Iconic British Locations
As Britain celebrates its Jubilee year, below is our pick of the best places to visit and where best to lay your head after a long day of exploring
A Royal party 70 years in the making
– the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was celebrated the length and breadth of Britain during the spring as millions of tourists once again return to the nation’s iconic sights and buildings. While many made a beeline to Buckingham Palace and other London hotspots, a map of our country reveals a bucket list of landmarks and hidden gems. Below is our pick of the best places to visit across the UK from a smorgasbord of offerings – including one right on the doorstep in Rutland!
Stonehenge
A prehistoric monument that has invoked a sense of wonder and intrigue for more than 5,000 years. Nobody knows exactly why Stonehenge was built but that only adds to the mystery of this magical location in the Wiltshire countryside. Erected in the Neolithic period, the World Heritage Site attracts visitors from around the world. An excellent visitor centre copes with thousands of tourists every day.
Rutland Water
A mesmerising stretch of water offering the largest surface area of any reservoir in England (one for a pub quiz!). Built to supply the East Midlands, the water is surrounded by over 4,200-acres of glorious countryside that forms Rutland Water Park. Walking, cycling, fishing, watersports – Rutland Water offers so much to so many people. If the aquapark isn’t your thing, watch flocks of migrating birds in the winter months, hike the trails - or even get married on shoreside Normanton Church. Rutland Water is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Where to Stay
Hambleton Hall
This Victorian country house hotel, overlooking Rutland Water features 17 individually designed bedrooms, sumptuous interiors, and roaring log fires. Hambleton Hall offers exceptional dining in the restaurant led by Michelin starred Chef, Aaron Patterson, and his highlyskilled team, who use only the best local produce, with a strong seasonal bias.
Conwy Castle
Perhaps the best-preserved castle in Britain, Conwy is a medieval masterpiece built by Edward I over 700 years ago. The building contains a set of well-preserved royal apartments, an atmospheric chapel and spectacular views to Snowdonia and beyond. Despite the huge £15,000 construction costs at the time, the king only spent one night in Conwy Castle, perhaps inevitably trapped by a Welsh rebellion.
Where to Stay
Bodysgallen Hall
The venue is surrounded by over 200 acres of its own parkland and beautiful gardens. Admire the sweeping views from the medieval lookout tower before reclining in one of the 15 antique-filled bedrooms or one of the secluded cottages dotted in the grounds. The hotel Spa offers a wide range of facilities and treatments while The Dining Room overlooks the gardens, within which guests can enjoy food prepared from the best and freshest local produce, awarded 3 AA Rosettes.
The Cotswolds
Looking for quintessential England? The Cotswolds has it all–from honey-coloured stone cottages, to twee towns like Bourton-onthe-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold. This Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty officially covers 800 square miles of gently rolling hills–countryside that inspired writers as diverse as Laurie Lee and Jilly Cooper. Historic palaces and quaint pubs are in abundance in this picture-postcard corner of England.
Where to Stay
Ellenborough Park
A grand 15th century manor house set in glorious grounds, Ellenborough Park overlooks Cheltenham Racecourse, where the pinnacle of horse racing, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, is held each year. Built from classic honey-toned Cotswold stone, the hotel houses opulent antiques,enormous stone fireplaces and wood panelled rooms. Ellenborough Park is known for its elegant afternoon teas served in the splendour of the Great Hall and Minstrel’s Gallery.
Edinburgh Castle
Arguably the most dramatic setting of any castle in the country. These 12th century fortifications have dominated Edinburgh’s skyline for centuries and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The buildings house the Scottish Crown Jewels, several exhibitions and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is held on the castle esplanade every summer. Otherwise, sit down and enjoy the view - the ramparts are also the ideal place for a panoramic vista of Edinburgh.
Where to Stay
Dunstane Houses
Take cosmopolitan Edinburgh sophistication mixed with Orcadian heritage, the modern and the traditional.
Choose between two neoclassical-style houses on either side of the road for your Edinburgh base, both are photo-worthy head-turners, full of vintage touches and seriously stylish interiors. Located close to the old town and once home to merchants, musicians, doctors, distillers and newspapermen. A stay here makes you feel like an Edinburgh resident rather than a visitor.
Seven Sisters Cliffs
If ever there was a symbol of British resiliance, the Seven Sisters on the Sussex Heritage Coastline are the perfect example – especially during the Second World War. These
monumental chalk cliffs face the English Channel and are particularly good for wildlife, the stretch between Eastbourne and Seaford in particular. The bottom of the cliffs are exposed to the sea, cuttings channels and gullies into the chalk. No houses, no development, just nature as it was intended.
Where to Stay
Park House
Located in the heart of West Sussex in the South Downs National Park, family-run Park House Hotel & Spa is an intimate family and dog friendly home from home with just 21 bedrooms furnished with pretty printed fabrics and original features including Sussex beams. Grass tennis courts, a bowling green, a croquet lawn and a six-hole golf course will keep guests busy on fine days, plus there’s a sumptuous spa with indoor and outdoor pools, treatment rooms, Jacuzzi, steam room, saunas and sun terrace.
York Minster
A magnificent cathedral at the heart of Christian worship in the north of England since the 7th century. The Minster is at the centre of Roman York – devastated by fire in 1984, this incredible structure has risen again. It remains the second largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe. The building is vast, dominated by stained glass windows and archways that create a sense of genuine awe.
Where to Stay
Middlethorpe Hall
Inspired by Sir Christopher Wren’s design for Hampton Court, the maze of gardens that make up the grounds are unique in style. The panelled dining rooms with candlelit tables overlooking the 20 acres of magnificent gardens and parkland. Ashley Binder’s superb cuisine at Middlethorpe Hall has won many accolades over the years and continues to attract connoisseurs of fine food and
wine from around the world.
Big Ben
The world’s most famous clock is named after the nickname for the Great Bell that chimes at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. The iconic tower that stands next to the home of British government is now back to its former glory after several years of refurbishment. Big Ben has never stopped – even after a German bomb destroyed the Commons chamber during the Second World War.
Where to Stay
The Athenaeum
The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences is an award-winning, family-run hotel located in the heart of Mayfair since 1850. The epitome of bespoke British craftsmanship, with Art Deco roots, the hotel is the height of contemporary luxury and glamour. Guests have use of The View, an exclusive residents’ lounge on the 10th floor, offering panoramic views over London’s spectacular skyline. The Spa is an idyllic urban retreat with bespoke REN treatments, a sauna, hot tub, steam room and a 24-hour gym with Peloton bikes.
Land’s End
Cornwall is a honeypot for tourists during the summer – Land’s End especially so. Visit out of season and there’s a chance to sit quietly and watch the waves crash onto the exposed rocks, knowing that the next landfall beyond the horizon is America. The incredible views from the granite clifftop look towards Longships Lighthouse and the Isles of Scilly. The weather can be wild, so wrap up and enjoy a great British spectacle.
Where to Stay
Stargazing Cottage – St Just
This is a beautiful single-level property is less than five miles from Sennen Cove, Land’s End and Cape Cornwall, with access from the doorstep to footpaths leading to the South West Coastal Path. There is a light and welcoming open-plan lounge/kitchen/diner with views across the garden and farmland beyond. The enclosed terrace is complete with your very own private hot tub as well as a charcoal BBQ,perfect for al fresco dining.
