Welcome to royal England, where centuries of history come alive in rituals that are still practiced today and proud castles promise wonderful tales of the knights and knaves who once fought their battles here!

If you want to get to know all that this small but powerful country has to offer, there are a number of round-trip cruises departing from the capital city of London. Depart from an impressive city that has been around for over 2,000 years - what was once a small village on the Thames has since grown into one of the world's most beloved cities, home to Big Ben & Parliament, the legendary Tower of London, the regal Buckingham Palace, the modern London Eye ferris wheel, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul's Cathedral, and so much more. It's a great place to spend time before and after your cruise if you're able! These round-trip cruises of England will also visit:

• Runnymede
• Windsor
• Cliveden
• Cookham
• Hurley
• Henley on Thames and Oxford

For some cruises, England is just one stop on the itinerary, en route to other parts of the United Kingdom, including Dublin, Ireland and Belfast, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, the Isles of Scilly, Orkney, and the Shetland Islands.

While in England, you'll have chances to see many of the major attractions in London and also:

• Taste the authentic English Cream Tea at Stafford Hotel.
• Explore the exquisite Palace of Henry VIII, the Hampton Court.
• Experience British royalty at the excursion to Windsor's Castle.
• Cruise up to Boveney Lock and take a walk to Dorney Court.
• Tour Peter Freebody’s boatyard and see how traditional craftsman build and restore wooden boats as they have for centuries.
• Explore the ancient 11th-century village of Ye Olde Belle (reputed to be the oldest inn in the country).

The Best Time to Visit England

The best time to visit England is between March and May with between September and November being a close runner up.

Between March and May is the best time to visit England because this time of the year showcases the city's best weather while flowers blossom all around you. Even though every season in England has a lot of tourism, the height of tourism is during this spring season, and even more so the longer the season goes on.

Between June and August is a good time to go to England. The crowds are about the same from spring and the weather is warmer. Also, it will be humid and there will still be occasional rains, so be sure to bring an umbrella and shorts!

Between September and November the temperature goes down as the crowds do. The average temperature in this fall season is 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6-21.1 degrees Celsius). Additionally, there are a ton of celebrations during this time and the autumn foliage is just gorgeous. 

During the chilly winter season between December and February is still a good time to visit England as you'll save a bit of money on booking hotels, there are much fewer crowds when compared to any other season, and there are festive lights and subsequent festivals going on throughout the country.