Listings

Find places to visit in Britain by name, location, type of attraction, or other keyword. This listings directory of over 950 entries is being phased out, to be replaced with ‘Places to Visit’.  You may find what you are looking for there. Tap/Click ‘find listings’ for a detailed search – or just have a browse.  […]

Britain, places to visit, attractions, heritage
Find places to visit in Britain by name, location, type of attraction, or other keyword.

This listings directory of over 950 entries is being phased out, to be replaced with ‘Places to Visit’.  You may find what you are looking for there.

Tap/Click ‘find listings’ for a detailed search – or just have a browse. 

SCILLY ISLES

The Scilly Isles, or more properly the Isles of Scilly, are an archipelago of 50+ islands and islets about 28 miles off the south-western tip of Cornwall. There are five inhabited islands - St Mary's, Tresco, St Martin's, Bryher and St Agnes. St Agnes is the most southerly point in the United Kingdom, about 4 miles further south than Lizard Point, the most southerly point of the British mainland. The capital of the Isles of Scilly is Hugh Town on St Mary’s, which is the largest and most populated island. The islands are famously warm, snow and ice being extremely rare, though they do suffer from Atlantic storms. They have a rich and varied history from prehistoric times, were known to the Phoenicians and Romans and are associated with many legends. The economy relies heavily on tourism and the Scilly Isles are a unique and lovely holiday destination. Access is by ferry, fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter; the ferry from Penzance takes about 3 hours.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Atlantic Ocean
County
Cornwall
Post Code
TR21 0LW
Main Historic Period
N/A
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
About 30 miles off the coast of Cornwall
Primary Management
Local Authority

The Seven Sisters are famous chalk cliffs on England's south coast. Within Seven Sisters' Country Park are a series of trails, taking in local views and wildlife, and a variety of outdoor activities are undertaken too. A favourite walk is from the country park following the small Cuckmere River to the beach, or up onto the cliffs. To get the famous view, you need to visit Seaford Head, accessed through the town of Seaford.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Exceat
Seaford
County
East Sussex
Post Code
BN25 4AD
Main Historic Period
N/A
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Beachy Head
Primary Management
Local Authority
SOUTH DOWNS (The)

The South Downs National Park was designated as recently as 2010 and covers an area of 627 square miles (1624 square kilometres) parallel with the busy South Coast of England, from St Catherine's Hill near Winchester in Hampshire in the west to Beachy Head, near Eastbourne in East Sussex.  Just outside the Park boundaries are the bustling towns and cities of Winchester, Portsmouth, Bognor Regis, Eastbourne and Brighton.  London is about an hour to the north.

It is mainly an area of rolling chalk downland, which includes the white cliffs of Sussex (not to be confused with the ones at Dover).  This is no wild, remote, national park.  It is a rich area of mixed farming, woodland, country estates, gardens, vineyards, pleasant middle-England market towns, pretty villages and good pubs.  It may be walking without altitude, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t good walking to be done; and the slopes will still test the muscles.  You'll also find significant prehistoric landmarks.

The highest point is Blackdown, where the poet Tennyson once had a home, close to the border with Surrey, at 918 feet (280 metres).

Principal settlements include Arundel, Steyning, Lewes, Midhurst and Petersfield.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
South Downs National Park Authority
South Downs Centre
North Street
Midhurst
County
West Sussex
Post Code
GU29 9DH
Main Historic Period
N/A
Link to featured article
Primary Management
National Park
Southwold from the pier

A charming, small, seaside town, famous for its colourful beach huts and home to Adnams Brewery. It has a pier, with some quirky slot machines, a boating lake and putting green. Most importantly, there's a decent beach, a mixture of shingle and sand. There's also a lighthouse, museum, other attractions and associations with George Orwell, whose parents lived in the town.  he Battle of Solebay took place off-shore in 1672.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Southwold
County
Suffolk
Post Code
IP18 6DS
Main Historic Period
All
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Aldeburgh, Thorpeness
Primary Management
Local Authority
St DAVID’S HEAD

St David's Head, or St David's Peninsula, is a dramatic coastal headland where can be found the site of St Patrick's Chapel, the remains of an Iron Age settlement and defensive wall (Warriors' Dyke), field systems and a Neolithic tomb (Arthur's Quoit). Also renowned for its flora and fauna, including dolphins, seals and peregrine falcons. Take the coastal path heading north from the car park.

