While there’s not a great deal left of it to see, Minerva’s Shrine in Edgar’s Park remains an important piece of Chester’s Roman history. The remains of the rock-carved shrine to the pagan Roman goddess date back to the second century, when Chester was occupied by the Romans and known to its people as the city of Deva.
Docked in Southampton, the SS Shieldhall is the one of largest working steamboats in all of the United Kingdom, and stands as a tribute to British maritime history. Here, visitors can view the unique inner workings of classic steamship machinery frozen in time, both above and below deck, learn about how most ocean-going ships worked in the 19th and 20th centuries, and take to the sea.
At the heart of Dartmoor National Park, Wistman’s Wood is among the most pristine and ancient forests left in England. With its twisted oak trees climbing with lichen, giant moss-blanketed boulders, and a backdrop of heather-dappled moors, this enchanting landscape is a favorite among hikers and naturalists.
High-quality, palm oil–free Belgian chocolate meets Yorkshire innovation and craftsmanship at The Little Chocolate Shop in North Yorkshire, which runs daily chocolate-making workshops for all ages and abilities. Browse for a pick-and-mix selection of locally made chocolate at the store, grab a decadent hot chocolate in the on-site café, or simply watch the chocolatiers at work at this delicious destination.
Spread out over 63 acres (25 hectares), Handsworth Park is a popular place for Birmingham residents and visitors looking to get out in nature without having to leave town. Along with its grassy expanses, flower beds, and trees, the park has a network of walking paths and two play areas for kids.
Alloa Tower, in the Clackmannanshire town of Alloa, is one of Scotland’s oldest and biggest medieval tower houses. An ancestral home of the Erskine family and Earls of Mar—the building dates back around 700 years. Visitors come to see opulent interiors, historical artifacts, artwork, and well-preserved architecture.
Sandwiched between Weston Woods and the headland at Sand Point, Sand Bay in Somerset is a sweeping sand and shingle beach backed by unspoiled dunes. A favorite for hiking, horseback riding, dog walking, and seaside strolling—as well as birdwatching at Sand Point—Sand Bay also offers vistas of the River Severn and its two suspension bridges on a clear day.
A riot of color, mainly when the rhododendrons, azaleas, and magnolias bloom, Arduaine Garden rolls down to the Atlantic to create one of western Scotland’s most magical gardens. You may spot seals, porpoises, kestrels, red squirrels, and even badgers if you're lucky.
Situated within the Walled Garden of Burn Hall Hotel, the York Bird of Prey Centre is home to more than 80 birds of prey, including owls, falcons, hawks, and eagles. Watch flight demonstrations and take the opportunity to both feed and handle these magnificent creatures at indoor and outdoor exhibits.
Conwy’s Albion Ale House is a traditional 1920s pub specializing in locally produced beer. It also offers a wine list, spirits, bar bites, and pub games. You’ll still find the bell pushes along the chair rail, once used to summon bartenders. Visitors can sit in the lounge by the baronial-style fireplace, relax in the snug, or saddle up to the bar with a pint.
This sprawling park is home to gardens, lakeside paths, playgrounds, and bird-watching sites, and is especially popular for kid-friendly activities, hosted year-round, along with markets and other seasonal events. The 12th-century Coombe Abbey at the heart of the park is now a 5-star hotel.
Cars, bikes, and motorcycles are the stars at the Coventry Transport Museum, a central Coventry institution that houses an enormous collection of vintage vehicles. While the museum attracts visitors of all ages, it’s especially engaging for younger guests, with plenty of educational and interactive exhibits for children.
Located at the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, St. Paul’s Square is famed for being one of the city’s very last remaining Georgian squares. Taking its name from the small church that sits as its center, visitors come here to relax on its benches, check out the architecture, or visit nearby restaurants and cafés.
Inspire young minds and have a fun, as well as educational, day out at the Look Out Discovery Centre. Hands-on science and nature exhibits and shows teach kids all about the way the world works. Children can learn from more than 90 activities, from launching a hydrogen rocket to playing with boats or building a house.
One of central Birmingham’s most notable historic buildings, the Baskerville Building, was constructed nearly 100 years ago. Named for John Baskerville—the 18th-century printer and type designer whose house stood on site—the art deco Baskerville House is now a Grade II-listed architectural icon. With pride of place right on the central Centenary Square, it’s also steps from other top attractions.
