England is the land of Magna Carta, of the Kings of York and Stuart, the land that gave us Shakespeare, Harry Potter, The Beatles and of course, Mr. Benedict Cumberbatch. With some of the oldest cities like London and Cambridge in its lap, England is also home to quaint traditional British hamlets and shires like York and Bath. When you visit England, there are so many tourist places for you to visit, from the Buckingham Palace of London to the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford and cities like Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol. Read on for a long list with details of each.

Known as Lundune in the time of the Dane invasions and King Alfred the Great, London has since then been a major city port and hub of the entire country. Identified by its trademark black cabs and bright red telephone booths, London is a unique city in look as well as feel. Today it boasts of so many tourist attractions, from the royal Buckingham Palace to the British Museum and Westminster Palace, the Big Ben and Tower of London to London Bridge and London Eye. You will be filling your days with so much fun here. Aside from these sightseeing places, you can also experience great haute couture as well as high street shopping from Oxford Street and Covent Garden. The SoHo side is great for hanging out at cafes, pubs and partying till the wee hours of morning.

An old city, as suggested from its ancient name of York; ironically this place never gets old. Stroll around the ancient streets of this city, with walls as old as 700 years and cobbled streets laid out just as back in time. Visit the York Minster which is the largest Gothic structure in all of Britain and visit the National Railway Museum and Jorvik Viking Centre. For a nice afternoon tea after your long strolls, you can pop into Countess of York and await your cucumber sandwiches, cakes and scones to go with your English tea. Nearby hamlets and towns are also a great one-day getaways, like the market town of Malton which is stunning. You can also head to Robin Hood’s Bay, also known as smuggler’s town.

A gorgeous city in Northern England, Durham is best reached by train owing to all the stunning landscapes on the way. You can explore the haunting but gorgeous Romanesque Cathedral overlooking the town. Cobbled lanes, tall curved lampposts and meandering streets make for great walks down the town. You can also visit Durham Castle, Crook Hall and Gardens, Adventure Valley, Palace Green and Durham Museum. Glady’s Vintage Tea Room is a nice little cozy place to eat here, especially your usual afternoon snack and tea and the traditional English breakfast.

Bristol is another beautiful English city straddling River Avon. It is not the most popular on tourist circuits but that is exactly the reason it is so amazing. Explore the Victorian era Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol Cathedral and the museum on Brunel’s iron steam ship by the name of SS Great Britain. Cabot Tower, Noah’s Arc Zoo Farm and Bristol Zoo are also great haunts for families, while the Bristol harbour is your go-to for a long afternoon walk with your beloved or friends. Eat fish & chips by the seaside and feel like a pedestrian of the 13th Century (that’s how old this harbour is).

We have all known Nottingham as the shire of Robin Hood, the one where he fought criminals and stole from the rich to feed the poor. Well, in such an adventurous city, how can you not have the time of your life? It is one of the biggest, most amazing cites that holds the culture of England. Visit the Castle Museum, Wollaton Hall, City of Caves, Newstead Abbey and the iconic Nottingham Castle. In Nottinghamshire, you will be welcomed by the huge statue of Robin Hood. Other fun things here include the Sherwood forest of Robin Hood folklore, situated just outside the city, as well as the Lace Market and Paul Smith’s original shop.

St. Ives is a seaside Cornish town that is renowned for its surf beaches and has a great artsy space for painters, sculptors and artists. Explore this city for a relaxed beach holiday along with art museums like the Tate St Ives gallery, Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. Most of these places host modern art of local British artists. For beaches, head to the Seal Island to spot seals, Porthmeor for surfing, Harbour Beach for cafes and relaxation and Carbis Bay for a long sandy stretch of shore. Also do visit the Church of St Ia that makes for a symbol of St Ives’ skyline, take walks down the Back Road West and meet fishermen on the main harbour to share some fish and chips.

Liverpool is the home of The Beatles and is obviously one of the most important port cities of England, situated on the river Mersey in Northwest England. Home to a number of galleries, museums and music pubs, Liverpool has been known for its warehouses and ships by the dock, fishermen and footy clubs. Do visit the Mersey ferry, stroll down Albert Dock, go see the Liver Building and admire the Tate Gallery. Other areas of interest are The Beatles Story, Cavern Club, Anfield Football Stadium and Cunard Building.

Funnily enough, the city of Bath is named after its most iconic attractions - the Roman Baths. It is possibly one of the best cities to explore in all of England, and a secret among tourists who have come to England regularly and carved out a comfort spot away from the usual crowd. Visit the Thermae Bath Spa, the Roman Baths, Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey. The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site and hasn’t changed much since its inception in AD 43. It still smells of Jane Austen novels and has the imprints of Roman rule. For a taste of Bath, head to Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House for timelessly delicious buns and see the coins of UK being minted in front of you at The Royal Mint Experience.

Manchester, the heart of Britain’s Industrial Revolution, has since seen a great load of progress. Today it is a cultural hub of England as well as holds a true, English music scene. A visit to Manchester by football fans is going to be filled with Man-U trivia, while the rest of us would love The Manchester Museum, John Rylands Library, Manchester Art Gallery, Old Trafford and Castlefield for the canals, bars and restaurants.