Article 1 explored some of the diverse and free United Kingdom locations that you can visit.
Check out the Uffington White Horse
The Uffington White Horse, which dates back at least 3,000 years, is likely one of England’s oldest chalk figures. White Horse Hill can be seen from many vantage areas but is only totally seen from the air. The horse is almost exactly in the same posture as when it was first made. Although no one knows why the horse was erected, the White Horse of Uffington has inspired several more modern chalk horse constructions throughout Dorset and west England. Today, you may go around White Horse Hill and beyond to find Neolithic relics such as burial mounds.
Find the Cerne Abbas Giant
One of Britain’s most established organizations is the National Trust. The National Trust describes the Cerne Abbas Giant as one of the best English national monuments. According to the organization, the giant is “a colossal outline carved into the chalk hillside above the village of Cerne Abbas, showing a unique and exposed sculpture. During World War II, the giant was buried in the grass to prevent him from becoming a landmark for the Luftwaffe. Archaeologists discovered him after the battle. The Cerne Abbas Giant, often known as “The Rude Man,” has frequently been the site of pranks.
Journey Into Old Parish Churches
Small, historic parish churches dot the landscape of England. Unlike the early abbeys and cathedrals, these “unimportant” hamlets survived the devastation of the English Reformation. Most are still standing today, providing a glimpse into 12th-century or older architecture. For example, St. John the Evangelist Church in Bury, West Sussex, features a 12th-century tower and nave, as well as a 14th-century rood screen. St Botolph’s at Hardham, which dates from 1050 A.D.—before William the Conqueror—has some of England’s most complete and earliest medieval wall paintings.
Visit the Letocetum Roman Baths and Museum
The Letocetum Roman Baths and Museum site, which includes the foundations of an ancient inn and bathhouse, is regarded as one of the best excavated sites of its sort. These bathhouses were previously used as a staging area and a rest stop for Roman soldiers moving across England. Visit the grounds and museum in Watling Street in Wall, Staffordshire, near Lichfield. This old Roman road stretches through England from southeast to northwest and is thought to have followed the line of an ancient British railway that is still in use today.
Go to the Letocetum Roman Baths and Museum
Wander Through Chester
Deva was the Roman name of the Roman Garden Chester and was a significant Roman city near Hadrian’s Wall. Chester’s Roman Garden, located between Pepper Street and the River Dee, was built in the 1950s to display fragmentary 19th-century discoveries discovered during building in the area. A delightful stroll among the ruins will reveal sculpted fragments of military buildings, including the main baths and legionary headquarters. While you’re there, take a stroll through Chester’s old streets. The city has the most complete city walls in Britain, which were built 2,000 years ago to safeguard the city from Roman domination.
Go to the Chester Roman Garden
Look Through the Window at Duxford Chapel
The 14th-century chapel in Cambridgeshire, Duxford Chapel, may have been used as a hospital at one time. By the nineteenth century, however, it had fallen into decay and neglect. The medieval bones of the edifice, including what appear to be ecclesiastic windows, miraculously survived. Today, English Heritage looks after Duxford Chapel and allows visitors to have a free tour of the grounds and interior. Admire the exposed wooden beam ceiling and peek through the cusped windows, noting the glazing, bar, and glass slots.
Ascend the Giant’s Causeway
It’s difficult to believe that the Giant’s Causeway on County Antrim’s north coast is not manufactured, as this causeway to the sea is made of 40,000 interconnecting basalt columns, some of which are more than 12 meters tall. This natural wonder was instead created by an old volcanic explosion. Hexagonal stepping stones are formed by the tops of these columns that go from the foot of a cliff to the sea. Stop along the way to observe the Grand Causeway, the Giant’s Boot, and the Wishing Chair, and then see the award-winning design of the visitor’s center before entering. In 1986, the Giant’s Causeway was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 1987, it was designated a National Nature Reserve.
