I do a lot of walking… A LOT. I’m going to England in a few months and I know my walking time will just increase. I need a pair of shoes that I can walk on all day and my feet will still feel great. Thanks!
I travel internationally a LOT and having decent and aggressive arch support and good rubber/nylon treads is critical for travel. Sport shoes may "feel" nice and cushy, but for walking many hours/day, you need the support. Selection of a brand depends on the shape of your feet, and you will need to try them on and see which works best:
Mephisto (French Brand)
http://www.mephistoshoes.com/
For me, I like Mephisto the best, but the prices…!!!
If you have problematic feet size (I do…7.5 EEE, short and wide), Allan Edmonds come in an amazing set of sizes and widths, get their casual line with rubber or nylon treads. They also go on sale a lot. These are (normally) pricey, but if you have problem feet size like I do, I don’t always have a choice. Otherwise, the other brands I listed are probably better if they fit you.
http://www.allenedmonds.com/
Birkenstock (German Brand)
http://www.birkenstockusa.com/products/men/shoes
Functional, but not the best-looking shoes…
Ecco (Danish Brand)
http://www.eccousa.com/about-ecco/index.aspx
They sell Ecco at a lot of stores.
Some models are Gortex-insulated to protect you from the rain and still allow the feet to transpire without locking in water vapor, but you will pay a premium for this.
Again, I can not stress enough that a brand that fits another person may not work for you, so you need to try different brands on and see what works best. Good walking shoes that last are not going to be cheap, perhaps $200 or so. Ecco’s are less, but then are not as supportive as the other brands. Some people swear by Clarks and they are well under $100, but last time I bought a pair they fit me well but my feet still hurt after walking all day. Ditto New Balance although if you need a Nike-looking pair I think they are the best.
Lucky you, have a great time!