Southampton, and the industrial heritage of Derby. Each location offered its own charm, from serene walks in the countryside to lively cultural scenes, and gave us a deeper appreciation for what England has to offer beyond the bright lights of London.

Along the way, we uncovered budget-friendly stays, quirky tours, and plenty of memorable moments. In our posts, we share what worked, what didn’t, and everything we learned to help you make the most of your trip. Click the links below to follow our adventures and get inspired for your own journey!

Exploring Andover: A Budget-Friendly Adventure (Hampshire, England)

Exploring Andover: A Budget-Friendly Adventure (Hampshire, England)

Exploring Andover: A Budget-Friendly Adventure (Hampshire, England) We were staying nearby in Ludgershall and decided to spend a day Andover, England to check out the Age of Iron Museum. (Andover could easily be an affordable day trip from London!) After our museum tour,…

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Things to do in Derby England

Our 29-Day Detour to Derby, England: Budget Friendly Things to Do in Derby

Our 29-Day Detour to DerbyBudget Friendly Things to Do in Derby Nestled in the heart of the English countryside, Derby is a charming city that often flies under the radar for travelers. During the four years we lived in England we never got…

Click here to read this post Our 29-Day Detour to Derby, England: Budget Friendly Things to Do in DerbyContinue

Our Local-Paced Guide to Oxford England Museums

Our Local-Paced Guide to Oxford England Museums

Our Local-Paced Guide to Oxford England Museums or “how we explore Oxford’s Museums slowly….” When we landed in England as part of our international quest to find our perfect retirement, Oxford wasn’t just another stop on our itinerary – it was a return…

Click here to read this post Our Local-Paced Guide to Oxford England MuseumsContinue

two pics of alleyways that are NOT inspirations for the movie Harry Potter

Accio disappointment! Our not-so-magical Harry Potter walking tour in London

Accio disappointment! Our not-so-magical Harry Potter walking tour in London Looking for the real-life magic of Harry Potter in London? We’ve got you covered! Except, maybe not in the way you think. Here’s our experience with a Harry Potter walking tour in London,…

Click here to read this post Accio disappointment! Our not-so-magical Harry Potter walking tour in LondonContinue

picture we took of Parliament and Big Ben in London

Our List of the Top 8 Affordable Places to Stay in London England (2024)

Our List of the Top 8 Affordable Places to Stay in London England We are often asked how we can afford to travel full time. Well, a lot of it boils down to research. Finding a decent, affordable place to stay, without burning…

Click here to read this post Our List of the Top 8 Affordable Places to Stay in London England (2024)Continue

a picture we took of the great hall doors at the Making of Harry Potter studio tour

Is Harry Potter Studio Tour Worth The Time And Money?

Is Harry Potter Studio Tour Worth The Time And Money? We are Jeff and Sandra, senior nomads, retired and traveling full-time as ‘citizens of the world’. Which is to say, we’re homeless but in a socially acceptable way. While visiting England (May 2024),…

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view of Southampton Piers

40 Things That Made Us Say, “Southampton’s Worth Exploring”

40 Things That Made Us Say, “Southampton’s Worth Exploring” When we started planning our travel itinerary for the four months we’d be in England, Southampton popped up on our radar. Not only is it a major cruise port, but you can also hop…

Click here to read this post 40 Things That Made Us Say, “Southampton’s Worth Exploring”Continue

nomadic lifestyle planning

If it’s not one thing…..

As we wind down our time here in Panama we we find ourselves reflecting on the intricacies of a nomadic lifestyle planning because yet again we are making changes to our future plans. Honestly, we are pretty much ALWAYS in the planning phase….

Click here to read this post If it’s not one thing…..Continue

Discover England: Video Highlights of Our Journey

Explore England through our video gallery, where we share real moments from our time there. These videos highlight everything from everyday life to must-see sights, giving you a clear picture of what it’s like to visit. As full-time slow travelers, we focus on authentic experiences and share practical insights to help you plan your own trip. Each clip reflects our personal journey, providing useful, trustworthy information to make your travel decisions easier.

Things to do in Andover, England - Age of Iron museum plus Andover museum

Things to do in Andover, England – Age of Iron museum plus Andover museum

Andover Heritage Trail - Our Visit to Andover, England - #authentictravel #budgettravel

Our Visit to Andover, England – Andover Heritage Trail

Oxford Botanic garden - What's behind the wall? #englandvlog

Top things to do in Oxford, England – Oxford Botanic garden

Derby Museum and Art Gallery - Derby, England

Things to do in Derby, England – Derby Museum and Art Gallery

Wandering about in Oxford #england - A walking tour (kind of)

Things to do in Oxford, England – Wander about and goggle at the buildings

Toy theater at Pickford's House in Derby, England

Things to do in Derby, England Toy theater Pickford’s House

Oxford Castle and Prison - #oxford #england Travel vlog

Top Things to do in Oxford, England – Oxford Castle and Prison

Top things to do in Derby, England - Derby Museum and Art Gallery #museuminaminute  #authentictravel

