I used familysearch.org to trace my Devon ancestry back to 1585 in Devon which is on-line
Note - it is comprehensive - but not all parishes are included - but most are/

Some boroughs are pretty good in that they have Cemetry Record on-line like Dudley which was very helpful

Google search have been good in that it picks up many National Archives Records and with many solicitors having put up their archives you can sometimes trace records for will and other Legal Documents

County records are great if you have the time