Christ Church College
Christ Church College The largest and arguably most renowned of Oxford’s many colleges, the hallowed halls and exquisite cathedral of Christ Church College have a long and illustrious history. Founded by Cardinal Thomas Woolsey in 1524, the grandiose complex includes architectural highlights like
Castle Howard
Castle Howard With over 1,000 acres of landscaped flower gardens, boating lakes and scenic woodlands, and a grand baroque façade that appears more like a royal palace than a country home, Castle Howard is one of England’s most undeniably beautiful estates. Built in the 17th-century for Charles How
Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library The main research library of the University of Oxford and one of the oldest of its kind in Europe, the Bodleian Library is also one of the UK’s five copyright libraries, famously housing a copy of every book printed in Great Britain—a collection that spans more than 11 million wor
London Bridge
London Bridge London Bridge is the oldest bridge over the River Thames. While the current incarnation of the bridge dates from the 1970s, there has been a bridge in this place since around 50 AD, when the Romans drove some wooden piles into the rivers mud. Since then there has always been a bridge
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace has been the Queens official residence since 1837 (when Queen Victoria decided St Jamess Palace, just down the road, was too small and unimpressive). Nowadays Buckingham Palace is where the Queen holds her most important parties, gives out her annual awards, and
Changing of the Guard
Changing of the Guard The Changing of the Guard is one of Londons most famous spectacles. It is the official shift change of the Guards of the Household Regiment, who protect Buckingham Palace and the Queen. There is a lot of history here: the Household Guard was established to protect the Monarch
Tower of London
Tower of London The Tower of London is old, very old. The central White Tower was built by William the Conqueror after his invasion of England in 1066. Since 1485, the iconic red and black-uniformed Beefeaters have been guarding the Tower. Also crucial to security are the ravens. Superstition has
Houses of Parliament & Big Ben
Houses of Parliament & Big Ben The Palace of Westminster, more commonly known as the Houses of Parliament, is right on the River Thames. A magnificent Neo-Gothic building dating from the 1840s, it is most recognizable from the clock tower at one end known as Big Ben. (In fact, Big Ben is actually
Borough Market
Borough Market You think you know what food markets are all about? Borough Market will change your mind, as this is a place of food dreams. On Thursday, Friday and especially Saturday, you’ll find both the locals doing their weekly shopping and people who have caught the train in from all over Lon
York City Walls
York City Walls Once stretching 2.5 miles around the ancient city, today the well-preserved ruins of the York City Walls trace the periphery of the modern city center, encompassing many of York’s top attractions. Originally erected in Roman times, the remaining walls today date back to the 13th an
The Shambles
The Shambles Renowned as one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval shopping streets and awarded the title of ‘Britain’s most picturesque street’ by Google. A stroll down The Shambles is one of York’s top attractions. Mentioned in the Domesday Book of William the Conqueror in 1086, The Shambles dates
York
York Nestling in the embrace of York’s miraculously preserved wall is one of the great medieval town centers of Europe. You can walk the wall itself and then descend to the winding streets including the narrow Snickelways and the Shambles, now considerably cleaned up since the days when its rivers
Beatrix Potter Gallery
Beatrix Potter Gallery For over a hundred years, characters like Jemima Puddle-Duck, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Peter Rabbit have made an indelible impression on children in Britain and beyond. Their creator, author Beatrix Potter, is intimately connected with the Lake District and this charming, compa
The London Shard
The London Shard Londoner’s have watched in awe as the imposing iron structure has grown into the clouds over the last few years. This March, the final tips of the spire were added to the capital’s latest venture in innovative architecture, The Shard. An intricate jigsaw of glass panels now emerge
London Eye
London Eye Since it was officially opened on New Years Eve 1999 (as part of the millennial celebrations), the London Eye has become one of Londons most popular attractions. It has 32 sealed pod capsules, fitting a total of 800 people, revolving on a huge Ferris wheel. One go-around takes half an h
Stonehenge
Stonehenge Stonehenge is still one of the worlds great mysteries. Who built it? Why? And how? Around 3,500 years old, Stonehenge is a massive circle of standing stones and earthworks in the middle of a green field in Wiltshire. Whoever built the monument, Stonehenge is Britains most important anci
Thames River
Thames River The Thames is the longest river in England, the second longest in the United Kingdom. It flows from the west in the Cotswolds, passing through Oxford and London, ending at the sea at Southend-on-Sea in Essex. As far up as Teddington on the western edge of London, the river is tidal. O
York Minster
York Minster Ranking high on the list of York’s top attractions, the magnificent York Minster is one of Europe’s finest cathedrals and the largest medieval cathedral in the UK. Although the earliest parts of the building are from the 12th century, the Minster’s roots date back much earlier, with t
Sir John Soanes Museum
Sir John Soanes Museum One of London’s most fascinating yet often-overlooked museums, Sir John Soane’s Museum is dedicated to its namesake, the much-celebrated neo-classical architect who designed a number of acclaimed Regency-era buildings including, most famously, the Bank of England. The museu
Windermere
Windermere At 10.5 miles (17 kilometers) in length, running in a north-south direction, Windermere is the largest of the Lake District’s waterways and a magnet for holidaymakers, especially in summer. Pleasure cruisers, rowboats, passenger ferries and other craft ensure its waters are rarely unruf
