Know the sights of England
Search for history in England’s landmarks.
the tower of London
The ruins of Stonehenge
Stonehenge is one of Europe’s most famous prehistoric monuments, located north of Salisbury. This building is stones that are placed in the form of several nested circles in the area of Salisbury Plain. The mysterious past of this historical monument has given rise to countless stories and theories about it. According to people, Stonehenge was built by Merlin, the sorcerer of Arthurian legend, who brought the stones here from Ireland with his magical powers and turned them into a place for giants. Another theory says that Stonehenge was the ruins of a Roman temple. There are more modern interpretations of it.
Some believe that Stonehenge is a spaceship landing zone. But the most robust theory about Stonehenge is related to astronomers who say that Stonehenge was once an observatory or calendar. Astrological interpretations of Stonehenge remain popular despite their inaccuracies.
With all its secrets, Stonehenge is so famous as one of England’s attractions that there is no guarantee that its visitors will be able to purchase an entrance ticket.
Roman baths of Beth City
If you only have time to visit one English city, there is no better option than Bath. This beautiful city has so many attractions you can spend a whole day in. But the most important reason that has made this city famous in England is its two-thousand-year-old Roman thermal baths. This large complex of baths was built around 70 BC and is the complete remains of Roman baths in the world. These hot water baths are filled daily with 1,170,000 liters at 46 degrees Celsius. This bathhouse is an interactive museum full of treasures and remnants of the Roman era.
The town of Beth is ideally located for exploring the scenic areas of England. Among these scenic areas, we can mention the Avon Valley, Mendippe Hills, and other extraordinary attractions of Somerset. The city of Beth is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Yorkminster and Yorkshire
In the 7th century, Minster was the center of Christianity in the north of England, and today it is a thriving church and one of the most prominent sights in England.
York Church is in second place among churches and religious centers in England. This church has two towers with a height of 53 meters and one building of 70 meters. By climbing the 275 steps of the central tower, you can see all the sights of York.
Every part of the ancient building, from the exquisite hand-hewn stonework to the unique collection of medieval stained glass, tells the story of Jesus Christ. A story that has been attracting tourists from all over the world for more than 1,000 years. York Cathedral is located in the center of the city of York, and its surroundings are full of houses, shops, and churches. In addition to this religious part of the city of York, the romantic streets of York, with its charming walls and the National Rail Transport Museum, are among the sights of England in this beautiful city. York is also great for walking through the beautiful English countryside and hills.
London clock tower, Big Ben
The London Clock Tower was built in 1856 with a length of 96 meters and 11 floors in the burned remains of the Palace of Westminster and became one of the landmarks of England. This tower has had many names during its many years of life. Since 2012, in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, the ‘s name building has been changed to Elizabeth Tower, but for tourists, it is still the Clock Tower of London, and for locals, it is Big Ben. Big Ben is the name of the 13-ton bell of this tower. The tower clock has four faces that can be seen from any point, and its accuracy is exemplary.
Since 2017, the Clock Tower of London has been out of service for a certain period for repairs and renovations, and it only chimes for Christmas and Memorial Day.
Canterbury Cathedral
You cannot leave England without visiting the famous Canterbury Cathedral and the tomb of Thomas Becket. Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest Christian churches in England, which continues to play a central role in English Christianity. Canterbury Cathedral is located in the heart of the historic city of Canterbury, which is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the cradle of Christianity in England. This building is one of the sights of England that has been registered as a UNESCO cultural heritage.
Canterbury Cathedral, 160 meters long and 47 meters wide, and three towers, with a height of 72 meters, were built in 597 AD by St. Augustine. And since then, it has been an important spiritual center, but after the death of St. Thomas Bacon in 1170, it also became a pilgrimage center. The grandeur of the architecture of this church shows the historical and religious importance of Canterbury. The building has many stunning sights, such as the Romanian crypt, the nave, the shrine of St. Thomas, biblical images, and beautiful medieval stained glass windows.
Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is a good choice if you are looking for a memorable tour of a medieval English house. Warwick is a medieval castle built of wood in 1068 in Warwickshire. The original wooden castle was rebuilt in the 12th century and turned into a stone castle. It was used as a military castle during the Hundred Years’ War. Therefore it is considered one of the most prominent examples of military courts.
This castle was granted to Sir Fulk Greville in the early 17th century and was used as a family fortress. This castle is full of large rooms and beautiful halls. And today, it is used by an investment company to hold various festivals, concerts, and exhibitions.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the Queen’s official residence in London, open to tourists in the summer. This palace is one of the largest active royal palaces in the world and one of the sights of England. The court is often the center of special public events, royal parties and the unique venue for England’s national celebrations. Magnificent rooms, a queen’s gallery, and beautiful gardens are among the attractions of this palace.
Tintagel Castle
Tintagel Castle is located on the north coast of Cornwall and has magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean and the magical ruins of the medieval castle of Tintagel. It is said that this mysterious castle is King Arthur’s birthplace and one of England’s must-see places. This castle was added to the list of top attractions in England from the middle of the 19th century.
