English pub dog | Hampshire County

The English countryside is overlooked as a destination by many upscale travelers, but there are many reasons to consider England, especially in the busy summer travel months. Here are my top five reasons to visit the English countryside:

1. Pleasant summer weather.
2. Uncrowded.
3. Easy to reach, a short non-stop flight from the U.S. east coast to London, with non-stop flights from hundreds of international destinations.
4. Lots to do. I saw Winchester and the famous Winchester Cathedral before (I spent the night in Hampshire before flying to Venice the next morning). There's also Stonehenge, Avebury, the Cotswolds, Bath, and dozens of other fascinating towns and villages.
5. Save money. Luxurious hotels are less expensive than city hotels. I spent the night at Four Seasons Hampshire, a traditional manor house that has been converted into a family-friendly resort — a great value when you consider the free daily breakfast for two and the $100 food and beverage credit you receive when you book through your Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel consultant.

And where else will you find charming country inns like The Gamekeepers with Guinness on tap, gourmet pub grub, and a dog behind the bar? I had a great dinner there.


English countryside (search here on Google) 

copyright (c) 2012 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.