This is my third trip to England and I am sorry to say I am still quite confused about the various counties. I'm looking for a fairly simple, not overly detailed map of England that shows all of the counties and major cities.

I like to be oriented when I travel. The Ordnance maps are too detailed for what I want. I bought a Michelin map of northern England but, again, it is way too detailed and does not easily distinguish the counties.

I've printed a few things from the internet but they are the opposite extreme--not enough info. Any ideas?

Ginny - I am thinking that an Atlas of Britain intended for primary school children might have what you need as indeed on the internet a quick search throws up the extremes. This one is downloadable and shows just the counties. Perhaps you could use this in conjunction with your more complicated Ordnance survey ones. Or This one which probably shows too many towns.. These are wall maps - scroll down to 'flat maps showing county information' and click on 'small sample'

This is an interesting challenge!

Here are a couple of old maps that try to show major towns as well as county boundaries: a map showing the traditional counties of England and Wales as they were around 100 years ago. This also shows rivers.

A map showing the counties as defined in 1974

Although there have been several redefinitions of boundaries (and names) over the years, most places are still as shown on these maps.

Here's another.

Thank you both for these. Alas, the one nearest to what I have in mind won't let me print it.

I am looking for one with the current counties and major towns. I did see that the counties were redefined some years back.

And I just got back from the library where I searched in vain for such a map--no luck. I even went to the children's room. The search continues...or I'll have to make my own, as if I were back in grammar school. Still hoping one of you will find something. Thank you.

Which one won't print?

I found another very clear one. but I'm afraid it's 20 years old ... it still shows Humberside, for example.

It's curious that it seems to be so difficult to find what you want. Perhaps it reflects the fact that for most purposes counties are very unimportant to us in England. We elect County Councillors but they have very little real power because so much is dictated by central government. Cricket teams are county-based. Similarly various amateur sports. Otherwise hardly anything is organised on a county basis.

I found this map, which has counties and county towns, but of course the county towns aren't exactly the same as the major cities. Also, the mapmaker says the towns' locations are "approximate" (maybe because s/he couldn't find a county map that also had cities, either...), but it may be of some help.

Thinking slightly obtusely, I recall a favourite jigsaw when I was young. It was shaped in the form of the UK, with various pcitures of key features, plus some city names that all had the same shape, but which you had to put in the right location.

I don't know what's out there these days, but the idea behind suggesting this, is that as it's interactive, you may find it a great way to get your bearings.

regards

Ian

I printed the one that "wouldn't print", WSB. It said it was for purchase and has various copyright notices. It is small but has the basic info and I thank you.

KT, that one would not open. I'll try again tomorrow.

Counties may not be important politically but certainly in reading about England and in trying to understand England's history and culture, the counties matter a great deal. Thank you once again.

felicity was quite right about school atlases. I went to our local bookshop to see what they had and the Philip's Modern School Atlas has a very clear double-page map showing counties in Britain along with major towns, including most (maybe all) of those with a population over about 50,000. For example, in West Sussex it shows Crawley as well as the county town, Chichester.

Thanks for that. I will definitely seek it out.

quote:

Counties may not be important politically but certainly in reading about England and in trying to understand England's history and culture, the counties matter a great deal. Thank you once again.

There is quite an emotional attachment to one's 'home' county - particularly in the case of those that have turbulent political backgrounds ! I'm thinking Yorkshire and Lancashire here or Cornwall, in particular - there are those who would still define themself as Yorkshiremen first and and English men second!

I live in what is now a non county - Middlesex. It is our postal address, but in a London borough so that is where we link to administratively. It does feel as if there is something lacking in terms of identity. I was brought up for some of my life in Devon and the county as an entity is a very important part of daily life.

Interesting point you have raised, Ginny.

Yes, Panda, imagine reading Wuthering Heights without the setting of the Yorkshire moors.

I was thinking of this county question again last night. I'm reading In Search of England by H.V. Morton, the acclaimed travel writer. This was his first book, published in 1927 but still in print.

At the beginning of the book, he is in Palestine and thinking he is dying. He has seen much of the world but realizes all that he longs for is home, England. He is not dying and so he returns to his native land and undertakes a lengthy, serendipitous journey in search of what makes England England.

How frustrating it is for me not to know exactly where he is so much of the time. His descriptions are amusing, captivating and wonderfully written.