871 Best Sights in England

Located on Start Bay, this privately managed beach sits at the edge of an extraordinary natural setting of meadows and forest. It's favored for its clear water and long, wide stretch of shingle. Popular with families, the beach is big enough that you can always find a quiet stretch. Take A379 south of Dartmouth and look for signs. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers, toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming.

The 1,000 acres of grassy dunes at Blakeney Point are home to nesting terns and about 500 common and gray seals. The 3½-mile walk here from Cley Beach is beautiful, but a boat trip from Blakeney or Morston Quay is fun and educational. An information center and a tearoom at Morston Quay are open according to tides and weather.

A vast library, the domed Radcliffe Camera, usually surrounded by tourists with cameras trained at its golden-stone walls, is Oxford's most spectacular building, constructed in 1737–49 by James Gibbs in Italian baroque style. It contains part of the Bodleian Library's enormous collection, begun in 1602 and one of six "copyright libraries" in the United Kingdom. Like the Library of Congress in the United States, this means it must by law contain a copy of every book printed in Great Britain. In addition, the Bodleian is a vast repository for priceless historical documents—including a Gutenberg Bible and a Shakespeare First Folio. The collection continues to grow by more than 5,000 items a week.

Guided tours—three to six of them daily except when private events are being held—reveal the magnificent Duke Humfrey's Library, which was the original chained library, completed in 1488 (the ancient tomes are dusted once a decade) as well as the spots used to create Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. Standard tours can be prebooked, as can the extended tours on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Otherwise, arrive early to secure first-come-first-served tour tickets. Audio tours don't require reservations.

The ruins of this 12th-century Augustinian priory sit on a grassy embankment over a great curve of the River Wharfe. Area views of the Wharfedale scenery inspired J. M. W. Turner to create a number of watercolors of the priory ruins and nearby sites. Close to Bolton Priory and surrounded by romantic woodland scenery, the River Wharfe plunges between a narrow chasm in the rocks (called the Strid) before reaching Barden Tower, a ruined medieval hunting lodge that can be visited just as easily as Bolton Priory. Both are part of the 30,000-acre Bolton Abbey estate owned by the dukes of Devonshire. The priory is just a short walk or drive from the village of Bolton Abbey. You can also visit the priory church.

This world-class shopping haunt is divided into northern "New" (1710) and southern "Old" (1690) halves. You can spot the juncture by a bronzed bench on which Franklin D. Roosevelt sits companionably next to Winston Churchill. At No. 34--35, on New Bond Street, you'll find Sotheby's, the world-famous auction house, as well as upscale retailers like Chanel, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and Church's. You'll find even more opportunities to flirt with financial ruin on Old Bond Street, with flagship boutiques of top-end designers like Prada, Saint Laurent, and Alexander McQueen; an array of fine jewelers including Tiffany & Co.; and art dealers Richard Green, Richard Nagy, and Trinity Fine Art. Cork Street, which parallels the top half of Old Bond Street, is where many top dealers in contemporary art have their galleries.

With 7 miles of clean, sandy beaches tucked beneath its cliffs, Bournemouth is said to enjoy some of the country's warmest sea temperatures. You can descend to the seafront either by taking the zigzag paths through the public gardens near Bournemouth Pier (where there's a family-friendly amusement arcade) or by taking the three outdoor elevators from the cliffs. A handy Beach Check live map website tells you how crowded different areas are at any given time. If you're not tempted to swim, you can stroll along the nearby promenade. Sailing, windsurfing, and other water sports are also big here. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); water sports. Best for: walking.

Housed within a striking wooden-walled, glass-roofed building 1 mile south of Brading are the remains of this substantial 3rd-century Roman villa, with original walls, splendid mosaic floors, and a well-preserved heating system. The mosaics, depicting peacocks (symbolizing eternal life), gods, gladiators, sea beasts, and reclining nymphs, are a rare example of this type of floor preserved in situ in a domestic building. A dedicated space hosts related temporary exhibitions, and there's also a café on-site. Note that admission is by timed ticket only.

On the north bank of the Stour, this 16th-century home in East Bergholt has a shop, an exhibition about Constable's life, and a pleasant tearoom overlooking the river. You can also rent rowboats here.

This tiny 17th-century stone building, once an apple store, perches on an arched stone bridge spanning Stone Beck. It may have been built here to avoid land tax. The National Trust cares for this much-photographed building. There are guided tours Thursday at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm.

Brighton's most iconic landmark is its famous beach, which sweeps smoothly from one end of town to the other. In summer, sunbathers, swimmers, and ice cream–sellers pack the shore; in winter, people stroll at the water's stormy edge, walking their dogs and searching for seashells. The water is bracingly cold, and the beach is covered in a thick blanket of large, smooth pebbles (615 billion of them, according to the tourism office). Bring a pair of rubber swimming shoes if you're taking a dip—the stones are hard on bare feet. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunset; swimming.

