The Humphreys 52: A Love Letter to England, in Luxurious Experiences
There are some places in the world that are merely destinations. And then there is
England. This is a place where you don’t just visit—you feel it, right down to your
bones. From the first sip of a properly brewed cup of tea to the moment you sink
into a sumptuously soft four-poster bed in a 17th-century manor house, England
seeps into your soul. Here are 52 utterly delightful, exquisitely indulgent reasons
why we love it.
The Humphreys 52 Reasons to Love England
(A Luxury Traveller’s Guide to the Good Life, with a Side of History, Heritage &
Hedonism)
Royalty, History, and That English Stiff Upper Lip
- A Right Royal Welcome – Wander through Windsor Castle or Buckingham
Palace, inhaling the scent of centuries-old wood polish and picturing
yourself at a grand state banquet (we’ll provide the essential etiquette
guide). - Stately Secrets – Exclusive, behind-closed-doors tours of England’s
grandest homes, hosted by the lord or lady of the manor, who will tell you
precisely what it’s like to live in a national treasure and some of the best
family stories. - Time Travel in a Tailcoat – Step into Highclere Castle (yes, Downton
Abbey), and for a brief, delicious moment, be transported to the
aristocratic world of the 1920s. - Stonehenge, Minus the Crowds – Stand among the ancient stones at dawn
or dusk and feel the hairs on your arms rise as you touch 5,000 years of
history. - A Day at the Palace (But with Butler Service) – At Blenheim Palace, sip
champagne in rooms that have hosted Churchill, royalty, and so much
glorious British history. - Oxford & Cambridge: Where Smarts Look Spectacular – Glide through
dreamy spires, cobbled streets, and punting rivers, feeling 15% cleverer
just by mingling with gown-wearing academics. - Take a Private Tour of England’s Grandest Ships – HMS Victory, The Cutty
Sark, and HMS Belfast and relive Britain’s maritime history. - Feel the Spirit of Literary Legends – Wander where Shakespeare, Austen,
or Dickens once wrote, and feel smarter just by being there. - The Bodleian Library: More Books Than You Can Read in a Lifetime – A
place so magnificent, even the Harry Potter films couldn’t resist it. - Have a Museum All to Yourself – Stroll through the British Museum after-
hours, when the Rosetta Stone is finally free from the tourist swarm.
The English Countryside, Where Life Slows Down (in the Best Way Possible)
- The Cotswolds Effect – Enjoy becoming a local for the day in a single village
or explore the magic of the thatched cottages, honey-coloured stone. Can
you resist an overwhelming urge to buy a Labrador? - Wander Through England’s Best Gardens – Capability Brown and the
phenomenal female gardeners of the early 20th century generously
created endless gardens for us to explore. - Stargazing in True Darkness – Because nowhere does midnight skies like
the wilds of Northumberland. - The Magic of the Moors – Walk Yorkshire’s moody landscapes and channel
your inner Brontë.
A Bit of Pomp, A Lot of Ceremony, and a Splash of Champagne
- Wimbledon: Where Strawberries Taste Better – Watch tennis’s greatest
play on Centre Court while nibbling strawberries and sipping Pimm’s
(because it’s tradition, and we love tradition). - Henley Royal Regatta – Watch the rowing from a VIP riverside enclosure,
dressed for an English garden party and knowing that life doesn’t get much
more delightfully English than this. - Royal Ascot: Horses and Hats – Experience horse racing at its most refined,
complete with Champagne breakfasts, VIP enclosures, and some of the
most spectacular millinery you’ll ever see. - Stately House Opera at Glyndebourne and Garsington – A proper picnic,
exquisite music, and an audience that looks like they’ve stepped out of a
period drama. - Your Own Classical Concert – A private violinist or string quartet in a
candlelit stately home, just for you.
Wining and Dining in Style
- Foraging & Feasting – Hunt for wild garlic, elderflowers, and woodland
mushrooms, then cook with a Michelin-starred chef in a wild kitchen—
because food tastes better when you’ve gathered it yourself. - Michelin-Starred Feasting – Bite into life-changing cuisine at Le Manoir
aux Quat’Saisons or The Fat Duck, where even the butter feels like a work
of art. - The Great British Pub (But Elevated) – Duck into an ancient countryside inn
where the wood beams creak, the fire roars, and the menu reads like
poetry. - The Joy of a Slow Afternoon Tea – Layer clotted cream on your scone the
right way (cream first? Jam first? The debate continues), sip from fine
china, and bask in the sheer civility of it all. - Picnics, But Make It Fabulous – A private chef-prepared picnic on the banks
of the Thames, complete with silverware, chilled Champagne, and the
vague but delightful feeling that you should have been born into
aristocracy. - England’s Wine Country – Stroll through the fruit-rich vines and discover
that English wine is better than the awards say, especially when sipped in a
sun-dappled Sussex vineyard. - A Whisky Tasting to Remember – Sample rare, Scottish single malts—
whiskies so smooth they practically deserve a knighthood. - Sip Cocktails in a Secret London Bar – Behind an unmarked door, past a
velvet rope, mixologists craft liquid magic.
Adventure, But Make It Exclusive
- Helicopter Over England – Take to the skies in a Tiger Moth, Spitfire or
helicopter and soar over Windsor, Oxford, and the Cotswolds, because
once you see England from above, you’ll never want to take the train again. - Drive a Classic Car Through Country Lanes – Leather gloves, a vintage
convertible, and the feeling that you are, quite possibly, in a Bond movie. - Art With a Glass of Champagne – Private collections and audiences with the
artists and collectors. Can you find room for your favourite at home? - Shopping With a Stylist – Because choosing between Gucci, Dior, and Louis
Vuitton is easier when an expert is on hand (and you’re sipping
champagne). - Blacksmith for a Day – Step into the forge, hammer some red-hot iron, and
make your own heirloom, guided by a blacksmith who has probably been
doing this since the 1600s. - A Polo Lesson Fit for a Prince – No prior skill needed, just an enthusiasm for
horses, mallets, and looking effortlessly aristocratic. - Have a Perfume Created Just for You – Work with a master perfumer to
bottle your signature scent—something between wildflowers and
aristocratic nonchalance. - The Thrill of Goodwood – Whether it’s vintage cars, horse racing, or
aeroplanes, Goodwood is the English countryside at full throttle. - Fly a Hawk, Feel Majestic – There is nothing quite as exhilarating as
falconry, when a bird of prey swoops to your gloved hand.
Exploring the Countryside on Foot, on Horseback, on Two and Four
Wheels, and From the Skies
- Travel Like Royalty – Recline in a luxurious horse-drawn carriage through
Windsor Great Park, with nothing but the soft clip-clop of hooves and the
feeling that this is exactly how life should always be. - The Thrill of a Proper Country Walk – Ramble through rolling hills, past
babbling brooks, and along hedgerows bursting with blackberries—just in
time for a pub lunch with a crackling fire. - A Private Thames Cruise – Drift past the Tower of London, or the quieter
reaches in Henley and Windsor, with a glass of fizz in hand, relishing the
slow pace of luxury travel. - Cycle Through History – Pedal past rolling meadows, thatched pubs, and
Tudor villages, taking England at the perfect pace (and you can travel even
further on an e-bike!)
