This article is about finding alternatives for London, specifically for history enthusiasts. This includes places with history, beautiful structures, and interesting cultures.
This includes places with history, beautiful structures, and interesting cultures. From medieval roads to university buildings to cathedrals, these places will keep you engaged, and have a lot to offer.
Walkable streets, self-guided history, and endless walking, these cities will be a great escape to venues that show the history of both England and Scotland.
Key Points & Best London alternatives for history lovers
| London Alternative | Key Historical Point |
|---|---|
| Bath | Roman Baths and Georgian architecture |
| York | Medieval city walls and Viking heritage |
| Cambridge | Historic university founded in 1209 |
| Oxford | Oldest university in the English-speaking world |
| Canterbury | UNESCO-listed cathedral and Chaucer’s tales |
| Durham | Norman cathedral and castle |
| Winchester | Former capital of England with medieval Great Hall |
| Edinburgh | Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and Enlightenment history |
| St Albans | Roman Verulamium ruins and medieval cathedral |
| Chester | Roman amphitheatre and Tudor-style Rows |
10 Best London alternatives for history lovers
1. Bath
Bath offers superb historical alternatives for visitors with its selection of Roman, Georgian, and medieval history all in a small, compact city.
London does not offer visitors a similiar experience with its city smog and sprawl of the city. In Bath visitors history is everywhere, and is not just limited to the Roman Bath.
Visitors can also see the Georgian Bath houses, the Pulteney Bridge, and Victorian Bath houses.
Visitors can see how the city was blended togther and built upon for centuries, giving the city a historical depth London cannot offer.
Bath still offers a massive collection of architecture, history and narrative, from bygone aeons, to offer visitors.
| Famous Historical Attractions |
|---|
| Roman Baths |
| Bath Abbey |
| Royal Crescent |
| Pulteney Bridge |
2. York
York is an excellent choice for history buffs out of everywhere else to visit in London since you can explore well over 2000 years of British history in one place.
While London has a lot of historical buildings, York has a lot of history that is preserved. Windows and barriers are surrpticiously intergrated into York’s medieval walls.
And you can imagine history walk through a city’s preserved cobbled streets and stunning medieval minsters. And you can feel it walking through the blended of unique Roman, Viking and medieval history.
Visitors can take a walk and see the history of several centuries. York’s charming atmosphere offers a great and unique place for lovers of ancient architecture and storytelling to immerse themselves in the the history of England.
| Famous Historical Attractions |
|---|
| York Minster |
| York City Walls |
| Jorvik Viking Centre |
| The Shambles |
3. Cambridge
If you are a history enthusiast, you will enjoy Cambridge, which serves as a calmer, more academic predecessor of London, as it has centuries worth of history in its architecture and academia.
Unlike London, Cambridge offers a more relaxed visit as one can meander through college after college, ancient chapels, and explore a different cobbled street.
The blending of architecture and history, in places like King’s College Chapel and the Bridge of Sighs owing to the academic and cultural history of the city make
it a living testament to the passing of time. It is unparalleled in its ability to fascinate patrons of England’s culture and historiography.
| Famous Historical Attractions |
|---|
| King’s College Chapel |
| Bridge of Sighs |
| Fitzwilliam Museum |
| Historic colleges (Trinity, St John’s, etc.) |
4. Oxford
Oxford is ideal destination for scholars and history buffs. Unlike competing academically and historically significant cities like London, Oxford is much smaller allowing for a concentrated view of English history and culture.
Learners can walk the cobbled streets from the world-famous universities to the libraries and buildings of history.
Every room and nook of the historic buildings contains a history of intellectual and scholarly medieval magnificance.
Buildings like the Bodleian Library and the Radcliffe Camera serve as perfect blends of modern and historical showcasing the cities grand atmosphere. Oxford is a scholarly city unlike any London can provide.
| Famous Historical Attractions |
|---|
| Bodleian Library |
| Radcliffe Camera |
| Christ Church College |
| Oxford Castle |
5. Canterbury
If you’re a history lover looking to take a break from London, Canterbury is a history lover’s delight, complete with a rich history of religion and medieval times.
London’s historic attractions can get quite busy, but in Canterbury, you are able to take a leisurely stroll through adorable, cobbled streets and timber-framed homes.
The highlight of the town is undoubtedly Canterbury Cathedral, a gothic architecture marvel, and a focal point of English Christianity.
With charming medieval streets, and historic museums, you get an active. Throughout England’s history, and the charming medieval streets, you have an enriching Canterbury history to get lost in. It is an active medieval history Canterbury.
| Famous Historical Attractions |
|---|
| Canterbury Cathedral |
| St Augustine’s Abbey |
| Medieval city streets |
| Canterbury Roman Museum |
6. Durham
Durham makes a wonderful walking alternative to London for anyone interested in charming medieval cities outdoors.