In the heart of Centenary Square, the Hall of Memory is a stately war memorial devoted to the thousands of Birmingham residents who died in World War I. This Portland stone structure is notable for its art deco architecture and features four bronze statues by celebrated artist Albert Toft.
With its stately Jacobean-style façade, magnificent oak furniture, and rolling parklands, Stokesay Court is a striking example of a late-Victorian English country estate. Best known as the setting of the 2007 film, Atonement, the estate is open to visitors who can admire locations such as the library, gardens, and outdoor fountain.
Perched on a hillside overlooking the lakes and parklands of Wardour Park, the rugged silhouette of Old Wardour Castle makes for a dramatic sight, and the atmospheric ruins have long been a favorite backdrop of photographers and filmmakers. Make a stop to snap photos of your own and bring a picnic to enjoy on its sweeping lawns.
Lightroom is one of London’s most modern and boundary-pushing art destinations. Located in Coal Drops Yard near King’s Cross Station, the exhibition space specializes in multimedia, artist-led exhibitions. Thanks to its larger-than-life scale and immersive audio and video capabilities, Lightroom invites visitors to step right inside the art, and has partnered with luminaries including David Hockney and Tom Hanks.
The AO Arena is a bustling entertainment hub, hosting more than 130 shows and attracting more than 1.2 million visitors annually. Renowned for its lineup of concerts, sports events, and family-friendly shows, the arena has welcomed legendary acts, including U2, Madonna, and Lady Gaga. Its rich 25-plus-year history makes the arena a cornerstone of Manchester's cultural scene.
Home to Scotland’s 10th-highest peak, 3,984-foot (1,214-meter) Ben Lawers, and other mountains, the Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve offers hikes from family-friendly 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) strolls to the challenging Tarmachan Ridge trek. Rare alpine and arctic flowers bloom, cattle and deer graze, and views can be spectacular.
With a history dating back almost eight centuries, Barry Mill is one of Scotland's few working water mills. It offers nature walks by Barry Burn and the chance to learn how millers lived and worked—not to mention where flour and oatmeal come from. The building dates from around 1814, when the old mill caught fire.
A small nature reserve with views of the sea and Dover’s white chalk cliffs, Samphire Hoe is home to wildflowers, including orchids, hundreds of moths and butterfly species, a wealth of birdlife, and grazing livestock in season. A network of well-maintained paths crisscross the reserve, providing several short walks for you to take to see its wildlife wonders.
Whisky production is more often associated with Scotland than England, but there are a growing number of distilleries south of the border—including the award-winning trailblazer, St George’s Distillery. The first single malt whisky distillery to open in England in over a century, this distillery offers guided tours at its Norfolk base.
Aberconwy House is the only surviving medieval merchant's house in Conwy. It has had many uses over the years, including a hotel and antique shop. It’s now a secondhand bookshop with flexible space for community events on the upper floors. The building’s two lower stone floors support the projecting upper floor, which extends over the lower section on corbel stones.
Set in the history-rich Royal Victoria Dock, ExCel London is an events space that hosts some of the capital’s most exciting cultural happenings. Its ever-changing roster features industry expos, conventions, and temporary exhibitions covering everything from Friends and Formula 1 to fintech.
The former base of the Panacea Society, a 20th-century religious community, the Panacea Museum offers a glimpse into this remarkable—and almost exclusively female—society. Spread between two homes, the museum highlights the life of the society’s founder Mabel Barltrop in one building, and examines the community’s beliefs in the other.
Celebrating local and international aviation history, Coventry’s Midland Air Museum is located in a hangar beside the small Coventry Airport. Visitors can see dozens of historic aircraft, from jets to helicopters. Families and anyone interested in aviation or military history will enjoy visiting.
With a history dating back to 1779, the Birmingham & Midland Institute has been dedicated to education and learning for centuries. Today, housed in a Grade II-listed building in Birmingham’s city center, the venue houses the BMI Library (home to more than 120,000 volumes) and hosts various exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and other cultural programming.
Perched on the edge of the historic City of London, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese has served as a pub and chophouse since 1538. The current iteration of this famous Fleet Street watering hole dates back to the 17th century, and its history is palpable in the cozy, low-ceilinged bars decorated with wooden panels and barrels.
