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England Travel Guide

From enigmatic Stonehenge in the south, to the monumental Hadrian’s Wall in the north. From Sutton Hoo in the east, to castles of the Welsh Marches in the west. From the industrial heritage sites in the north, to the many World War II sites along the southern coastline. Beginning just before the end of the Ice Age on into the medieval period and beyond there have been successive arrivals of people who brought with them new ways of living: the first farmers, Romans, Saxons, Normans, as well as the African-Caribbean people in post-war times. All contributed to the diversity of archaeological and historical sites in England we visit today.

Reasons to Visit England

Misty view of Castlerigg Stone Circle taken at Castlerigg, Cumbria, UK on 13 April 2015
Standing Stones,
Ancient ruin of Whittington castle in Shropshire, England

Castles & Palaces,

Trajan London Roman Wall

Roman Ruins & Museums,

A flight of lock gates on the Oxford Canal at the village of Napton, Warwickshire in summertime

… and Waterways & Lakes.

About Our England Travel Guide

Whether you want to visit a few highlights of England’s heritage or are planning a more extensive trip, you are sure to find what you need here. From recommendations for the best sites and museums to visit to more extensive thematic lists. From suggested itineraries to tools to create your own itinerary and travel lists. As well as many other resources, travel tips and ideas. This guide focuses on the art, archaeology and history of England through the various sites, landmarks and museums open to the public. It is produced and maintained by Ethan Doyle White and Thomas Dowson, with contributions from past writers. Ethan is an independent writer with a PhD in archaeology from University College London. Thomas is the founder of Archaeology Travel, who lived for over 20 years in various parts of England. Read more about the authors and this website, as well as our mission and vision. This page was last checked and/or updated on 26 October 2023.

Interesting Things to Know About England

England is not a sovereign state, it is one of four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (which is a sovereign state). The Treat of Union of 1707 joined England and Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Although inhabited since the Stone Age, England takes its name from Germanic people called the Angles. The Old English name Englaland means the ‘land of the Angles’. They came from Anglia, a region on the east coast of what is today Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein (Germany). The Angles were one of a number of Germanic groups who settled in England in the 5th and 6th centuries CE, following the collapse of Roman administration.

England has 20 sites included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. One of these, the Dorset and East Devon Coast, is in the natural category, while the remaining 19 are cultural sites. Together they cover all periods of English history, from prehistory (the Avebury and Stonehenge landscape), Roman Britain (Hadrian’s Wall, Bath), Medieval England (Canterbury Cathedral, Fountains Abbey, the Tower of London), the Industrial Revolution (Ironbridge Gorge and Derwent Valley Mills), and the 20th Century (Jodrell Bank Observatory).

The ‘English’ are the product of successive arrivals of people over many hundreds of years, from prehistory to the 21st century. From the Iron Age Celts to the Romans who came as citizens of Rome and their slaves from all over the Roman Empire. From 5th and 6th century Germanic Angles, Saxons and Jutes to 9th century Danes from Scandinavia. From the Norman Conquest in 1066 to migrants in the 1950s and 1960s from former colonies in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. Each of these events not only left their marks on the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of England, but also shaped the identities of the English today.

What started out as an Iron Age oppidum developed into the Roman town of Venta Belgarum, Winchester in Hampshire went on to become the first capital city of England. Following the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror built Westminster Abbey and on Christmas Day in 1066 was crowned King of England there. The Abbey was followed by Westminster Hall, which would develop over time into the Palace of Westminster, and the rise of Westminster and London and the political and economic centre of England and the capital city.