Unlike London’s busy tourist stops, you can interact with history in a less crowded setting while appreciating the Durham Cathedral and nearby Norman Castle, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The city is built on a rocky peninsula surrounded on three sides by rivers, and the setting makes the Durham Cathedral and Norman Castle visible from the streets of the city, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
For people interested in architecture, monastic history, and early England history Durham offers a perfect experience that is both calm and incredibly majestic.
| Famous Historical Attractions |
|---|
| Durham Cathedral |
| Durham Castle |
| River Wear banks |
| Medieval streets |
7. Winchester
Winchester is great for history lovers who want a taste of England’s past in a small, quaint city, rather than London’s enormous historical attractions.
Winchester’s small town charm allows for a laid back stroll through its scenic streets, medieval buildings, and architectural wonders.
Along the city’s ancient Roman walls is huge Winchester Cathedral, peer out through its architectural marvels or take a seat in the Great Hall’s outr Cafe and see Arthurian medieval lore deck the walls with history.
A heavenly walking town of regal history, culture, and coziness to lose yourself in a historic depth the capital of England wouldn’t dream of.
| Famous Historical Attractions |
|---|
| Winchester Cathedral |
| Great Hall with King Arthur’s Round Table |
| Wolvesey Castle |
| City Museum |
8. Edinburgh
Edinburgh offers an extraordinary combination of medieval and Georgian architecture set in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
While also a historic city like London, Edinburgh has the advantage of its compact Old and New Towns, so visitors can walk and explore in a much smaller area.
Edinburgh is also distinct in that its historic sites include the impressive Edinburgh Castle, which sits atop a volcanic rock.
The city hosts visitors along its cobbled streets and regression that reflects Edinburgh’s rich royal and literary history.
For Edinburgh’s history lovers, the city provides an enchanting and evocative atmosphere able to transport its visitors to bygone eras of every inch to explore avenues of cross cultural depth and history.
| Famous Historical Attractions |
|---|
| Edinburgh Castle |
| Royal Mile |
| Holyrood Palace |
| Arthur’s Seat |
9. St Albans
St Albans is another example of a history lover’s dream just outside of London. Steeped in history from the Romans, medieval times, and of the faith, it is a compact, walkable city.
Where in London you have to travel great distances to see historic sites, St Albans is a short stroll to preserved historic sites such as Verulamium and to the cathedral St Albans which is over 1,700 years old.
The layered history of the city is integrated in a medieval style market with Tudor architecture.
The city is a walkable, immersive piece of history and perfect for those that love the ancient and medieval periods.
| Famous Historical Attractions |
|---|
| St Albans Cathedral |
| Roman Theatre of Verulamium |
| Clock Tower |
| Medieval streets |
10. Chester
A history lover’s hit, Chester rivals London’s Heritage sites with its compact city center, well-preserved history, and seamless blend of Roman, medieval, and Victorian sites.
Chester is dominated by its ancient Roman City walls, endless medieval and Victorian architecture, and Chester Cathedral, one of the largest and most ornate in all of England.
In true medieval form, Chester is one of the only cities in England to have The Rows, an elevated, covered, and wooden shopping center and walkway.
Loveable Chester is a true antique and its curio craftsmanship is a delight to all who pass what was once an important bustling center of commerce.
| Famous Historical Attractions |
|---|
| Chester Roman Walls |
| Chester Cathedral |
| Chester Rows |
| Grosvenor Museum |
Conclusion
In conclusion, history enthusiasts should consider visiting other British cities like Bath, York, Cambridge, Oxford, Canterbury, Durham, Winchester, Edinburgh, St Albans, and Chester, which provide rich and immersive historical experiences, offers and avoid London.
Every one of these cities has a host of preserved buildings, varied cultural histories, and the stories of of unique histories, walkable enclaves, and immersive settings
That breathe life into history throughout both England and Scotland, and so are ideal places to explore history without the hubbub of London.
FAQ
Which city is best for Roman history?
Bath and St Albans are perfect for exploring Roman heritage.
Where can I see medieval architecture?
York, Durham, and Chester offer well-preserved medieval streets and buildings.
Which city is ideal for cathedral visits?
Winchester, Canterbury, Durham, and St Albans have iconic historic cathedrals.
Where can I experience university history?
Cambridge and Oxford showcase centuries of academic and architectural heritage.
Which city has Viking history?
York is famous for its Viking past, especially at the Jorvik Viking Centre.