English gardens and villages: southern England and Cornwall

London is one of those metropolises that defies summary: a millennia-old capital of the United Kingdom, it spreads along both banks of the Thames and changes character with every district. Its monumental heart turns around Westminster, where the Palace of Westminster and the Big Ben clock tower face the Gothic Westminster Abbey, setting for royal coronations. A little further on lies St James's Park and, at the end of the Mall, Buckingham Palace with its famous Changing of the Guard. Heading east you reach Christopher Wren's domed St Paul's Cathedral and, on the river, the medieval Tower of London guarding the Crown Jewels, flanked by the iconic Tower Bridge. On the opposite bank, the South Bank lines up the London Eye, the Tate Modern set in a former power station and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. The great museums are free and astonishing: the British Museum with the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon marbles, the National Gallery overlooking Trafalgar Square, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert in South Kensington. Shopping has its temples along Oxford Street and at Harrods and Liberty, while Covent Garden, Soho and Camden Market reveal a younger, more creative London. The West End lights up its musicals each evening and Notting Hill smells of vintage stalls along Portobello Road. The food is an atlas of the whole world, from the curries of Brick Lane to pubs serving fish and chips and a pint of ale, not forgetting the ritual of afternoon tea. Getting around is easy thanks to the Underground and the red double-decker buses. Within easy reach await unforgettable excursions: the royal gardens of Kew, Windsor Castle, Greenwich with its zero meridian. London is a city forever reinventing itself, suspended between royal tradition and contemporary energy.

Bournemouth stretches along seven miles of golden sand, the best-loved seaside resort on England's south coast. Founded in Victorian times as an elegant health resort, it keeps well-tended gardens, the famous Bournemouth Pier and an award-winning beach that invites long strolls along the promenade. The town blends traditional atmosphere with youthful energy, boasting a lively nightlife and language schools that draw students from across Europe. The Lower Gardens lead gently from the centre to the sea, while just east lies the village of Boscombe and just west the cliffs of Sandbanks, among the country's most exclusive residential areas. The coast here opens towards the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site rich in fossils, and the Purbeck peninsula with Corfe Castle. Cruises and boat trips reach Brownsea Island, a haven for red squirrels in Poole Harbour. Bournemouth combines the charm of the sea with the comforts of a lively town, perfect for a relaxing holiday.

Falmouth gathers around one of the world's deepest natural harbours, a lively Cornish seaside town of southern Cornwall with a strong artistic spirit. Its past as a packet-ship port lives on in the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, facing the water, while guarding the estuary of the River Fal rises the imposing Pendennis Castle, a fortress built by Henry VIII. Its busy streets alternate art galleries, independent shops, cafés and seafood restaurants, helped by the presence of a renowned art university. The town beaches such as Gyllyngvase invite swimming and strolls, while cruises and boats sail up the river towards inland villages and the subtropical gardens that thrive thanks to the mild climate. Falmouth is an ideal base for exploring Cornwall's southern coast, where seaside life meets creativity and good food.

Bristol blends a maritime past with creative fervour, a south-west English port city that has become an icon of independent culture and street art. Its centre revolves around the Floating Harbour, an old port turned into a lively area of museums, restaurants and boats, where the SS Great Britain is moored, the steamship designed by the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Brunel also designed the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, a daring span across the Avon Gorge and the city's emblem. Bristol is the home of the artist Banksy, whose murals dot the city's walls in an open-air gallery. Districts like Stokes Croft and Clifton offer cafés, markets and bohemian atmospheres, while the cathedral and medieval quarter tell the older story. Each year the city brightens with the spectacular hot-air Balloon Fiesta. A short way off await Bath, the Cheddar Gorge and the Somerset coast. Bristol is a young, rebellious city where tradition and innovation dance together.