Travel Guides | English Heritage
Source: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/travel-guides
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:16
Travel Guides | English Heritage
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PLACES TO VISIT
Stonehenge
1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield
Dover Castle
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Family Days out
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Top 10 family days out
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Inspire Me
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INSPIRE ME
1066 and the Norman Conquest
Podcast
Travel guides
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Historic Gardens
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Propose a blue plaque
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PARTNERSHIP AND SPONSORSHIP
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Learn
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LEARN
1066 and the Norman Conquest
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Learn • Histories
HISTORIES
History of Stonehenge
History of Hadrian's Wall
Women in history
LGBTQ history
Find more...
Conservation
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CONSERVATION
Caring for our collections
Collections advice & guidance
Gardens & landscapes
Paintings conservation
Clothes moth research
Story of England
Learn • Story of England
STORY OF ENGLAND
Prehistory
Romans
Tudors
Victorians
Find more...
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LOGIN TO MEMBERS' AREA
Please login or register for the Members' area. The new Members' area allows you view details of your membership and your payments as well as requesting amendments.
Travel Guides
Plan a weekend away or a short break in England with our
regional travel guides
. They're packed with ideas of historic sites to visit, things to see and do, places to stay and practical advice for getting around.
Get inspired with our
walking
and
cycling
guides, designed to help you take in multiple nearby sites in one day. You can also discover the
best places for kids, gardens and walks as voted for by our members
.
When planning your visit, be sure to check the individual property pages of the sites you'd like to visit for the most up-to-date information.
Plan a weekend away or a short break in...
Wiltshire
Wiltshire has more prehistoric monuments than any other county in England. In this guide, we'll explore some of these places that shine a light on our ancient past, visit a couple of castles, and point out a few other fascinating places along the way.
Isle of Wight
Chosen by Queen Victoria as a holiday retreat and by the Normans for one of their medieval defence forts, the Isle of Wight is an island fit for rulers and royalty. Just two hours from London, the island is rich in history, charm and intrigue.
East Midlands
Today the rich, rural landscape of the East Midlands is more or less peaceful. But behind this tranquillity lies a turbulent past. This guide focuses on things to do in Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, but there's plenty to do in this underrated region.
Derbyshire
Between the M1 and the moors lie the manor houses and market towns that were once the domain of a remarkable Tudor woman, Bess of Hardwick. Stay on her Hardwick estate and explore this diverse county on a history-inspired weekend away.
North Yorkshire
Explore the commanding castles that march inland from the coast to the Dales. The wild moors and ruins of abbeys and priories, such as Rievaulx Abbey, that you'll find in 'God's own country' of North Yorkshire are also tranquil places for reflection.
Cumbria
Cumbria's majestic fells are many people's reason for visiting the Lake District. But the Cumbrian landscape has an industrial heritage too. From Roman legionaries to Victorian craftspeople, there's plenty of history to uncover here.
London
At the heart of English history and one of the world's most famous cities, London is unrivalled for its sheer amount of things to do. We've picked out historical highlights in four areas for you to plan a long weekend or a series of days out.
Kent
Home to some of the most impressive historic sites in the country, the 'Garden of England' offers award-winning beaches, seaside towns, ancient marshes and the famous white chalk cliffs. Perfect to explore on a short break.
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall is now the most famous frontier of the mighty Roman Empire. Today, it remains an inspiring and atmospheric monument to this incredible civilisation, with all sorts of places to visit to learn about the Romans.
Cornwall
Cornwall, the rugged county in the south-west corner of the UK, is famous for its beaches and outdoor activities, picturesque ports and relaxed vibe - but there are thousands of years of history and a distinctive local culture to explore too.
Northumberland Coast
The Northumberland coast is a place to feel close to nature and to the past. Discover the tranquil islands, wide beaches, marshes and saltflats, coves and cliffs, fishing villages and fortresses of this coastline, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Cycling Guides
If you’re planning a day out to our historic sites, why not make a cycle ride there, back or between sites part of the fun? The following places have bike racks or somewhere to secure your bike while you explore.
Audley End House and Gardens, Essex
Beeston Castle and Woodland Park, Cheshire
Birdoswald Roman Fort – Hadrian’s Wall, Cumbria
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Boscobel House and The Royal Oak, Shropshire
Chesters Roman Fort and Museum, Northumberland
Deal Castle, Kent
Down House – Home of Charles Darwin, Kent
Goodrich Castle, Herefordshire
Helmsley Castle, North Yorkshire
Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, Warwickshire
Lullingstone Roman Villa, Kent
Middleham Castle, North Yorkshire
Old Sarum, Wiltshire
Osborne, Isle of Wight
Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire
Stonehenge, Wiltshire
Tintagel Castle, Cornwall
Walmer Castle and Gardens, Kent
Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Wrest Park, Bedfordshire
York Cold War Bunker, North Yorkshire
Cycling Guide: Dover – Walmer – Deal Castles
Enjoy the sea breeze as you cycle along roads and a national cycle route to take in three castles along England's south coast. An hour's cycle one way or two hours with a return trip.
