I'd skip Greece as well, especially this year ... in part because getting there overland is a minor pain in the butt, given the current political situation in the Balkans.

If this is your first Europe trip, I'd use London as the starting (rather than ending) point -- it'll be less of a culture shock initially since the people around you will be speaking English. Then you can work your way into progressively more challenging countries. A good choice would be to buy a return ticket home from Rome ... but if you're feeling brave, my recommendation would be Istanbul!

Otherwise, my main advice is to *not* just hit the major tourist cities of western Europe -- try to get off the beaten track just a little, to see some countryside and interact with a few of the locals. So many Americans/Canadians seem to just go from one big-city youth hostel to the next, and don't really interact with anyone except fellow backpackers. Not that there's anything wrong with that (*g*), but you'll have a much richer experience if you don't limit yourself that way.

As for places to go, well ... six weeks is nowhere enough, so you'll have to pick and choose. Personally, I think both England and France are a bit overrated ... if I were doing the trip I'd probably skip London entirely and start my travels in Amsterdam. I really love the Benelux countries and Scandinavia; Italy is wonderful, too. And you should absolutely try to spend at least a little time in eastern Europe, behind the former Iron Curtain -- it's cheaper, often less touristed, and in many ways far more interesting. In that arena, I'd *definitely* recommend a few days in the Czech Republic.

Finally, if you're feeling a bit more adventurous, the countries of the former Yugoslavia are truly fascinating ... and Turkey is just an amazing place to see.

Have a great time ... I'm jealous!