Look through the Collections of Hancock’s Great North Museum
The Great North Museum: Hancock, located in Newcastle upon Tyne, brings together collections from various natural and ancient history institutions across the world. A large-scale, interactive model of Hadrian’s Wall, Greek artifacts, Egyptian mummies, a planetarium, and a life-size T-Rex dinosaur skeleton are among the highlights. Live animal tanks and aquariums with wolf fish, pythons, lizards, and leaf-cutting ants are also on display. The museum is absolutely free to visit, although donations are accepted and appreciated.
Go to the Great North Museum: Hancock
Experience a Choral Evensong
Most prominent cathedrals in the United Kingdom demand admission fees for upkeep and maintenance; however, anyone can attend a worship service for free. Evensong is a short service performed in song by the Canterbury Cathedral Choir Monday through Sunday at 5:30 or 6 p.m. These brief services provide an excellent opportunity to see the insides of notable churches at no cost. The information board outside the church or on the church’s website list the times. And the only cost will be whatever your conscience mandates you deposit in the collection box.
Go to a Choral Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral
Investigate the National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum Greenwich exhibits British maritime history, navigational and astronomical discoveries, and seafaring actions that led to voyages of discovery. The museum and the 400-year-old Queen’s House, constructed by Inigo Jones and renovated in 2016, are both part of this spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enter the museum to view some exhibits for free. Others, such as the Prime Meridian Courtyard, where you can stand on the Prime Meridian or straddle 0 degrees longitude, will require payment. Finish your tour by taking a free trip through the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, one of only two pedestrian tunnels beneath the Thames. Then, from across the river, take in the stunning vista of the entire site.
Go to the National Maritime Museum Greenwich
Take a walk along Hadrian’s Wall
The construction of Hadrian’s Wall began in 122 A.D. during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, and it was designed to run 73 miles from coast to coast across Northern Britain. The wall marked the Roman Empire’s northern limit and was the most fortified barrier in the empire. Much of Hadrian’s Wall still stands today. Explore 14 main Roman monuments and forts, as well as innumerable mile-castles and turrets, along miles of free roads and trails. Visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site by foot or by bike, but there is also a year-round bus service that runs along the route.
Explore the City Markets
Outdoor and covered markets in the United Kingdom are a feast for people watching, photo opportunities, and perusing stalls. Locals come to London’s Portobello Road Market, which is noted for its remarkable assortment of antiques and vintage apparel, as well as jewelry, furniture, fresh produce, and delectable street cuisine. For hundreds of years, the Birmingham Bullring Markets have included fresh fruit and vegetables, fabrics, household products, and seasonal commodities in the same open-air location. Leeds Kirkgate Market is one of Europe’s largest indoor marketplaces, offering fresh food and drink, fashion and jewelry, flowers, and hardware. While shopping and eating will cost money, you can generally get some excellent free samples and sit and enjoy the passersby for free.
Go to the Leeds Kirkgate Market
Visit the National Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum in the UK is the world’s largest of its kind, with over 300 years of rail history, intriguing displays, and iconic artifacts. This stop is ideal for families and railroad enthusiasts of all ages, since children may hop aboard some of the world’s most iconic trains, including the world’s fastest steam engine, The Mallard, and a massive locomotive built in Britain for the Chinese railways. Daily displays of awe-inspiring technology, such as the turntable for powering locomotives, theatre presentations about railway history and railroad inventors, and visits from Thomas the Tank Engine during select school vacations are available at the museum.
Go to the National Railway Museum
Visit the National Roman Legion Museum
The Romans established a stronghold in Caerleon, Newport, Wales, in 75 A.D., and ruled over the local populace for 200 years. The National Roman Legion Museum now rests among the ruins of this fortification, thousands of years later. Discover how soldiers lived on the outskirts of the Roman Empire in one of the only three permanent castles. Participate in activities, such as the Firestarter Exhibition, and listen to talks, such as one on Welsh love tokens. The grounds also include a Roman garden, barracks ruins, and the most intact Roman amphitheater in the United Kingdom.
Go to the National Roman Legion Museum
Remember to review article 1 about free places to visit in the United Kingdom. Plan your UK trip with these free and affordable locations in mind.