Since time immemorial, England has always been so intriguing, exhilarating, and eccentric. It’s filled with grandeur gothic buildings, mythical landscape, and enchanting nature.
England might be small, but it has a lot of lyrical landscapes to satisfy the wanderlust of both young and old. It has a living history, and most of the century-old infrastructure tells a thousand stories.
Really, you’ll never get short of things to do and places to love in England. There are lots to admire in the dramatic cityscape, so we’ve listed down 10 of the best England landmarks that you should not miss!
1. Big Ben
Big Ben is London’s iconic national timepiece. It’s a famous landmark in England that draws thousands of tourists. This gigantic timepiece (also called Elizabeth Tower) is a prominent feature of the Palace of Westminster.
As of now, the iconic clock tower is encased in scaffolding for a £61-million refurbishment project. The famed chimes of the big clock will be silenced until the conservation work is finished, which would be in 2021.
The clock tower has been a famous photographed site of England. It stands proud and tall and is always part of that perfect London picture. England cityscape would never be the same without the magnificent Big Ben.
2. Tower of London
Another famous attraction in England is the grand and elegant Tower of London. It was formerly a royal residence, mint, armory, treasury, mint, and zoo, but it is popularly remembered as the prison where nobles, three queens, and a king slept to death.
The Tower of London is actually a castle of 22 imposing towers. Behind this elegant and robust tower is terrible and compelling history.
This stunning architecture houses gruesome tales. Many have said they’ve seen ghosts in the complex. The now-grandeur palace was once a famous prison where a lot of executions had happened. No wonder it is a favorite spooky spot every Halloween.
The famous Tower of London continues to be a royal palace for 1000 years already. In fact, it is the world’s oldest constantly occupied palace and fortress. It is also a world UNESCO heritage site.
3. Stonehenge
There’s no question that Stonehenge is the world’s most famous prehistoric monument. It is also Britain’s most iconic archaeological site, consists of a ring of monolithic stones that had attracted a lot of philosophers, poets, and pilgrims for thousands of years.
Discover this mythical stone circle by booking a tour. Take close up shots to the magical henge that are over 5000 years old.
The green field where the stones stand and the spectacular blue horizon, the airy ambiance, and the solitude will surely de-stress you!
4. River Thames
A trip down to the famous River Thames is a lovely way to see many stunning attractions close to the river. The iconic Thames is part of the longest river in England. It has 45 locks and is home to more than 25 species of fish.
If you take a boat tour, you will see London’s major sites as you glide in the water, including the Hampton Court Palace, The London Eye, Tower of London, Greenwich Park, Royal Air Force Memorial, The dome of St. Pauls’ Cathedral, Somerset House, and more!
5. Buckingham Palace
A famous England landmark, Buckingham Palace is a place of glamour, elegance, and royalness. Every year, the palace features special exhibitions.
This year marks 200 years since the birth of Queen Victoria, so a special exhibition tells the story of how the Queen transformed the palace from a house into a royal residence.
There’s a lot to see in Buckingham Palace, including beautiful state rooms, the magnificent Grand Staircase, a collection of Sevres Porcelain, and the majestic Throne Room.
6. St. Paul’s Cathedral
The iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral is a must-see landmark when you visit England. It was rebuilt by Christopher Wren in 1666, after the Great Fire.
The famous Cathedral has been the site of many historical events, including the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer and Sir Winston Churchill’s state funeral.
The massive St. Paul’s welcomes visitors with access to five levels of the Cathedral. Visiting this religious site will surely complete your England trip.
7. Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world! It was a Royal home and fortress for more than 900 years. Now, this iconic castle remains a working palace.
The Queen uses Windsor Castle as a private home (where she spends the weekend) and as a Royal residence where she undertakes formal duties.
8. Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster is filled with an intriguing and colorful history.
Also called the Houses of Parliament, the Palace of Westminster features a Gothic-style building. This is where the House of Commons and the House of Lords meet.
The palace was destroyed by a devastating fire in October 1834. Only Westminster Hall survived the fire. The building was reconstructed and was finished in 1847, with 11 courtyards, 1200 rooms, and 2.1 miles of corridors.
9. The British Museum
The British Museum houses a vast collection of world art and artifacts. Entering this massive, iconic museum is free to all visitors.
You’ll see over 8 million works in the museum, some were sourced during the era of the British Empire.
Did you know? The British Museum was the first public national museum in the world!
Discover the human history, culture, and other world-famous objects, including Egyptian mummies, the Parthenon sculptures, and the Rosetta Stone.
10. The Shard
Also referred to as the Shard of Glass, The Shard is a 95-story supertall skyscraper standing proud in the heart of London.
This England landmark is a must-visit site. Visitors go to The Shard and stand in The View to get a spectacular 360-degree view over the UK’s capital.
Fun fact: The Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom, in the European Union, and the 6th tallest building in Europe. It is also the second-tallest free-standing structure in the UK.
