Many of these attractions cover large areas with various activities on offer throughout the year, so you can pick and choose the areas and activities that suit you and your budget.
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire
Enjoy three attractions in one with a day out at Fountains Abbey. The Abbey is an extremely well preserved ruin of a Cistercian Monastery which was originally founded in the 12th Century. It is the largest of its kind in the UK. It was closed in the mid-15th Century as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries initiated by King Henry VIII. Visitors can learn all about the lives of the Cistercian monks who lived here.
Studley Royal Water Garden was designed and built in the 18th Century by John Aislabie. Filled with ornamental lakes, statues and stunning viewpoints this is a tranquil place to relax and unwind. Further along the river Skell is the deer park, home to around 300 wild deer.
St Mary’s Church which sits within the deer park was designed by William Burges, the architect responsible for the Castle House buildings at Cardiff Castle.
Hadrian’s Wall, North of England
Hadrian’s wall covers 73 miles from the East to West across the North of England. There are various attractions and points of interest at sites along the wall. It is named after Roman Emperor Hadrian who ordered it to be built starting in AD122. It was designed to keep people in, keep intruders out and control trade through the area.
The Roman forts of Birdoswald, Housesteads and Chester provide some of the best opportunities to learn more and to see the best preserved parts of the wall. At Vindolanda in Northumberland, excavations are currently ongoing with teams of volunteers working every week. The Museum of the Roman Army is also located here which tells more about how the army lived and worked and how the wall was built.
At Corbridge Roman town you can see what daily life would have been like for the Romans and walk the original main street of the town. The museum houses artefacts that have been excavated including finds from the Corbridge Hoard, a time capsule dating back to the 2nd Century.
The wall spans the counties of Cumbria, Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear. For more information on attractions along the wall visit the English Heritage website.
Derwent Valley Mills, Derbyshire
The river Derwent was the driving force behind some of the earliest modern factories in the world. The area offers a rich selection of walks, wildlife and great places to eat and drink.
Cromford Village is where Richard Arkwright built shops, pubs and housing for the workers in his nearby Cromford Mill. The village is set within stunning wooded hills. Cromford Railway Station may look familiar as it was pictured on the cover of the 1995 Oasis Single ‘Some Might Say’.
John Medley’s Factory Shop at Lea Mills offers visitors the chance to buy locally made textiles.
The River Gardens can be found near to the Strutt family’s Belper Mill complex. These Edwardian gardens make a spectacular promenade along the banks of the Derwent. Visitors can book pedaloes and boats and there is a children’s play area so something for all the family to enjoy.
Pickford’s House in Derby showcases the family home of 18th Century architect Joseph Pickford and gives visitors a taste of Georgian family life.
Matlock and Matlock Bath offer plenty of places to stay, ood and drink options, an array of independent shops and picturesque riverside walks.
Castell Harlech, North West Wales
This is one of four castles in Wales with World Heritage status. The others are Beaumaris, Caernarfon and Conwy. Castell Harlech is located amongst some breathtaking scenery with the shoreline in the foreground and the mountains of Snowdonia in the background.
Harlech was built in the late 13th Century by English King Edward I during his invasion of Wales. and has been at the centre of many conflicts throughout its history.
Its most famous resident is probably Owain Glydwr who won the fight for Welsh independence against the English in 1404 and used the castle as his main residence. He only held onto it for ten years before the English Royals fought back and it was later involved in the War of the Roses. In 1647 during the English Civil War, it was finally defeated by the Parliamentarians who later ordered its demolition. Thankfully, they were only partially successful in their task so we still have the ruins that can be seen today.
Bath, Somerset
Visiting the Roman Baths is a must here. The baths are no longer in use but the informative museum helps transport you back almost two thousand years to show you how the Romans designed and used these buildings. The building of the Great Bath is fantastically preserved and visitors can explore the building but sadly not the waters! If you do want to take advantage of the healing waters of Bath, the nearby Thermae Bath Spa is a fully operational facility with a rooftop pool.
Jane Austen lived in Bath for several years in the early 19th Century and the visitor centre in the city explores her life and work.
Bath is also known for its Robert Adam designed Pulteny Bridge which crosses the Avon just above the weir. The late 18th Century narrow structure has shops spanning both sides, one of only four bridges left in the world with this feature.
Climb Bath Abbey for unrivalled views over the city, and visit the Royal Crescent to see more stunning Georgian architecture.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, North Wales
Built in 1795 this is still the tallest and longest aqueduct in the UK. The Llangollen canal connected Wales to England as a main trading route in the early 18th Century. The Aqueduct was built to carry the canal across the river Dee below.
The visitor centre at Trevor Basin has all the information you need about how the structure was erected and who used it. Walkers, cyclists, kayakers and paddle boarders are welcome to cross the aqueduct which forms part of a larger eleven mile stretch of canal. Family friendly canoe tours are available and suitable for all abilities including beginners.
Visit nearby Chirk Castle and the picturesque town of Llangollen situated along the banks of the River Dee. Many scenic walking and cycling routes can be found here, Why not spend some time in Ty Mawr Country Park, located next to another recognisable landmark, the Cefn Viaduct.
