What to See in England
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Location

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

England has 19 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

London and surroundings:

South of England:

Midlands:

North of England:

South of England

Natural Heritage

Midlands

Natural Heritage

North of England

also...

Natural Heritage

Must-see & highly recommended

Westminster Abbey
★★★★ Alongside the Palace of Westminster (adjacent), it is one of the most important—and significant—monuments in the British…
Cornwall
★★★★ This is the southwestern tip of England. A highly touristic area and hiking destination, its stunning landscapes, cliffs, beaches, and…
Lake District
★★★★ One of the UK’s top tourist destinations, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017. It’s very busy in season, with its rolling…
London
★★★★ With its vibrant energy, stunning architecture, museums, and landmarks (several of which are UNESCO-listed), the capital offers countless…

Recommended

Bath
★★★ Located just a few kilometres from Bristol, Bath is one of England’s most beautiful cities, thanks to its architecture and Roman…
Cambridge (England)
★★★ As renowned as Oxford for its colleges and universities, Cambridge also boasts a stunning city centre, pleasant parks and gardens, and…
Canterbury
★★★ The famous city in Kent is internationally renowned for its imposing UNESCO-listed cathedral, as well as its old medieval centre. The city…
Warwick Castle
★★★ This is one of the best-preserved medieval buildings in the country and also one of the most visited.
Isle of Wight
★★★ It’s a major tourist destination on the south coast. Visitors come for its climate, beaches, water sports, walks, and some lovely…
Jurassic Coast
★★★ The name refers to the coastline of Dorset (from Exmouth) and east Devon (to Poole). This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers around 150 km…
Exmoor National Park
★★★ Overlooking the Bristol Channel, facing Wales, this is a "wilderness" area of moorland dotted with small villages. Stunning landscapes and…
Peak District
★★★ In the far north of the Midlands. Though less visited than the Lake District, this park is no less remarkable, with its stunning landscapes…
Stonehenge
★★★ World-famous for both its historical significance and its "New Age folklore," Stonehenge is an impressive megalithic site in southern…
Tower of London
★★★ It’s one of London’s symbols and a UNESCO World Heritage site. More than just a tower, the site is an 11th-century fortress…
Waddesdon Manor
★★★ A stunning 19th-century manor house with magnificent gardens, located in the village of the same name northwest of London. It is one of the…