Cycling Guide: Osborne – Carisbrooke Castle
The Isle of Wight is steeped in history and a wonderful place to explore by bike. Almost all of this route is on flat terrain too, which makes it ideal for most skill and fitness levels.
Cycling Guide: Old Sarum - Stonehenge - Woodhenge
A combination of roads and the Wiltshire Cycle Way, this route is ideal for those who want a tour through the Wiltshire countryside and 5,000 years of history.
Cycling Guide: Rievaulx Abbey - Helmsley Castle
A short, simple route between Rievaulx Abbey and Hemlsey Castle. It's ideal for those looking to take in two remarkable sites and the North Yorkshire scenery in one fell swoop.
Walking Guides
Cumbria Walking guide: Stott Park Bobbin Mill to High Dam
The Lake District is renowned for walking - but if you don't fancy tackling a fell, this circular walk around Stott Park Bobbin Mill at the southern end of Windermere is a perfect choice.
Derbyshire walking guide: Bolsover Castle to Sutton Scarsdale Hall
Facing each other across a valley, Bolsover Castle and the ruin of Sutton Scarsdale Hall seem very different. Discover the landscape which connects them on the 7 mile countryside walk.
Kent coastal walking guide: Dover, Walmer and Deal
This 10 mile walk offers panoramic views of the English Channel. Three mighty coastal forts stand on the route, from the medieval "Key to England" at Dover to Henry VIII's defences of Walmer and Deal.
Walks near Hadrian's Wall
There are some fantastic walks to be enjoyed along Hadrian's Wall. Find out a bit more about the trails near Housesteads, Chesters, Corbridge and Birdoswald.
Bradford on Avon Tithe Barn to Farleigh Hungerford Castle
Take a delightful walk, passing through some idyllic English countryside to Farleigh Hungerford Castle – an impressive 14th century castle not far from Bath with hidden treasures and sinister past…
The Great Stones Way: Avebury, Stonehenge and Old Sarum
Running through the Wiltshire countryside from near Swindon to Stonehenge, the Great Stones Way is one of England’s newer hiking trails. Travel writer Sarah Baxter set off in the footsteps of our ancestors.
Scenic road trip stops
If you're planning a long car journey, we've picked out sites near motorways and main roads that make excellent alternatives to stopping at a motorway service station.
Find a scenic stop
Members Recommend...
DISCOVER THE BEST PLACES FOR A DAY OUT, AS VOTED FOR BY OUR MEMBERS
Best places for kids
Find out which sites are most popular with our younger members - did your kids' favourite make it onto the list?
Best Gardens
Looking for a day out in nature? Discover which of our historic sites have the best gardens according to our members.
Best walks
From coastal walks to sweeping views over the surrounding countryside, discover the sites our members most love taking a stroll around.
More to Explore
Days out with Dogs
Enjoy a great day out with your dog at an English Heritage property. There are plenty of dog-friendly sites across the whole of England for your furry friends to enjoy.
Top 10 Castles
Want to be a king or queen for the day? Here are the top 10 picks as chosen by you, accompanied by some of your comments on what makes these castles so special.
Holiday Cottages
Immerse yourself in England's colourful past by staying in one of our unique and historical properties - choose from cosy cottages, gatehouse towers, beachside retreats and more.
Members do more
Help to keep the story of England's history alive for future generations. Join today and enjoy unlimited access to hundreds of historic places for yourself and up to six children.
https://www.facebook.com/englishheritage
https://instagram.com/englishheritage
https://www.youtube.com/user/EnglishHeritageFilm
https://twitter.com/englishheritage
Visit
Menu • Visit
Places To Visit
Visit • Places To Visit
PLACES TO VISIT
Stonehenge
1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield
Dover Castle
Overseas visitors pass
Group visits
Find a place to visit
What's On
Visit • What's On
WHAT'S ON
Family events
Members' events
Events near you
May Half Term
Family Days out
Visit • Family Days out
FAMILY DAYS OUT
Top 10 family days out
Family property guides
Rainy days out
Inspire Me
Visit • Inspire Me
INSPIRE ME
1066 and the Norman Conquest
Podcast
Travel guides
Dog friendly places
Historic Gardens
Blue Plaques
Visit • Blue Plaques
BLUE PLAQUES
About the scheme
Find a blue plaque
Propose a blue plaque
Support the scheme
Weddings & Venue Hire
Visit • Weddings & Venue Hire
WEDDINGS & VENUE HIRE
Wedding venues
Corporate venues
Filming locations
Holiday Cottages
Visit • Holiday Cottages
HOLIDAY COTTAGES
Find a holiday cottage
Cottages by the sea
Late availability
About us
Menu • About us
About Us
About us • About Us
ABOUT US
Our people
Our policies and reports
Annual reports
Contact Us
About us • Contact Us
CONTACT US
General enquiries
Visit FAQs
Group visits
Information for Suppliers
Careers with us
About us • Careers with us
CAREERS WITH US
Search jobs
Our benefits
Modern slavery statement
News
About us • News
NEWS
Press office
Support us
Menu • Support us
Support Us
Support us • Support Us
SUPPORT US
Donate now
Guardians
Gifts in wills
Grants
How your support helps
Our Appeals
Support us • Our Appeals
OUR APPEALS
Your Places Appeal
Blue plaques
Volunteer
Support us • Volunteer
VOLUNTEER
Find a volunteer opportunity
Meet our volunteers
Why volunteer?
