Visitor Information

Online Travel Tools

All About England

Enjoy England (www.enjoyengland.com), part of VisitBritain, includes a handy list of local Tourist Information Centres. All of England's regions, along with most major towns and cities, have their own dedicated tourism Web sites providing useful information. VisitBritain (www.visitbritain.com), the official visitor Web site, focuses on information most helpful to England-bound U.S. travelers, from practical information to money-saving deals; you can even find out about movie locations. Visit London (www.visitlondon.com) is packed with information and can help you book your accommodations.

Gardens

The National Gardens Scheme opens exceptional gardens attached to private houses and private garden squares to the public on selected weekends.

Contact

National Gardens Scheme (www.ngs.org.uk.)

Historic Sites

The British monarchy has an official Web site with practical information about visiting royal homes and more. English Heritage, the National Trust, and VisitBritain all offer discount passes.

Contacts

The British Monarchy (www.royal.gov.uk.)

English Heritage (0870/333-1181. www.english-heritage.org.uk.)

National Trust (0844/800-1895. www.nationaltrust.org.uk.)

Museums and the Arts

The London Theatre Guide, created by the Society of London Theatre, presents what's on and sells tickets. Their half-price ticket booths, tkts, located in London's Leicester Square and Brent Cross Shopping Centre, offer same-day bargains. Culture 24 is a nonprofit, partly government-funded site packed with information about publicly funded museums (including special exhibits), art galleries, and historic sights. Tokenline sells gift vouchers for theater tickets. The London 2012 Web site (www.london2012.com) has Olympics-related information from transport to tickets.

Contacts

Culture 24 (01273/623266. www.culture24.org.uk.)

London Theatre Guide (0207/527-6700. www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk.)

tkts (www.tkts.co.uk.)

Tokenline (0844/887-7878. www.theatretokens.com.)

Visitor Information Offices

In many towns there are local and regional tourist information centers; many have Web sites. Offices offer services from discounts for local attractions, to visitor guides, maps, parking information, accommodation advice, and, in several locations, a booking service for local B&Bs.

The Britain and London Visitor Centre (open October to March, Monday 9:30-6, Tuesday to Friday 9-6, and weekends 10-4, and April to September, Monday 9:30-6:30, Tuesday to Friday 9-6:30, and weekends 10-4) provides details about travel, accommodations, and entertainment for London and Britain, but you must visit in person.

In the U.S.

VisitBritain (www.visitbritain.com.)