Top Things to do in South East England
Top Hotels in South East England
- 1. Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport (North Terminal) Hotel
- 2. Forest Park Country Hotel & Inn
- 3. Hotel Pelirocco
- 4. The Grand Brighton
- 5. room2 Southampton hometel
- 6. Sofitel London Gatwick Hotel
- 7. The Holt Hotel
- 8. Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa
- 9. The Runnymede on Thames
- 10. The Crown Manor House Hotel
Top 10 Historic Sites in South East England, England
Discover the best top things to do in South East England, United Kingdom including St. George's Chapel, Hampton Court Palace, Christ Church, Winchester Cathedral, Dover Castle, Blenheim Palace, Bodleian Library, Highclere Castle, Arundel Castle and Gardens, Upton House & Gardens.
Restaurants in South East England
1. St. George's Chapel
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,699 reviews
Reviewed By sideboards
Inside the chapel you’ll find 10 different kings buried, beautiful ornate wood work commissioned by Henry V111 for Catherine of Aragon, and the stunning stained glass windows of this amazing church, inside is the final resting place of the queen mother and princess Margret along with princess Charlotte. This is a working church so you can listen to choirs and join the congregation for prayer.
2. Hampton Court Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,385 reviews
Visit the famous hedge maze, Tudor knot garden and the state apartments at this splendid red-brick Tudor Palace, which is set in formal gardens and open parkland along the Thames River.
Reviewed By Ritpetite96 - Bideford, United Kingdom
I've always wanted to visit Hampton Court Palace And It exceeded my expectations It's truly amazing It's Tudor and Baroque architecture are both equally wonderful, the gardens are beautiful you can easily spend a whole day wondering around and still not see it all. When we arrived which was at 9.15 they had just lit the fire in the kitchens (you could smell the smoke wafting over the East front gardens) you can go in and look around the front gardens at 9 am the roses smelt lovely at that time of the morning and we even saw some wild Parakeets flying around. When we we went we where lucky enough to go when you could meet Henry viii and interview a couple of his wives listening to the actors playing them was very interesting and really enjoyable, and it was a pleasure talking to the guides in the rooms of the palace their knowledge about the history of the place was enjoyable to listen to, it was the same talking to the people in the kitchens finding out what life was like working in a Tudor kitchen, Hampton court palace is well worth a visit and I would go back again.
3. Christ Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,479 reviews
Reviewed By PeteD60 - Ware, United Kingdom
This was an Tuesday afternoon visit in November – highlights – the Dining Hall – Custodian Sue was very informative and helpful – the tables were laid against a background of history with its Founder Cardinal Wolsey and after his fall Henry 8 and Elizabeth 1 looking down on the diners alongside portraits of Deans - past and present – different dining times for the students – early smart casual – later more formal with gowns – a different world – and then out into the quadrangle dominated by the Wren designed tower and then into the cathedral with its choir stalls running through the centre – guides on hand to provide additional information to the free guide – it is a visit of history and tradition in spades – well worth a visit – thank you
4. Winchester Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,333 reviews
Winchester Cathedral is one of the finest medieval cathedrals in Europe, nestled at the heart of historic Winchester. It has been a place of worship and welcome for over 900 years and is one of the most historically significant buildings in Britain. Step inside to marvel at the longest medieval Nave in Europe, admire stunning architecture and encounter priceless treasures including the 12th-century Winchester Bible. Winchester Cathedral is the resting place of Saxon royalty and Jane Austen, the much-loved English novelist. Don't miss the new exhibition Kings and Scribes: The Birth of a Nation which takes visitors through 1,000 years of history from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present day. One of the best ways to explore is with a guided tour, available from 10am - 3pm Monday to Saturday. After your visit, take time to enjoy delicious home-cooked food in the Cathedral Refectory with its medieval walled garden or browse the Cathedral Shop for souvenirs and exclusive gifts.
Reviewed By JaneB2282
We visited Winchester Cathedral today and can throughly recommend the 1 hour guided tour, it gave great insights into the history and stories behind this beautiful Cathedral and our tour guide Lorraine Estelle was wonderful and definitely deserves a special mention ..
5. Dover Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,108 reviews
The most iconic of all English fortresses commanding the gateway to the realm for nine centuries. Climb the Great Tower, meet the characters and immerse yourself in vivid medieval interiors. Then delve deep within Dover's White Cliffs to witness the drama in the Secret Wartime Tunnels. Roam through centuries of history at Dover Castle, from the Romans to the 20th century, in an action-packed day out.
Reviewed By TEK1904 - St Ives, United Kingdom
We have just returned from an absolutely phenomenal weekend staying in the grounds of Dover Castle. From the tunnel tours to the Great Tower steeped in history, to the views across the English Channel and the access to the grounds before and after hours we were totally blown away and awestruck. A special mention to all the staff throughout our stay who were friendly, informative, helpful, enthusiastic and passionate about such an incredible place . Not forgetting Lesley the housekeeper who ensured our stay was spot on. An absolute credit to English heritage and Dover Castle. We will most definitely be returning. Highly recommend.
