The Round Church, or the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Cambridge, is one of only four round churches in Britain. Influenced by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Cambridge’s round church was built in c1130 and is heavily Norman in style – though has been added to and restored at various times
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The Angel and Royal in Grantham is reputedly the oldest inn in England. Situated on the Great North Road, the principal route north-south connecting London with York and Edinburgh, it was originally simply named ‘The Angel’. Some say it began as a hostel built by the Knights Templar in 1203 and run by the order
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St Albans Cathedral is known as the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain and stands over the place where Alban, Britain’s first saint, was buried after the Roman gave his life for his faith more than 1700 years ago. A church was built over the grave and it became a place of pilgrimage.
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The Houses of Parliament is the home of the UK Parliament and consists of two ‘houses’ – the House of Commons, where elected Members of Parliament sit, and the unelected ‘upper’ House of Lords. It is possible to take a tour, even take tea, or watch a debate in the House of Commons. The Houses
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The Farne Islands are located a few miles off the Northumbrian coast and are known for their wildlife and association with St Cuthbert. In summer, the islands are home to some 150,000 breeding pairs of seabirds – most famously, puffins; but razorbills, guillemots and eider ducks are also among the around 23 different varieties of
Kendal’s Brewery Arts Centre is an unusual, but wonderful, venue that offers a diverse programme of international theatre, comedy, live music, cinema, dance, exhibitions, workshops, festivals and other events. There is also a reasonable, informal, restaurant and a bar that often serves good beer. It is a notable asset to the town, as well as
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Wolstonbury Hill is a 676 feet (206 metres) high hill on the South Downs, north of Brighton, with spectacular views. It is a scheduled monument, the site of a late Bronze Age enclosure, or hill fort, and other remains, as well as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), noted for its biodiversity, including eleven
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The dramatic ruins of Tintagel Castle perch precariously on the clifftops above a thundering sea. One half is on an island, now joined to the mainland by a stunning, modern, steel and oak footbridge. Below, at low tide, it is possible to enter Merlin’s Cave – for Tintagel is most famously associated with the legend
Crackpot Hall is a ruined 18th century farmhouse in a remote location on the northern slope of Swaledale, in the Yorkshire Dales. Its origins are possibly older – it is reputedly built on the site of an old hunting lodge. It is accessible along a track leading off the footpath between Muker and Keld, about
The Callanish Standing Stones is an atmospheric complex of 50 stones in a cruciform arrangement roughly aligned north-south, with an inner circle of 13 stones and a small chambered cairn. They date from 3000BC and there are several other prehistoric sites nearby, including 3 additional circles. As with other stone circles in Britain, there is
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Caernarfon Castle is an enormous medieval fortress and palace, with iconic polygonal towers, built from the late 13th century on the orders of Edward I as part of his strategy to subjugate the Welsh. It was constructed on the banks of the River Seiont on the site of an earlier Norman castle and close to
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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! This small structure in fact began as a gas lamp in 1826. In the
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