The Best UK Cities For History Lovers (That Aren’t London)

Last Updated on: 2nd June 2023, 05:31 pm

The Best Historical UK Cities To Visit For

Looking to soak up some of the UK’s rich history? London may have some of the country’s most famous museums and landmarks, but there are plenty of other cities with their fair share of heritage. Here are a few of the best UK cities that are perfect for history lovers.

Edinburgh

The Scottish capital is teeming with history. Its most famous attraction is Edinburgh Castle – this castle is home to the Scottish crown jewels. And it sits perched dramatically upon an extinct volcano overlooking the city. Edinburgh Old Town sprawls out around it and contains many other historical buildings including old pubs and museums.

York

York has been a major city since the Roman Empire ruled England. Here you can find museums dedicated to Vikings, haunted pubs . as well as medieval narrow streets (‘The Shambles’ is the most famous street in the city). One of York’s most popular historical attractions is its Cathedral, which is the largest Gothic cathedral in the UK.

Bath

Many people visit Bath for the Roman Baths (after which the city received its name). This however is just one of many historical sights in the city. There’s also Bath Abbey, a gothic religious building dating back to the middle ages. As well as the picturesque Pulteney Bridge built in 1774. Bath has become recognised as a world heritage site and there’s history around every corner. 

Coventry

Founded by the Saxons, Coventry later became a buzzing city in the middle ages. It was also the home city of Lady Godiva. It’s worth booking a Coventry hotel and spending the weekend here as there is a lot of history to explore here. History includes the cathedral, several churches, a medieval guildhall, a Roman fort and various museums dedicated to the city’s past. Much of the historic architecture was sadly destroyed in World War 2, but there are many exhibits that have preserved the tales of its past.

Stirling

Stirling was the site of the Battle of Bannockburn and has preserved much of its history. The most popular attraction here is Stirling Castle. This was once home to Scottish Royalty including Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots. The National Wallace Monument commemorating William Wallace can also be found here.

Salisbury

Stonehenge is Salisbury’s most famous historical sight. it is located outside the city. However, there are other sights to see in Salisbury including the cathedral, which houses the original Magna Carta document from 1215. There are plenty of hotels in Salisbury, allowing you to spend a couple of days in this city.

Canterbury

This pilgrimage destination – made famous through the historic Canterbury Tales – has a lot of history. Its cathedral dates back to 597AD is thought to be one of the oldest in Britain. History lovers can also explore the medieval cobbled streets, see the ancient city walls and visit various historic churches. Being so close to where I live, I know this is one of the best UK cities to visit too.