Top 10 Historic Places to Visit in the UK

(London - Picture Credit Shutterstock)

Tower of London

Perhaps there is no place more famous (or infamous) to begin than the Tower of London. Built by William the Conqueror in 1078, it has since seen its role change from fortress to palace to prison to execution site.

Traitor’s Gate, The Crown Jewels and the Bloody Tower are just some of the sites to see here. A full guided tour is always highly recommended.
 

Hadrian’s Wall

This famous wall built by the Roman army under Emperor Hadrian in 122 AD is still largely intact today, particularly in Northumberland. The wall took six years to complete and guarded the North-West frontier of the Roman Empire for around 300 years before the Roman retreat.

The wall itself stretches 73 miles long from Wallsend on the River Tyne to Bowness-on-Solway and is now home to a number of sites of interest, barracks and museums along the way.
 

Stonehenge

Perhaps the UK’s oldest site of interest and certainly one of its most iconic is Stonehenge. Built in the late Neolithic age around 2500 BC, the world’s most mysterious stone structure can be found in Wiltshire.

Whether it was built for planet tracking, funerals, sacrifices or rituals, you can be sure that its ancient aura is still alive for visitors to this day.

 

Lindisfarne (Holy Island)

Lindisfarne, or Holy Island as it is also known, has seen its fair share of British history. It was the residency of St. Cuthbert for a number of years with his saintly miracles being well documented in various parts of the Catholic Church. Perhaps more significantly, it was the location of the first recorded viking raid in Europe and marked the beginning of a completely new era in European history.

Today you can find the ruins of the old Priory which was raided by the first vikings, St. Aidan’s Church and Lindisfarne Castle, which also had a role in the Second World War. Another quirk is that you can only visit when the tide permits, as the tide completely covers the only causeway entrance for hours at a time!


(Warwick Castle - Picture Credit Shutterstock)

Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle is another construction on this list by William the Conqueror, this time built in 1068 on the River Avon. The castle has seen its fair share of history over the years with King Edward IV being locked up here during the War of the Roses as well as being involved in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Today it serves as an excellent day out for picnics, photos and exploring of the grounds. It is truly a remarkable piece of British history.
 

Stratford-Upon-Avon

When people think of historically significant places in the UK, Stratford-Upon-Avon doesn’t always come to mind. However, it is actually one of the most important, as it was the birthplace of the great William Shakespeare.

You can visit the places he lived, where he died and where he was buried as well as the chance to learn all you need to know about the famous playwright. To round-off your trip, be sure to see a Royal Shakespeare Production at the Theatre on the banks of the Avon.
 

Titanic Belfast

Arguably the most famous ship in the history of the world - not just the UK - the Titanic museum in Belfast is a hugely significant place to visit. The Titanic was constructed in Belfast before sailing to Southampton and embarking on the historically infamous voyage in 1912.

Today you will find the museum and nine interactive galleries and exhibitions which will show you what the cabins were like in the lower and upper class, how the ship was constructed and much more.
 

The Roman Baths, Somerset

Located in Somerset, the Roman Baths were founded upon natural springs by the Romans after they invaded in 43AD. It became a centre of socialising and bathing and later became known as the city of Bath, as we now know it today.
The baths are open to the public and the tour and museum will give you a good idea of how important these sorts of baths were not just in the UK but across the whole empire. Unfortunately, you cannot bathe in them anymore!


(Edinburgh Castle - Picture Credit Shutterstock)

Edinburgh Castle

Standing as one of the oldest fortified sites in Europe, Edinburgh Castle has fulfilled the roles of military stronghold, prison, fortress and now tourist site. A walk to the castle on the top of the hill will see you walking in the footsteps of so many kings, queens, soldiers, peasants and prisoners of the past.

Photos inside and outside the castle are incredible, and the vantage point that it provides over the capital of Scotland also make it a fantastic photo spot.
 

Canterbury Cathedral, Kent

Canterbury Cathedral dates back around 1400 years with the arrival of St. Augustine in 597AD who established Christianity in England and became the first ever Archbishop of Canterbury.

It is one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in Europe and the monastery was a main target of King Henry VIII’s dissolution of the Catholic Church, which led to its closure in 1540, alongside the closure and eventual ruin of most other Catholic and Christian historical sites of significance in the country.

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