871 Best Sights in England

This 1½-mile path was once a prehistoric processional way leading to the stone circles at Avebury. It was lined with 100 standing stones spaced 80 feet apart. However, only the stones on the half mile nearest the main monument survive intact. The lost stones are marked with concrete obelisks.

This family-friendly museum past the outskirts of Bury St. Edmunds has indoor galleries displaying finds from the Anglo-Saxon period (410–1066) and a reconstruction of a village from that period with thatched-roof houses. Costumed performers give demonstrations of traditional crafts. There's also a small farm that's home to rare breeds of pigs and chickens. It's best to call ahead in winter as the hours can vary.

Winston Churchill said that the threat of a U-boat attack from the Atlantic was his greatest fear during World War II. At this evocative war museum, you can explore the warren of rooms under the city streets that served the top-secret "Western Approaches Command HQ" from 1941 to 1945. The lofty Operations Room, full of the state-of-the-art technology of the time, is especially interesting.

Located atop the last of the city's fortified medieval gateways, this atmospheric museum was a debtor's prison for 150 years and now holds a motley assortment of items relating to Tudor and Stuart times. There's a stunning painted ceiling from 1554 (created to commemorate the wedding of Mary Tudor and Phillip II of Spain in the cathedral) as well as walls inscribed with 16th- through 18th-century graffiti by former prisoners. Child-size replicas of authentic 16th-century armor that can be tried on, as well as the opportunity to make brass rubbings, make it popular with kids. You can take in a panoramic view of Winchester from the roof.

In medieval times, Canterbury had seven gatehouses guarding entry to the city, but only this one survives. Still, with its twin castellated towers, it's one of England's finest. The towers contain a small museum with exhibits on the gate's history, including medieval armaments once used by the city guard and artifacts related to the city jail that was here from the 14th century. There are also some surprising links to the United States: one of the prisoners held here, Robert Cushman, was an organizer of the Mayflower voyage in 1620. Climb to the roof for a panoramic view of the city, or extend your stay by taking part in one of the three on-site escape rooms (additional charge). The entrance is via a bar called The Pound: diners get free entry to the tower and museum. Be aware that a trip to the top requires climbing five sets of narrow stairs.

Tucked away on traffic-clogged Victoria Street lies this remarkable neo-Byzantine gem, seat of the Archbishop of Westminster, head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales. Faced with building a church with Westminster Abbey as a neighbor, architect John Francis Bentley looked to the east for inspiration, to the basilicas of St. Mark's in Venice and the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. The asymmetrical redbrick edifice, dating to 1903, is banded with stripes of Portland stone and abutted by a 272-foot bell tower at the northwest corner, ascendable by elevator for sterling views.

The interior remains incomplete, the unfinished overhead brickwork of the ceiling lending the church a dark brooding intensity. The side chapels, including the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Souls Chapel, are beautifully finished in glittering mosaics. The Lady Chapel—dedicated to the Virgin Mary—is also sumptuously decorated. Look for the Stations of the Cross, done here by Eric Gill, and the striking baldachin—the enormous stone canopy standing over the altar with a giant cross suspended in front of it. The nave, the widest in the country, is constructed in green marble, which also has a Byzantine connection—it was cut from the same place as the marble used in the Hagia Sofia, and was almost confiscated by warring Turks as it traveled west. All told, more than 100 different types of marble can be found within the cathedral's interior. There's a café in the crypt.

Spread over 600 acres and with 17 miles of paths, this arboretum is known for its extensive collection of trees and shrubs. A lovely place to spend an hour or two, it's 3 miles southwest of Tetbury and 10 miles north of Bath. The best times to come for color are in late spring, when the rhododendrons, azaleas, and magnolias are blooming, and in fall, when the maples come into their own. Open-air concerts take place in summer, and there are exhibitions and activities for kids year-round. A gift shop, café, and restaurant are on-site.

This rather delightful, dusty old cupboard of a museum contains all manner of scientific artifacts, instruments, and doodads from the medieval period to the early 20th century. Most fun is the section on astronomy, including a beautiful 18th-century grand orrery—an elaborate three-dimensional model of the solar system, minus the planets that had yet to be discovered at the time.

Set high on the East Cliff, the strikingly Gothic ruins of this once grand church are visible even from moorland hills miles away. The abbey, one of the very few founded by a woman (St. Hild, aka St. Hilda, in AD 657), was populated by a mixed community of monks and nuns. The Vikings sacked it in the 9th century, but it was refounded by the Benedictines in the 11th century. It was later enlarged (the headland is dominated by the shell of the abbey's 13th-century church) and flourished until it was destroyed by Henry VIII. The excellent visitor center has exhibits on St. Hild and Dracula author Bram Stoker, Anglo-Saxon artifacts, and interactive displays about the medieval abbey.

Exhibits in this quirky museum—notable for its old-school displays that use handwritten cards—cover everything from geology and natural history to archaeology, whaling, and trade routes in Asia. There's also an exceptional collection of marine fossils.

