Passed down through the generations, Britain’s myths and legends are as diverse as our landscapes. Every river, dale and loch has its own chapter in British folklore, and you’re never far from a tall tale. From Robin Hood to King Arthur, the Loch Ness Monster to the Scottish kelpies, meet a colourful cast of characters who feel like they’ve stepped out of a storybook.
Here’s where to uncover the legendary history of our nations and regions for yourself.
Legend has it “Nessie” lurks the pitch-black depths of Loch Ness – and if you go on a monster-spotting trip to this enormous lake, maybe you’ll add to the 1,100 reported sightings of her? As Scotland’s largest loch by volume, Loch Ness near Inverness offers plenty of hiding places for the elusive beast (who may actually be a large eel, log or optical illusion). The Loch Ness Experience combines an immersive tour with a boat cruise across these fabled waters – and maybe you’ll be the one to solve the mystery?
Think of Sherwood Forest, and a certain outlaw and his Merry Men surely spring to mind. Robin Hood, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, is synonymous with Nottingham, and today his legend lives on. At the National Justice Museum, see the Old County Gaol where he was reportedly imprisoned, and spot his statue at Nottingham Castle. Then, immerse yourself among the ancient oaks of Sherwood, where the Robin Hood Festival delights with jousting, cool costumes and magical performances every August.
Look to the skies and you never know what you might spot. Take an extra-terrestrial adventure through Suffolk’s Rendlesham Forest and see the real-life locations of the famous 1980 UFO sighting. Or head to Scotland’s UFO hotspot, Bonnybridge in the Lowlands, part of the ‘Falkirk Triangle’ where 300 UFO sightings are made each year. For more out-of-this-world experiences, discover rockets and moon rocks at the National Space Centre in Leicester, or go stargazing at Kielder Observatory in Northumberland.
The man, the myth, the legend: King Arthur is synonymous with these shores, and his story is said to have begun at Tintagel Castle in Cornwall. Other spots associated with Arthurian legend include Caerleon in south Wales, a rumoured candidate for Camelot, and Glastonbury in Somerset, where Arthur went after his last battle. It was even said that Glastonbury Abbey was his final resting place.
You’ll find ancient stone circles from top to toe of Britain, from tiny Scottish islands to the world-famous Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. Many dating back to between 3000 and 2000BC, these Neolithic landmarks often have religious or ritual significance: for example, Stonehenge aligns with the sun on the solstices. Roughly 24 miles (39km) north of Stonehenge is Avebury, home to the world’s largest megalithic stone circle – join a guided tour to dig into its history.
Whether fact or fiction, one thing’s for sure: Britain is made of legendary stuff. You’ve probably heard of King Arthur and Robin Hood, but what about the devilish Spring-Heeled Jack or the Cailleach, Scotland’s queen of winter? From Shetland’s Wulver to Cornwall’s pixies, East Anglia’s Black Shuck and Wales’ Tylwyth Teg, you’re never far from meeting a mythical creature – if you dare.
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This legendary lady’s nude ride through Coventry has been part of the city’s story for more than 900 years. Lady Godiva was the wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercer and Lord of Coventry, who had imposed heavy taxes upon Coventry’s citizens. It’s said that Godiva pleaded with Leofric to relieve this burden, but he would only agree if she rode naked through the town. She did so, ordering people to stay indoors, barring their windows and doors, and using her long hair as a cloak.
Just one man, Tom, couldn’t help but look at Godiva. He unbarred his window, but before he could see her, he was blinded – and so the phrase ‘Peeping Tom’ was born.
Leofric fulfilled his promise and his tolls were lifted on Coventry, apart from those on horses. Today, its people are very proud of Lady Godiva and pays homage to her around the city. Head to Broadgate to see her bronze statue and the fascinating Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom Clock.
Robin Hood is the bow and arrow-wielding outlaw whose famous far beyond his stomping ground of Sherwood Forest. These ancient oaks tell centuries of stories – most notably Major Oak, rumoured to be the hideout of Robin and his Merry Men. Tales of his antics have been told since the 14th century and his legend lives on today thanks to a legion of films and TV shows dedicated to his adventures.
There’s plenty of landmarks paying tribute to his legend in Nottingham itself, too. Snap a selfie with the Robin Hood statue outside Nottingham Castle, then travel back in time to medieval England as part of the castle’s immersive Robin Hood Adventures exhibition. Or, join Ezekial Bone’s Robin Hood town tour through ancient caves, haunting jails and churchyards, finishing with a drink at the medieval Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem – thought to be one of England’s oldest inns.