Saltaire, West Yorkshire
Entry to Salts Mill is free of charge. The building has been re-purposed to include cafes, shops and exhibitions. Visitors can currently see an huge exhibition by British artist David Hockney which includes over 400 pieces. The Peace Museum tells the story of peace movements throughout history.
The Salts Mill is a Grade II listed building and was one of the worlds premier working mills. The surrounding village of Saltaire was built by Titus Salt in the mid nineteenth century to house the mill workers.
Just outside Saltaire, The Shipley Glen Tramway is a vintage cable operated tramway that takes visitors up and down a woodland hill every few minutes for a couple of pounds.
Take a walk in nearby Roberts Park where you can walk along the banks of the river Aire.
If you are looking for a longer trip, the village of Haworth and former home of the Bronte sisters is a 20 minute drive away.
Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire
This is the world’s first bridge made from iron and the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. There is much more to do than just walking across the famous bridge which has stood over the this part of the river Severn Since 1779.
The best place to start is the visitor centre and from there make your way to the bridge and tollhouse which provides information about the history of the bridge. The architect was Thomas Farnells Pritchard and the construction was carried out by Abraham Darby III who managed the nearby Coalbrookdale iron works. It was he who pioneered the use of smelting with coke instead of charcoal, setting in motion the wheels of the Industrial Revolution. Visitors can see the Old Furnace that was used for these processes.
The surrounding area has several museums which further tell the story of the area and its people. A few minutes drive (around around a 45 minute walk) from the bridge takes you to Blists Hill Victorian Town, a living history museum that takes you back to the year 1900.
Maritime Greenwich, London
The Cutty Sark is a famous 19th Century clipper ship that now sits on the banks of the Thames as a museum. The National Maritime Museum offers visitors more of an insight into the importance of the Thames during conflict and for trading purposes.
As well as its shipping heritage Greenwich is recognised for its contribution to science and architecture.
The Royal Observatory is the home of Greenwich Mean time. Visitors can stand on the Prime Meridian where longitude is calculated from. Step inside the Great Equatorial Telescope and visit the Planetarium for a view of the skies.
The Old Royal Naval buildings began life as Greenwich Palace in the late 15th Century. The Royal Palace was the birthplace of future King Henry VIII and his two daughters.
The buildings fell into disrepair during the English Civil war until the site was commissioned as The Royal Hospital for Seamen in the late 17th Century and rebuilt by Christopher Wren. Remains of the original palace can now be seen by visitors after recent excavations. The park containing the Royal Naval College also contains the 17th Century Queens House designed by Inigo Jones.
Don’t miss the stunning Painted Hall – known as Britain’s Cistine Chapel – with its Baroque ceilings and story told through its paintings.
New Lanark Mills, Lanarkshire, Scotland
New Lanark is a huge immaculately preserved mill village set on the banks of the River Clyde. The mills were built by David Dale and Robert Arkwright. Dale was passionate about the welfare of his workers and wanted to provide clean housing and a pleasant living environment for them. He also provided education for the children he employed.
His son in law Robert Owen continued with this philanthropic approach and made piviotal educational and social reforms that would revolutionise the way factories across the world were run. His firm but fair approach created civilised communities where families and businesses thrived. It was seen as a fine example of town planning. Owen reduced the length of the working day and brought about an end to orphans working in the mills by creating the worlds first ever nursery.
Today visitors can see Robert Owen’s house and a typical mill workers house. Learn more about the textiles industry and the materials made at the mill.
Next to New Lanark is the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve where you can spend some time walking in nature and visiting the spectacular Falls of Clyde.
Visit the New Lanark World Heritage Website for more information about the attractions available and nearby accommodation.
Lake District, Cumbria
There is so much to see and so here that you could easily spend a week or more in each place. Choose a lake to base yourself near and then explore to your heart’s content!
Perhaps one of the best known landmarks is the unique Bridge House at Ambleside which is a very small house on top of a very small bridge over a beck. It gets very busy here so getting there early is advisable.
Windermere is reachable by train from Kendal and Penrith and the lake can be reached after around 25 minutes of walking. If you are travelling by car there is a pass you can buy which gives you access to selected car parks across the South Lakeland area, which is well worth it at £41 for 7 days. There are several boat trips you can take across Windermere which incorporate other attractions such as the Haversthwaite Heritage Railway and Motor Museum.
Further North, the Ullswater Steamers are a great way to explore this area. Spend the morning walking from Pooley Bridge to Glenridding and get the steamer boat back to Pooley Bridge where you will find a selection of pubs and hotels with great quality food on offer.
A visit to Grange-over-sands is like a trip back in time especially its railway station. You can look across the water and see Morecambe Bay on a clear day.
Larger town such as Penrith, Kendal and Keswick offer a solid base from which to explore.
Walking is unmatched here and for the more adventurous Scafell Pike is a challenging climb. You could return many times and have a completely new experience.
For more information visit the Lake District National Park website.
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