The English role in the exploding contemporary art scene has been major, thanks in good portion to Jay Joplin's influential gallery, whose location has hopped around London since 1993. This striking modern concrete structure was the first freestanding building to be built in the area for 30 years when it opened in 2006. It is home base for an array of British artists who have won the Turner Prize, including Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, and Antony Gormley. The White Cube Bermondsey, which opened in 2012, is a larger, but still free-to-enter, commercial gallery space.

When the United Kingdom's highest-profile commercial gallery moved to this huge converted 1970s-era warehouse on Bermondsey Street (making it the largest commercial gallery space in Europe), it sealed the area's reputation as a rising art-scene hot spot. This is the home gallery of some of today's top contemporary artists, including Tracey Emin, Georg Baselitz, Antony Gormley, Isamu Noguchi, Gabriel Orozco, Harland Miller, Anselm Kiefer, and several other artists with international reputations. An antiseptic central cuboid gallery, the "white cube"—also called 9 x 9 x 9 (meters, that is)—rests between two other spaces that host smaller exhibitions. There is also a bookshop and auditorium.

Stretching up into the foothills of the Berkshire Downs between Swindon and Oxford is a wide fertile plain known as the Vale of the White Horse. Here, off B4507, cut into the turf of the hillside to expose the underlying chalk, is the 374-foot-long, 110-foot-high figure of a white horse (known as the the Uffington White Horse), an important prehistoric site. Some historians believed that the figure might have been carved to commemorate King Alfred's victory over the Danes in 871, whereas others date it to the Iron Age, around 750 BC. More current research suggests that it’s at least 1,000 years older, created at the beginning of the second millennium BC. Uffington Castle, above the horse, is a prehistoric fort. English Heritage maintains these sites. To reach the Vale of the White Horse from Oxford (about 20 miles), follow A420, then B4508 to the village of Uffington.

A five-minute stroll down the path from Bridge Cottage brings you to this 16th-century structure that is instantly recognizable from Constable's painting The Hay Wain (1821). Although the house is not usually open to the public, the road is a public thoroughfare, so you can just walk right on up to see the famous—and completely unchanged—view for yourself. Just stand across from the two trees on the far bank, with the mill on your right, and look upstream. On the outside wall of the mill is a handy reproduction of the painting to help you compose your own photo.

Although there has been a church here since the 8th century, the current building, with its crenellated and pinnacled twin towers, was built between 1120 and 1180. The nave reflects these Norman origins in its zigzag molding interspersed with carved heads. Several Gothic components were added later, as were fine Victorian geometric floor tiles and stained glass windows. Don't miss the late-17th-century chained library (where books are chained to shelves), one of the first public libraries in Britain and the country's second-largest chained library. Its collection includes a 14th-century manuscript and a 1522 book with a title page designed by Hans Holbein. Also look out for the pre-Copernican astronomical clock (it has a blue ball earth with the sun going around it), which dates to before the 15th century. It's on the inside wall of the west tower.

This prestigious "public" (meaning private) school—Britain's oldest in continuous operation, with several buildings still in use after six centuries—was founded in 1382 by Bishop William of Wykeham, whose alabaster tomb sits in a chapel dedicated to him in Winchester Cathedral. The wooden ceiling of the school's 14th-century chapel is notable for its delicate fan vaulting. The boys wearing monk-style cassocks are "scholars"—students holding academic scholarships. The campus can only be visited by one-hour afternoon tours that take in the Museum, the Treasury, the medieval Chamber Court, the Chapel, the College Hall, Cloisters, and the 17th Century School building; college events can cause cancellations, so call ahead. In 2025, the college will open 8 College Street, the house in which Jane Austen died, and host an exhibition about the writer and Winchester. The house will be open Wednesdays and Saturdays June through August; tickets must be prebooked on the website.

No sights in Windermere or Bowness compete with that of Windermere itself. At 11 miles long, 1½ miles wide, and 220 feet deep, the lake is England's largest and stretches from Newby Bridge almost to Ambleside, filling a rocky gorge between thickly wooded hills. The cold waters are superb for fishing, especially for Windermere char, a rare lake trout. In summer, steamers and pleasure craft travel the lake, and a trip across the island-studded waters, particularly the round-trip from Bowness to Ambleside or down to Lakeside, is wonderful. Although the lake's marinas and piers have some charm, you can bypass the busier stretches of shoreline (in summer they can be packed solid) by walking beyond the boathouses. Here, from among the pine trees, are fine views across the lake. Windermere Lake Cruises offers a variety of excursions.

Heading northwest to Edale, the most spectacular driving route is over Winnats Pass, through a narrow, boulder-strewn valley. The name means "wind gate," due to the wind-tunnel effect of the peaks on each side. Beyond are the tops of Mam Tor (where there's a lookout point) and the hamlet of Barber Booth, after which you run into Edale.

These limestone caves in the Mendip Hills, 2 miles northwest of Wells, may have been the home of Iron Age people. Here, according to ancient legend, the Witch of Wookey turned to stone. You can tour the caves; dip your fingers in an underground river (artful lighting keeps things lively); and visit a museum, a penny arcade full of Victorian amusement machines, a mirror maze, fairy gardens, and a working paper mill that once supplied banknotes for the Confederate States of America.

