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From Edinburgh’s medieval marvels to the Georgian beauty of Bath, Britain’s cities are full of chocked with cultural treasures and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

Whether you catch a live gig at Cardiff Castle or climb the rigging of London’s Cutty Sark ship, here’s how to experience a new side of Britain’s heritage hotspots.

Britain’s top city-based UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church

Find out more about Canterbury Cathedral

Getty Images/David Bank

Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent at dusk
Canterbury Cathedral

A wellness retreat for the Romans and Georgian architecture around every corner.

Discover more about Bath

VisitBritain/Andrew Welsher

Aerial view of crescent-shaped building surrounded by grass
Bath

Marvel at the fine examples of Gothic and Norman architecture at Durham Cathedral and Castle, both of which boast UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Visit Durham Castle and Cathedral

VisitDurham

A view across the River Wear, looking at Durham Cathedral.
Durham Castle and Cathedral

Connect with nature at London’s 300-acre Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, founded by King George III’s mother in 1759.

Connect with nature at Kew Gardens

VisitBritain/J Baxter

Woman going up the staircase in the Palm House
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Step into more than 1,000 years of history at the setting of every coronation since 1066.

Uncover history at Westminster Abbey

VisitBritain/Andrew Pickett

Panoramic view of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and London Eye
Westminster Abbey, London

Get hands-on with history at this former palace and prison. It’s full of tales and treasures, including the Crown Jewels.

Book your Tower of London tickets

Visit Britain/George Johnson

Beefeater walking by the, Tower of London on a sunny day
Tower of London

Edge south of central London and you’ll find the historic borough of Greenwich, including free entry to the National Maritime Museum.

Learn more about Maritime Greenwich

visitlondon.com/ Jon Reid

Maritime Museum Greenwich
Maritime Greenwich

Get lost in the cobbled alleyways of Edinburgh’s Old Town topped by the sturdy Edinburgh Castle.

Find out more about Edinburgh’s new and old towns

VisitBritain/Oscura & World of Illusions

High view of rooftops of Edinburgh with sea beyond as seen from Oscura & World of Illusions attraction
Old and New Towns of Edinburgh

Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church

Find out more about Canterbury Cathedral

Getty Images/David Bank

Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent at dusk
Canterbury Cathedral

A wellness retreat for the Romans and Georgian architecture around every corner.

Discover more about Bath

VisitBritain/Andrew Welsher

Aerial view of crescent-shaped building surrounded by grass
Bath

Marvel at the fine examples of Gothic and Norman architecture at Durham Cathedral and Castle, both of which boast UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Visit Durham Castle and Cathedral

VisitDurham

A view across the River Wear, looking at Durham Cathedral.
Durham Castle and Cathedral

Connect with nature at London’s 300-acre Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, founded by King George III’s mother in 1759.

Connect with nature at Kew Gardens

VisitBritain/J Baxter

Woman going up the staircase in the Palm House
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Step into more than 1,000 years of history at the setting of every coronation since 1066.

Uncover history at Westminster Abbey

VisitBritain/Andrew Pickett

Panoramic view of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and London Eye
Westminster Abbey, London

Get hands-on with history at this former palace and prison. It’s full of tales and treasures, including the Crown Jewels.

Book your Tower of London tickets

Visit Britain/George Johnson

Beefeater walking by the, Tower of London on a sunny day
Tower of London

Edge south of central London and you’ll find the historic borough of Greenwich, including free entry to the National Maritime Museum.

Learn more about Maritime Greenwich

visitlondon.com/ Jon Reid

Maritime Museum Greenwich
Maritime Greenwich

Get lost in the cobbled alleyways of Edinburgh’s Old Town topped by the sturdy Edinburgh Castle.

Find out more about Edinburgh’s new and old towns

VisitBritain/Oscura & World of Illusions

High view of rooftops of Edinburgh with sea beyond as seen from Oscura & World of Illusions attraction
Old and New Towns of Edinburgh

Britain’s top countryside-based UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Cotswolds

Britain’s greatest palace is in the Cotswolds – the magnificent Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Winston Churchill.

VisitBritain/Marina Comes

Blenheim Palace

Woman walking in Blenheim Palace gardens surrounded by greenery
Ironbridge Gorge

Set within the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ironbridge Gorge sits in the scenic valley along the River Severn, and is widely regarded as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

Ironbridgegmt

A group of workers pouring steel at Ironbridge Gorge, one of the starting places of the Industrial Revolution
Saltaire Village

Tucked away close to Bradford is the village of Saltaire. Built by Victorian textile baron Sir Titus Salt who built homes, hospitals and schools for the betterment of his workers, its now a World Heritage Site.

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A view along the canal in Saltaire, Yorkshire
Dorset and East Devon Coast

A geologically and historically important stretch of undeveloped coastline along Dorset and East Devon.

VisitBritain/Pawel Libera

Durdle Door on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset

A couple walking on a clifftop with the sea in the background, Dorset
Causeway Head

Were these 40,000 interlocking basalt columns created by an ancient volcanic eruption, or built by the fabled giant Finn MacCool? You decide…

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

Sunset over the red basalt column. Sea views
Salisbury, England

Spy the wolrd-famous mysterious prehistoric monument that continues to puzzle us all.

VisitBritain/Stephen Spraggon

Large stone pillars arranged in circle on grass. Sunset
Brampton, United Kingdom

Combine tangible history with breathtaking walks, museums and glorious countryside along these ancient Roman ramparts.

VisitBritain/Thomas Heaton

View along Hadrian's Wall at sunset
Orkney

See the drama of prehistoric history that spans back more than 4,500 years on this remote archipelago in the far north of Scotland.

Fionn McArthur

Broch of Gurness, Orkney
Studley Royal Park

This incredibly well-preserved and impressively imposing Cistercian monastery, founded around 1132, went on to become one of the richest monasteries of its time.

National Trust Images/Chris Lac

A young couple walking through the grounds of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire
Conwy, North Wales

Standing tall for more than 700 years, this Medieval fortress overlooks the pretty town of Conwy – both a joy to explore.

VisitBritain/David Angel

North Wales

A castle lit up at night in winter snow near harbour