The history of England stretches back by more than 5000 years, probably more than that if we’re thinking about it too closely. But that means it’s impossible that you can escape the past while you’re visiting.

Between the museums, the art galleries, the urban centers, the monoliths, the landscapes and the rugged coastlines, there is always something new to see. You’ll discover a country packed with unparalleled places to visit while you are there. And if you’ve never visited before, you’ll love this list of 9 places to see when you are visiting the UK. 

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9 Places to Visit in the UK

1. London. The chances are high that when you land in the UK at first you’ll be in London, so make sure that you choose a good place for left luggage London has to offer and you’ll be able to leave your stuff there while you go exploring for the day. Most accommodations don’t like check in until the afternoon, so being able to leave your luggage somewhere is a great thing to do while you explore the Tower of London. You head to the London Eye and maybe even have time to pop into the London dungeons. Whatever you do, make sure you take a stroll down Trafalgar Square and you go and have a picnic in Hyde Park if the weather is good, especially if you’re here for more than one day.
2. Oxford. If you’re looking to stay close to those brilliant minds that once came before you, then Oxford is the place to do it. The cobbled lanes and ancient streets will allow you to cycle to your heart’s content, and the college buildings and stunning architecture across Oxford haven’t really changed much over the past centuries. Oxford is directly connected to London, so you can hop onto the coach from there and head here, where you’ll find an amazing British pub, an irresistible old watering hole and plenty of fields to go and pick the king.
3. Cambridge. Another historic university city, Cambridge is a place you can talk right on the canals in the boats and you can attempt to go along the River Cam. You can punt along the River Cam if you want to, or you can sit back and let somebody else do it for you because punting is not easy. The leafy green lawns behind the Backs – which is where the city’s finest colleges reside – is an experience that offers nothing better. Head to one of Cambridge, many amazing pubs for a pint at the end of the day. It’s a really round off time.
4. Bath. Bath stands out as one of the prettiest places to visit in England because of the fact it was founded by Romans who established the spa resort of Aquae Sulis to take advantage of the area’s springs. Bath was once one of the richest places in the country to live where John Wood the elder and John Wood the younger, both architects, oversaw the transformation of the city into a Georgian architectural hub. Golden stone townhouses, Palladian mansions and appealing pubs live right here so you’ll be able to explore to your heart’s content.
5. Hadrians Wall. If you want to head to one of the oldest dramatic Roman ruins in the country, Hadrians Wall is where you need to go. It’s a 2000 year old procession of garrisons, towers, abandoned forts, and mile castles that march across the wild. Heading up to Northern England, you might want to rug up in your best coats and shoes because it’s not going to be an easy walk along here. This is an edge of the empire barrier that symbolizes the boundary of civilized order in the ancient world. Near Newcastle, you can also visit Segedunum, the wall’s last stronghold.

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6. York. While you’re in the North, head to York. With both Roman and Viking heritage living here, ancient city walls and the huge maze of cobbled streets, York is going to be the one living record of English history that takes you outside of the city. 13th century walls enclose a mediaeval spider’s web of snickle ways, also known as narrow alleys. Each one of those has a ghost story or historical character for you to study along the way. You’ll find the York Minster at the heart of the city, which is the biggest mediaeval cathedral in Northern Europe, and you’ll find one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world. Head to the National Railway Museum as part of your day out and if you want to get your scare on, look for the York Dungeons, on par with the London Dungeons, in the city you’ll find all of the notorious stories from the Northeast.
7. The Peak District. Honestly, you won’t find very many pigs here. Instead you’ll find miles of Moreland valleys and gritstone crags. There are pocket sized villages and farmland dotted all the way around the Peak District, and you’ll see a huge landscape of green if you’re an enthusiast for everything outdoors, such as caving, rock climbing, cycling and hiking. You will be able to be in your element right here. You’ll find there are some of the best towns here, Buxton, Bakewell and you’ll find the architectural drama of Chatsworth House.
8. Brighton. Moving down to the South Coast and only an hour away from London, Brighton is a seaside city that has the quirkiest character all of England. Overlooking the Channel on the South Coast, this is a city that has been known for its alternative character. It’s a place where people go to find themselves and it’s packed with chaos, record stores and bric a brac shops that you won’t be able to help but browse. Head down the pier and go to the Royal Pavilion, a 19th century party palace built by the Prince Regent.
9. Stonehenge. For a little bit of an English mystery, Stonehenge is the most famous ancient site you can visit. People have been drawn to the ring of boulders for more than 5000 years, but we still don’t know why it was built or how the boulders got there. You have to visit from a perimeter so that you don’t damage the 25 ton stones, but it’s quite an ethereal place in the slanting sunlight. You’ll be able to watch as the sun rises just beyond the stones and feel quite at home.