Historical England Cities | VisitEngland.com

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Home > Places to visit > Historical Cities

Places to visit

Historical cities

Thousands of years of history await in England’s oldest cities. Perfect for a short break or weekend away, step back in time to discover the country’s illustrious past.

Find your literary heritage fix in Bath and Stratford-upon-Avon , punt down the river in Cambridge and see England’s academic history come to life in Norwich , Oxford and Durham . Marvel at the awe-inspiring architecture of York , Chester and Windsor and wander the age-old streets of Lincoln , Salisbury and Canterbury .

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Roman baths and murderous knights

Regency Bath; VisitEngland/Owen Benson;

Bath

Soak up stunning seasonal changes on the Skyline Walk and don't miss the Great Bath Feast for tasty foodie events.

Illuminating York. Copyright Kippa Matthews and Visit York;

York

Visit The Shambles, voted the country's most picturesque street.

Canterbury, Kent; VisitEngland/Alex Hare;

Canterbury

Make a pilgrimage and discover the bloody history behind Chaucer's tales.

Heritage cities with character

VisitBritain Images;

Chester & Cheshire

Cruise along the River Dee or shop in the historic Rows before you head out to explore the historic sites and gastro-pubs of Cheshire.

Salisbury Cathedral at dawn rising above the mist lying on Harnham Water Meadows; ©VisitBritain / David Noton;

Salisbury & Stonehenge

Explore historic streets and tuck into tasty local farmers' produce, and discover burial mounds and Iron Age forts.

Durham Cathedral; This is Durham;

Durham

Wander the the banks of the River Wear and visit the iconic cathedral, before heading out into the wild and unspoilt countryside of the Durham Dales and Vale of Durham.

Cultural & academic history

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire; VisitEngland/jameskerr.co.uk;

Stratford-Upon-Avon

Home to all things Shakespeare and The Dirty Duck, where you can rub shoulders with RSC actors.

View of Oxford spires from Sheldonian Theatre; VisitBritain images;

Oxford

See works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Picasso at the Ashmolean Museum.

Kings College Chapel, Cambridge; VisitBritain images;

Cambridge

Study Charles Darwin’s specimens at the Zoology Museum and art masterpieces at the Fitzwilliam, and lose yourself in the city's Botanic Garden.

Iconic landmarks and royal splendour

Looking at Norwich Cathedral; VB Iamges;

Norwich

Take a tour of the Norwich 12, a collection of iconic landmarks spanning the Norman, medieval, Georgian, Victorian and modern eras.

Windsor Castle; VB Images;

Windsor

Windsor Castle is the world's largest occupied castle, bursting with a thousand years of history.

Lincoln Cathedral; VisitEngland/Visit Lincoln;

Lincoln

History that radiates from the very pavement beneath your feet

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