It’s the land of Shakespeare, William Wallace, C.S. Lewis and Jane Austen. It’s a place where seascapes, gardens, green hills and castles abound. The countries of England, Scotland and Wales contain magical history and hospitality.

If you are planning a trip to England, Scotland and Wales, it is best to create a list of what you would like to do and see. Fitting in everything can be difficult, and it’s usually best to focus on your favorites and spend quality time exploring those areas rather than rush around from spot to spot. You might start in London and then explore nearby Kent and Sussex, enjoying all the attractions of the city, as well as castles and quaint villages. Another option is to spend your time exploring Wales, a country often passed by, yet full of promising possibilities. Or perhaps you want to explore Scotland with time to enjoy Edinburgh, “The Whisky Trail,” and hope for a glimpse of the famous Loch Ness.

Travel writer Karen Brown has explored the United Kingdom and created several interesting itineraries for travelers to this exciting region. Her detailed plans include places to visit, as well as maps and traveling tips. Her readers also have voted and chosen the following lodgings as the best in England, Scotland and Wales:

For a romantic adventure, try the Gilpin Lodge in England’s Lake District. Explore the lands of Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter while staying at the hotel chosen by Karen Brown readers as the region’s “Most Romantic” lodging. The hotel offers a variety of rooms and suites all individually decorated with elegant furnishings. In-room spa treatments are available and guests also have use of a nearby fitness center that includes a sauna, swimming pool, steam room and gym. The hotel’s restaurant, spread amongst four charming dining areas, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge, and you can enjoy an evening glass of wine or a pint in the hotel’s bar. The hotel is set on 20 acres of moors, gardens and woodland within Lake District National Park, just minutes from Lake Windemere.

With its excellent location, charming decor and hospitable innkeepers, it’s little wonder that Karen Brown readers have chosen Bolhays Bed and Breakfast as England, Wales and Scotland’s for lodging’s “Warmest Welcome.” The bed & breakfast’s delightful English guest rooms are located in a historic, 1899 Victorian townhouse that is just a 10-minute walk from Salisbury Cathedral, a 13th-century wonder that is a highlight of a visit to this wonderful English town. Stonehenge is just a short drive away, and there are plenty of nearby shops and pubs, including one that has been in operation since the 14th century. The innkeepers prepare a hearty, homemade English breakfast each morning for their guests. Their knowledge of the surrounding area makes them a valuable resource for those planning day trips in and around Salisbury.

Bath, a popular destination and the only city in England named a World Historic Site in its entirety, is home to Meadowland, an appealing bed and breakfast that was named by Karen Brown readers as offering the region’s “Greatest Value.” The three guest rooms of the bed and breakfast are elegant and inviting. Innkeeper, Catherine Andrew, prepares a wonderful homemade breakfast, sometimes including traditional specialties from her native Scotland. The center of Bath is a 15- to 20-minute walk away, and from Meadowland one can plan plenty of interesting day trips, such as visits to the cathedral cities of Wells and Salisbury or perhaps Blaise Castle.

Karen Brown readers have voted and chosen England’s Chewton Glen as Great Britain’s best “Splendid Splurge.” Located on a 130-acre country estate, Chewton Glen offers exceptional accommodations, fine dining, spa services and plenty of activities for its guests. There is a nine-hole golf course, a croquet lawn, tennis courts, a swimming pool and horse-back riding is available. Each of the many suites and rooms is different — the dcor in some is contemporary and elegant English country in others. You could spend your entire vacation happily enjoying all the hotel’s amenities, but there are plenty of nearby historic homes to visit, as well as gardens, churches and pubs.