England is a country steeped in culture and history which has scenery to rival some of the most beautiful spots on this planet. But as a young 20 something eager to escape this place I knew as home, I would often find myself sat in the coffee shops of Liverpool watching groups of wide eyed tourists shuffling one by one out of big red buses (maps and cameras in hand), and I couldn’t help but wonder…. Why? Why would all of these people consciously choose to travel thousands of miles across the world to come here? Out of all the destinations…all of the amazing things to see…why England!?

But the truth is, all of those tourists knew something I didn’t. I’d become blinded by ignorance and intolerance of my own country and had never stopped for a second to consider what lay waiting for me to discover right outside my own front door.

It wasn’t until sometime after I returned home from our first big Backpacking adventure, that I began to see England for all it really is and all it has to offer. Determined not to become entrapped by the constraints and routine of life back home, we were forced for the first time to make the most of what we had around us and it was truly beautiful.

 In just a 10 minute cycle we could be sat on the promenade of Crosby beach watching the sun set over the statues of Anthony Gormley  ‘Another Place’. To say it was as atmospheric as watching the sun disappear into the horizon over the red sand of Uluru would be a lie, but it still offered the opportunity to ‘lose yourself’ for a while in that moment.

 In just a 2 hour train ride we could be amongst the hustle, bustle and grandeur of London Town for a long weekend packed full of delicious tastes; incredible architecture; amazing night life; and more culture than you could ever hope to find.  

In just a 2 and a half hour car journey we could be breathlessly bagging peaks, kayaking on pristine waters, standing beneath tumbling waterfalls or steaming down muddy mountain bike trails, in what has become our favourite adventure playground- The picturesque Lake District.   

In just a six hour car journey we could be ripping it up on the surf in Newquay, walking along sections of the beautiful South West Costal Path or aimlessly wondering around cobbled Cornish alleyways, admiring the weathered houses, their exteriors curiously decorated with sea shells.   

And for those occasions when we had a little more time on our hands, there was plenty to challenge both the mind and body. The C2C cycle; National 3 Peaks Challenge; Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge; and the Cumbrian Way are just some of the longer distance physical adventures that travellers can embark on, which offer stunning scenery and a real sense of accomplishment at the end of it.

But there’s more to England than what you can see and do. England offers a feeling quite like nowhere else I’ve been. It’s in the cream teas; the fish and chips; the politeness of its people; the humour of the north; the charm of its villages; the crackling fires of its cosy country pubs; and the proudness of its castles. It’s that warm feeling I get, that I can’t quite find the words to describe, but it’s quintessentially English.

So what have I learnt from my new found England? I’ve learnt that travel isn’t just about heading overseas. It’s about taking the time to explore and appreciate what we have right in front of us. As Marcel Proust  eloquently puts it: ‘The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.’

For me, the beauty of England lies in its small stature. A country perfectly sized to travel around quickly and easily which offers something for everyone. A place that even the most well-travelled would struggle not to be impressed by.  A place where the notorious wet and windy weather shouldn’t dampen your day or put you off visiting…. After all, as a wise person once said: “There’s no such thing as bad weather…just bad clothing”.