Southeast England

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.

Canterbury holds the spiritual heart of England within its medieval walls, an ancient city of Kent that has drawn pilgrims for almost a thousand years. Its emblem is the majestic Canterbury Cathedral, a World Heritage Site and seat of the primate of the Anglican Church, scene of the famous martyrdom of Thomas Becket in 1170 that inspired the tales of Geoffrey Chaucer. Its cobbled streets, lined with timber-framed houses, shops and tearooms, lead to the remains of the ancient St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church, also part of the UNESCO site alongside the cathedral. The River Stour flows among the historic quarters, navigable on characteristic punt trips. Lively thanks to its university, Canterbury blends a medieval atmosphere with youthful life. Its position makes it an ideal base for exploring the Kent coast and its famous gardens. Canterbury is a city where faith, history and literature intertwine in an unrivalled legacy.

Eastbourne spreads along the East Sussex coast, in the shadow of the white cliffs of Beachy Head and the South Downs. An elegant Victorian resort, it boasts a flower-filled seafront, a historic pier and one of England's sunniest climates. From here spectacular walks set off along the cliffs of the Seven Sisters. A refined seaside town of the south.

Brighton embodies the most unconventional and festive spirit of the English coast, the most fashionable of southern seaside resorts, an hour from London. Its flamboyant emblem is the Royal Pavilion, a sumptuous Indo-Saracenic palace built for the Prince Regent, with onion domes and exotic Chinese interiors. The seafront lines up the famous Brighton Palace Pier with its rides and arcades, while the i360 lifts visitors high for views over the Channel. Behind the pebble beach nestles the maze of the Lanes, narrow alleys full of jewellers, antique dealers, cafés and alternative shops, beside the younger North Laine. A cosmopolitan, creative and proudly inclusive city, Brighton buzzes with festivals, live music and a lively food scene. A short way off await the white cliffs of the Seven Sisters and the vistas of the South Downs National Park. Brighton is a resort that mixes Victorian elegance with bohemian spirit, always bright and never dull.

Windsor surprises arrivals with the commanding silhouette of its castle, one of the oldest and still-inhabited royal residences, presiding over the Thames just a few miles from London. The cobbled streets of the centre lead from the fortress gates to the shop windows of Peascod Street, while across the river lies aristocratic Eton with its famous college. The Long Walk, a tree-lined avenue nearly five kilometres long, crosses the Great Park to the hilltop statue of the King. Nearby, Slough offers easy connections and access to the area's great theme parks. A boat trip on the Thames, an afternoon tea and the elegance of the royal gardens round out the experience. Windsor remains shorthand for a stately England, where crown and river meet.