Britain's Greatest Sites

This page is based on the Telegraph article Fifty of Britain's best-kept secrets.

Roman Villa. Lullingstone (near Eynsford), Kent  Dating from the 2nd century AD, this rich man's farmhouse is one of the key sites of Roman ( Eynsford)  map

13th century manor house. Plaxtol (near Sevenoaks), Kent. A rare survival, Old Soar Manor retains its "solar" room, chapel and staircase. ( Borough Green & Wrotham) map

Fragment of Roman road. Blackstone Edge, Littleborough  A remarkable half-mile at Blackstone Edge. ( Littleborough) map

Burghley House. Lincolnshire Considered the greatest Elizabethan house in Britain. ( Stamford) map

16 Medieval stained glass. St George's, Kelmscott, Oxfordshire. A delicate late 15th century window showing St George on horseback slaying the dragon. ( Kelmscott. 26 miles west of Oxford) map

Plague graveyard. St Olave's, Hart St, London EC3  Belonging to the church where Samuel Pepys is buried. ( Tower Hill) map

Ancient wooden carving. Church of St Senara, Zennor, Cornwall. Part pagan, part early Christian, the Zennor Mermaid is carved on the end of a pew. ( St. Ives) map

18th-century theme park. Piercefield Park, Monmouthshire. Piercefield Park laid out along the west bank of the River Wye to provide viewing points in keeping with Picturesque principles. ( Chepstowe. 20 miles east of Newport) map

12th century murals. Clayton, West Sussex  Church of St. John the Baptist. In this South Downs church are beautifully faded frescoes dated by Pevsner to c1140. ( Brighton) map

Visit Guides

Visit London
Visit Britain
Oyster Card
Telegraph UK Holiday Accomodations Guide
Great Inns of Britain - 20 pubs with good-quality rooms, most in attractive rural locations. (01423 770152)
Wolsey Lodges - B&B, reasonably priced. (01473 822058)
Hoseasons - 200 lodges in the UK, starting at £245 per week. (0844 847 1100)
Alastair Sawday's travel guides:
  British Bed & Breakfast - £9.74
  Pubs & Inns of England & Wales - £9.74

Sites to See - London & Environs

Walking tours - see Original London Walks.

Canada House, Trafalgar Square

Vermeer paintings at National Gallery: A Lady Standing at the Virginal and A Lady Seated at a Virginal (see Essential Vermeer)

Lord's Cricket Ground ( St John's Wood (Jubilee Line), Warwick Avenue (Bakerloo Line) and Baker Street (Bakerloo, Circle, Jubilee, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines). map

The National Gallery Trafalgar Square, London ( Charing Cross, Leicester Square)

The British Museum. (Good afternoon tea!) See also the Museum Tavern opposite the B.M. - very good pub, 49 Great Russell St. ( Holborn or Tottenham Court Road) Open Sat-Thur 10:00-17:30, Fri 10:00-20:30.
London Walks does a tour: every Mon at 10:45 am, every Wed at 2 pm, and every Sat at 2 pm.

Victoria & Albert Museum. Cromwell Rd. Hours: Sat-Thur 10:00-17:45; Fri 10:00-22:00. London Walks does a "V & A Museum Tour": every Fri at 10:45am. ( South Kensington) map

Globe Theatre ( Cannon Street)

Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Rd. ( Lambeth North) map
 
Cabinet War Rooms, Clive Steps, St.Charles St. ( St.James Park) map
 
Old Bailey (don't do Insight tour) & St.Paul's Cathedral ( St.Paul's) map
 
Lillywhites - sporting goods, 6 floors! 24-36 Regent St. ( Piccadilly Circus) map
 
Fortnum & Mason, 181-186 Picadilly. food hampers, tinned pheasant? ( Greenpark or Piccadilly Circus) map
 
Harrod's ( Knightsbridge or Hyde Park Corner) map

Plague graveyard. St Olave's, Hart St. Samuel Pepys buried here. ( Tower Hill or Monument) map
 
Cutty Sark. King William Walk ( Island Gardens)

Pankhurst Barbers (inside Alfred Dunhill), 48 Jermyn St. ( Green Park or Piccadilly Circus) map


Day Trips near London

Bletchley Park (by rail from Euston Station to  Bletchley)

Hampton Court Palace. Mon-Sun 10:00-16:30 (by rail from Waterloo to Hampton Court)

Windsor Castle. Royal palace, also near Eton. Advanced purchase of tickets recommended. Hours 10:00-15:00 (Nov-Feb); 10:00-16:00 (Mar-Oct). (by rail from Paddington to Windsor & Eton Riverside)

Kew Gardens. The Royal Botanical Gardens. Hours: closing times vary throughout the year  (from 15:30 to 18:00) but always open at 10:00 - see website for details. Open every day except Dec. 24 & 25. ( Kew Gardens - District Line)

Greenwich Observatory. Hours 10:00-17:00. You can get to Greenwich from many locations in London and by various means: tube, rail or boat. Go to Visit London to see all the options. For example, from London Bridge it is an 8 minute tube ride, 10 minute train ride, or a 25 minute boat ride. ( North Greenwich - Jubilee Line; Greenwich)