Best 10 Diverse English Landmarks

Updated On: April 20, 2024 by   Ciaran Connolly

There are various unique English landmarks to explore, from bustling cities to serene lakes and locations of outstanding natural beauty. England has a genuinely astounding number of sites, including the breathtaking White Cliffs of Dover, castles, and abbeys.

There are countless landmarks throughout the country, even though London lacks them. You could easily spend weeks exploring the best parts of England. The area is one of the top tourist destinations because of its abundance of a wide variety of landscapes and exceptional heritage. Are you curious about the major sites in England? Let’s get started with the top 20 English landmarks straight away!

White Cliff of Dover Landmark

There is more to the White Cliffs of Dover than just the view of the English Channel. The White Cliffs of Dover are made of chalk and immortalised through art and song. They house unusual plants and insects. The cliffs are home to the pyramidal orchid and the chalk hill blue butterfly. On the cliffs since 1846, the South Foreland Lighthouse alerts mariners to a dangerous route as they approach Dover.

Secret tunnels from both World Wars, when the cliffs were an essential component of the Allied defences, are hidden below the surface. Visitors are welcome to explore these tunnels and the lighthouse, a fantastic way to learn more about the area’s fascinating history.

Coniston Water

Coniston Water is a body of water tucked away in the picturesque Lake District and surrounded by the mountain of The Old Man of Coniston.

Every year, thousands of people visit the lake near the setting of Arthur Ransom’s “Swallows and Amazons” in quest of the spots mentioned in the book. The lake is renowned for another feature, a straight water section that annually hosts the Festival of Speed.

Helvellyn Landmark

Helvellyn, one of four summits in England that rises above 3000 feet, is the third-highest peak in Britain at the height of 3118 feet. In the centre of the Lake District stands the breathtaking peak known as Helvellyn. The ascent is rewarding because of the mountains on either side and the stunning vistas of fells and lakes from the peak. Take a little break right before reaching the top to admire Red Tarn, a small lake hidden high in the mountain.

Adventurous walkers use rock scrambles along Striding and Swirral Edge to ascend the mountain. Only expert mountaineers have access to these two routes to the peak in the winter. On the summit ridge, an ideal location for stargazing, walkers can often be seen camping or sleeping in bivouacs when the weather is good.

The Lakes writers William and Dorothy Wordsworth frequented Helvellyn, a popular tourist destination for more than 200 years. They wrote about their experiences there. An aura of romance surrounds Helvellyn because of tradition and poetry, an outstanding name, and a high altitude, according to Wainwright, a well-known climber and walker who charted the area. It is simple to understand why people are still fascinated by this natural marvel.

Jurassic Coast

The coastline of Dorset and East Devon in southern England’s Jurassic Coast spans approximately 153 kilometres (95 miles). In 2001, it was designated a World Heritage Site. This coastline has rocks that date from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous geological eras. If fossil hunting is not your thing, there are nature, geology, and musical walks down the coast, which draw visitors from all over the world. These visitors hope to uncover the newest fossil for their collections.

The Jurassic Coast in west Dorset runs from Lyme Regis, the scene of classic books like Jane Austen’s Persuasion and The French Lieutenant’s Woman, to Chesil Beach. Glamping in Dorset has recently gained popularity as a chance to explore the area’s treasures and view natural features, including the Golden Cap, a 190-metre above-sea-level National Trust site.

Seaham Beach

A protected section of the English coastline called the Durham Heritage Coast is well known for its miles of natural shingle and sand beaches, unusual wildlife, and welcoming residents. The same goes for Seaham. There are numerous local bakeries, coffee shops, and of course, lots of ice cream stores in Seaham.

Sea glass is well-known in Seaham. The former bottling operations in Seaham and the nearby city of Sunderland left behind glass bottles that were later washed up. Seaham now provides a variety of sea glass, including more uncommon findings. Sea glass is made up of individual shards that the North Sea erodes before washing up on beaches. They are turned into jewellery, works of art, or decorative jars.

Malham Cove

Malham Cove is located in Skipton in Malham, BD23 4DJ. Malham Cove is surrounded by a white limestone rock that rises to a height of 70 metres (230 feet). Ice and water gradually formed the cove over millions of years and followed the Middle Craven Fault. The cove’s water is still flowing, but it does it now via underground rivers.

