Not sure why you single out England...factually once population sizes, population density and age profile have been allowed for infection rates, death rates, etc have been similar in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England.
That’s despite the fact that policy in this area has been devolved to the different constituent countries of the U.K..so the Scottish Government, for example, has been free to “do their own thing” and has done so from time to time. (Though the 4 countries have ultimately done broadly similar things....but each made their own choices.)
Looking at the UK overall results...I think it’s self evident that the overall U.K. management of the pandemic has been relatively poor.
But...having said said...the UK as a whole is massively dependent on keeping trade going for food and many raw materials and is densely populated...the strict controls on flights in and out available to some islands (e.g. New Zealand) would never have been viable for Britain.