11 Fascinating Historic Places in England you Must See

With a deep and rich history, there are dozens of historic places in England, ranging from truly ancient history to Ancient Rome to the middle ages.

The United Kingdom is a sovereign state known for the most beautiful relics in history. Each country in this state holds various historical sites that will surely interest even the lay folk. But this article will focus specifically on England.

In this article, we will take you on a journey to the best English landmarks for you to visit during your stay. There are plenty of historical sites in London on this list as well as some other must-see sites scattered around the English countryside all the way up to the Welsh and Scottish borders.

King Arthur’s Tomb

The burial place of the legendary monarch, King Arthur, is a sight to behold. To pay a visit to his tomb, you will need to visit the Glastonbury Abbey. This place was also, at one point, the resting place of the Excalibur, a legendary sword said to wield magical powers. 

Although a fabricated story, it is still fascinating to learn about the mystical tales of the sword and how King Arthur utilized it to shape British sovereignty. These tales also played a big part in shaping English culture. 

According to the stories, Arthur’s grave was dug up at Glastonbury Abbey during the 10th or 11th century. Here, they supposedly found the Excalibur (also referred to as the Caliburn). Later, after the signing of the Treaty of Messina on March 6, 1191, Richard I, King of England (also known as Richard the Lionheart) gifted the Excalibur as a token of friendship to Tancred, King of Sicily.

After a few centuries, records cited that King Henry VIII destroyed most of Glastonbury Abbey. However, traces of the tomb where King Arthur and his Excalibur once lay are still present even to this day making one of the best historical places to visit in England.

Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall, from the name itself, is a wall built by the Roman Empire’s emperor Hadrian during 122-130 AD. According to records, it took six legions (each legion comprising 3000-6000 Roman soldiers) to finish the construction of this 73-mile-long (80 miles in Roman terms) wall.  

Once, people thought that the purpose of Hadrian’s wall was to keep the Scots out. But now, historians believe that the wall was built to track both the south and north’s movements, an effort to keep the Roman Empire together. Meanwhile, attackers from Scotland did interfere in this mission quite a bit.

Later, Antoninus Pius, who took over as the emperor after Hadrian’s death in 138 A.D., abandoned the wall, even though it took many resources to build.

In northern England, large parts of Hadrian’s Wall are still standing. These parts are surrounded by monuments, forts, and ruins that were once part of the Roman Empire. You can visit all these sites by passing through National Trails. Here, you can explore on foot or by riding a bus or bike, alone or with a supervised tour group. 

Hadrian’s Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a beautiful ancient memory of the Roman Empire in England. We highly recommend having a guide with you that can explain the intricacies of ancient Roman warfare in one of the most interesting British historical places.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a majestic monument built between 3,000-1,600 BC. Since it is known to be one of the most impressive buildings of its time, you can expect that this is one of the best historical landmarks you will visit in Europe. 

Each stone used weighs ~4 tons, making this structure an impressive feat since the people who built it didn’t have the technology back then to move stones efficiently over hundreds of miles. Some of these stones were said to originate as far as South Wales.

Today, Stonehenge has been a real head-scratcher for archeologists since, even with thorough research, there are still no relevant theories as to exactly why it was built.

However, a recent discovery by archaeologists in 2010 may provide additional knowledge for this problem. During their fieldwork, archeologists discovered a second circle beside Stonehenge. This discovery was a first in the last 50 years. The discovered henge (a circular monument comprised of stones) was composed of a loop of pits said to hold wooden posts and a circular area ditch.

If you plan on visiting Stonehenge, remember that during business hours, individuals can stroll around the circular path on a predetermined route. You can also get free audio guides that will tell you about the different parts of Stonehenge. Many people decide to take a day trip to Stonehenge from London.

Stonehenge is an ancient site found in Wiltshire that is known all over the world. It is frequented by tourists not just because of its engineering but also because of its breathtaking beauty. We highly recommend checking it out!

Battle Abbey

Battle Abbey is a Benedictine Abbey first constructed in 1067, just one year after the Battle of Hastings occurred. 

William the Conqueror, one of the vital people involved in the battle, allegedly vowed to start a building after his successful conquest. Later, he did oversee the construction but unfortunately died before the building was completed. This abbey was also said to be dedicated to St. Martis of Tours, a former soldier who left his post to serve God. 

Today, visitor centers and audio tours are available for tourists to relive the scenes during the Battle of Hastings. If you want to visit this ruined abbey, drop by East Sussex and get ready to explore the site as old as the battle itself!

Roman Baths

The Roman baths were built on a site of natural hot springs. When the Romans came to Britain in 43 AD, they began constructing religious saunas and spas on hot spring sites. Shortly, it became a place where people went swimming and hanging out.