One of the most famous beaches in the country, North Devon's Woolacombe is popular with surfers for its waves and with families for its soft sand and tidal pools that are great for kids to explore. This broad and extensive stretch of sand has all you could need for a dreamy day by the sea. At its northern end you'll find cafés, loungers, surfing equipment to rent, lifeguards, ice cream—you name it. If you're not looking for crowds and kids, you may want to head to the southernmost section of the beach, around Putsborough. The beach is 17 miles west of Lynton: to get here, take A361 and follow signs. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: surfing; swimming.

Travel from the prehistoric to the space age through the stunning displays in these state-of-the-art galleries. Ethnology, the natural and physical sciences, and archaeology all get their due over five floors. Highlights include a collection of Egyptian mummies and a beautiful assemblage of Japanese arms and armory in the World Cultures Gallery. There's plenty to keep kids amused, like fish and other sea creatures in the Aquarium, monster bugs in the Bug House, and life-size casts of prehistoric monsters in the Dinosaurs and Natural World Gallery, plus a planetarium and a busy program of events and activities.

A touristy attraction aimed at kids interprets the author's 23 tales with three-dimensional scenes of Peter Rabbit, costumed characters, and more. Basic tickets are for the attraction, but you can add on a show or a tea party for an additional cost. You can also visit Potter's former home at Hill Top, in Near Sawrey near Hawkshead.

On the Wedgwood Estate's 240-acre garden factory site, this slick modern attraction offers a factory tour; a V&A Collection of ceramics, works of art, manuscripts, and photographs; creative studios hosting activities and events; woodland walks; and a children's play area. There's also a restaurant and tearoom, as well as the obligatory pottery and gift store.

If you head southeast of Shrewsbury on the B4380 for around 5 miles, you can see, rising on the left, the Wrekin, a  distinctive wooded, conical, 1,335-foot-high hill formed out of volcanic activity. It may have been the inspiration for Middle Earth in the Lord of the Rings books, as at various times J. R. R. Tolkien lived reasonably close. The walk to the summit, which has panoramic views, is about 5 miles (best reached via the A5 as you head east out of town). A few miles farther on, on the B4380, you enter the wooded gorge of the River Severn. Part of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape (areas important for biodiversity), this is walking country, and you can find maps and guides on the official website. 

The historic Yew Tree Farm is probably the most famous building in the Lake District because it was once owned by Beatrix Potter, who experimented with farming and in particular raising Herwick sheep. The biopic of Potter's life, Miss Potter, starring Renée Zellweger, was filmed on location at the farm. The Herdwick Experience (book online in advance) introduces you to the farm's friendly flock of Herdwick sheep and explains their significance to the Cumbrian landscape.

When it comes to conveying the darker side of York's history, this attraction takes a tongue-in-cheek approach. Lurid lighting, lots of fake blood and other special effects, a soundtrack of screaming or moaning, and costumed actors enliven episodes from the lives of highwayman Dick Turpin, revolutionary Guy Fawkes, Viking king Eric Bloodaxe, and other infamous citizens. As you might imagine, it's popular with kids, though it's not suitable for those under age nine. Admission is by pre-booked time slots only.

Located on a 22-acre former World War II RAF Bomber Command base, this independent museum showcases more than 60 historic vehicles and aircraft, many of which are still in working condition. The collection includes early-20th-century biplanes and gliders, such as the Eastchurch Kitten (the only surviving one in the world); Spitfires, a German Messerschmitt, and other World War II–era planes; and contemporary fighter jets like the Mirage 4. There are also exhibits devoted to military vehicles, aircraft weaponry, and Royal Air Force uniforms. The museum is home to a memorial and gardens commemorating British and Allied service members who lost their lives in conflict.

The ecological and archaeological history of the county is the focus of this museum in an early-19th-century Greek Revival–style building with massive Doric columns. Themed galleries focus mostly on prehistoric, Roman, Anglian, Viking, and medieval periods, with nearly 1 million objects, including the 15th-century Middleham Jewel, a pendant gleaming with a large sapphire; a Paleolithic hand axe; and an extremely rare copperplate helmet, a 1,200-year-old Viking artifact. The oldest working observatory in Yorkshire (from 1833) is in the gardens. Another exhibition documents Yorkshire during the Jurassic period, with a kid-friendly emphasis on dinosaurs.

About 3½ miles east of Sissinghurst on the A262, Biddenden Winery cultivates nine types of grapes on 22 acres, with a focus on the German Ortega, Huxelrebe, Bacchus, and Reichensteiner varieties. You can wander the grounds and sample wines, ciders, and apple juice. If you'd prefer a private guided tour, prices are £70 for one person, £37 each if there are two people, and a sliding scale of discounts down to £11 each for 15 people. Bookings must be made a week in advance.

A great place to buy Hogarth prints is at Fosters Bookshop, based in Chiswick's oldest shop building. The shop has its original Georgian frontage, creaking floorboards, and a glorious number of original Victorian novels and essays.