England is famous for its cottages and tiny houses, nestled in sun trapped gardens. These gardens are often surrounded by brick walls covered in roses, honeysuckles and vines. Also loved are the fatly stuffed thatched roofs’ reflecting the golden sun, thick with the fragrant hay and patterned on the thatch. Some of the hay in these thatched roofs dates back to the 17th century. Some of the cottages are surrounded by walled gardens that offer a protection from the wind and give the support for the vines that climb up their craggy surface.

Places like these can still be found scattered like sleepy hollows around England. Near Canterbury as you drive towards the town centre, winding down the tiny lanes places, like this thrive. Canterbury is, of course famous for the Canterbury Tales written by Chaucer in medieval England. His wife of Bath is so funny, with a nice moral twist.

Going with this olde English country look one must not forget the lead glazed diamond shaped panes glinting in the evening sun. These sit in the frames making one think of England; how she once was, with Pimm’s on the lawn watching the cricket on Sunday. Some pubs still offer this vista of bygone days.

Some of the older houses are built of stone with slate roofs. This also looks beautiful and homely and uniquely English. Reminding one of cosy farmhouses and how they must have been. Surrounded by beautiful countryside; with the bee’s buzzing lazily and blood red poppies and blue cornflowers dancing in the cornfields. While the sun smiles beneficently down onto the blue butterflies’ landing on the daisies to enjoy the nectar. Swallows and blackbirds sing and cry over the rivers and ponds, dappled by magnificent willows, daintily caressing their leaves and branches in the peaceful waters, which, in certain places, one can watch the Carp and even feed them.

The Cotswolds and the Lake District are world famous for peaceful holidays and idyllic surroundings. The Lake District was the love of a famous English Author; Beatrix Potter adored the lakes. As a child she had been brought there for her holidays, because it was fashionable. She never lost her love of the Lakes and when she grew older and learned that they were being brought up for development she spent a large amount of her income buying them up to preserve them for future generations. In her books like Peter Rabbit, her paintings are of the landscape around her, which one can still see today. For this England owes her a great debt.

All along the Devonshire coastline are other beautiful places to visit; all down that region are quaint old fashioned places are dotted here; and there one can see the beauty of olde world England.

Dorset is one of these counties, famous for its cream teas and peaceful vistas. Some towns have quaint names like Tolpuddle near Dorchester and Puddletown. In Poole there are beautiful gardens Like Compton Acres; which has 10 acres of gardens including an absolutely stunning Japanese garden; along with Shops and restaurants. It also hosts regular events.

Also well worth a visit are the Bennet Water Gardens in Chickerell. This has eight acres of lakes and pools and has wildflowers, native English trees and plants. It also offers a museum, Tropical house and large centre to buy the plants. And of course stop at the Monet Tearooms for the traditional cream tea or roast dinner. The water gardens are gorgeous and are just like a painting. One can also get married there.

There are so many places along the Devon, Exeter and Dorset coastline that one could visit for years and not see it all. There is also something for all ages, with the surfing at Bude in Cornwall; to boating on the river, like Ratty in Kenneth Grahame’s ‘Wind in the Willows’; a book beloved by generations of children. Castles and cottages to visit; gardens to play in, and tearooms along with water gardens and the seafront where adults can stroll in peace; there is always something to keep you busy.

If you are thinking of coming for a visit checkout some of the websites below to help you plan what to do and see and where to stay.

www.dorsets.co.uk
www.tamarvalleytourism.co.uk
www.waterlily.co.uk
www.canterbury.co.uk