Pomp and circumstance. Danny Boyle summed it up best. Our proud traditions and extraordinary heritage are the bread and butter of what makes us English. We can brush our fingers across mighty megaliths, stones standing guard, frozen in time. We can step inside preserved castles bearing battle scars of old, and plunge into darkness down abandoned mines, relics of great industries, long-since past. Guards march solemnly past, making history today as they have done for hundreds of years. We stand and stare at heritage tourist attractions throughout the land and allow the past to meld into the present. Our England.
This Sceptred Isle
All aboard heritage steam trains at the Epping Ongar Railway
Pay a visit to Epping Ongar Railway, and ride on running steam and diesel engines between period stations, through countryside and forest.
Location: Chipping Ongar, Essex
Uncover London’s industrial heritage at The Brunel Museum
Discover how the world's first underwater tunnel was built on a visit to the Brunel Museum.
Location: London, Greater London
Rainy Day Activities: Experience the underground world of Wookey Hole
There are legends aplenty about Britain’s biggest caves, where you’ll find a secret river and bewitching caverns.
Location: Wells, Somerset
Be royalty for a day at Scarborough Castle
Take an audio tour around the Castle, enjoy breathtaking views from the headland of the North Yorkshire Coast and have tea in a historic building.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Saxon Heritage at Sutton Hoo
See one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time at Sutton Hoo.
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk
Take a trip back to where the Industrial Revolution began
Ironbridge Gorge has World Heritage status for its unique contribution to the birth of the global Industrial Revolution in the 18th century.
Location: Ironbridge, Shropshire
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
See the changing of the Guards at Windsor
If there’s one essential experience in Windsor, it’s taking in the spectacle of the Changing of the Guard. This tradition brings history and the public together.
Location: Windsor, Berkshire
Discover a secluded fortified manor house at Aydon Castle
Over 900 years old and pretty much unaltered since then, Aydon Castle sits proudly upon its crag; a true survivor of some rough times and visitors.
Location: Corbridge, Northumberland
Barnard Castle in the Durham Dales
A walking architectural history lesson.
Location: Barnard Castle, Durham Dales
Full steam ahead on a loco driven by you
Many would love the chance to drive a steam engine, well now's your chance: become a train driver for the day at Telford Steam Railway.
Location: Telford, Shropshire
Life in Victorian Bradford
Founded by Sir Titus Salt in 1853, Saltaire is a UNESCO World Heritage site and remains a living, working 19th century village.
Location: Saltaire, West Yorkshire
Explore the Industrial Revolution at Ironbridge Gorge
Go to Ironbridge Gorge which created the spark that started the Industrial Revolution.
Location: Ironbridge, Shropshire
Tour the tower of Lincoln Cathedral
For 300 years Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the world. Take a tour of the iconic building for an unforgettable experience.
Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Re-live the Age of Steam at Great Central Railway
Make your childhood dreams come true by driving a steam locomotive train, or sit back and travel in comfort.
Location: Loughborough, Leicestershire
Discover a new visitor experience at Colchester Castle
Colchester Castle is the biggest Norman keep in Britain, in fact, it’s the biggest ever built by the Normans anywhere in Europe.
Location: Colchester, Essex
Explore Cornwall’s mining heritage
Sandy beaches, cream teas, ancient woodlands and innovative architecture make for a fascinating family day out in Camborne and Redruth.
Location: Cornwall
Dig for buried treasure at Roman Vindolanda
See live archaeological excavations before your eyes at the ancient fort of Vindolanda.
Location: Vindolanda, Northumberland
Discover Danebury mysterious Iron Age world
Danebury is perhaps the most extensively studied Iron Age hillfort in Europe. Its intriguing finds can be found at Andover’s Museum of the Iron Age.
Location: Test Valley, Hampshire
Experience life as a monk at historic Whitby Abbey
Discover how over 2,000 years of history made Whitby Abbey one of England’s most important archaeological sites.
Location: Whitby, North Yorkshire
Be the first to hear about our offers and competitions.
The latest travel news, events and ideas for holidays and breaks in England
VisitEngland would like to invite you to take part in a short survey about our website, it should take no more than a couple of minutes.