For many antique hunters, there's no better place on Earth than England. With its rich history and long-standing population, artifacts exist from pre-history through to the modern era. Antiques give us a connection to the past, and sometimes with our ancestors. Here are a few of the best places to find antiques in England, with a brief description of specialties, if any.

• Portobello Market, 288 Portobello Road, London, W10
  Located north-west of Kensington Gardens by about 1.5 miles, Portobello Market is a huge, bustling market that travelers can visit on even a short vacation. Because it's located in a major city, prices can be higher than in some of the smaller destinations. Bartering is encouraged, so good deals are still available. Everything from old tavern furnishings to artwork to glassware and jewelry is available. Because the place is so vast, with so many dealers, there are a good many things you'll find here and nowhere else. As with any type of antique shopping, buyers should be able to recognize quality or find a way to do so. While many pieces are original, there are reproductions as well, and the differences are not always made apparent to the prospective buyer.
  
  
• Spencer Swaffer Antiques, 30 High Street, Arundel, West Sussex
  About 50 miles southwest of London, in the town of Arundel, is one of the better antique houses in all of England. Spencer Swaffer Antiques carries a wide range of items, most of them in excellent to quite good condition. While often not the cheapest location for antiques, their items are of very good quality and many times the provenance of the item is available as well. Furniture, mirrors, artwork and objects, and even items for the garden are available, and the proprietors are happy to arrange shipping, if needed.
  
  
• Koopman Rare Art & Silver, 53-64 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A
  Returning to London and Chancery Lane, home to the famous 'silver vaults', Koopman Rare Art is an antique silver dealer with a wide selection of silver, from museum-quality royalty collections to more modern items, as well as smaller items to fit nearly any budget. Whether you want an antique salt-and-pepper set or modern items from an internationally-recognized silversmith like Paul Storr, Koopman Rare Art will have what you need, or know where to find it.
  
  
• Antique Fairs
  Two of England's largest antique fairs are located very near to one another, both in time and location. The Lincolnshire Antiques and Home Show and the Newark International Antique & Collectors Fair are both located in Lincolnshire, about 110 miles north of London. These two fairs are held early each year (in late January-early February) and staged only a few miles apart, so both can be done in one visit. Shoppers should be prepared to walk, as both fairgrounds are very large, but efforts are usually well rewarded with distinctive finds that aren't available elsewhere. The Lincolnshire show, in particular, has over 700 outside stalls as well as an exhibition hall full of indoor exhibitors and sellers.