England is an ancient land. Over millennia of human activity have left their mark here; from pre-historic man, Roman invasion, Saxon King rule and Medieval family feuds.
From castles and palaces, ancient bathhouses, medieval motte-and-baile castles and more, England offers plenty of historical places for visitors. One such historical location is The Tower of London which has witnessed several events such as Anne Boleyn’s murder by Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn.
Leicester Cathedral
The Cathedral is home to King Richard III’s final resting place and attracts pilgrims from around the globe. Open throughout the year, visitors are always welcome at this historic site.
The original church, constructed by Normans over 900 years ago and rebuilt during the 13th and 15th centuries respectively, became Leicester’s Civic Church with strong ties to merchants and guilds of Leicester city.
Archaeological excavations at this site are underway and have already unearthed an archaeological archive of national importance. Of particular note is an altar stone discovered within the cellar of a Roman building; possibly representing the remains of a private shrine or cult room.
Liverpool Cathedral
Construction on Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s Cathedral continued despite two world wars and changing trade patterns, until its formal dedication service in October 1978 – attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II herself.
An international World Heritage Site, Liverpool Cathedral stands out as an impressive cathedral when measured in terms of external length. Its story of resilience and determination can be explored at an exhibition that makes this visit worthwhile, serving as a testament to neo-Gothic architecture’s incredible magnificence – it was even built after four attempts had failed!
Houses of Parliament
Even as it houses Britain’s modern government, the Houses of Parliament – commonly referred to as Westminster Palace – remains famous for upholding age-old traditions that date back centuries. For instance, attendees attending meetings still bring swords with them and there are designated places where they can be stored safely.
Houses of Parliament – and particularly its iconic Elizabeth Tower featuring Big Ben – is often seen as the centre of British democracy. Here Tudor monarchs remade Parliament from advisory councils into its current bicameral form; here laws and taxes are agreed upon and discussed.
King Richard III Visitor Centre
The King Richard III Visitor Centre houses his remains and tells the tale of his dynasty, death and discovery.
Since opening in 2014, this centre has received numerous honors, such as Best Museum at the Group Leisure and Travel Awards. Furthermore, it houses King Richard III’s original grave.
The exhibitions explore the turbulent Wars of Roses, how Richard rose to power, his achievements in office, and his death at Bosworth Battle Field. One highlight is a section on DNA testing which details how scientists proved beyond a shadow of doubt that King Richard’s remains were indeed his.
Sutton Hoo
In the 1930s, landowner Edith Pretty hired archaeologist Basil Brown to investigate burial mounds on her property in Suffolk. What Basil found at Mound 1 has become one of the great archaeological discoveries of this century – gold weapons and armor as well as intricate ceremonial helmets, gold buckles and clasps from clothing, as well as a purse filled with coins believed to have once belonged to an Anglo-Saxon warrior king who reigned from 546-624 CE are thought to have belonged to him.
Discovered during The Dig, Sutton Hoo was perhaps the last gasp of an extravagant medieval English funerary tradition that fell with Christianity’s rise. You can view breathtaking artifacts at Sutton Hoo, which also hosts a reconstruction of large ship burial.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is one of England’s most important castles and has served many purposes throughout its long and distinguished history, such as palace, fortress, prison, astronomical observatory and repository for royal papers. Additionally, the Tower is known as being the place where legendary medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer first discovered himself!
Yeoman Warders and ravens that must remain within its walls as part of William the Conqueror’s 1066 tradition must also remain within. Additionally, it has witnessed some of England’s most momentous events.
As one example, it was at this location where two sons of Edward IV – known as Princes in the Tower – mysteriously vanished in 1483. To commemorate 100 years since WWI ended in 1914, its moat was filled with 888,246 ceramic poppies to mark this centenary event.