Rock climbers looking for new challenges and free climbers alike are drawn to the cliff’s sheer rockface. The cliff’s protection of a pair of peregrine falcons nesting makes it a significant natural area. The falcons, together with house martins and jackdaws, can be seen flying through the cove during the summer.

Cheddar Gorge

The address of Cheddar Gorge is BS27 3QF. Cheddar Gorge, located in the centre of Somerset, is one of England’s most stunning natural sights. Cheddar Gorge is the largest cove in England, with a height of 450 feet (137 metres). It contributes to the country’s breathtaking natural scenery. The location is well-known for its breathtaking beauty and prehistoric findings.

The earliest complete prehistoric skeleton discovered in England, the Cheddar Man, is the most well-known discovery from Cheddar Gorge. It was uncovered in 1903. The greatest underground river in England can be found in Cheddar Gorge, with some of it being accessible on specialised guided excursions.

Sherwood Forest

Sherwood Forest is located in Mansfield, NG21 9RN, in Edwinstowe. Sherwood Forest, which formerly covered the majority of the midlands, is probably the most well-known forest in England. Hidden monuments of Robin and his Merry Men can be found all across Sherwood Forest, the legendary residence of Robin Hood.

Old oak trees that are more than 500 years old can be found in the forest. The Major Oak, a massive 1000-year-old oak tree supported by steel frames for support, is the oldest tree in the woodland. Today’s 375-hectare forest is home to various flora, animals, and insects.

Brimham Rocks

A mountain chain the size of the Himalayas formerly spanned England 400 million years ago. After enormous forces eroded the mountains over millions of years, nature produced strange rock shapes. Some of England’s most distinctive and peculiar rock formations can be found in Brimham Rocks.

For more than 200 years, Druids have flocked to Brimham Rocks because of their unique shapes and tranquil moor setting. Victorian travellers were drawn to the rocks by local stories and folklore. The National Trust has been in charge of the rocks since 1970, and they make sure that the region is protected so that people can visit it for many years.

High Force

High Force is located on Alston Road, Forest-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle, DL12 0XH. High Force is the largest waterfall in England, with a drop of almost 70 feet (21 metres) into a vast pool below. A massive piece of rock extending from the cliff splits the waterfall.

Before it plunges over a whin sill rock, enlarges and speeds up the River Tees, High Force begins as a tiny trickle of water in the North Pennines. Numerous enjoyable excursions, through the countryside and up into the woodland surrounding the water’s edge, lead to the falls.

The Needles

The Needles is located at PO39 0JD, Alum Bay, Totland Bay, at The Needles. The Needles, one of England’s most incredible natural features, are located off the coast of the Isle of Wight. The Needles have also been listed as one of the seven British natural marvels. The rocks have significant space between them and stick out of the sea like teeth.

Lot’s Wife, the tallest rock, was 120 feet (36 metres) tall. The four rocks that may be seen now were created when a tall rock fell into the water after a storm in 1764 and split into smaller pieces. The delicate chalk, that makes up a large portion of England’s south coast, creates the rocks.

Gaping Gill

The famous cave Gaping Gill is located in the Yorkshire Dales of England. It has one of England’s most enormous underground caverns. Gaping Gill’s main chamber is 129 metres (423 feet) long, 31 metres (101 feet) deep, and 25 metres (82 feet) high. After redirecting a beck that runs into the cavern, John Birbeck entered Alum Pot in 1842. He began the first partial exploration of the cave.

Local farmworkers helped him descend until he reached a ledge at a depth of 58 metres (190ft). He inspired the naming of the ledge. In 1895, a Frenchman named Edouard Martel made it through the path to the bottom of the grotto. The cavern’s base is difficult to access; thus, tourists are only welcomed twice a year. The neighbourhood pothole club Bradford and Craven set up a winch mechanism so guests could be lowered into the cavern to explore.

Lud’s Church

Lud’s Church, despite its name, is actually a moss-covered cavern in the Peak District. The Church is a 59-foot (18-metre) deep chasm in the Roaches gritstone that was formed by a massive landslide. It has been entirely covered in thick, green moss over the years.