This museum on the grounds of the Royal Pavilion, in a former stable block designed for the Prince Regent (1762–1830), son of George III, has particularly interesting Art Nouveau and Art Deco collections. Look out for a tiny replica of Salvador Dalí's famous sofa in the shape of Mae West's lips. The Fashion & Style Gallery has clothes from the Regency period to the present day, and the Performance gallery has a collection of masks, puppets, and other theatrical curiosities.

A fine historical anecdote concerns this idyllic Augustinian priory, founded in the early 12th century and located 15 miles southwest of Alnwick. Scottish "reivers" came to raid and loot the place, but because it was hidden by forest, they were unable to find it and gave up. The happy monks then sounded the bells in celebration, thus revealing the location—and the Scots promptly returned and sacked the place. Most of the beautiful, light-filled building is the result of a loving Victorian restoration, though the spirit of the original has been retained, along with a few physical elements. Highlights of the interior include the stone-carved altar, the stained glass windows, and the William Hill organ, regularly used for classical music concerts. On the same site are a mill and a 19th-century manor house; the latter incorporates the undercroft from the former monks' refectory. The house is said to be inhabited by the spirits of a monk and a nun, and several workmen have reported sightings in recent years. The walk from the car park takes 10 minutes, but it's a lovely way to encounter the priory. Those with mobility issues can drive all the way down.

One of the country's most famous zoos has been reimagined and shifted 6 miles north from its longtime base in Clifton to a 136-acre site just outside the city. The emphasis is on conservation and education, with nearly 80 percent of the animals threatened and part of targeted conservation programs. Highlights include giraffes, zebras, lemurs, red pandas, and brown bears, which can be viewed from a raised walkway trailing through the Bear Wood. You'll also be able to see black rhinos, red-necked ostriches, and cheetahs roaming around such habitats as Central African Forest. Non-animal-related attractions include climbing walls and adventure playgrounds, and there are talks scheduled several times a day. Take buses 1 or 2 from Temple Meads Station or the city center, then walk 15 minutes.

With a collection totaling more than 170 million items, plus 3 million new additions every year, the British Library is a world-class repository of knowledge. Its greatest treasures are on view to the general public in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery: the Magna Carta, the Codex Sinaiticus (an ancient Bible containing the oldest complete copy of the New Testament), Jane Austen's writings, and Shakespeare's First Folio, as well as musical manuscripts by Handel and Beethoven, and original handwritten lyrics by the Beatles. There's also a lively and eclectic program of special exhibitions and talks (previous speakers have included legendary playwright Tom Stoppard, Monty Python's Michael Palin, and trailblazing Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie).

Located in the former first-class lounge of the historic Cunard Building, this venue traces the story of British music through a colorful array of costumes, instruments, and other memorabilia. Regular events include celebrations of particular musical icons, and there are school-holiday activities for kids.

At the southern point of Torbay, Brixham has kept much of its original charm, partly because it still has an active fishing harbor. Much of the catch goes straight to restaurants as far away as London. Sample fish-and-chips on the quayside, where there's a (surprisingly petite) full-scale reproduction of the vessel on which Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the world from 1577–1580. There's also a statue of the Dutch William of Orange, who landed here with an army in 1688 to set in motion what became known as "The Glorious Revolution," eventually becoming King William III. The village is 8½ miles south of Torquay via A379 and A3022 and 10 miles southeast of Totnes via A385 and A3022.

Based in Wroxham, 7 miles northeast of Norwich, Broads Tours has day cruises around the Broads rivers and canals, as well as cruiser boat rentals for a few days or a few weeks.

Among the attractions of this 200-acre park on the outskirts of town is its 65-foot crenellated tower, an 18th-century "folly" built by the sixth Earl of Coventry and later used by William Morris as a retreat. The panoramic view from the top takes in three counties and looks over peaceful countryside and wandering deer. There are plenty of nature trails and good spots for picnics, as well as a café. Wall panels on the three floors inside describe the tower's connection with the local Arts and Crafts movement and World War II. Note that the spiral staircase is narrow and steep. A nuclear bunker is open, too (extra fee). There's a café and shop.

A lakeside 19th-century mansion with 30 acres of terraced gardens sloping down to the water, Brockhole serves as a national park visitor center but also offers various exhilarating activities (some free, some for a fee). Among them are Treetop Trek—a rope bridge and zip-line route high up through oak trees—and the country's only "treetop nets," allowing everyone over the age of three to climb and bounce around safely among the twigs and leaves more than 25 feet up, supported by elastic ropes. There's also a 30-foot climbing wall. The gardens, designed in the Arts and Crafts style by Thomas Mawson, are at their best in spring, when daffodils punctuate the lawns and azaleas burst into bloom. Other options here are an adventure playground, pony rides, minigolf, kayak tours, and rowboats for rent. The bookstore carries hiking guides and maps, and you can picnic here or eat at the café-restaurant.

This is a late product of the mid-19th-century English Roman Catholic revival led by Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801–90), who established the oratory in the 1840s and whose statue you see outside. Architect Herbert Gribble was an unknown 29-year-old when he won a competition to design the church, bringing a baroque exuberance to his concept for the vast, incredibly ornate interior. It's punctuated by treasures far older than the church itself, like the giant Carrara marble Twelve Apostles in the nave, sculpted by Giuseppe Mazzuoli in the 1680s for Siena's cathedral. A working church, the Oratory is known for the quality of its organs and choir, with exceptional music being an integral part of services here.