Arthurian legends abound across Britain, but Cornwall is rumoured to be the birthplace of King Arthur. The 12th-century writer Geoffrey of Monmouth names Tintagel Castle as the spot where King Arthur was conceived, and it’s been intrinsically linked to his legend ever since. Look out for the bronze Gallos sculpture, portraying a ghostly male figure wearing a crown and wielding a sword.
Next head to Bodmin Moor, a wild and wonderful landscape where you’ll find Dozmary Pool, a reputed home to the Lady in the Lake. It’s here that KingArthur is said to have received the sword Excalibur. Other places on the moor that pay homage to Arthur are the King Arthur’s Quoit burial chamber near Liskeard and King Arthur’s Hall, an unusual rock formation.
You might recognise their name from Harry Potter but in English folklore, boggarts are shape-shifting spirits that love dark places. So, watch out for these malevolent spirits hiding in the corners of old houses or in countryside woods and gullies.
They’re a mainstay of British folklore, but pixies (or ‘piskies’ are especially associated with making mischief in Cornwall and Devon. They’re said to lead walkers astray on Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor, so keep an eye out next time you’re hiking there.
A Victorian-era legend, Spring-Heeled Jack is a devilish figure with an incredible ability to jump over rooftops and high hedges. He was spotted everywhere from London to Liverpool, but was especially prevalent in the Black Country in the English Midlands.
Watch out for grey and black horses near Scotland’s rivers and lochs, because they might not be all that they seem… These shape-shifting spirits possibly take their name from the Scottish Gaelic words ‘cailpeach’ or ‘colpach’. They can lure children onto their backs thanks to their cute appearance, then carry them into the water never to be seen again. Kelpies can also take on human forms, but look out for water weeds in their hair which reveal their hidden motives.
Since 2013, two epic steel horse-heads have towered over the Forth and Clyde Canal between Falkirk and Grangemouth. The Kelpies, designed by sculptor Andy Scott, are hat-tip to both the legendary beasts and the real-life heavy horses that shaped industrial Scotland. Did you know they’re the world’s largest equine sculptures?
Bring your binoculars to Loch Ness to be in with a chance of spotting its most famous resident. With its snake-like neck and long, humped body, Nessie is hardly an inconspicuous character, yet evidence of her existence is yet to be found. In 1987, marine biologist Adrian Shine ran Operation Deepscan, then the most extensive search of Loch Ness ever conducted, but with no luck.
The best opportunity to spot the Loch Ness Monster is on a boat trip on Loch Ness. Hop aboard Deepscan with an expert local skipper as real sonar equipment scans the lake’s depths for any sign of the beast, while you learn about the loch’s geology, wildlife and legends.
A mysterious cave on the tiny Scottish isle of Staffa is home to a giant of British folklore – quite literally. But despite the name, Fingal’s Cave isn’t home to the legendary Finn McCool of Celtic legend; it’s actually where you’ll find the giant Benandonner, his Scottish rival. It’s said that Finn got so fed up of Benandonner’s taunts from across the Irish Sea that he tore up huge pieces of the Antrim coast and chucked them into the water, creating a stone path to go and fight the giant. Legend has it that this is why the same basalt columns are found in the Giant’s Causeway and Fingal’s Cave.
Take a boat trip to Staffa to experience Fingal’s Cave for yourself, following in the footsteps of famous visitors like Queen Victoria and Robert Louis Stevenson. The island is great for birdwatching too, with the chance to spot guillemots, eiders and puffins.
Next time you’re exploring one of Scotland’s dramatic ruined castles, you might cross paths with a redcap. These malevolent, goblin-like creatures are so named because of their hats that need to be soaked in blood to maintain their colour – gruesome!
Half-woman, half-seal, these shape-shifting creatures are found all over Scotland but especially in Shetland and Orkney. Their unusual appearance allows them to explore both land and water.
Move over, Valentine’s Day – Wales has its own celebration of romance on 25th January and it’s thanks to this lady. St Dwynwen was a fourth-century Welsh princess and the prettiest of King Brychan Brycheiniog’s 24 daughters. Her father had arranged for her to marry a prince, but she was already in love with a local man, Maelon. She prayed for help and was visited by an angel who gave her a potion to forget Maelon, but unfortunately this turned him into a block of ice!