Volunteer focus magazine
Partnership and sponsorship
Support us • Partnership and sponsorship
PARTNERSHIP AND SPONSORSHIP
Corporate partnerships
Marketing partnerships
Licensing
Learn
Menu • Learn
Learn
Learn • Learn
LEARN
1066 and the Norman Conquest
School visits
Teaching resources
Histories
Learn • Histories
HISTORIES
History of Stonehenge
History of Hadrian's Wall
Women in history
LGBTQ history
Find more...
Conservation
Learn • Conservation
CONSERVATION
Caring for our collections
Collections advice & guidance
Gardens & landscapes
Paintings conservation
Clothes moth research
Story of England
Learn • Story of England
STORY OF ENGLAND
Prehistory
Romans
Tudors
Victorians
Find more...
Shop
Join
Members' Area
Menu • Members' Area
Members' Area
LOGIN TO MEMBERS' AREA
Please login or register for the Members' area. The new Members' area allows you view details of your membership and your payments as well as requesting amendments.
Travel Guides
Plan a weekend away or a short break in England with our
regional travel guides
. They're packed with ideas of historic sites to visit, things to see and do, places to stay and practical advice for getting around.
Get inspired with our
walking
and
cycling
guides, designed to help you take in multiple nearby sites in one day. You can also discover the
best places for kids, gardens and walks as voted for by our members
.
When planning your visit, be sure to check the individual property pages of the sites you'd like to visit for the most up-to-date information.
Plan a weekend away or a short break in...
Wiltshire
Wiltshire has more prehistoric monuments than any other county in England. In this guide, we'll explore some of these places that shine a light on our ancient past, visit a couple of castles, and point out a few other fascinating places along the way.
Isle of Wight
Chosen by Queen Victoria as a holiday retreat and by the Normans for one of their medieval defence forts, the Isle of Wight is an island fit for rulers and royalty. Just two hours from London, the island is rich in history, charm and intrigue.
East Midlands
Today the rich, rural landscape of the East Midlands is more or less peaceful. But behind this tranquillity lies a turbulent past. This guide focuses on things to do in Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, but there's plenty to do in this underrated region.
Derbyshire
Between the M1 and the moors lie the manor houses and market towns that were once the domain of a remarkable Tudor woman, Bess of Hardwick. Stay on her Hardwick estate and explore this diverse county on a history-inspired weekend away.
North Yorkshire
Explore the commanding castles that march inland from the coast to the Dales. The wild moors and ruins of abbeys and priories, such as Rievaulx Abbey, that you'll find in 'God's own country' of North Yorkshire are also tranquil places for reflection.
Cumbria
Cumbria's majestic fells are many people's reason for visiting the Lake District. But the Cumbrian landscape has an industrial heritage too. From Roman legionaries to Victorian craftspeople, there's plenty of history to uncover here.
London
At the heart of English history and one of the world's most famous cities, London is unrivalled for its sheer amount of things to do. We've picked out historical highlights in four areas for you to plan a long weekend or a series of days out.
Kent
Home to some of the most impressive historic sites in the country, the 'Garden of England' offers award-winning beaches, seaside towns, ancient marshes and the famous white chalk cliffs. Perfect to explore on a short break.
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall is now the most famous frontier of the mighty Roman Empire. Today, it remains an inspiring and atmospheric monument to this incredible civilisation, with all sorts of places to visit to learn about the Romans.
Cornwall
Cornwall, the rugged county in the south-west corner of the UK, is famous for its beaches and outdoor activities, picturesque ports and relaxed vibe - but there are thousands of years of history and a distinctive local culture to explore too.
Northumberland Coast
The Northumberland coast is a place to feel close to nature and to the past. Discover the tranquil islands, wide beaches, marshes and saltflats, coves and cliffs, fishing villages and fortresses of this coastline, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Cycling Guides
If you’re planning a day out to our historic sites, why not make a cycle ride there, back or between sites part of the fun? The following places have bike racks or somewhere to secure your bike while you explore.