Museums are also places to visit in England.
In every corner of England, you can find different museums with topics of culture, history, art, war, industry, etc. There are so many of them that it is better to write a separate article about them. In the following, we introduce some of the most important museums of this country.
British Museum
The British Museum is among the best museums in the world, with a collection of ancient works. More than 13 million works of art from Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Greece, the Roman Empire, China, and Europe are displayed in this museum. The British Museum is divided into different sections, including paintings, engravings and pictures, coins and emblems, ancient Egypt and Sudan, Western Asia, Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages and later periods, Islamic art, oriental antiquities, prehistoric works, cognitive works. And the results of Leonardo da Vinci are divided.
The most famous antiquities in this museum, which has made it one of the most important places to visit in England, include the collection of Elgin marbles and the Rosetta Stone, Roman silver of the 4th century known as the Milden Hall treasure, and ancient Egyptian artifacts. Also, Cyrus’ Charter of Human Rights, Pablo Picasso’s black and white designs and patterns, mummy coffins, a Confucius portrait, and a Sasanian silver cup, etc., are kept in this museum.
Visiting the British Museum is free, and no ticket or entrance fee exists. But in some special exhibitions, for some unique and specialized works borrowed from other prestigious museums in the world, visiting will not be accessible.
National Gallery
The National Gallery is the second most visited museum in London and one of the most prominent places to visit in England, with the most comprehensive collection of paintings worldwide. This gallery displays European images from 1260 to 1920. The gallery is divided into separate sections of Italian, French, German, British, and other works. You can see results by Da Vinci, Bapist, Michelangelo and Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Hogarth, and Renoir… in this gallery.
Museum of Natural History
This museum was established in 1881 as a part of the British Museum, but it was separated from the British Museum in 1963 and has been known as the Natural History Museum since 1992.
This museum in London is one of the sights of England, with more than 130 years of history, which attracts many tourists. Seventy million specimens from the five departments of geology, botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology, and zoology are on display in this brick building. In this museum, you will see a collection of dinosaur skeletons and fossils, a blue whale skeleton, and Darwin specimens.
The library of this museum contains a large number of books, journals, manuscripts, collections, and research of scientific groups. The exciting thing about this museum is its free entrance.
International Slavery Museum
This museum is the only national museum in the world in the field of the painful history of slavery and is one of the sights of England in Liverpool. Vector stories across the Atlantic and beyond have been exhibited internationally in this museum. The International Slavery Museum is also known as an international pole in human rights.
London Science Museum
With its interactive exhibitions, the London Science Museum is one of the must-see places in England for those interested in various sciences and techniques. These galleries help to realize scientific principles. Ancient science museums focus on objects related to natural history, paleontology, geology, industry, industrial machinery, etc. And in its modern part, new technologies are discussed. In the current role of the museum, unusual objects such as the Stephenson rocket and the Apollo capsules are displayed.
Nature has created the best scenic spots in England
Another part of England’s charm is its unique nature. There are various parks in England, some of which are spontaneous, and some are artificial. Don’t miss this part of England’s sights.
Lake District National Park
Lake District National Park, with a distance of about 2,362 square kilometers, is one of the most visited places in England, with more than 24 million people visiting it every year. This park is currently the largest national park in England and a natural world heritage site. The 12 lakes in the park are the main attraction for tourists. Considering that about 50% of this park has been registered as agricultural lands, they have not changed. They have kept their natural originality since the beginning of the park’s establishment.
Norfolk National Park Board
Norfolk National Park, with an area of 303 square kilometers and more than 200 square kilometers of waterways and seven rivers, is a must-see place in England and full of beautiful wild natural landscapes. Its 13 channels are available for sea transportation during the year’s warm seasons.
North York National Park
North York National Park is a natural area that has become a national park today. High mountains, villages, and museums around the park have multiplied its charm. The park reaches the coastline, which allows fishing. The spectacular part of this park is its wild animals and birds.
Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is one of the attractions of England in the city of Upton, a few miles north of the city center of Chester, which is especially attractive for families and children. Between 11,000 animals of 400 different species are kept in this 125-hectare zoo. Among the attractions of England in this zoo are the beautiful gardens with unique views. You can use the zoo monorail to see them. The chimpanzee island, the penguin pool, and the largest tropical house in Europe distinguish this zoo from similar examples.
New Forest National Park
The significant scenery of the New Forest National Park (New Forest) has made it a unique national park in the south of England and an internationally renowned conservation area. This historic forest is a royal hunting ground and one of the sights of England. Some of the trees in this forest are 1000 years old. This park suits walking, cycling, horse riding, and golf.
Eden Project
England’s landmark Eden Project is a collection of unique artificial biomes that house many plants worldwide. These are large dome-shaped greenhouses, in each of which thousands of species of tropical and Mediterranean plants are placed. No columns are used in the structure of this greenhouse, and it is considered an architectural masterpiece. The height of this roof is such that 11 double-decker buses can be placed on top of each other.