Later, a small Roman province surrounded these baths. The town was called “Aquae Sulis” (Waters of Sulis), which was named after a goddess who was thought to have healing powers. 

However, if you’re wondering if you can go for a quick swim, we advise you not to do so, since these baths are not necessarily sanitary at present. You can take a day trip to Bath from London that includes Stonehenge and the Windsor Castle too.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral is a famous dome that dominates the skyline of London. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the cathedral was completed in 1710. However, records show that there has been a cathedral on the site since 604 AD. This implies that the old chapel even pre-dated the arrival of the Normans in England.

The story of this historical English cathedral was said to revolve around a Christian leader chased away by his pagan sons. Records did not indicate what happened to the cathedral but it was later restored when Christianity conquered the land.

Meanwhile, the cathedral was also the burial place for King Atlehred the Unready, however, his tomb was lost. Later, the cathedral burned to the ground, along with most of the city but was rebuilt again after centuries and still stands strong today.

Warwick Castle

Warwick is a very sturdy-looking castle constructed again by William the Conqueror. This building was first built in 1068 and was later redone in stone during the 12th-13th century. 

This castle was the home for several Earls of Warwick. One of which includes the 16th Earl of Warwick, Richard Neville. He was known as “The Kingmaker” because of his role in the Wars of the Roses. 

You can learn about a millennium of fascinating English history and facts at Warwick Castle, rain or shine. Today, the castle is owned and managed by Merlin Entertainments. It has life-size scenes, various rooms (including the castle dungeon), and a lot more. 

Surely, this castle is a place that will satisfy every history enthusiast out there as it is filled with ancient facts and knowledge. Plus, you can even get to stay a night in the fortress of one of the best historic places in England.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle was Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite castle and one of the most iconic historical places to visit in England. This royal residence is the oldest and largest known castle in the world that is still inhabited. 

The construction of Windsor Castle was ordered by William the Conqueror in the 1070s. Since then, many English monarchs have added and changed parts of the castle.

The whole castle spans about 13 acres and is home to a variety of functions including the State Apartments, Queen Mary’s dolls house, and the beautiful St. George’s Chapel where 10 monarchs were buried, including Jane Seymour and Henry VIII.

At present, you can expect this tourist attraction to have a lot of shows in store for you. Also, a standard tour in this tourist attraction may take up to 3 hours so, better prepare yourself for this very long castle visit. 

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey was built in the 11th century by a Saxon monarch, King Edward the Confessor. He dedicated this abbey to St. Peter.

Even before the abbey was built, the site was already an important place as it was first used for religious purposes in the middle of the 10th century when St. Dunstan first came to the area to set up a religious residence for the Benedictine order. Back then, the place was called Thorny Island. 

Today, Westminster Abbey is a famous medieval building that has been the site of prestigious royal and national events, such as coronations, weddings, and burials. You can walk around, but it is recommended to do a Westminster Abbey walking tour to get the full historical context.

Just this September 19, 2022, the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II took place at Westminster Abbey. After the funeral, her body was taken to Windsor Castle. Then, King Charles succeeded the throne and was crowned here as the 40th monarch of England.

The Tower of London

The Tower of London was once a place where the English kings and queens resided before they succeeded to the throne. However, it was also a place known for execution and imprisonment.

William the Conqueror ordered this tower to be built right after the Norman Conquests. Here, he required the tower to be designed as a stronghold. 

However, in 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, was executed in the tower while he was courting Jane Seymour, his third wife. Later, the tower was used as a prison which lasted until the 19th century.

Today, tourists can visit this site as long as they have a reservation. This is one of the most fascinating historical places to visit in England due to its deep and mixed history. If you want to make the most of the tower of London as a history buff, book a small group tour with an expert guide who has been doing it for years.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace House

Another interesting historical site is the birthplace of the world-famous English poet and playwright, William Shakespeare. His house is located in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire. However, this place has much more in store for you than just the birthplace of Romeo and Juliet’s creator.

Once you visit the town, you will also find other famous buildings: the house where Shakespeare died, his burial place, the cottages of his wife,  Ann Hathaway and his mother’s, Mary Arden. 

There are also different Victorian activities here that will make you feel as if you are a character in his works.

Conclusion

Make sure to practice your British accent, read up a few English terms, pack up a bag, and go venture out into these wondrous historical places in England. We assure you, you will have the time of your life!

For ALL of the UK, check out this article of historic places to visit in the UK – there are more historic sites in Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Mann, and Northern Ireland to visit if you extend your trip!

Thanks for the fascinating article, David!

A historian inside and out, David is a 26 year old graduate in the field with many certificates. From Alaska, he crossed through 14 states before ending his journey in Florida. He also traveled from Ireland, passing through countries such as France, Germany, and other in-land countries before reaching Turkey to broaden his historical experience.

Check out David’s Linkedin and website here.