Worth a look / Other

Fountains Abbey
★★ Alongside its adjoining park, this 12th-century Cistercian abbey in the heart of Yorkshire is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Blackpool
★★ Located on the Irish Sea, it is England’s main seaside resort, offering lively entertainment and a sometimes slightly kitschy…
Brighton
★★ One of England’s best-known seaside resorts, with a charming typical English seafront. The impressive Seven Sisters cliffs are nearby.
Canterbury Cathedral
★★ Construction began in the 11th century, making it one of the oldest and most famous Christian churches in England. It is a UNESCO World…
Sudeley Castle
★★ A charming and extensive medieval castle located in Winchcombe.
Chester
★★ A charming medieval city (with some Roman remains) located south of Liverpool.
Cotswolds
★★ This range of hills, straddling the South and the Midlands, offers beautiful rural landscapes where you can see many small villages…
Durham
★★ This northern city, near Newcastle, is known for its cathedral and picturesque castle, both UNESCO-listed.
Exeter
★★ In the southwest of England, the city boasts various traces of its past, including its ramparts, cathedral, medieval churches, and a few…
Cheddar Gorge
★★ Located in the village of the same name, famous for its cheese, these are the largest gorges in the country. Beautiful landscapes and…
Greenwich
★★ This "borough" on the outskirts of London is known for "its" meridian, its museums, and various sites (observatory, docks, royal park…
Isle of Man
★★ Between Ireland and England, this tax-haven island with a special status is a fairly touristy destination in season (castles, beaches…
Isles of Scilly
★★ At the tip of Cornwall. This small archipelago offers beautiful landscapes as well as opportunities for birdwatching, hiking, diving, and…
Kew Gardens
★★ These are the Royal Botanic Gardens. Set in a typical Victorian landscape, they house one of the world’s most important plant…
Lincoln (England)
★★ This mid-sized city between Nottingham and the North Sea is built around its beautiful medieval cathedral and castle. It has an old town…
Liverpool
★★ The Beatles' city boasts a very distinctive architecture. In fact, its entire docklands area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for this…
Manchester
★★ The country's second-largest city (and the third most visited), with a strong industrial, sporting, and musical heritage. It boasts a…
Newquay
★★ This seaside resort on the north coast of Cornwall is the surfing mecca of Great Britain.
Oxford
★★ This is THE university city of England (and the oldest), rival to Cambridge, with its colleges, museums, and charming urban centre.
Blenheim Palace
★★ Near Oxford, in the town of Woodstock, Blenheim Palace is a stunning 18th-century UNESCO-listed palace.
Palace of Westminster
★★ Alongside the neighbouring Westminster Abbey, this is one of the most significant landmarks in the British capital, inseparable from…
North York Moors National Park
★★ This large park facing the North Sea offers stunning landscapes (hills, valleys, cliffs, beaches, and of course plenty of moorland). It is…
Dartmoor National Park
★★ A large park at the southwestern tip of the country. You can discover charming villages and various prehistoric sites, all set in moorland…
Northumberland National Park
★★ Bordering Scotland (Hadrian’s Wall), this relatively quiet park offers stunning rolling landscapes dominated by moorland. You can…
Yorkshire Dales National Park
★★ In the northern part of England, the park draws many visitors with its beautiful landscapes of hills, forests, moors, and quiet villages…
New Forest National Park
★★ Heathland and forests, plus some charming towns (Beaulieu, Buckler's Hard, Lymington), for this coastal park on the outskirts of…
Port of Liverpool
★★ This vast port complex, blending various styles from Victorian to "modern," is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its history, architecture…
Portsmouth
★★ Major port on the south coast. Its tourism primarily revolves around its naval and military activity (museums, docks, moored ships).
Rye
★★ A charming hilltop town near the sea with a rich history and pretty architecture.
Seven Sisters
★★ These are impressive chalk cliffs east of Brighton, typical of the southern coast. Wild and spectacular, their image is sometimes used…
Shrewsbury
★★ A town with a medieval past, as evidenced by its castle and many of its buildings.
St Ives
★★ With its beautiful beaches, it is one of the most renowned seaside resorts in Cornwall, especially popular with families.
Harry Potter Studio Tour
★★ Though quite far from central London (and with a daily entry limit of around 6,000), these 14,000 m² where the Harry Potter films were shot…
The Broads
★★ This park in the south-east of England consists of rivers, lakes, and marshes where you can navigate and discover the local wildlife (deer…
Tintagel
★★ This Cornish village, with its ruined castle and stunning jagged coastline, is linked to the legend of King Arthur. Themed…
Weymouth
★★ A pleasant and well-known seaside resort on the southwest coast of England.
Whitby
★★ A charming small town facing the North Sea, with beautiful surrounding landscapes and the ruins of an ancient abbey.
Windsor
★★ West of London, the town is famous for its vast royal castle, which you can visit. Also worth seeing are Legoland Park and Eton College…
York (England)
★★ A beautiful "historic" city in the north of England with its old centre and cathedral.
Alton Towers
★ Located in the town of Alton, this is the UK’s leading theme park and, according to enthusiasts, one of the best in the world.
Beaconsfield
★ This small town west of London is home to the world's oldest miniature park: Bekonscot. It’s a local favourite with families.
Berwick
★ It is the northernmost town in England, bordering Scotland. It is known for its town walls that encircle the city and its old barracks.