The origin of the name Lud’s Church dates back to the 15th century when it functioned as a haven for people who did not practise the established religions of the period to gather and worship without fear of persecution. They were known as Lollards and were adherents of John Wycliffe, a pioneering church reformer. Gradback, Quarnford, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 0SU is close to Lud’s Church.

Land’s End

Since the Ancient Greeks’ days, when Land’s End was known as “Belerion,” or Place of the Sun, it has inspired humankind. At Cornwall’s furthest western point, Land’s End is part of the breathtaking coastline scenery. Many walks and races in the UK beginning at Land’s End because participants hope to trek the 838 miles (1349 km) from Land’s End to the Scottish village of John o’Groats.

Rock climbers love the area surrounding Land’s End because it is incredibly rocky. Additionally, the region is significant for the only found rare species of flora. Land’s End is located in Sennen, Penzance, TR19 7AA. The Peak District National Park’s Dark Peak contains the gritstone tor known as Higger Tor.

Higger Tor

The Peak District National Park’s Dark Peak contains the gritstone tor known as Higger Tor. The Tor, which looks out over Burbage Valley, has some breathtaking views of the reservoir and Carl Wark, an old Iron Age hill fort. Higger Tor is one of several nearby tors that either overlooks or connects to the Carl Wark walls. Accordingly, it is possible that some of the Tors were used as defencive lines to safeguard the fort. Sheffield’s Higger Tor is located in Hope Valley at S11 7TY.

 Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle is situated above the Northumberland coastline. This castle, which is more than 1400 years old, has functioned as a residence, a bastion for the Normans, and a royal fortress. The castle boasts a significant number of ghost stories due to its lengthy history and continued habitation.

It is said to have served as the model for Joyous Garde, the fabled castle of Sir Lancelot. The castle estate covers (3.6 ha) 9 acres and watches over the stunning Northeast Coast and its white-sand beaches.

 Alnwick Castle

Northumberland’s Alnwick Castle is well-known for serving as a location for Hogwarts in “Harry Potter” movies, Brancaster Castle in the 2015 Christmas episode of Downton Abbey, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The second-largest inhabited castle in England, Alnwick Castle has a colourful past that includes roles as a military outpost and a sanctuary for refugees during World War 2.

Alnwick has been a feature of the landscape since the Middle Ages and has been the Percy family’s home for more than 700 years. It invites tourists by highlighting its illustrious and occasionally turbulent past. Rich gardens, a market where people sell their food, and a spectacular treehouse with a café are now all part of the estate.

Horniman Museum Island

Once, the private collection of Victorian philanthropist and tea merchant Frederick John Horniman has evolved into a fantastic museum and gardens, and in order to collect items that “either appealed to his fancy or that seemed to him likely to fascinate and inform individuals who had not had the opportunity to visit faraway regions,” Horniman travelled to the furthest ends of the earth.

The museum is a significant piece of English history. It is home to a fascinating exhibit in addition to a diverse collection of natural history artefacts. Victorian taxidermists created the creature after receiving walrus skin, an animal they had never seen before. Since then, the Walrus has gained popularity with visitors, making Horniman one of London’s most distinctive museums. Visit the conservatory for a fantastic photo opportunity surrounded by Victorian architecture.

The Roman Baths

Anyone spending a day in a bath should include a visit to the astonishingly well-preserved Roman Baths on their itinerary. The bath contains distinctive thermal springs that, about 70 AD, the Romans transformed into a bathing and social complex. The bathing pools are still filled at a temperature of 46°C.

While there, explore the ruins of the Temple of Sulis Minerva, walk on the ancient Roman pavements, and stop by the museum, which is home to many Roman artefacts, including a bronze statue of the Goddess Sulis Minerva. You might enjoy visiting these Cotswolds villages while in Bath.

York Minster

York Minster, a cathedral with a long 800-year history, is located in the Viking city of York. The Minster has exquisite stained-glass windows, fascinating narratives, and stunning mediaeval brickwork adorning the facade. Keep an eye out for grotesques carved into the stonework as you climb the 275 steps to the pinnacle of the Central Tower.

Additionally, the York Minster provides tours of the Cathedral’s secret passageways and other off-limits areas. Tour guides will share untold tales of the Cathedral’s past. England is home to a wide range of beautiful attractions throughout the country. Are you interested in any of these breathtaking attractions?