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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.
It now excludes places and things of interest in the North of England, including Yorkshire.
These can be found in ABAB’s Places.
Places to visit in England’s East Midlands are currently being moved to ABAB’s Places.

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Alloway Auld Kirk

Alloway Auld Kirk, the ruined old church at Alloway dates from the 16th century, though the site could be much older. It is most famous now due to it being featured in Robert Burns' poem 'Tam o' Shanter' (1791), as the place where witches and warlocks gather. The churchyard is fascinating and includes the graves of Burns' father, William Burnes, and sister, Isabella Burns Begg. Combine with a visit to the Robert Burns' Museum, his birthplace, Burns Monument and Brig o' Doon.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
40 Alloway
County
Ayrshire
Post Code
KA7 4PQ
Main Historic Period
Tudor
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
The Robert Burns' Museum, the cottage where he was born, the Burns Monument and Brig o' Doon are all within walking distance.
Primary Management
National Trust for Scotland
BATEMAN’S

Bateman's was the home of author Rudyard Kipling for 34 years.  Set in acres of charming gardens, the house is 17th century but the interior is definitely early 20th century.  There's a real sense of the man there.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Bateman's Lane,
Burwash
County
East Sussex
Post Code
TN19 7DS
Main Historic Period
Edwardian
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Bodiam Castle, Sheffield Park
Primary Management
National Trust
Brig o' Doon

The Brig o' Doon is a beautiful old cobbled bridge over the River Doon, built in the 15th century. It features in the 1791 poem, 'Tam o' Shanter', when Tam gallops across the bridge on his horse, Meg, pursued by witches and warlocks. He escapes - but they grab Meg's tail! Combine with a visit to the Robert Burns' Monument, Museum, Alloway Old Kirk and his birthplace.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Alloway
County
Ayrshire
Post Code
KA7 4PQ
Main Historic Period
Medieval
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Robert Burns' Monument, Museum, Alloway Old Kirk and the cottage he was born in are all within walking distance.
Primary Management
National Trust for Scotland
BUNHILL FIELDS Burial Ground

Bunhill Fields is a former burial ground established in the 17th century (though with a longer history than that) and the last resting place for an estimated 123,000 bodies. It is particularly known for its nonconformist connections. Among those commemorated here are William Blake, Daniel Defoe, John Bunyan and Susannah Wesley (John Wesley's mum). The burial area is fenced in, and crowded; there is an open area, primarily used by office workers at lunch times.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
38 City Road
County
London
Post Code
EC1Y 2BG
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
John Wesley's House and Museum, Quaker Gardens
Primary Management
Local Authority
COLERIDGE COTTAGE

Coleridge Cottage - this 17th century cottage (originally two) was rented by the romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) for about 3 years between 1797 and 1799. He was visited here by his friend, William Wordsworth, and it was here that he wrote 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', the interrupted/unfinished 'Kubla Khan' and other works. The National Trust has done a very good job presenting the cottage as the Coleridge family might have known it - and there's a cute garden.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
35 Lime Street
Nether Stowey
Nr Bridgwater
County
Somerset
Post Code
TA5 1NQ
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Primary Management
National Trust
CS LEWIS Nature Reserve

Small community nature reserve, formed from part of the garden once owned by author and academic Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963). It is said the woods and pond helped inspire his books that featured the imaginary land of Narnia. The nature reserve is adjacent to Lewis' home for more than 30 years, The Kilns.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
5 Lewis Close
Risinghurst
Oxford
County
Oxfordshire
Post Code
OX3 8JD
Tip/Nearby
The Kilns
Primary Management
Other
Dr Johnson's House

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life." Dr Samuel Johnson, writer and wit, is one of the most quoted Englishmen of all time and lived at this house between 1748 and 1759 whilst compiling his famous "Dictionary of the English Language" in the garret. The house was built at the end of the 17th century and is one of 17 different places Johnson lived in in London. After he left, it was used as a hotel, print shop and warehouse. It now contains exhibitions about Johnson's life and works and many original items relating to the man. All five levels are open to the public. A statue of his cat, Hodge, is at the other end of the square and one of his favourite inns, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is round the corner on Fleet Street.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
17 Gough Square
County
London
Post Code
EC4A 3DE
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Just off Fleet Street, not far from the Inns of Court
Primary Management
Private - open to the public
EAGLE and CHILD, Oxford

Popular 17th century pub known for its associations with regulars , the writers RR Tolkien and CS Lewis. The pub is also known as 'the bird and baby'. It is owned by St John's College, but leased out.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
49 St Giles
Oxford
County
Oxfordshire
Post Code
OX1 3LU
Main Historic Period
Modern
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Oxford City Centre and colleges. Lamb & Flag is opposite.
Primary Management
Private - open to the public
HARDY’S COTTAGE

The writer Thomas Hardy's birthplace in 1840, where he grew up with his parents and sisters and where he wrote Under the Greenwood Tree and Far from the Madding Crowd.

Note - entry is sometimes by timed ticket.

Image: Chris Downer via Wikimedia Commons

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Higher Brockhampton
Nr Dorchester
County
Dorset
Post Code
DT2 8QJ
Main Historic Period
Victorian
Tip/Nearby
Clouds Hill, Bovington, Max Gate, Tolpuddle
Primary Management
National Trust
KEATS HOUSE Museum

The Keats House Museum was home to the poet John Keats between 1818 and 1820. He is said to have written several of his great works here, including Ode to a Nightingale and Ode on a Grecian Urn. Keats was born in Moorgate, London, in 1795 and died in Rome in 1821. The house was built between 1814 and 1816.

Photo credit: Alphauser via Wikimedia

Region/Nation
Location/Address
10 Keats Grove
Hampstead
County
London
Post Code
NW3 2RR
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Hampstead Heath, Kenwood House
Primary Management
Local Authority

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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