Birmingham
★ The UK's third-largest city and an industrial hub in the northwest of London. While not particularly touristy, it offers some fine examples…
Bournemouth
★ A seaside resort in the south, next to Poole, popular with retirees and language-study visitors.
Bradford
★ A large city in Yorkshire, near Leeds, with various museums and some beautifully architectured buildings.
Bray-on-Thames
★ A charming small town near London.
Bristol
★ Old neighbourhoods, a redeveloped waterfront, and a lively atmosphere in this large city in southwest England.
Carlisle
★ In northern England, near Scotland, the city has a charming centre featuring a cathedral and a fortress. It is also located not far from…
Kenilworth Castle
★ These are the impressive remains of a 12th-century castle in the village of the same name, which also houses the ruins of an old abbey.
Chichester
★ A town on the south coast with its cathedral and a few Roman ruins.
Dartmouth (England)
★ A well-known seaside resort on the southwest coast of England, featuring beautiful fisherman’s houses and half-timbered buildings…
Donna Nook
★ This small protected marshland on the North Sea coast hosts a very large seal colony every year between October and December, which has…
Dover
★ Its castle, its cliffs, and above all the main gateway to the United Kingdom for those arriving by ferry.
Duxford
★ A few kilometres from Cambridge, this village, which was an important airbase during the Second World War, is home to the well-known and…
Eastbourne
★ A major seaside resort on the south coast between Brighton and Hastings.
Forest of Dean
★ One of England's most significant forests, on the border with Wales. Visitors come for its landscapes and walks.
Glastonbury
★ This town is linked to the legend of King Arthur, as are the abbey and tower built here. In a different vein, the town hosts one of the…
Hastings (England)
★ Surrounded by cliffs and home to the ruins of its castle, Hastings is a medieval town on the south coast. It’s also a destination for…
Hereford
★ It's a small historic city near the Welsh border.
Hull
★ Officially called Kingston upon Hull, this North Sea port city (cargo and ferries) has some old quarters and museums.
Lundy Island
★ A charming little island that's almost uninhabited at the mouth of the Bristol Channel. You'll find a few historical remains and, above…
Lavenham
★ A small town in Suffolk with many 15th-century timber-framed houses and an impressive church.
Leamington
★ A spa town in the West Midlands with charming architecture.
Leeds
★ It is the largest city in Yorkshire. It is better known for its lively atmosphere and commercial activity than for its tourist sites.
Hadrian's Wall
★ Though far less impressive than many ancient ruins in southern Europe, Hadrian's Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a Roman-built…
Newcastle upon Tyne
★ In the north of England, this North Sea port is renowned for its lively atmosphere and nightlife, thanks to its large student population…
Norwich
★ This city on the south-east coast is known for its cathedral and numerous churches, as well as its castle and old town centre.
Nottingham
★ In the heart of the Midlands, this is the city of Robin Hood and the nearby Sherwood Forest, even though very little remains of that era in…
Cornish Mining Landscape
★ The southwestern tip of England has long been shaped by mining activity. This heritage is recognised by UNESCO through fifteen small sites.
Plymouth (England)
★ A large city and, above all, a major naval port. Visitors come partly for its old quarter but mainly for the nearby beaches and hiking…
Poole
★ Nestled at the heart of its bay, renowned among birdwatchers, Poole is both a major commercial port, a ferry hub, and a sailing centre…
Rochester
★ A town in Kent with a castle and a cathedral as its main tourist attractions.
Salisbury
★ This small town southwest of London is known for its vast cathedral.
Saltaire
★ This small industrial village-town near Bradford is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its working-class heritage from the late 19th century.
Scarborough (England)
★ Surrounded by cliffs, it is the most renowned seaside resort in Yorkshire.
Sealand
★ Off the coast of Suffolk in international waters, this former military platform claims the status of a micro-nation. Organized tours are…
Sheffield
★ A major industrial city with little tourism, forming one of the largest urban areas in England.
Skegness
★ It is the main seaside resort in the Midlands on the North Sea coast.
Southampton
★ One of the major ports on England’s south coast, Southampton is better known for its student nightlife, shopping, and as a cruise…
St Albans
★ Around forty kilometres north of London, the city is known for its cathedral, and secondarily for its Roman remains and its impressive…
Stratford-upon-Avon
★ This large historic town is best known as Shakespeare’s birthplace. Tourism here revolves mainly around the writer.
The Downs
★ A region of rolling hills between London and the English Channel, popular with city residents for its hiking and cycling opportunities.
The Sunrise Coast
★ This is the name given to the tourist coast of Suffolk, east of London, with seaside resorts such as Lowestoft, Southwold, and Aldeburgh.
Ironbridge Gorge
★ A UNESCO-listed valley northwest of Birmingham, known as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.
Derwent Valley
★ This valley in Derbyshire is home to a collection of more or less ancient mills designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Wells
★ The small town south of Bristol has a beautiful cathedral.
Winchester (England)
★ Close to the south coast, not far from Southampton, Winchester has a renowned cathedral and an old town centre.
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