Few travel destinations offer as much interesting variety in close proximity as England. London is one of the major cities of the world, with suitably world-class culture, shopping, and other entertainment. A day's drive or train ride can take the visitor to the natural beauties and recreational opportunities of the Peak District in the Midlands, the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales in the North of England, or the beaches in Southern England. Centuries of England history are preserved in the form of castles, great homes, museums, and cathedrals, whether as small as novelist Jane Austen's house in Chawton or as large as the enormous Warwick Castle in the Midlands. The latest version of "The Rough Guide to England" is a superbly detailed planning resource for the prospective visitor to England.

"The Rough Guide to England" is broken into sections, beginning with some basic travel information and proceeding to cover the ground in thirteen regionally oriented chapters. The regional chapters include suggested itineraries for those with limited vacation time. The guide also provides some informative essays on context, such as a brief history of England, notes on architecture, and books and films that may provide insight. There is a nice selection of color photographs of some of the more interesting venues, and the guide is richly illustrated with regional maps and city graphics. The guide includes numerous website addresses for those who desire further research on points of particular interest. The average traveler may desire only a driving map to navigate around England or a detailed Ordnance Survey map to roam any particular park.

"The Rough Guide to England" is written in standard Rough Guide language, addressed to the average traveler and not shy about expressing an opinion on which sights to see or what to expect in the way of manners and customs. It is very highly recommended to those interesting in planning a fascinating vacation in England, and as an orientation guide to those seeking more information on the English themselves.