Knopf Guide: England and Wales (Knopf Guides)

This glorious guide to England and Wales explores two of the most beautiful and culturally exciting areas ofthe world. England's rich history of Romans, Vikings, Normans, Plantagenets, Tudors and Stuarts among others left a breathtaking and vast legacy of churches, castles, forts and towns. Stunning architectural drawings reveal the many styles from Norman, Gothic, English Baroque to Georgian and Victorian. Wales' many castles and abbeys interspersed throughout the heavily mountainous country are also stunning sights to be seen.

Detailed itineraries take the reader around the great castles, gardens and natural sights of Wales from the capital of Cardiff with its famous National Museum and Gallery and the castle at the city's very center to Gwynedd, site of the spectacular 13th century Caenarfon Castle and the dream village of Portmerion; or to Powys where the Powis castle, one of the grandest residences dating from the 13th century, can be found, to the majestic, snow capped peaks of Snowdonia National Park, the second largest park in England and Wales; there are also many abbeys to explore including Tintern in Monmouthshire, celebrated by poet William Wordsworth.

The countless sites to see in England range from the stunning Georgian city of Bath on Somerset to Blenheim palace in Oxfordshire or to the Oriental fantasy of the Royal pavilion at Brighton in Sussex; Hadrian's Wall dating from AD 122 in Northumberland to the spectacular Palladian Holkham Hall in Norfolk designed by William Kent to the natural beauty of the Lake District in Cumbria, home to Beatrix Potter, Wordsworth and Coleridge; to Wiltshire to the grand 16th century house, garden and safari park of Longleat, the medieval Gothic Salisburty Cathedral, the celebrated prehistoric Stonehenge Monument and the 18th century garden of Stourhead. Stratford-upon-Avon and all the sights of London are among the thousands of places covered by dozens of itineraries.

Portable, practical and lavishly illustrated, the guide also includes information on getting around England and Wales, finding the best restaurants, nightlife and cultural spots. And as always, there is a section on the region as seen by artists and writers.