Top things to do in Derby, England – Derby Museum and Art Gallery #museuminaminute

Top things to do in Oxford, England - Museum of Natural History #museuminaminute #retirementtravel

Top things to do in Oxford, England – Museum of Natural History #museuminaminute

Oxford, England - Pitt Rivers Museum #museuminaminute

Museum in a Minute – Oxford, England – Pitt Rivers Museum

Things to do in London - London Eye River Thames Cruise

Things to do in London – London Eye River Thames Cruise

Top things to do in Derby, England - The Museum of Making #museuminaminute #thingstodo

Top things to do in Derby, England – The Museum of Making #museuminaminute

Top things to do in Derby, England - Derby Arboretum  #retireearlyandtravel #thingstodo

Top things to do in Derby, England – Derby Arboretum

Pringles vending machine in London #retireearlyandtravel

Pringles vending machine in London

HMS Victory Portsmouth Historic Dockyard #museuminaminute Things to do in Portsmouth England

HMS Victory Portsmouth Historic Dockyard #museuminaminute Things to do in Portsmouth England

HMS Victory - Portsmouth Historic Dockyard #portsmouth #england

Top Things to do in Portsmouth, England – HMS Victory – Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Our apartment in Derby, England - Hardwick House, Nightingale Quarter

Our apartment in Derby, England

Pickford's house in Derby, England -  #museuminaminute #seniortravellers

Our visit to Pickford’s House Georgian Museum in Derby, England #thingstodo

The view from the London Eye #londoneye #travel #thingstodoinlondon  #londonattractions

The view from the London Eye #londoneye #travel #thingstodoinlondon #londonattractions

HMS Mary Rose Museum - Portsmouth England #museuminaminute  #retireearlyandtravel

HMS Mary Rose Museum – Portsmouth England #museuminaminute

Ludgershall Castle - Andover, England #museuminaminute

Ludgershall Castle – Andover, England #museuminaminute

"Flow" by D’Strict -  at Outernet Tottenham Court Road London, England #thingstodo

“Flow” by D’Strict – at Outernet Tottenham Court Road London, England #thingstodo

Flow at Outernet by D’Strict   landscape mode - longer video

Flow at Outernet by D’Strict landscape mode – longer video – London #thingstodo

We have a wander around South Hinksey - Oxfordshire #england

South Hinksey – Oxfordshire

Jeff's visit to Bishops Palace - Bishops Waltham England #retireearlyandtravel

Jeff’s visit to Bishops Palace – Bishops Waltham England

Oxford prison and castle - Oxford, England  #authentictravel

Oxford prison and castle – Oxford, England

We visit the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford England #thingstodoinoxford

Top things to do in Oxford England – Pitt Rivers Museum University Oxford

We visit the University of #oxford #museum of Natural History

Top things to do in Oxford, England – University of Oxford Museum of Natural History

Bishops Waltham Palace #museuminaminute Things to do in Hampshire

History of Science Museum  #Oxford #england  #thingstodoinoxford

Top things to do in Oxford, England – History of Science Museum

Things to do in Oxford England - Oxford Covered Market

Things to do in Oxford England – Oxford Covered Market

The Museum of Making #thingstodoinderby #retirementtravel #englandvlog

Top things to do in Derby, England – The Museum of Making

HMS Warrior - Portsmouth Historic Dockyard #portsmouth  #england

Top things to do in Portsmouth, England – HMS Warrior – Portsmouth…

HMS Victory - Portsmouth Historic Dockyard #portsmouth #england

Top Things to do in Portsmouth, England – HMS Victory – Portsmouth

HMS Mary Rose Museum at #portsmouthhistoricdockyard #portsmouth #england

Things to do in Portsmouth, England – HMS Mary Rose Museum at…

ibis Portsmouth Centre hotel - Portsmouth, England - room review

ibis Portsmouth Centre hotel – Portsmouth, England – room review…

Harry Potter studio tour in 2 minutes #harrypotterstudiotour #thingstodoinlondon

WB Studios Making of Harry Potter tour in 2 minutes

Harry Potter studio tour #london More than Magic #harrypotter

Top things to do in London – Our Visit to the WB Studios ‘Making of Harry Potter’ tour

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Fun Things To Do in England

Sandra

American Expat Nomad, living abroad on a modest budget, one country at a time.

In 2023 my husband and I sold 99.9999% of everything we owned, packed our lives into carry-on luggage and dove into fulltime international travel to figure out where in the world we could actually afford to live without draining our savings. If you're interested in doing the same, following along at https://themobileretiree.com

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We’re Jeff and Sandra, American expat and senior nomads, living abroad, on a budget, one country at at time. Most days, we’re just doing what we’ve always done— making ourselves a home, working on projects, cooking, and running errands, wherever home might be at the moment.

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