The car park can get full at peak times; buses are available from St Davids, 2 miles away.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Park at Whitesands Bay
End of B4583
County
Pembrokeshire
Post Code
SA62 6PS
Main Historic Period
Prehistory
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
St Davids
Primary Management
National Trust
STEEPHILL COVE

The clue is in the name.  Steephill Cove is a charming treasure, tucked away under the cliffs west of Ventnor.  There are old fishermen’s cottages, lobster pots, deckchairs, rock pools and, in season, cafes serving locally caught seafood. Great place to unwind and watch the waves.

Region/Nation
County
Isle of Wight
Post Code
PO38 1AF
Main Historic Period
N/A
Tip/Nearby
You need to walk. Ventnor Botanic Gardens is nearby.
Primary Management
Local Authority
St IVES

St Ives is a former fishing village on the north Cornish coast, which has been a popular tourist destination since Victorian times.  It is known for its four beaches - Porthmeor (for surfing), Porthgwidden, Harbour beach and Porthminster - cobbled streets, quaint houses, pavement cafes, pubs, working harbour and well established art scene. The Tate St Ives gallery on the seafront has rotating modern art exhibitions, focusing on British artists. Nearby is the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, situated in the artist’s former studio.

St Ives has been named the best seaside town in the UK, but also the most expensive.  It is extremely attractive, but can get very busy.  The town is named for Sanctus Ya, or St Ia, a female Irish, possibly Byzantine, saint to whom the church is dedicated.

Region/Nation
County
Cornwall
Post Code
TR26 1JF
Main Historic Period
Victorian
Useful Website Address
Primary Management
Local Authority
STUDLAND BAY

Studland Bay is best known for its 4-mile stretch of sandy beach, popular with people of all ages. It sits between Poole Harbour and Old Harry Rocks, to the east of Swanage. There are actually five beaches - Shell Bay, Knoll Beach, Middle Beach and South Beach - all but the last managed by the National Trust. There is a naturists (nudist) beach in the middle. Studland allegedly was the inspiration for Enid Blyton's Toytown ("Noddy, put your clothes back on at once").  The heathland behind the beaches is full of wildlife, including all six native British reptiles.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Studland
County
Dorset
Post Code
BH19 3AX
Main Historic Period
N/A
Tip/Nearby
Poole, Swanage, Corfe
Primary Management
National Trust
TENBY

Tenby perches on a rocky promontory between two sandy bays overlooking the Bristol Channel.  It is a picturesque walled town with cobbled streets, a 15th C Merchant’s House and an interesting history.  Famously, Henry Tudor sailed into exile from the town, returning later to defeat Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth and found a new dynasty as Henry VII.  It’s a popular resort.  As well as the usual beach stuff, cafes and so forth, there are boat trips to nearby islands, water sports and walking on offer along the coastal path.

Region/Nation
County
Pembrokeshire
Post Code
SA70 7LS
Main Historic Period
Victorian
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
About 10 miles east of Pembroke
Primary Management
Local Authority
Turnberry Aviation Memorial

A WW1 airfield was built in 1917 amidst a golf course that was laid out in 1902, with a luxury hotel being built in 1906. The airfield was initially an aerial gunnery school for the Royal Flying Corps, later the Royal Air Force. The RAF left after the war, but RAF Turnberry was reinstated for WW2, this time for coastal command and torpedo training. The hotel was used as a hospital during both wars. The memorial, standing lonely in the golf course, commemorates aircrew from the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. Park by the entrance to Turnberry Lighthouse and walk across the golf course toward the lighthouse - where you will also find the remains of Robert the Bruce's castle and fabulous views across to Ailsa Craig.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Maidens Road
Turnberry
County
Ayrshire
Post Code
KA26 9PD
Main Historic Period
Modern
Tip/Nearby
Turnberry Lighthouse and Castle, Culzean Castle & Country Park
Primary Management
Unknown

If your favourite attraction is not listed yet, and you have a good quality digital photograph of it that you are able to freely send, please get in touch. 

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