If you have the time, pack a lunch and walk for 2¾ miles or so from Haworth along the "Bronte trail" across the moors to the lovely, isolated waterfall that has been renamed in honor of the sisters. It was one of their favorite haunts, which they wrote about in poems and letters, with Charlotte calling it "a perfect torrent racing over the rocks, white and beautiful!” in an 1854 diary entry.

A 13th-century Cistercian monastery, Buckland Abbey became the home of Sir Francis Drake in 1581. Today, it's filled with mementos of Drake and the Spanish Armada, but the highlight is a beautifully expressive self-portrait by Rembrandt, displayed in the Georgian dining room. Part of a bequest, the painting was only identified, painstakingly restored, and revealed to the public in 2014. The house, which has a restaurant, is 6 miles south of Tavistock; to get here, take A386 south to Crapstone and then head west.

This restored 18th-century shipbuilding village, 2 miles south of Beaulieu, is home to a re-created Shipwright's Cottage along with a Shipwright School. Housed in a replica 18th-century timber workshop, the school offers courses in traditional shipbuilding techniques. The fascinating Maritime Museum traces the village's role in British history, including building Nelson's warships (the New Forest lost many of its trees during the 16th to 18th centuries when it served as the principal source of timber for British Navy ships). From Easter through October, you can sail down the privately owned Beaulieu River. The Master Builder's House Hotel has a bar and restaurant.

One of Hampstead's oldest buildings, Burgh House was built in 1704 to take advantage of the natural spa waters of the then-fashionable Hampstead Wells. A private house until World War II, it was saved from dereliction in the 1970s by local residents, who have maintained it ever since. The building is a fine example of the genteel elegance typical of the Queen Anne period, with brick frontage, oak-paneled rooms, and a terraced garden that was originally designed by Gertrude Jekyll. Today the house contains a small but diverting collection of objects, paintings, textiles, and furniture related to the history of the house and the surrounding area, and also hosts regular talks, concerts, and recitals (and weddings). The secluded garden courtyard of the café is a lovely spot for lunch, tea, or a glass of wine on a summer's afternoon.

These scattered ruins are all that remain of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, which fell during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries. The Benedictine abbey's enormous scale is still evident in the surviving Norman Gate Tower on Angel Hill (incongruously, but quite appealingly, overlooked by a row of Georgian houses). Besides this, only the fortified Abbot's Bridge over the River Lark and a few ruins are left standing. There are explanatory plaques amid the ruins, which are now the site of the Abbey Botanical Gardens, with roses, elegant hedges, and rare trees, including a Chinese tree of heaven planted in the 1830s. There's also an aviary and a children's play area.

Built in 1903, this lovely Edwardian edifice is one of England's best examples of Frank Matcham theater design, with its marble columns, carved cherubs, and gold leaf. A varied performance program includes classical music, opera, dance, drama, and comedy, and it's also host to the Buxton Festival.

The village of Bournville (5 miles south of Birmingham city center) contains this museum devoted to—what else?—chocolate. In 1879, the Quaker Cadbury brothers moved the family business from the city to this "factory in a garden." The museum traces the history of the cocoa bean and the Cadbury dynasty, and there are themed activity areas. In 2023, this popular longtime attraction was taken over by Merlin Entertainments, which looks after Alton Towers (a theme park) and Legoland, among other places. The experience here is getting much more interactive, with a new Cadbury Chocolate Quest ride introduced in 2024. If Legoland is anything to go by, perhaps visitors will see large-scale re-creations of buildings and objects made entirely of chocolate soon.  Opening times change almost daily, and reservations are essential; call or go online to check times and book tickets.

East of Granary Wharf, the Calls, now the heart of Leeds's gay nightlife, has old riverfront warehouses converted into snazzy bars and restaurants that enliven the cobbled streets. The best have pleasant terraces overlooking the river.

Opened in 1846, these 40 acres contain rare specimens like the jade vine, greenhouses filled with orchids and other tropical beauties, and a rock garden with delicate plants from all over the world. The gardens are a five-minute walk from the Fitzwilliam Museum. Free guided tours of the gardens and its plants take place every Sunday at 2 pm. 

This community-oriented gallery, with a mandate to help new audiences engage with art and the people who make it, has become one of the city's most highly regarded exhibition spaces. Since 1965, it has nurtured and given early exposure to important artists including Martin Creed, Sophie Calle, and Yinka Shonibare, and continuing its support for emerging talent by hosting the Bloomberg New Contemporaries exhibition that features 55 of the most exciting emerging artists from art schools in the United Kingdom.

A café serves organic breakfasts, light lunches, and small plates of Italian-inspired food (plus wine, beer, and cocktails in the afternoon), with outdoor seating in the lovely garden, weather permitting. There's also a bookshop selling books by and about artists.