Between 2012 and 2015, cases of syphilis increased by 76%, from 3,001 to 5,288, while gonorrhoea infections rose by 53%, from 26,880 to 41,193, Public Health England data reveals.
The rise was notable among men who have sex with men.
At the same time, rates of genital warts decreased, thanks to a vaccination campaign.
Rates of sexually transmitted infections as a group also went down slightly, totalling 434,456. But experts say this could be because fewer people came forward for testing.
Chlamydia was the most commonly diagnosed STI, accounting for nearly half of the cases diagnosed in 2015.
Young people are routinely offered chlamydia screening, but only 13% of young men and 32% of young women were tested in 2015.
The large fall in genital warts - a 7% drop - was seen in young women, and experts say this was probably because of the national human papilloma virus vaccination programme.
All girls aged 12 to 13 are offered the jab as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.
The FPA charity's chief executive, Natika Halil, said boys should be offered the vaccine too, which is something ministers are considering.
Genevieve Edwards, of Marie Stopes UK, said the statistics should "set alarm bells ringing" about the availability of sexual health services for young people and men who have sex with men.
"We have to keep a focus on preventing sexual ill health, and providing prompt diagnosis and treatment to those who need it," she added.
The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV said the continued rise of gonorrhoea was extremely disturbing, given the further spread of drug-resistant infections.
Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of STI surveillance at PHE, said: "We need to do more to raise awareness about STIs and how they can be prevented, especially the effectiveness of using condoms.
"We recommend that anyone having sex with a new or casual partner uses condoms and tests regularly for HIV and STIs."

It had notified the UN of its intention to leave last October, saying the ICC pursued "regime change".
The opposition Democratic Alliance then argued in court that the government had to first seek parliamentary approval.
But it may not be the end of the government's bid to leave The Hague-based court.
Justice Minister Michael Masutha was quoted as saying after the court ruling in February that the government would consider its options.
In the meantime, according to a statement on the UN treaties website, the planned pull out has been officially cancelled.
South Africa's original decision to pull out came after a dispute over Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's visit to the country in 2015.
The authorities refused to arrest Mr Bashir despite him facing an ICC arrest warrant over alleged war crimes.
Mr Bashir was attending an AU summit in Johannesburg, when the government ignored an ICC request to arrest him.
The ICC has been accused of being biased against Africans.
The ICC and global justice:
A non-binding African Union resolution agreed in January called for the mass withdrawal of member states from the court, with some countries accusing the ICC of undermining their sovereignty.
The ICC denies the allegation, insisting it is pursuing justice for victims of war crimes in Africa.
Last year, Burundi and The Gambia, along with South Africa, also said they would leave the court.
But The Gambia, under new President Adama Barrow, has changed its mind.
Syphilis and gonorrhoea sexually transmitted infections are continuing to rise in England, new figures show.
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South Africa has revoked its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) after the High Court said the move was unconstitutional.