God granted Dwynwen three wishes: that Maelon be thawed; that God would help all true lovers; and that she would never marry. So, Dwynwen became a nun and founded a convent on Ynys Llanddwyn, off the coast of Anglesey. Make a pilgrimage to the island’s ruined church, or mark St Dwynwen’s Day with traditional wooden lovespoons… the choice is yours.
Discover Wales’ own Lady of the Lake legend at Llyn y Fan Fach, a lake on the northern fringes of the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog). Let’s go back to the 13th century, when a young farmer was entranced by a beautiful woman emerging from the lake. He charmed her by baking her bread and after three attempts, he won her hand in marriage. The one condition? If he hit her three times, she would leave him.
They lived happily on his farm for many years, raising a family and fantastic animals thanks to the woman’s magic, until the fateful day came when he struck her three times. Of course, she disappeared back into the lake, taking her magical animals and leaving the farmer to raise his sons. Their children included the physician Rhiwallon, who has his own legend – but that’s a whole other story.
Why not put your best foot forward on a walk to the lake? There’s a shorter long route, but we recommend taking a picnic and walking the loop around Llyn y Fan Fawr, too.
The riverside village of Beddgelert in Snowdonia (Eryri) is synonymous with the story of a brave dog called Gelert. Its name even translates to ‘Gelert’s grave’.
The story goes that the medieval Welsh prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth was a keen hunter and his favourite hunting dog was Gelert, given to him by England’s King John. One day, Llywelyn went out hunting, leaving Gelert at home with his baby. When he returned, he was greeted by Gelert with blood dripping from his jaws, the cot upturned – and no baby.
Assuming that Gelert had killed the baby, Llewelyn took out his sword and killed his beloved dog. But suddenly, a baby’s cry echoed around the room. The child was safe, but next to it lay the body of a huge wolf that Gelert had killed to protect them. Overcome with guilt and grief, Llewelyn gave Gelert a ceremonial burial beside the River Glaslyn – and you can still visit Gelert’s grave today.
Tylwyth teg are Wales’ fairy folk – often kind but still capable of mischief. They’re said to be terrified of iron, and unbaptised children could have an iron poker placed over their cradle to protect them from the fairies’ antics.
Wales is synonymous with dragons, and one of its most famous fire-breathing tales takes place in the mountains of north Wales, near Beddgelert. Discover the story of Merlin and the Dragons’ lair.
With its spellbinding coastline, it’s little surprise that the new HBO Harry Potter series is rumoured to be using Cornwall as one of its settings. Make magical memories at Carnglaze Caverns on the southern edge of Bodmin Moor, with its underground lake. Or, be enchanted by the beauty of St Michael’s Mount, a castle-topped island that you might recognise as High Tide, the seat of House Velaryon on House of the Dragon.
These slate-studded landscapes are no stranger to the screen, bringing the drama to a whole new level. At the foot of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), look out for the Llyn Padarn area in House of the Dragon and step back in time at Dolbadarn Castle, as seen in The Witcher. Guy Ritchie fans might also recognise Snowdonia from King Arthur: Legend of the Sword – the National Park’s lakes and mountains provided a suitably legendary backdrop.
The magical, mysterious hills and lakes of the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) National Park lend themselves perfectly to the fantasy genre. They’ve recently had cameos in TV shows His Dark Materials and Willow, plus the 2007 romantic fantasy film Stardust. A returning star is Llyn y Fan Fach, well worth the short yet dramatic hike.
There’s so much to do above and below ground in Britain’s first National Park, it’s no wonder it’s a favourite with fantasy filmmakers. Near Castleton, the limestone valley Cave Dale appears in both The Princess Bride and House of the Dragon. Nearby Peveril Castle is worth the trip, too. Just outside the National Park’s boundary you’ll find Hardwick Hall, a suitably imposing house that stars as Malfoy Manor in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I.
The birthplace of the Harry Potter books, Scotland’s capital packs a punch for fantastical filming locations too. Take hit time-travelling romance Outlander: near the Royal Mile you’ll find Bakehouse Close and Tweeddale Court, both stars of series three. The Royal Mile also makes a cameo in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, and the Hollywood director drew inspiration from the city when shaping the film’s look.
