The comparison may be extreme but the new Rough Guide to England says is the variety of people, cultures and landscapes which makes the country so fascinating.

England "isn't just one place, but a perpetual collision of culture, class and race," it remarks.

The guide praises the country as "a genuine haven for refugees" with immigrants from more than 100 ethnic backgrounds but comments that despite its rich multi-ethnic culture, England is "a deeply conservative place".

Overpriced

It describes an "unparalleled range of historic buildings, monuments and landscapes" but public transport comes in for criticism as do town centres which the guide says are all beginning to look the same.

"It's a nation where commuters suffer overpriced, under-funded public transport services, and where the hearts of many towns - and increasingly their outskirts - consist of identikit retail zones," it says.

"Yet it's also a country where individuality and creativity flourish, fuelling a thriving pop culture and producing one of the most dynamic fashion, music and arts scenes to be found anywhere."

Footy

The guide suggests visitors ask people in England about the national identity to hear an "entertaining range of views".

"The only certainty for visitors is that however long you spend in England and however much you see, it still won't be enough to understand the place," it concludes.

But for visitors who want to find out more about the country's national game "football, footie, call it what you will (no English fan ever says 'soccer')", Rough Guide dismisses the Premier League where players are "more famous than pop stars", seats are expensive and games sell out a year in advance.

Instead, it suggests a visit to an "unfashionable provincial" club for the "real experience".

"Macclesfield Town against Rochdale on a wet Tuesday night in February - that's a proper football match," it enthuses.

The Rough Guide to England is on sale now.