Top Must-See Historical Sites In England

Stonehenge, located on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, is arguably one of England’s most famous landmarks and historical sites. Thought to have been constructed between 3000 BCE and 2000 BCE, this prehistoric arrangement of stones has astonished and mystified visitors and historians since time immemorial. Proposed functions for the site include usage as an astronomical observatory, a place to bury the dead, or as a pagan religious site. This English Heritage run site offers the full Stonehenge experience, providing knowledge and direction as you soak up the majestic atmosphere of the monument. A comprehensive visitors center welcomes over eight hundred thousand visitors a year.

Built by William The Conqueror in 1068, Warwick Castle embodies the quintessential image of England and its royal lineage. Located on the River Avon in the county of Warwickshire, this medieval castle has stood the test of time for nearly a thousand years. Originally a wooden structure built by conquering Normans in the 11th century, it now stands as unchanging stone. Over the past hundred and fifty years it has gained prominence as a tourist attraction and visitors can now view the perfectly preserved castle walls, a working portcullis, and room after room of historical artefacts. The collection of armour on display at Warwick Castle is regarded as second only to that of the Tower of London. During the summer months, Warwick Castle provides outdoor shows, one of which deploys a full working siege engine known as a trebuchet. The trebuchet fires flaming projectiles 100s of meters, to the awe of a watching crowd.

Hadrian’s Wall is the perfect example of England’s Roman past, and the country’s role at the edge of an empire. The wall runs westward from Wallsend on the north-east coast, via Carlisle and Kirkandrews-on-Eden, finally finishing at Bowness-on-Solway at the north-west coast. The wall was constructed in the year AD 122 under the orders of Roman Emporer Hadrian. The wall itself was interwoven with forts along every mile, designed to keep the ‘barbarian tribes’ of Scotland - known as the Picts – from attacking Britanina’s frontier. Although the wall stretches a total of 84 miles, a visit to Housesteads Roman Fort offers the most dramatic site. This fort on the Hexham portion of the wall is the best-preserved Roman fort in all of England.      

The Iron Bridge lies in the heart of England’s historic industrial heartland in Shropshire, an area often seen as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Constructed in 1779, this cast-iron bridge traverses the River Severn and Ironbridge gorge, and in doing so the first cast-iron bridge in the world was opened. Today, this UNESCO world heritage site is set in some of the most picturesque English countryside, offering visitors the perfect balance of Industrial history and idyllic green surroundings. A local museum provides a plethora of information on the construction of the bridge, and the local area itself has a long connection with the many aspects of England’s industrial revolution.