When most people go on vacation to England they find it hard to leave the capital city of London. Understandably so, as this city makes an ideal vacation destination, but for those who want to experience more of what England has to offer it is worth considering entering the heart of England and discovering its fascinating history. With some fascinating attractions for all the family and historical sites that are truly amazing, every vacation should at least have some of these places contained in the itinerary.



If you are a fan of history your vacation should include a visit to Warwick castle. This is considered one of the most complete medieval fortresses in the whole of England and is a brilliant insight into the world of knights and kings. It was the centre of the Earl of Warwick's powerbase and as such enabled him to control and input on all manner of political decisions throughout history. Exhibitions at the castle include information on Richard Neville, more commonly known as the 'Kingmaker' whom during the 15th century was believed to powerful enough to place anyone he wanted upon the throne of England.

A worthwhile element of any England vacation is a trip to the historic city of Bath. This was once a Roman spa town. The natural spring attracted the Romans to the town who loved a dip in the beneficial waters. The Roman baths are still in existence and give an idea of leisure activities during the Roman period. Located in the county of Somerset, Bath makes an ideal location to vacation the West Country and see the quaintness of the Cotswolds and the Moors of the West of England.

The spiritual history of England is well documented and should be studied whilst on your vacation. While the cathedrals in England rarely the match the grandeur of similar examples on the continent they are still worthy of note. The most notable of these cathedrals and spiritual centre of the English for centuries is located in Canterbury, Kent. A site of a Saxon cathedral it was later the site of the most majestic of English cathedrals. Whilst on your vacation, learning about the infamous murder of Thomas Becket on the site gives a small insight into the quarrels between a king and his spiritual advisor during the twelfth century.

Later examples of the architecture of England should also be included in your vacation itinerary. One fine example of a stately home is Althorp Park. Home to the Spencer family since the sixteenth century, it lies close to Northampton. A point of interest is that Althorp was the family home of Diana, Princess of Wales. Currently a block of the house has been converted into an exhibition to the sadly deceased princess' memory. Althorp is also Diana's last resting place; her body being buried on an island in centre of the estate's lake.

The history of England has been tumultuous in the modern period and seeing part of this history whilst on your vacation should be undertaken. A great museum located in Cambridgeshire, is Duxford. The museum houses a large collection of aircraft and tanks from both world wars as well as commercial aviation pieces.

The one time air force base now gives visitors of all ages a close up view of how the brave pilots and engineers in the world wars carried out their work. Children will love climbing into the cockpits and other displays that really bring history to life. Adults similarly will be fascinated by the Battle of Britain exhibition that reveals the plight of the 'brave few' that halted the Nazi war machine at the shores of France.

History should be integral in any vacation of England. As a country that has played major part in the development of Europe and the world, this history is hard to ignore. While reading about these sites may be insightful, true understanding comes through seeing these places for real. You will find as your vacation comes to an end, your education will have been advanced.