Myths and legends

England’s favourite stories are the stuff of legend. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men, Camelot and Merlin, Dick Turpin, St George the dragon slayer, and many more. Were they real? Did the stories really happen? Were there such things as dragons? Some yes, some no, and some we’re not so sure about. There are plenty of mysteries still left unsolved, so dive in and learn more...

1. Sutton Hoo

Sutton Hoo in Suffolk is home to a Saxon king, whose gold treasure was kept from the Nazi spies in a plot that Indiana Jones would be proud of. Learn more and solve the mystery of who the king really was.
 

2. Petrifying Pluckley

Pluckley in Kent holds two distinctions: it was the setting for the TV show The Darling Buds of May, and it’s the official holder of ‘most haunted village in England’ title.
 

3. Send yourself to the Tower

See the world-famous ‘Crown Jewels’, try on a genuine suit of armour and learn about the legendary (and ominous) black ravens at The Tower of London .
 

4. Ghost hunting

Take the Original Ghost Walk of York and pass Clifford’s Tower, where Roger de Clifford was hanged in 1322 and left to rot there for a year and a day. Eurgh.
 

5. The good thief

Love Robin Hood? Then the Robin Hood Trail in Nottinghamshire (yes, it’s a real place), is the place to head.
 

6. Castle wars

Storm England’s ultimate fort: Warwick Castle and watch a real Trebuchet (giant catapult) hurl flaming missiles.
   

7. Spooky stones

Stonehenge is world famous, but it’s not the only henge in England. Head to Long Meg and Her Daughters near Penrith in the Lake District , legend has it you’ll never count the same number of stones twice. 
 

8. Mysterious knights

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are a well known bunch, but no-one knows where their legendary home of Camelot lay. Was it Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland? Cadbury Castle in Somerset ? Or Tintagel in Cornwall? You decide.
 

9. The Battle of 1066

William the Conquerer invaded England in 1066 and poor King Harold got an arrow in the eye. Visit the exact place (handily called Battle in East Sussex) and learn more at www.battle1066.com  

10. Dick Turpin

Turpin was the world’s most infamous highwayman, who was caught, tried and executed at York Castle in 1739.