Top 10 Must Visit Historic Sights

The Great West Way tells the story of England back to its earliest inhabitants, learn more at these key attractions… 

Stonehenge & Avebury 
These enigmatic stones together form one of the UK’s first ever UNESCO World Heritage sites. Stonehenge is the more sophisticated build of the two, while Avebury - a 40-minute drive away - is the largest. Since their curious arrangement dates back to prehistoric times, there is a lot about them that remains mysterious, encouraging everyone from film directors to conspiracy theorists to fill in the gaps. (Some have even supposed they were the work of giants). The best way to experience them today is alongside the Pagan pilgrims who gather there to worship the rising and setting of the sun on both the summer and winter solstice.

Hampton Court Palace 
Get a handle on Britain’s royal heritage, and its influence on life in Britain today, at Hampton Court Palace. Exploring its Great Hall, Tudor Kitchens and Haunted Gallery you’ll discover stories of romance, religion, power and death. As the former home of Henry VIII - you may already have an inkling for some of these tales. For a sweet treat, pop into the Chocolate Kitchen, where King George I’s personal chocolate maker, Thomas Tosier, would have made luxurious blends of hot chocolate infused with sugar and spices. Did you know? Chocolate bars as we know them weren’t invented in Britain until the mid-19th century.

Lacock Abbey & the Fox Talbot Museum 
As well as having been a medieval monastery, an elegant Renaissance-style home and a Harry Potter film set, Lacock Abbey was also the birthplace of photography. You can stand in the very spot, in the South Gallery, where William Henry Fox Talbot took what is believed to be the first photographic negative in 1835. Visit the Fox Talbot Museum to find out more about the Victorian pioneer and chart the history of photography from then to the present day, when snapping pictures on our smartphones is just part of everyday life. Good to know: the village of Lacock provides a beautiful backdrop if you feel inspired to make some images of your own. 

The Museum of English Rural Life
The Great West Way offers an idyllic introduction to rural life in England. Reading’s fantastic free museum provides some context for it all, with displays on everything farming from tractors to teapots, and some enchanting folk artefacts. The ‘A Year on the Farm’ exhibition looks at farming over the past 200 years, and how it has been guided by our demand for food as well as the seasons. See if you can spot the shepherd’s crook, which says on it: ‘Carved by a Poor Shepherd in the years 1844 to 1849’. Top tip: keep an eye on the website for details of their popular evening openings, talks and tours.

West Kennet Long Barrow 
If you only see one Neolithic Long Barrow - let it be West Kennet Long Barrow. For those unfamiliar with such sights, a long barrow is a burial chamber. This one (free to enter) is thought to have been built in 3650 BC, which really boggles the mind as you wander inside its chalky chambers. The remains of more than 46 people were discovered here, alongside pottery, beads and other treasures for the journey to the afterlife. Find out more at the nearby Alexander Keiller Museum.

Silbury Hill 
Just a 6-minute drive from West Kennet Long Barrow you’ll find Silbury Hill - the largest artificial mound in Europe at 30 metres high. Despite its undeniable presence, it contains no burials, as might be expected, and archaeologists can only guess as to what its purpose might have been when it was created, around 2400 BC. Have a look for yourself and see what you can come up with - half the fun is letting your imagination run wild. Did you know? It’s thought Silbury Hill would have taken 4 million hours - gradually, by many people over time - to construct.

Clifton Suspension Bridge  
This icon of Bristol took 33 years to complete, and is referred to as Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s first love. Dramatically suspended across the Avon Gorge, it makes for marvellous pictures at any time of day. Head up to the Clifton Observatory for the best views. At the Visitor Centre you can learn about the competition to find a winning design. You can also join a free guided tour, for a unique insight into the history of the bridge or get tickets for one of their special Hard Hat tours, where you’ll don a high-vis jacket and head inside one of the bridge’s atmospheric abutments. 

Brunel’s SS Great Britain
Another of the top places to visit in Bristol happens to be another of Brunel’s feats - the world’s first great passenger ship. Stepping aboard the SS Great Britain is more like stepping back in time, as you proceed through reconstructions of the ship’s cabins and get to dress up as one of the passengers. If you want to step into the shoes of a sailor of the time, dare to Go Aloft! and scale the rigging - 25m above ground. As a key figure in Britain’s Industrial Revolution, Brunel is also the subject of a new museum on site: Being Brunel. There you’ll have the chance to enter the engineering great’s dining room at 18 Duke Street, his Dock Office and even his mind.

Bath
As an UNESCO World Heritage city, Bath is full of must-visit historic sites. From the Romans who established the spa town to the Georgians and their elegant urban planning, emphasising the natural landscape, each pristine street reveals more about England’s history. First, head to the steamy Roman Baths, where you may even come face-to-face with a real Roman. Then behold the golden beauty of its neoclassical Palladian crescents, picturesque green spaces, fine views and ornate social spaces such as the Pump Room and the Assembly Rooms. And finally there’s medieval Bath Abbey, with its distinctive ladders of angels enticing you in. 

Windsor Castle 
The story of Windsor Castle goes back to the origins of England as we know it. William the Conqueror first ordered its construction, then in timber, around 1070, after defeating King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. Its location so close to London, in view of the Thames, made it the perfect spot for a new king. Although he never spoke English, he introduced many French and Latin words to the language, and his administration is thought to have had a profound impact on making Britain a world power. Today, his direct descendent - Queen Elizabeth II - spends most weekends here with her family. You can visit her State Apartments, watch the Changing of the Guard and visit St George’s Chapel, where Prince Harry recently married Meghan Markle, now officially the Duchess of Sussex. 

For more ideas of things to do on your Great West Way journey, visit our See & Do and Explore pages.