History and heritage in the UK

Think of the UK and iconic places such as Buckingham Palace and Stonehenge come to mind, though there’s far more to explore – as thousands of international students discover every year! Many choose to spend their free time exploring the huge diversity of the UK’s cities, towns, coast and countryside.

 

History and heritage in the UK has so much to offer everyone, from ancient castles to historical sites. There’s a huge variety of places to see in a relatively small country, and many attractions can be visited for free.
 
The birth of industry

 

Did you know that the Industrial Revolution started in the UK? In the 18th and 19th centuries the west Midlands was famous for its iron foundries and steel mills, and many important industrial sites can still be seen today. The Iron Bridge Gorge Museum (the world’s first arch bridge to be made from cast iron), Blists Hill Victorian Town and the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron all give a fantastic impression of what life was like at the time. Other popular industrial attractions elsewhere in the country include the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea and the Science Museum in London.

Those interested in modern industry will also find lots to discover. Examples of museums with recent and contemporary collections include National Museum Wales and London’s Design Museum.

Writers’ trail

English literature is one of the UK’s great gifts to the world. Writers from these shores have entertained readers for hundreds of years, and their novels, plays and poems are still enjoyed by millions.

The homes of many of our greatest writers still survive, welcoming huge numbers of visitors each year. The birthplace of William Shakespeare can still be visited in in Stratford-on-Avon, and many take the opportunity to see a performance of one of his plays at the at the newly refurbished Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

 

The home of the Scottish poet Robert Burns in Dumfries and English Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s cottage  in Somerset are also open to view, as are a number of buildings in Belfast associated with CS Lewis – the author of the Chronicles of Narnia.

 

Locations which have inspired or featured in English literary works continue to be popular destinations. The scenic Lake District encouraged Beatrix Potter to write her charming children’s books while the wild and rugged landscape of Yorkshire will forever be associated with Brontë sisters.

 

Those following the trail of contemporary writers might want to head to Edinburgh. Novelist Ian Rankin makes extensive use of the city in his Inspector Rebus novels.

Castles and stately homes – living history

 

With fairytale buildings and plenty of stunning landscapes, the UK is a place of magic, myth and legend. There are thousands of castles, historical buildings and stately homes across the UK, most of which are open to visitors.

 

Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, is an idyllic historical building, which has been used to store and display art for five centuries. Visitors can wander along the painted hall, explore the beautiful grounds or simply admire the art collections - there's lots to see and do in this popular heritage site.

 

Another important historical site is the impressive Blenheim Palace - an architectural wonder (and the birthplace of Winston Churchill) set in over 2,000 acres of landscaped gardens.  For those that are fans of the monarchy, beautiful Sandringham House - the country retreat of the Queen - has been a royal residence since 1862.

You can find out more about castles in the UK here.

 

There are many sites and points of interest across the UK that depict the history of different regions. Spanning thousands of years, the UK's heritage ranges from the Stone Age until the present day. You can chart this fascinating history by visiting some of the UK's ancient and best-preserved sites - such as the Roman Lullingstone Villa in Kent. Fast-forward thousands of years and Belfast's Wall Murals depict the city's conflicting Republican and Loyalist sides through colourful and poignant wall displays.

 

 

The UK's heritage isn't limited to the past though; modern sites are helping to evolve and influence new popular culture spots. Bradford, a UNESCO city of film, is home to the National Media Museum, which houses 3.5 million media related artefacts and objects. Mixing the traditional with the innovative, the museum demonstrates the UK's ever-evolving technical heritage.

 

Further south, the National Museum of Computing in Milton Keynes, charts the UK's expanding influence on technology and computing industries. Home to the largest historic collection of computers in Europe, the museum is a must-see for technology fans.

 

There are thousands more heritage and history sites to discover in the UK. You can find out more and see what other international students have to say about places of interest by exploring the Education UK interactive map.