25 Destinations in Britain for History Buffs

There are few places on the planet that possess as interesting a past as Britain does. This lush island in the North Sea has been the scene of scores of monumental events over the centuries and the good news is that there's still plenty left to see today. The following 25 locations are a great place to start.

Long after it was made world-famous in Geoffrey Chaucer's classic The Canterbury Tales, this cathedral city is still attracting pilgrims. Follow in the footsteps of the tale's characters by seeing the shrine of St. Thomas Becket at the Canterbury Cathedral, meander the medieval streets and have a float on the river.

Stirling is one of Scotland's most significant cities and it will keep history buffs stimulated for days. The enchanting Old Town is filled with winding, weathered streets that are crowned by a centuries-old hilltop castle. Just outside of town you will find the National Wallace Monument-a landmark dedicated to Sir William Wallace.

Famous for its eponymous university, The City of Dreaming Spires is a dream come true for history lovers. Walk under handsome Hertford Bridge while admiring gorgeous campus architecture before taking in the astounding range of artifacts at the Ashmolean Museum.

The modern history of Wales is intertwined with mining, and this town is the best place to learn all about it. At the Big Pit National Coal Museum, you'll be transported to a time when Welsh coal helped power the planet.

Before New York, there was York. This city was founded by the Romans and flourished under the Vikings and now has a host of historic sights to show for it. Tour the York Minster-one of Europe's great cathedrals-before strolling the city's snickelways-a series of hidden passageways.

Lying just over the Welsh border, Chepstow sits directly on the banks of the Wye River and is home to Britain's oldest post-Roman era stone castle. Learn all about the city's history at the Chepstow Museum before taking a walk beside the Wye to the ruins of Tintern Abbey.

Durham is downright divine. This lively university city is the home to Durham Cathedral-an outstanding example of Norman architecture-and a warren of winding streets. Once you've finished exploring those, head over to Beamish-a living, breathing museum that walks visitors through life in Northern England over the centuries.

Edinburgh Castle looms over this enchanting city and it's the first place any history-loving visitor should visit here. Afterward, sample Scottish heritage in liquid form with a dram of whisky before scaling Calton Hill in order to see the unfinished-yet-fascinating National Monument of Scotland.

Cambridge is England's other world-famous university city and it is filled to the brim with mesmerizing medieval architecture and a bevy of interesting museums. Spend your mornings touring the town's high-brow halls and your afternoon punting on the River Cam.

Chester was founded by the Romans, and as a result, it owns one of the richest histories of any city in Northwest England. Take a tour of the ancient city walls before running through The Rows-a collection of covered arcades that house excellent modern shopping opportunities.

Linlithgow is synonymous with its namesake palace, which was the birthplace of the famous Mary Queen of Scots. Visit the palace-which sits next to arresting Linlithgow Loch-to learn all about its history and admire wonderful views of the water.

Salisbury rises up from the bucolic British countryside like a medieval mirage. Inside the city, you will find a gorgeous cathedral and several historical sights. The star historical attraction lies just outside of town: the ancient site of Stonehenge.

This Welsh city is home to the only remaining bridge in Britain that still has its original gate tower intact. Crossing it feels like entering a time warp and the rest of the town's attractions like the Shire Hall and Monmouth Castle will also make history buffs happy.

Ludlow, England is known to have one of the largest collections of historic structures in the entire country. Tour the half-timbered buildings in the town center before heading for the hilltop castle and settling in for a mouthwatering meal-the town is known as one of Britain's foodie havens.

It's all about the baths in Bath. The place was founded around a series of hot springs and at the center of town, you can tour the riveting Roman Baths. These pools were built around 70 AD and are regarded as one of most intact Roman ruins in the world.

The former capital of Roman-era Britain, Winchester is a wonderful place to learn about the island's fascinating history. Its cathedral has the longest nave of any in Europe and the town's Great Hall-home to an Arthur-inspired Round Table-is regarded as one of the finest examples of a 13th-century aisled-hall in all of England.

This is the place where time began, so to speak. Greenwich is where the Western Hemisphere meets the Eastern Hemisphere and at the Royal Observatory Greenwich you can straddle the Prime Meridian and learn all about this place's historic role in timekeeping and astronomy.

Named after the patron saint of Wales, St. Davids is officially Britain's smallest city. Tour the town's namesake cathedral-which dates back to the 12th century-before exploring the surrounding countryside which includes some of the most fabulous coastal views in Britain.

Exeter predates Roman Britain and its cathedral is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture anywhere in Europe. Explore its roof and tower on a special tour before heading underground to explore the city's medieval passageways that once brought water into the city.

This English town near the Scottish border-a location that has lead to dozens of historic sieges-is loaded with ancient attractions. The Romans truly put it on the map when they used it as a base to watch over Hadrian's Wall and modern visitors will get a kick out of Carlisle Castle.

Lincoln flourished during Roman times as a stop between London and York and you can revisit these days on the city's Roman Trail. The stop by Lincoln Castle-home to one of the last remaining copies of the Magna Carta-Lincoln Cathedral and High Bridge-the last remaining bridge in Britain with buildings on it.

Cardiff's history goes back more than 2000 years. The city grew to prominence due to its prime riverside location while the modern city became the largest coal-exporting port in the world. Visit Cardiff Castle and the National Museum to gain the biggest insight into all eras of its story.

Newcastle started out as an outpost for the Romans on the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall and blossomed into a defensive stronghold and industrial epicenter. Visit the town's recently refurbished namesake castle to delve into its heritage before taking a walk along the River Tyne to admire the city's signature bridges.

Inside the handsome Hereford Cathedral, you will find the Mappa Mundi-a fascinating map that reveals how medieval people viewed the world. The cathedral it resides in is just as historic as it dates to the 11th century and also houses the Chained Library-a collection of historic books affixed to metal chains.

You didn't think we'd leave off London, did you? No list of historic places in Britain would be complete without this remarkable place. London has been witness to all eras and aspects of British history and this can be explored at places like the British Museum, the National Gallery and Shakespeare's Globe.