Where to Stay:  

For London

1.  My overall recommendation is the area just south of Kings Cross and St Pancras stations.  This area is within easy distance of two metro stops, the British Museum, and if the red double-decker tourist buses interest you they stop at nearby Russel Square.  I especially recommend this area for anyone arriving or leaving London on the Eurostar or who plan to journey onward after London with either the South Eastern Railway or to explore the north of England and maybe even Scotland. One possible disadvantage to staying in this area of London is the Heathrow express stops at Paddinton station instead of Kings Cross & St Pancras.  It is however only a short and inexpensive taxi ride from Paddington to Kings Cross area and there are metro lines connecting the stations as well.

As for specific hotels in this area I can safely recommend the following; the Alhambra which I’ve personally stayed at and while the accommodations were basic and on the small side they were clean and comfortable and everything we needed at a lovely budget price.

2. My second recommendation would be to stay somewhere near Paddington station, as both the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express stop here.  I especially recommend this area if the Cotswolds and Bath are calling your name and the second leg of your trip will be to the west of London as the Great Western railway departs from Paddington station.

View my post:  Considerations to keep in mind when choosing where to stay

When to Go: 

High tourist season in England is traditionally considered to run from mid April to mid October.  Some English Heritage and National Trust sites have reduced hours (or even close) during the winter.

The climate in England is mostly mild with a good deal of rain, even in the summer.  View my post, Country Essentials – England, for month by month weather averages.

What to Take: 

Make sure to pack a raincoat or umbrella, even in summer, or you can plan to buy an umbrella when you get there, it may cost more but it will double as a practical souvenir.  

View my post: Packing Checklist.  

Sightseeing: 

More and more of the world’s most famous sights are implementing timed entry options or requirements.  This may call for a little more planning ahead of time than it did in the past, but the advantage is spending less time in lines and more time enjoying what you traveled to see.  The following are just a few of England’s most famous sights along with any existing timed entry requirements and ticketing information.

*Note these are not necessarily my favorite sights (although a few are), but rather a handful of popular and famous sights that may require extra planning to visit.  

Stonehenge

Tickets on arrival?               Yes, if not sold out.  
Tickets online?                     Yes.  
Timed entry required?        If purchasing online, Yes.  
Website:     www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/

You can purchase general admission tickets on arrival, but it is not guaranteed there will be any left as entry tickets can sell out during peak season.  When pre-purchasing tickets online you must pick a timed entry.  *If interested in the new, inner stone circle experience it only occurs outside normal visiting hours once in the early morning and once again in the evening and tickets to it are even more limited.

Hadrian’s Wall

Tickets?                 Not required for the Hadrian’s Wall Path. 
For museums and forts?     Yes. These may be purchased on arrival. 
                              (though some offer discounts for advance online ticket purchase.) 
Timed entry?        No

While Hadrian’s Wall is a famous part of history it doesn’t get as many tourists as other famous sights, also it’s quite spread out with numerous segments and museums.  Tourist crowds and lines aren’t a real concern here.

Tower of London

Tickets on arrival?           Yes, if not sold out. 
Tickets online?                 Yes.  
Timed entry required?    If purchasing online, Yes. 
Website:   https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/#gs.mn2rql

You can purchase tickets on arrival or in advance online.  When purchasing tickets online you must pick an entry time.  It can get very crowded during peak season and it’s possible for tickets to sell out, although from everything I’ve read it sounds like this is more likely to happen in the afternoon, if you visit in the morning right after opening you’re more likely to be fine without advance tickets.

Buckingham Palace

Viewing the palace from outside the gates and/or watching the changing of the guard is free and does not require a ticket. 

Entrance to tour inside the palace is only available at certain times of the year, usually every summer and it does require a ticket.  While pre-booking is considered essential, as tickets often sell out, it is not strictly required for standard admission.  All tours have a timed entry chosen when you purchase your ticket.
Website: https://www.rct.uk/visit/buckingham-palace.

British Museum 

Entry on arrival?    Yes, but may have a longer wait.
Booking Online?    Yes
Timed entry?         If booking online, yes.    
Website:   https://www.britishmuseum.org/visit

General admission to the British Museum is free, but it still has an online booking system.  As they limit the number of people allowed inside at any one time it is strongly advised to book a free ticket in advance.  Booking requires you to pick an entry time.  Visits on arrival are still available each day, but you must use a separate entrance, the Montague Place entrance, and depending on visitor numbers you may have to wait in line to gain entry.

Cotswolds 

Tickets? N/A

Tourist numbers in the Cotswolds can vary a good deal from town to town.  Some villages can get quite crowded especially in the summer while others receive far fewer visitors.

Canterbury 

While the beautiful town of Canterbury itself requires no ticket, some of the sights within Canterbury do.  The best known of these, Canterbury Cathedral has tickets that can be booked online as well as tickets available on arrival.  If booking tickets online, ahead of time, picking a timed entry is required. 

Booking in advance may not be necessary, most reviewers, even in summer, have found the cathedral not very crowded compared to the town itself, this may be due to the cost of the entrance which depending on the season ranges from £18 to £21 (about 24 to 29 usd).

Prefer to Delegate your Planning to Someone Else?

Organized Tour Companies in England:

Ace Cultural Tours, Scholarly Sojourns, Rabbie’s Tours, Evan Evans Tours, Take Walks Tours.  

Further Resources and Other Helpful Websites:

• The English Heritage website
• The National Trust website
• British Monarchy website 
• Visit England official tourism website