Audley End House and Gardens, Essex
Beeston Castle and Woodland Park, Cheshire
Birdoswald Roman Fort – Hadrian’s Wall, Cumbria
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Boscobel House and The Royal Oak, Shropshire
Chesters Roman Fort and Museum, Northumberland
Deal Castle, Kent
Down House – Home of Charles Darwin, Kent
Goodrich Castle, Herefordshire
Helmsley Castle, North Yorkshire
Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, Warwickshire
Lullingstone Roman Villa, Kent
Middleham Castle, North Yorkshire
Old Sarum, Wiltshire
Osborne, Isle of Wight
Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire
Stonehenge, Wiltshire
Tintagel Castle, Cornwall
Walmer Castle and Gardens, Kent
Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Wrest Park, Bedfordshire
York Cold War Bunker, North Yorkshire
Cycling Guide: Dover – Walmer – Deal Castles
Enjoy the sea breeze as you cycle along roads and a national cycle route to take in three castles along England's south coast. An hour's cycle one way or two hours with a return trip.
Cycling Guide: Osborne – Carisbrooke Castle
The Isle of Wight is steeped in history and a wonderful place to explore by bike. Almost all of this route is on flat terrain too, which makes it ideal for most skill and fitness levels.
Cycling Guide: Old Sarum - Stonehenge - Woodhenge
A combination of roads and the Wiltshire Cycle Way, this route is ideal for those who want a tour through the Wiltshire countryside and 5,000 years of history.
Cycling Guide: Rievaulx Abbey - Helmsley Castle
A short, simple route between Rievaulx Abbey and Hemlsey Castle. It's ideal for those looking to take in two remarkable sites and the North Yorkshire scenery in one fell swoop.
Walking Guides
Cumbria Walking guide: Stott Park Bobbin Mill to High Dam
The Lake District is renowned for walking - but if you don't fancy tackling a fell, this circular walk around Stott Park Bobbin Mill at the southern end of Windermere is a perfect choice.
Derbyshire walking guide: Bolsover Castle to Sutton Scarsdale Hall
Facing each other across a valley, Bolsover Castle and the ruin of Sutton Scarsdale Hall seem very different. Discover the landscape which connects them on the 7 mile countryside walk.
Kent coastal walking guide: Dover, Walmer and Deal
This 10 mile walk offers panoramic views of the English Channel. Three mighty coastal forts stand on the route, from the medieval "Key to England" at Dover to Henry VIII's defences of Walmer and Deal.
Walks near Hadrian's Wall
There are some fantastic walks to be enjoyed along Hadrian's Wall. Find out a bit more about the trails near Housesteads, Chesters, Corbridge and Birdoswald.
Bradford on Avon Tithe Barn to Farleigh Hungerford Castle
Take a delightful walk, passing through some idyllic English countryside to Farleigh Hungerford Castle – an impressive 14th century castle not far from Bath with hidden treasures and sinister past…
The Great Stones Way: Avebury, Stonehenge and Old Sarum
Running through the Wiltshire countryside from near Swindon to Stonehenge, the Great Stones Way is one of England’s newer hiking trails. Travel writer Sarah Baxter set off in the footsteps of our ancestors.
Scenic road trip stops
If you're planning a long car journey, we've picked out sites near motorways and main roads that make excellent alternatives to stopping at a motorway service station.
Find a scenic stop
Members Recommend...
DISCOVER THE BEST PLACES FOR A DAY OUT, AS VOTED FOR BY OUR MEMBERS
Best places for kids
Find out which sites are most popular with our younger members - did your kids' favourite make it onto the list?
Best Gardens
Looking for a day out in nature? Discover which of our historic sites have the best gardens according to our members.
Best walks
From coastal walks to sweeping views over the surrounding countryside, discover the sites our members most love taking a stroll around.
More to Explore
Days out with Dogs
Enjoy a great day out with your dog at an English Heritage property. There are plenty of dog-friendly sites across the whole of England for your furry friends to enjoy.
Top 10 Castles
Want to be a king or queen for the day? Here are the top 10 picks as chosen by you, accompanied by some of your comments on what makes these castles so special.
Holiday Cottages
Immerse yourself in England's colourful past by staying in one of our unique and historical properties - choose from cosy cottages, gatehouse towers, beachside retreats and more.
Members do more
Help to keep the story of England's history alive for future generations. Join today and enjoy unlimited access to hundreds of historic places for yourself and up to six children.
https://www.facebook.com/englishheritage
https://instagram.com/englishheritage
https://www.youtube.com/user/EnglishHeritageFilm
https://twitter.com/englishheritage