Britain’s Top 10 World Heritage sites
Did you know that Britain has 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites? These range from sites of natural beauty like the Dorset and East Devon Coast to cultural riches such as the Tower of London and Stonehenge. Join us for a run-down of 10 of our favourites including some less famous gems that are well worth discovering.
Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury
Canterbury Cathedral has been a place of pilgrimage since the 12th century – just ask Geoffrey Chaucer! His Canterbury Tales, written in the 14th-century, feature a motley crew of pilgrims who journey to the Cathedral to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket. Follow in their footsteps to discover a truly remarkable building ripe with history and atmosphere. See the spot where Becket was brutally murdered, the ancient crypt, vivid stained glass and the tomb of Henry IV.
For information, images, maps and more visit our Canterbury Destination Guide
City of Bath
Honey-hued Bath is so chock-full of historical and cultural treats that the folks at UNESCO made the whole lot a World Heritage Site. And who can blame them? Visit the city of Jane Austen with its ancient Roman Baths, the elegant Pulteney Bridge, gorgeous Georgian architecture and Bath Abbey. And when you’ve soaked up enough history, take a relaxing dip in the thoroughly modern Thermae Bath Spa.
Get inspired by Bath – check out our Bath Destination Guide
Castles of King Edward I, Wales
In a land of castles, Harlech, Conwy, Caernarfon and Beaumaris stand out for their sheer scale and sophistication. Well preserved, atmospheric and enormous they represent the pinnacle of medieval military architecture. The fortresses were built by Edward I of England as an ‘Iron Ring’ to pacify the Welsh and they remain a haunting presence.
To find out more about Welsh castles visit Cadw (www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp)
Maritime Greenwich, London
Just 20 minutes from central London, Maritime Greenwich is awash with eye-popping architecture surrounded by the green expanse of Greenwich Park. Christopher Wren’s elegant Old Royal Naval College heads up a star-studded line-up of majestic buildings including Inigo Jones’s elegant Queen’s House and the Royal Observatory. Relax in the park, check out the view of Canary Wharf across the river and savour the historic flavour.
Find out more about Greenwich
Edinburgh Old and New Towns
Edinburgh’s an obvious candidate for a World Heritage City and it’s not hard to see why. The Old Town oozes history and a stroll along its cobbled streets and dark alleyways is a walk through time. The New Town is equally evocative with its graceful crescents, squares and terraces. The two combine into a city that’s unique, instantly recognisable and impossible to resist.
Excited by Edinburgh? Check out our Edinburgh destination guide for photos, video, podcasts, maps and more
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, North Wales
Britain’s newest World Heritage Site is the longest and highest aqueduct in Britain. Towering 126ft above the River Dee it’s a 200-year-old engineering marvel and is considered Thomas Telford’s masterpiece. Pontcysyllte looks fantastic from a distance but walking or travelling by canal boat over the top is truly exhilarating.
If you want to find out more about Wales and Welsh attractions check out our Wales destination guide
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, Yorkshire
The ruins of Fountains Abbey are Britain’s largest monastic ruin and one of the most enchanting spots in the country. Founded in 1132 the abbey thrived until Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries. It now stands ruined and uninhabited save for a large colony of bats. Lose yourself in dark passageways, winding staircases and an aura of spiritual peace. You can also explore the 18th-century water gardens and the Jacobean mansion Fountains Hall.
Find out more about Fountains Abbey (www.fountainsabbey.org.uk/)
Liverpool, Maritime Mercantile City
UNESCO recognises Liverpool as being a ‘supreme example’ of a British port at the time of Britain’s greatest global influence. See the towering Liver Building, the Albert Dock and take a ferry across the Mersey. The World Museum Liverpool, The Walker Art Gallery and The Maritime Museum are all in the area and provide a fascinating insight into Liverpool’s place at the heart of world business, immigration and the slave trade.
Check out our Liverpool Destination Guide
Westminster Abbey, London
Graves and memorials of the great and the good sprout from every wall, jostling for position in this living show of British history. Charles Darwin, Geoffrey Chaucer, Lewis Carroll, Charles Dickens, Isaac Newton…the list goes on. It’s also been the venue for every royal coronation since William the Conqueror and includes the spectacular fan-vaulted Lady Chapel - the last great masterpiece of English medieval architecture.
Discover Westminster Abbey
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London
Kew’s only a few miles west of London’s frenetic centre, but it seems a world away. Wander through 300 acres of enchanting gardens, pause under shady, ancient trees and lose yourself in a jungle of green in the Palm House. Don’t miss the treetop walkway, a swaying, canopy level structure with a tree’s eye view of the gardens.
Find out more about Kew Gardens (www.kew.org/)