There’s a version of England I carry in my heart. I haven’t been there — not yet — but it’s as real to me as any place I’ve stood. It’s there in the rustle of pages from an old British novel, in the peacefulness of a cozy Sunday afternoon, and in the quiet ache I feel when I picture wild countryside, ivy-covered cottages, or the soft ring of church bells in the distance.
Maybe you feel it too — that strange homesickness for somewhere you’ve never been. If so, I want to share with you five places in England that I dream about often. They feel like little soul destinations — spots I long to wander through slowly, soaking in the beauty, the stillness, and the deep, old-world charm.
1. The Lake District
For the kind of peace I haven’t felt in years
I imagine the Lake District as a place where time finally slows down. I picture gentle hills rolling toward quiet lakes, mist hanging low in the morning, and stone cottages tucked into the green. It’s no surprise that poets and painters found inspiration there — it looks like a storybook come to life.
I’ve read about Beatrix Potter’s home there, Hill Top — how it’s just as she left it, with her furniture, sketches, and views of the countryside that shaped Peter Rabbit’s world. I can’t help but imagine walking those same paths with a journal in hand, letting nature do what it does best: soothe.
2. Bath
For a slower kind of elegance
Something about Bath feels feminine and timeless. Maybe it’s the honey-colored stone buildings or the soft curve of the Georgian architecture, or maybe it’s because I’ve read too many Jane Austen novels to count. Bath shows up again and again in the stories I love, and it always seems like the perfect place for reflection — like a city built for thoughtful wandering.
Even without stepping foot there, I imagine sitting in a quiet tearoom after visiting the Roman Baths, watching people pass by in their own little world. Everything about Bath feels like it would whisper, “Take your time.”
3. The Cotswolds
For the English village I’ve been dreaming of since I was a child
The Cotswolds almost seem unreal. I’ve seen photos and videos of golden cottages with thatched roofs, gardens spilling over with roses, sheep grazing in distant fields. If you asked me to close my eyes and picture the most perfect little English town, it would probably look like Bibury or Castle Combe. I would absolutely love to live in Biddestone.
Even from afar, the Cotswolds feel familiar. I think that’s the charm of it — they don’t shout, they gently welcome. It’s not about big attractions or fancy sightseeing. It’s about slow walks, antique shops, tea by a window, and the kind of quiet that wraps around you like a warm blanket.
4. London
For the layers — old, new, and everything in between
London might not be the first place people think of when they’re longing for peace, but for me, it’s more about possibility. The idea of seeing Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, and Big Ben… taking a ride on one of those iconic red double-decker buses… soaking in everything Regent Street has to offer — then turning a corner and finding a quirky bookshop or a tucked-away café — makes me feel excited in a way that few cities do.
I’d love to wander through Notting Hill with its pastel-colored houses, then get lost in the British Museum for hours. I’ve never been on the Tube or seen the Thames up close, but I imagine standing on one of its bridges, watching the city move — and somehow, feeling like I belong.
5. Cornwall
For the wild and windswept edge of the map
Cornwall speaks to the part of me that craves the sea. I imagine dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, and the sound of waves crashing far below. There’s something a little untamed about it, something that feels freeing. And maybe that’s what makes it so compelling — it’s not polished or prim, it’s raw and breathtaking.
St Ives, with its little art studios and seaside charm, seems like the kind of place where you’d want to wake up early and just listen. To the gulls, to the waves, to your own thoughts that have been too loud for too long. And Tintagel — with its legends of King Arthur — feels like the kind of place where stories begin.
What These Places Mean to Me
I’ve never booked a flight to England. I’ve never stood in front of Big Ben or wandered a country lane in the rain. But these places live inside me like old friends. They’re part of the world I retreat to when real life feels too heavy — the place I go in my imagination when I need to breathe.
And maybe that’s why writing this list matters. Because you don’t always have to go somewhere to feel connected to it. Sometimes just dreaming is enough to plant a seed of hope, or joy, or inspiration.
If you’ve ever longed for England the way I do — with a soft kind of ache — I hope this list makes you feel understood. And maybe one day, we’ll both find ourselves in one of these places, standing in the exact spots we used to dream about. Until then, I’m content to carry them in my heart — and maybe in a few cozy corners of this blog.
Until next time,
Amy
