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

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Surgery

The Anaesthesia Museum is part of the Anaesthesia Heritage Centre of the Association of Anaethatists and contains objects relating to the history of anaesthesia. The earliest object in the collection is a resuscitation set of 1774. The museum gives an insight into the history of anaesthesia, resuscitation and pain relief.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
21 Portland Place
County
London
Post Code
W1B 1PY
Main Historic Period
Modern
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
BBC, Regent's Park
Primary Management
Educational establisment

The Bank of England was founded on 27 July 1694 by a group of merchants along the lines proposed by Scotsman William Paterson (1658-1719). It began as a private bank, primarily to fund war against France. The Bank opened for business on 1 August 1694 in the Mercers' Hall in Cheapside with a staff of seventeen clerks and two gatekeepers. It moved to the Grocers’ Hall on Poultry on 31 December 1694 and remained there until moving to its own premises in Threadneedle Street in 1734.

It has its own museum, allegedly sitting on top of an enormous gold vault. Discover the history of the Bank - the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street - what it does, the story of paper money - and pick up a gold bar. You can't keep it - sorry.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Bartholemew Lane
County
London
Post Code
EC2R 8AH
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Museum of London, St Paul's...
Primary Management
Other
Battle of Britain Monument

London's monument to the Battle of Britain is on Victoria Embankment, between Westminster Bridge and the RAF Memorial. It was unveiled by Prince Charles in 2005, cost £1.65 million and was funded entirely by public subscription. Among the donors was the Czech Republic. The monument is more than 80 feet (25 metres) long and was the brainchild of the late Bill Bond MBE, founder of the Battle of Britain Historical Society. It honours ‘the Few’, the RAF pilots who were outnumbered and who saved Britain from invasion in 1940. At its centre is a near life-size sculpture depicting airmen scrambling – running to their aircraft in order to intercept the enemy. Around the monument are the names of the Few – 2,936 airmen from fifteen nations who took part in the battle on the Allied side. Other panels show some of the other participants and contributors to the Battle of Britain and ultimate victory – including civilians.

Do not confuse this monument with the Battle of Britain Memorial in Kent. The post code is approximate.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Victoria Embankment
Westminster
County
London
Post Code
SW1A 2JL
Main Historic Period
Modern
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Houses of Parliament, New Scotland Yard, RAF Memorial, Cleopatra's Needle
Primary Management
Local Authority
BERLIN WALL

There's a small section of the Berlin Wall, taken from the Leuschnerdamm in the Kreuzberg district of the city, outside the Imperial War Museum in London. On it, the main item of graffiti is the phrase 'CHANGE YOUR LIFE' by the graffiti artist 'Indiano'. The Berlin Wall was erected by the East German authorities from the 13 August 1961, dividing the city between east and west. It was breached by ordinary Berliners on 9 November 1989, an event seen by many as marking the end of the Cold War. It also paved the way for German reunification. The Wall was finally dismantled between 1990-94.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Lambeth Road
Lambeth
County
London
Post Code
SE1 6HZ
Main Historic Period
Modern
Useful Website Address
Primary Management
Imperial War Museum
Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red

Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red was a work of art consisting of 888,246 ceramic red poppies placed in the moat of the Tower of London, between July and November 2014 to commemorate the centenary of World War I. Each poppy represented a lost life from Britain or one of its Dominions, killed in the war. It attracted a huge number of visitors. Members of the public could purchase a poppy and part of the installation then went on tour around the UK organised by 14-18 NOW until 2018, after which it was decided to have permanent displays at IWM London and North Museums. The work was created by artist Paul Cummins and stage designer Tom Piper.

Address is IWM London.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Lambeth Road
County
London
Post Code
SE1 6HZ
Main Historic Period
Modern
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
NB This work is no longer at the Tower of London - check with IWM London for the latest information.
Primary Management
HM Government
Britain's smallest police station?

Found in the south-west corner of Trafalgar Square, this former police observation post is often wrongly claimed to be Britain's - or the world's - smallest police station. It was never a police station - but it is an interesting curiosity!

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Trafalgar Square
County
London
Post Code
WC2N 5DN
Main Historic Period
Modern
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Right in the middle of London...
Primary Management
Local Authority
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
CHANGING the GUARD at BUCKINGHAM PALACE

"They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace - Christopher Robin went down with Alice".  (A A Milne).

This is the ceremony when the old guard hands over responsibility for protecting Buckingham and St James's Palaces to the new guard. It normally takes place at 1130 hours, pretty much daily from April to July and on alternate days from August to March. BUT - check first and bear in mind that arrangements are subject to alteration, often without notice. It is free to attend and it is one of the most popular events in London - so get there early. The best place to see it is in front of Buckingham Palace, by the Victoria Memorial.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Buckingham Palace
County
London
Post Code
Sw1A 1AA
Main Historic Period
Modern
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Nearest tube St James's Park
Primary Management
Crown
CHURCHILL WAR ROOMS

The Churchill War Rooms, aka the Cabinet War Rooms, is a complex of secret operational rooms in a former basement created to enable government to continue during the Second World War, theoretically safe from German bombs. The complex includes a Cabinet Meeting Room, map room, kitchens and bedroom - including one each for Mr and Mrs Churchill. Some of the rooms remain more or less as they were left in 1945; others have been refurbished in period style.

There is also an extensive Churchill Museum, telling the story of one of Britain's most remarkable leaders, from childhood in the 1870s to his death in 1965. The museum includes an enormous number of items associated with Churchill, audio-visual displays and an interactive timeline giving access to original documents and other resources.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Clive Steps
King Charles Street
County
London
Post Code
SW1A 2AQ
Main Historic Period
Modern
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Nearest tube is Westminster
Primary Management
Imperial War Museum
COVENT GARDEN MARKET

London's famous fruit and vegetable market relocated to Nine Elms in 1974. The district, which had been congested and run-down, has been redeveloped and now offers a range of facilities - two extensive areas of market stalls, selling artwork, hand-made jewellery, unique gifts; plus a range of high-end shops, pubs, bars and restaurants. Covent Garden is also famous for its street performers and includes the Royal Opera House, Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the London Transport Museum. In the Middle Ages, it was the garden for Westminster Abbey, developed into a fashionable Italian-style square in the 17th century - and then became a place of ill-repute!

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Covent Garden
County
London
Post Code
WC2E 8RF
Main Historic Period
Stuart
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Nearest tubes Covent Garden or Charing Cross. Easy walk from Trafalgar Square.
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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