Whether it’s the notorious portrait of Henry VIII dressed lavishly in full regalia or the great dome of St Paul’s Cathedral competing with London’s modern skyline, some of historic England’s most iconic images are relatively recent in the grand scheme of things. It’s sometimes easy to forget that this is an ancient country, populated for thousands of years.
From sophisticated Roman settlements to mysterious stone circles, there’s something evocative about this lost English time period, and its mystique only enhances our curiosity. While England isn’t venerated like Egypt or Greece, there are stories to be told and fascinating sites to visit.
So sit back and travel through the past in ancient England.
Experience the Solstice at Stonehenge, Wiltshire
To start a journey through ancient England anywhere other than Stonehenge would be churlish.
Similar in status (and age) to the Great Pyramid of Giza, the world’s most famous stone circle has stood quietly on the chalk plateau of Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire for around 5000 years, serving as a window into a mysterious time period few of us can comprehend. The actual building of Stonehenge lasted over 1000 years, spanning the Neolithic and Bronze ages, with the first phase beginning around 3000 BCE and the enormous sarsen stones arranged until 1600 BCE.
Why are they there? Nobody quite knows, especially considering the time and effort spent on Stonehenge’s construction. However, it’s undeniably a bucket-list sight for visitors to the UK.
At the engaging Visitor Center, audiovisual displays illustrate the site’s long development along with exhibitions showcasing medieval arrowhead finds and a lifelike model of a Neolithic man buried in a long barrow nearby.
A thin rope around 14m (15yd) short of the stones means you can’t go right up to them, but guided tours are available to allow visitors to wander among them for around 45 minutes out of hours. Moreover, visitors are welcomed inside during the summer and winter solstices each June and December, allowing an opportunity to witness stunning silhouettes of sunlight at sunrise and sunset—if the British weather cooperates.
Visits can also be paired with the majestic Avebury Stone Circle, the largest prehistoric stone circle in the world, located just 40km (25 miles) to the north across Wiltshire’s rolling countryside.
Wander the Fields of Maiden Castle, Dorset
While it may have the word “castle” in its name, Maiden Castle is not a castle in any conventional sense.
This is one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe, constructed around 600 BCE and one of 31 hillforts in Dorset. Surrounded by massive chalk ramparts flanking a sparse 49-hectare (120-acre) hilltop, this was a fortified settlement for centuries and would have been home to several self-sufficient farming communities.
By the time of the Roman conquest of Britain in 43 CE, Maiden Castle was still occupied, although there is no concrete evidence that the Romans laid siege to the site—though a burial site containing 52 skeletons was found.
These days, there’s a car park a few hundred feet from the site, and the simple trail leading through a grassy field toward the dramatic contours of the hill gives a visceral sense of Maiden Castle’s vast size.
For further ancient finds in the region, The Nine Stones standing stone circle is a short drive away. Consequently, a straight drive south for 30 minutes leads to Portland Castle, an artillery fort constructed by Henry VIII in the 16th century that feels almost contemporary compared to Maiden Castle.
Enjoy the Peace of Castlerigg Stone Circle, Lake District
While not as famous as Stonehenge, Castlerigg Stone Circle’s dramatic location in the Lake District makes a visit perhaps just as memorable.
Surrounded by heather-strewn fells, mist-shrouded mountains, and dense forest, it’s no surprise this ancient site is one of the most photographed in the UK and was the subject of flowery homages by poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth. The stones, dating from between 3000 and 4000 years old, are glacial erratic boulders composed of volcanic rock arranged in a flattened circle, 32m (107ft) across at their widest.
Like Stonehenge, the reason for Castlerigg’s existence is unknown; it may have been used as a trading post or site for religious rituals.
Located around 2.4km (1.5 miles) east of vibrant Keswick, the stone circle can be reached as part of a delightful walk from town, making for a pleasant ramble on a nice day. Otherwise, it’s a tranquil spot with no entry fee or guided historical tours—simply a beautiful prehistoric site in one of the most scenic corners of England.
For the most rewarding experience, consider waiting for a clear day and arriving at sunrise or sunset with a camera to capture some ethereal golden hour images, avoiding the crowds of Stonehenge.
Learn about Roman Britain at Wroxeter Roman City, Shropshire
Though it’s difficult to picture in the 21st century, this small collection of ruins in rural Shropshire was once the fourth-largest city in Roman Britain, boasting a population of around 15,000 people.
Wroxeter Roman City (Viroconium Cornoviorum) was roughly the same size as Pompeii and served as a base for legionaries to attack western Britain. As it grew, this frontier settlement transformed into a traditional Roman town dominated by an enormous bathhouse where Roman priorities of cleanliness and hygiene were practiced.
The city declined after the end of Roman rule in Britain, but its pastoral location away from growing industrial towns meant that, although the buildings disappeared, the site remained largely intact. This includes the Old Work, a 7m-high (23ft) wall of the Bath House and the largest piece of free-standing Roman wall in the UK.
A visitor center showcases everyday items used by the residents, including perfume bottles and bone jewelry, along with a reconstructed townhouse painstakingly built using tools and materials available to Romans of the time.
Walk the Streets of Chysauster Ancient Village, Cornwall
Located on a grassy moor high above Cornwall’s sea-sprayed Land’s End Peninsula, Chysauster Ancient Village is an excellent example of what might be termed a “Romano-British” settlement.
Straddling the late Iron Age and the Roman conquest of Britain, this agricultural village was originally settled around 100 BCE and lasted until the 3rd century CE. It largely consists of around 10 courtyard houses flanking a central “street,” populated by farmers who likely kept goats and pigs and grew cereal crops in the surrounding fields, with the whole settlement likely unfortified.
In their heyday, the stone houses would have had thatched roofs, organized in neat rows. Today, the stone ruins of the house walls still remain, offering magnificent panoramic views toward the Atlantic Ocean.
There’s a 15-space car park near the site, with a narrow half-mile trail lined by trees leading up to Chysauster Ancient Village. Here you can also spot the “fogou,” a strange underground passage that may have been used for storage, shelter, or religious purposes. Like many ancient sites, the sense of mystery makes it compelling.
