Thousands of years of history can be found across Britain, from Roman settlements and medieval streets to university cities, grand palaces and landmarks that have helped shape the country we know today.
Whether you’re visiting Britain for the first time or simply want to discover somewhere new closer to home, a short break gives you time to explore some of that history at a more leisurely pace. Spend the day discovering historic sites and the stories behind them, before heading back to a traditional pub for dinner, a drink and a comfortable room for the night.
Here are five destinations with plenty to fill a couple of days, along with a pub stay that puts you in a great spot to explore.
Canterbury, Kent
Canterbury’s history stretches back centuries, with medieval streets, ancient buildings and one of England’s most famous cathedrals all packed into its historic centre.
Start at Canterbury Cathedral, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church, before exploring the city on foot. With so much within walking distance, it’s an easy place to spend a day or two dipping into different periods of English history.
Stay at The Millers Arms
Keep the historic theme going with a stay at The Millers Arms, right in Canterbury.
Overlooking the River Stour, the pub puts you within easy reach of the city’s main sights, so once you’ve checked in you can continue exploring on foot. Head back afterwards for dinner and a drink before settling into your room for the night.
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Bath, Somerset
Roman history and Georgian Britain sit side by side in Bath, making it a great choice if you want to experience very different periods of history in one trip.
Begin at the Roman Baths, before visiting Bath Abbey and wandering through the Georgian city towards The Circus and Royal Crescent. Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety, so there’s plenty to discover simply by exploring its streets.
Stay at The Bear Inn
After a day exploring, head to The Bear Inn for the night.
The pub makes a handy base for a Bath city break, with the historic centre within easy reach. Settle in for food and a drink before spending the night, then head back into the city the following morning to pick up where you left off.
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York, North Yorkshire
Roman, Viking and medieval history all come together in York, making it one of the easiest places to pack plenty of sightseeing into a short break.
Walk the historic city walls, visit York Minster, explore the Shambles and discover the city’s Viking past at the JORVIK Viking Centre. Add Clifford’s Tower and York’s museums into the mix and you’ll have no trouble filling a couple of days.
Stay at Guy Fawkes Inn
Even your accommodation comes with a story in York.
Guy Fawkes Inn sits beside York Minster and takes its name from one of the city’s most famous historical figures. Its central location puts many of York’s main sights within walking distance, making it an ideal base for exploring the city.
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Blenheim Palace & Oxford, Oxfordshire
Base yourself in Woodstock and you can combine two of Oxfordshire’s best-known historic destinations in one short break.
Spend your first day at Blenheim Palace, exploring its State Rooms, park and gardens and discovering its connections with Winston Churchill. The following day, head into Oxford to wander between its historic university colleges, the Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera and centuries-old streets.
Stay at The King’s Arms, Woodstock
The King’s Arms puts you right in the centre of Woodstock and very close to Blenheim Palace, making it particularly convenient for this two-stop break.
Spend the day exploring the palace before returning to the pub for food, drinks and a comfortable room. The following morning, Oxford is within easy reach for the next part of your trip.
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Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland & Cumbria
Stretching across northern England, Hadrian’s Wall offers the chance to combine Roman history with some spectacular countryside.
Explore sections of the Wall on foot and visit archaeological sites including Housesteads Roman Fort and Vindolanda, where you can discover more about life on the Roman frontier. With historic sites dotted along the route, it’s worth giving yourself a couple of days rather than trying to see everything at once.
Stay at The Kirkstyle Inn & Sportsman’s Rest, Slaggyford
Make The Kirkstyle Inn & Sportsman’s Rest your base for exploring this part of northern England.
Set in the small Cumbrian village of Slaggyford, it’s well placed for combining days out around Hadrian’s Wall with a countryside pub stay. After a day of Roman history and walking, head back for food, a drink and a comfortable night’s sleep.
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Discover Britain’s history one break at a time
You don’t need to fit centuries of British history into one trip. Pick a city, landmark or period that interests you and give yourself a couple of days to explore it properly.
From Roman Bath and Viking York to Canterbury, Blenheim Palace and Hadrian’s Wall, each destination offers a very different glimpse into Britain’s past – with a great pub waiting at the end of the day.
Discover more historic places to stay and start planning your next History & Culture break with Stay in a Pub.
