England on any globe can look small and unimpressive. But if you are studying in England, there on business or are spending vacation time just across “the pond”, you’ll want to see the sites that, when considered together, can really provide you with a memory of what England was and is. Even though it is limited in land area, unlike the United States, England has a history that goes back for all of 10 centuries and amazingly there are still landmark buildings that attest to that fact. There is so much to do that you may have trouble deciding how exactly to spend your time. If you can include a fair number of these ten top British tourist sites you will have done just fine.
1. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. There is one site that, perhaps more even than Buckingham Palace, seems to put a face on the British nation and that is the magnificent Houses of Parliament, the clock tower which stands guard over the parliament and the magnificent bell that tolls the hours. That great bell, named by the British Parliament as “Big Ben”, was cast several years before the American Civil War began and was rung for the first time on May 31, 1859. The British Parliament , the clock tower and Big Ben continue to stand as symbols of the British nation and as London landmarks known internationally . Certainly any tour, even your own needs to spend time passing by “Big Ben ” more than once to really sense the British character it typifies.
2. The Tower of London If you have even a slight knowledge of British history or have watched a few movies featuring British history like “A Man for All Seasons
you likely will consider the Tower of London as one of the ten top British tour sites. The tower has been used for almost 500 years as a place to keep things both valued and loathed. The Tower of London, once a fortress, was later the occasional home for British monarchs and more notoriously the last home for many political prisoners. Executions and tortures were held on this spot. Celebrities like Sir Thomas Moore and Ann Boleyn breathed their last here. The last execution was held in 1941 when a firing squad of Scots Guard took the life of a German spy. Today the tower of London continues to do two things rather well, draw tourists and provide safe storage for the crown jewels.
3. Regent’s Park. A treasure for the people of London to enjoy, Regent’s park offers tennis courts, a band stand, open air theater, a children’s playground and lots of common, open land in London where locals and visitors can enjoy a peaceful stroll or a quiet spot to sit and read. Adjacent to the park is the London Zoo with exhibits that will please adults and children alike. You can get a feel for the British and how they like to relax at this top British tour site.
4. Stonehenge. Among the very unique and archaeologically interesting finds in England is Stonehenge. This circular collection of large standing stones tells of the existence of mankind in the area of Wilstone County, England more than 3000 years before Christ. Scholars vary in their opinions of why Stonehenge was established, some see it as a place where human sacrifice may have been offered others connect its existence to astrology. Whatever the original intent, Stonehenge continues to mystify modern man and is definitely one of the ten top tourist sites in England. To preserve this incredible prehistoric monument tourists are not allowed to walk among the stones but for an admission fee you can come closer to the distant past than you are ever likely to get again.
5. Stratford-on-Avon. For students studying abroad and other visitors to England, a day trip to Stratford-on-Avon is a must. What cultural giant better represents England than William Shakespeare. You will get a feeling for Shakespeare’s continued international popularity and the honor that is paid him in his own home town, this, one of the ten top tourist sites in England. At Stratford you can actually see the ancestral home of the Bard. A short distance outside of the town you can view the quaint, thatched cottage where Shakespeare’s true love, Anne Hathaway lived before marrying him. This cottage and other buildings in the area are little changed since being built in the 1500’s. Of course while you are there you can also take the opportunity to see one of Shakespeare’s plays performed by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company. There aren’t many events that are more thoroughly British than that.
6. Oxford or Cambridge. In the English university system there are two giants, Oxford and Cambridge. Incredibly enough, the history of both of these institutions weaves back through time to the 13th Century when both were founded. Through thousands of years the leading scholars, politic ans, theologians and philosophers of England have taken their degrees at one of these two institutions. Today the schools, made up of a number of individual colleges, both offer degrees to some 10,000 students. While these are working universities, they also are historical sites and can help foreign students and visitors to better understand the reverence paid internationally to Oxford and Cambridge.
7.Wimbledon – Site of an international Grand Slam Tennis event, Wimbledon is also nearly a shrine for grass tennis players the world over. Annually during the last week of June and the first week of July men and women play tennis on grass courts hoping for the chance to get to the tournament finals and be featured on world wide television on the famous “Center Court” of Wimbledon. Tickets for those in England during this time frame are difficult to obtain but just visiting Wimbledon for real tennis fans is a dream come true.
8. Windsor Castle. For American visitors having the chance to see a castle that is 500 years old is a real kick. But how about one that is 900 years old? That’s what you will encounter if you visit Windsor Castle. This structure is the largest operating castle in the world. It serves as an alternate residence for the Queen. But visitors are also welcomed to stroll through large parts of the castle and marvel at the collection of elegant art works and treasures in the keeping of the royal family. Keep an eye to the sky if you visit this one of the ten top British tourist sites because at Windsor Castle you will sometimes see a flag flying. If you do, it gives notice to one and all that the Queen is currently in residence.
9.London Tower Bridge. No trip to England would be complete with tout a tour of Thames and a close up view of London Tower Bridge. Adjacent to the Tower of London, the Bridge will be a reminder to all of the nursery song “London Bridge is Falling Down”. Of course the actual “London Bridge” mentioned did almost fall down but was saved and gently taken down and rebuilt in Arizona of all places. The London Tower Bridge is scenic and frequently photographed by visitors to London .
10, Westminster Abbey. Crown all your other traveling stops with a visit to Westminster Abbey. It’s official site refers to this famous spot as “Place of Worship House of Kings”. It’s an accurate name for a structure that has served the British people for more than 900 years. Since 1066 every British monarch has been crowned at Westminster. Many monarchs and leading citizens of the realm have found their final resting place inside the walls of Westminster Abbey. Still the Abbey remains a place where common English citizens can come and join in public worship. In this way the Abbey has stood over time as one of the most celebrated and unifying buildings in England and definitely one of the ten top British tourist sites
