Places to visit
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A walk around Constable Country
Fiona Reynolds takes a stroll through a landscape which leaves her 'inspired anew'.
By Fiona Reynolds Published
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Chapel of St Peter on the Wall, Essex: 'The deepest living root of the church in Britain'
Our 21st century Grand Tour of Britain moves on to an ancient church in Essex.
By Clive Aslet Published
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Pevensey Castle, East Sussex: The Roman castle that was still being used in World War II
When William the Conqueror landed at Pevensey, he moved in to the nearby castle — one which had already stood for the best part of a thousand years.
By Clive Aslet Published
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Dover Castle, Kent: England's strongest castle
Jack Watkins looks at the story and impact of The Great Tower at Dover Castle, the imposing creation of Henry II that still stands strong almost 900 years later.
By Jack Watkins Published
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The extraordinary tale of Hadrian's Wall: 'Men have been deified for trifles compared with this admirable structure'
What once kept out hordes of bloodthirsty warriors is, nearly 2,000 years later, barely proof against the most timid of sheep. But if Hadrian’s Wall is now low on stature, it remains high on atmosphere, says Harry Pearson.
By Harry Pearson Published
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Colchester, Essex: The purpose-built capital city of Roman Britain
Clive Aslet considers the town that was one of Roman Britain's greatest cities — and even, for a while, its capital: Colchester.
By Clive Aslet Published
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St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall: The monastery that became a castle that became a home
Few spots on the coast of Britain are as romantic and storied as St Michael's Mount in Cornwall.
By Toby Keel Published
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The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct: Thomas Telford's 'ribbon of water in the sky'
The magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is one of the great testaments to Industrial Revolution ingenuity — and as beautiful as it is impressive. Jack Watkins takes a look.
By Jack Watkins Published
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Stonehenge, Wilthsire: 'One of the wonders not only of this country, but of the world'
Our Grand Tour of Britain alights at what is arguably the world's most famous prehistoric site: Stonehenge, in Wiltshire.
By Clive Aslet Published
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The Uffington White Horse, Oxfordshire
Thousands of years ago, ancient Britons created a vast and spectacular stylised portrayal of a horse in the hills of the North Wessex Downs. Surely they could scarcely have dreamed that The Uffington White Horse would still be intriguing visitors to this day.
By Clive Aslet Published
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Skara Brae: The prehistoric village on Orkney that's older than Great Pyramid of Giza
The best-preserved Neolithic settlement in Europe isn't in a French cave or an Italian hillside; it's Skara Brae on Orkney, far beyond the north of Scotland.
By Clive Aslet Published
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The Fortingall Yew, the Scottish tree which was already 3,000 years old when Christ was born
Yews are well known for their longevity, but few — if any — can top the 5,000-year-old Fortingall Yew.
By Clive Aslet Published
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The Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is a geological marvel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an unmissable stop for anyone heading to Northern Ireland.
By Clive Aslet Published
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Things to do: Music in the gardens, the buildings of the Weald & Downland and a circus at the cathedral
Keep your diary up-to-date with our selection of unmissable events and things to do in the next few weeks.
By Country Life Published
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10 of the best beaches in Britain and Ireland, from sandy spaces for families to places of exquisite natural beauty
If you're planning a holiday in Britain or Ireland this summer, you're in for a treat: the spectacular coastlines of these countries get battered by weather in autumn and winter, but on a fine day in spring or summer they're the equal of anything in the world. Rosie Paterson picks out 10 of the very best, and suggests places to stay near each once tourism is back up and running.
By Rosie Paterson Published
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New tickets available for opening of Queen's private gardens at Buckingham Palace
Large areas of the gardens at Buckingham Palace are to be opened freely to visitors for the first time this summer, and due to 'exceptional demand' extra dates have been put on between now and September.
By Toby Keel Published
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Brodsworth Hall's 150-year-old follies — restored, reopened and remarkable
Brodsworth Hall's gardens and unusual follies have been restored during lockdown. Annunciata Elwes takes a look.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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Cerne Abbas: Was the giant naked man an artistic act of defiance aimed at monks?
New evidence suggests that the Cerne Abbas giant is much older than previously thought — and that its creation might have been 'a big two fingers' aimed at the Benedictine monks who had recently established an abbey.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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Why Britain's finest attractions need visitors like never before — and those who go will be rewarded: 'You are likely to never see them so quiet again'
A huge drop in visits to the best museums, zoos and houses in Britain has prompted calls for an extra day's holiday at the end of summer to help us all enjoy them.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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A month-by-month guide to the most beautiful gardens to visit in Britain
Some gardens are even better in winter. Read our list of the best gardens to visit all year round.
By Kathryn Bradley-Hole Published
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Chapel of St-Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell-on-Sea: The 1,350-year-old church in a remote Essex field
The Chapel of St-Peter-on-the-Wall in Bradwell-on-Sea has a fascinating — and very, very long — history.
By Annunciata Elwes Published