The world's largest greenhouses and its best mountain biking routes, a first edition of Shakespeare's sonnets and Europe's first international dark sky reserve all help make up VisitEngland's "101 things to do before you go abroad", revealed to mark St George's Day.

 

The Eden Project, Dalby Forest, John Rylands Library and Exmoor National Park are just four of the nominations that were submitted by the public and chosen by the national tourist board, along with a panel of experts, in a bid to find the best and most quintessentially English things to see and do.

 

VisitEngland's Chairman, Lady Cobham, commented: "The selection process wasn't easy - we have such an embarrassment of riches in this country, that we couldn't include every single landmark - but the end result is a mix of the most incredible and unique experiences, with something for everyone."

 

What's more, the nominations revealed some fantastic "well I never!" facts from around the country and a fascinating insight into how the English view their own country:

 

History & Heritage

Our history and heritage is held dearest to the heart, with the category generating over a third of the total submissions. Suggestions for castles, cathedrals and UNESCO World Heritage sites were in abundance, with Tintagel, Lincoln and Stonehenge all making the list respectively. Some hidden gems, which didn't make the final 101, still deserve a mention: Who knew, for example, that the Chester Clock is the 2nd most photographed clock in the world (after Big Ben), that Ryde Pier is the oldest pier in the world or that Dry Doddington's St James Church spire leans over one degree further than the Tower of Pisa? 

 

Wildlife & Nature

Red squirrels, puffins and greater horseshoe bats jostled for position alongside Kent's monkey orchids and snowdrops at Fountain Abbey in this, the 2nd most populated, category. It was this section which revealed that England is home to one of the most important wetlands in Europe (Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire) and the 2nd highest tidal range in the world (The River Severn).

 

Food & Drink

The food & drink section generated 100 suggestions, proof that we are very proud of our much-maligned culinary offerings. Cornish pasties, fish & chips, cream teas, oysters and gin all feature in the bucketlist, with England's oldest pub (Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham) and Ian Fleming's former watering hole (DUKES Hotel in St James's) both securing a hotly-contested place on the list.

 

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture was the most varied of all categories, with Europe's smallest cinema (Screen 22, Nottingham), the book shop where the original 'Keep Calm & Carry On' poster was found (Barter Books, Alnwick) and the world's fastest car (ThrustSCC, Coventry Transport Museum) all jostling for position. With such a varied culture, encompassing art, museums, festivals and nightlife, it was a tough category to judge, but Manchester's Football Museum, Newcastle's nightlife and Banksy's original street art all made the final cut.

 

Health & Fitness

As you would expect from a nation of sports fans, this category was also surprisingly varied. Yes, football, rugby and cricket were well-represented, but so too were Olympic sports - a strong example of the Olympic  legacy. Sailing in Weymouth and white water rafting in Essex both feature in the list.

 

Because it's Awesome

Last, but by no means least: The 101st experience, chosen by none other than Wallace & Gromit. The pair had an enormous list of awesomeness to choose from such as View from the Shard (tallest building in Western Europe); Bristol Balloon Fiesta (Europe's biggest ballooning event); and the World Gravy Wrestling Championships (Google it!). And the winner is the quirky, eccentric and incredibly English past-time of cheese-rolling. The annual event at Cooper's hill in Gloucestershire is centuries old. You'd think we'd know better by now.

 

The full list can be viewed at www.101thingstodoinengland.co.uk, where you can see how many of the experiences you have done and create your own bespoke "to-do" list.

 

To agree the list, VisitEngland worked with Rough Guides' Publishing Director, Clare Currie and a panel of expert judges, including Bill Oddie, Sonali Shah, Clemency Burton-Hill, Skye Gyngell and a Yeoman Warder from the Tower of London who each helped select 20 experiences in their respective categories: Wildlife & Nature, Health & Fitness, Arts & Culture, Food & Drink and History & Heritage. Wallace & Gromit were tasked with finding one overall "Because it's Awesome" suggestion.

 

 

Ends

For further press information please contact:

Natalie Ashworth / Laura Dewar / Rebecca Holloway
VisitEngland Press Office
Tel: 020 7578 1447 / 020 7578 1437 / 020 7578 1429
Email: Natalie.Ashworth@visitengland.org / Laura.Dewar@visitengland.org / 

Rebecca.Holloway@visitengland.org

Notes to Editors:

About England

• Historic yet contemporary, traditional yet cutting-edge, metropolitan yet wild: England is truly a unique destination and a real powerhouse in global tourism.

• With ancient Hadrian's Wall straddling the wild north and the world's biggest indoor tropical rainforest nestled in the far south, England really is the ultimate mix of old and new as well as being home to some of the most iconic sites in the world, including Stonehenge, the honey-hued Georgian terraces of Bath and the towering peaks and glistening meres of the Lake District.

• Did you know that in 2010 there were 96.4 million domestic overnight trips in England, 25.5 million inbound visits and 872 million tourism day trips?

More information can be found on www.visitengland.com

 

About 101 Things to Do Before You Go Abroad

Designed to inspire the nation to take more holidays in England, 101 Things to Do Before You Go Abroad includes the best of the very best English experiences.  From enjoying the thermal waters in Bath to taking in a Shakespeare play in Stratford-upon-Avon, the app will remind Britons of the fabulous range of experiences, only on offer here in England.

 

Become friends with VisitEngland on Facebook to share how many of the 101 experiences you have already done and create your own bespoke bucket list.