Heritage
Lift history off the pages and explore historic England. With hundreds of award-winning heritage attractions, interactive museums and visitor centres, commemorative memorials and nearly 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites all crammed into one small country, you’ll trip over history at every turn. It’s virtually impossible to ignore this country's mythical and fabled characters, horrible histories, legendary monarchs and influential leaders as you discover Neolithic mounds and Roman ruins, thatched Tudor houses and spacious Victorian squares, prehistoric remains, spooky medieval gaols and historic towns in England. Hire a Blue Badge guide for an in-depth tour of your area of interest.
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Get on board at the National Railway Museum
The world's largest railway museum is home to a staggering collection of restored locomotives, including the fastest steam engine of all time.
Location: York, North Yorkshire
Rainy Day Activities: Step back in time at York Castle Museum
Travel back in time on a rainy day at this trend-setting museum, which transports visitors back through 300 years of history.
Location: York, North Yorkshire
Celebrate Ryedale's heritage at the Folk Museum
Discover this hidden gem deep in the North York Moors National Park and uncover English antiques and curiosities.
Location: Hutton-le-Hole, North Yorkshire
Walk in the footsteps of the famous Brontë sisters
Visit the Bronte Parsonage Museum and explore the beautiful home and surroundings that inspired classic Brontë novels.
Location: Haworth, West Yorkshire
Rainy Day Activities: Discover military history at The Royal Armouries
Britain’s national museum of arms and armour is home to a fascinating and unique collection, including the only existing suit of armour built for an elephant.
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Walk in Roman footsteps at Arbeia Roman Fort
Britain’s biggest and best reconstruction of a Roman fort is the perfect place to immerse yourself in an ancient way of life.
Location: South Shields, South Tyneside
Admire the picturesque views from Housesteads Roman Fort
Housesteads is the most iconic of all the Wall sites and the views and Roman remains are spectacular.
Location: Housesteads, Northumberland
Discover a tale of forbidden love at Bessie Surtees' house
A tale of forbidden love to rival Romeo and Juliet is immortalised in Bessie Surtees’ 16th century house, tucked behind NewcastleGateshead's quayside
Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
Visit England’s highest, longest and deepest canal tunnel
All aboard! Take a seat on the glass topped boat and take a journey into the highest, longest and deepest canal tunnel in the country.
Location: Marsden, West Yorkshire
Barnard Castle in the Durham Dales
A walking architectural history lesson.
Location: Barnard Castle, Durham Dales
Industry meets art at Salts Mill
Packed to its Victorian rafters with independent traders and the largest collection of David Hockney’s work.
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Take your senses on a trip back in time at Beamish
Touch, taste, hear, see and smell history on an unforgettable journey into the past at England’s largest open-air museum.
Location: Vale of Durham
Follow in the footsteps of William Wilberforce
The Wilberforce Trail explores the politician’s fascinating past, from his early life and politics to his passionate campaign against the slave trade.
Location: Hull, East Yorkshire
Explore the magnificent ruins of Kirkstall Abbey
This atmospheric 12th-century abbey is one of the most complete Cistercian monasteries in Britain, surrounded by tranquil tree-filled parkland.
Location: Leeds, Yorkshire
Rainy Day Activities: Explore mining history at Woodhorn Museum
Explore hundreds of years of mining heritage at this unique museum in Northumberland, built from what was once the largest pit village in the world.
Location: Ashington, Northumberland
Relive the sights and sounds of wartime Britain at Eden Camp
Be transported back through time from an ex-POW camp in Malton, North Yorkshire, to life in wartime Britain on both the home front and on the front line.
Location: Malton, North Yorkshire
Rainy Day Activities: Hop from gallery to shop at the Salts Mill
Found near Bradford, the Yorkshire Salts Mill is an indoor hive of art galleries and indie shops, set within the culturally rich World Heritage Site of Saltaire.
Location: Saltaire, West Yorkshire
Delve into Durham’s historic treasure troves
Step back in time and admire world-class art at captivating castles and manor houses across the county.
Location: Vale of Durham / Durham Dales
See Harry Potter and Downton Abbey sets in Alnwick
Relive scenes from hit TV shows and movies in the magnificent setting of Alnwick Castle, a popular destination for film crews.
Location: Alnwick, Northumberland
Take a tour of the Devonshire Collection at Chatsworth
Admire historical artworks in a grand setting at Chatsworth.
Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire