Encircled by medieval walls, Canterbury is doused in history. In the Middle Ages, Canterbury’s pilgrimage-site status made it the setting of Chaucer’s seminal "Canterbury Tales," while today, cobbled streets and the 6th-century Canterbury Cathedral secure this city as one of England’s must-visit destinations.

Gazing over the English Channel, Hastings mixes black-tarred fishing huts with pebbly shores, Victorian architecture, and artsy shops that together draw boho travellers and families in search of seaside holidays. With a maritime museum, castle ruins, and a notable battle site, it’s also rich in history.

So-called because of the honey-coloured stone used to build its villages, the Cotswolds offers visitors the quintessential English experience. The area spans five counties and boasts some of England’s most impressive country houses, castles, and landscapes. Plus, plentiful pubs make it easy to experience authentic English hospitality.

Stratford-upon-Avon is steeped in the history of its most famous resident, William Shakespeare. This Warwickshire country town contains the home where Shakespeare was born, the cottage where Anne Hathaway resided before their marriage and the church where the couple is buried. Need a break from the Bard? The town also boasts Europe's largest butterfly farm.

Cumbria's valleys and fells (as the low mountains are known) are home to idyllic villages, high moorlands and picturesque lakes. Literary buffs will enjoy Wordsworth's Dove Cottage (go in March to see daffodils), and if you've got kids in tow, visit The World of Beatrix Potter. Or just enjoy a leisurely drive through beautiful scenery.