6. Blenheim Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,813 reviews
Home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill,, Blenheim Palace is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture that boasts over 300 years of history to discover. This World Heritage Site is set within more than 2000 acres of Parkland landscaped by 'Capability' Brown, and the Palace itself houses some of the finest collections of antique furniture in Europe.Situated in Woodstock, just 8 miles from Oxford, Blenheim Palace is Britain's Greatest Palace and offers visitors a precious time, every time.
Reviewed By wendyj229 - Witney, United Kingdom
Great afternoon in the pleasure gardens ..maze , butterfly house , pizza lunch , adventure play ground , train ride .. def worth the fees ... had a great afternoon in this part of the grounds .. great for us all .. age range 69 - 2 yrs !!
7. Bodleian Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,263 reviews
The world-famous Bodleian Libraries is a must-see cultural destination in the heart of Oxford. It founded by Sir Thomas Bodley and officially opened in 1602. Since then the Bodleian libraries has grown to be the largest academic library system in the UK. In its reading rooms generations of famous scholars have studied through the ages, amongst them monarchs, Nobel Prize winners, British Prime Ministers and writers including Oscar Wilde, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. At the site, you can explore historic spaces that you might recognise from popular films and TV series such as Harry Potter and A Discovery of Witches. We also offer free, inspiring exhibitions featuring the libraries’ rich collections, two unique gift shops and a lovely café.
Reviewed By SCagray - Santa Cruz, United States
This was a wonderful way to experience the library! We took the 90 minute tour which including going inside Radcliff Camera, highly recommend!! Our guide was very knowledgeable and she was witty as week. We thoroughly enjoyed it and learned so much more than we would have without the tour.
8. Highclere Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,288 reviews
Designed by Sir Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament, this is considered to be one of the finest Victorian homes still in existence, which houses fine furniture and works of art. Today, the Castle is the home of the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and is known around the world as the real home of 'Downton Abbey'.
Reviewed By StreetwiseSmart - Gunnislake, United Kingdom
Highclare is a terrific place to visit - really well organised, super friendly & informative guides, gift shop with quality and fairly priced items, and wonderful maintained grounds and gardens. In today’s ever more irritating Covid World, all necessary safety measures were in place without being intrusive or restrictive to our visit. Highclare itself is beautifully presented, with a balance of family history alongside Downton Abbey lore. Cannot rate highly enough.
9. Arundel Castle and Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,297 reviews
Arundel Castle and Gardens open from 5th August 2020. Open Tuesdays to Sundays inclusive and August bank holiday Monday. Arundel Castle, home of the Duke of Norfolk, reflecting nearly 1,000 years of history,and commanding the surrounding landscape with magnificent views across the South Downs and River Arun. Fine furniture and works of art in sumptuously furnished rooms. Ancient Motte & Keep. Spectacular gardens. 14th century Fitzalan Chapel. Collection of arms & armour. Personal possessions of Mary Queen of Scots. Pre-booked tickets only.
Reviewed By teresalU1302CG - Bath, United Kingdom
From the moment we walked up the drive and saw the beautiful and striking Arundel castle home to the Duke of Norfolk it was simply just breathtaking, and inside was stunning, the library took my breath away. The most amazing castle I have ever visited. The gardens are beautiful with so many beautiful features, with the beautiful Arundel Cathedral as a back drop. Would most definitely return and highly recommend a visit
10. Upton House & Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,197 reviews
Come and see how Lord & Lady Bearsted made Upton House and Gardens the perfect country retreat for their family in the 1930s. You can also discover Lord Bearsted's famous art collection including works by Bosch, Stubbs and Canaletto. We have a stunning collection of porcelain too; so if you are visiting us for the first time you may wish to expect your visit to the house to last a minimum of an hour. Viewings of the house available by timed ticket from 11:00am with last entry to the house at 15:30 before closing at 16:00; the gardens, shop and cafe close at 17:00. Please bear in mind that the car park is 300 yards from the house.
Reviewed By srablair - Lytham St Anne's, United Kingdom
This is a wonderful property with a lot to see so allow plenty of time. We spent around 4 hours here including a nice visit to the cafe. Access to the house is by timed appointment and there is a choice of 3 tours to do at timed appointments too, so I would advise getting these scheduled in As soon as you arrive. There is a large garden to visit with a few surprises along the way and a good kitchen garden which I found inspirational. The house dated back to 17th Century although it was extensively redesigned in 1921. The redesign is interesting in its own right and the main draw is the house contents including spectacular art collection including paintings tapestries and Chinaware. We were interested in the history of the house and it's owners over the years which provide a glimpse into the past. Quite fascinating. There is a temporary natural science exhibition of portraits of scientists and environmental contributors which is very interesting. Is a tribute to the work of people from a range of backgrounds from Darwin to David Attenburgh via Chris Packham and Vivien Westwood! Nice little exhibition which is worth 20 minutes look if you are here anyway. The cafe was doing a roaring trade and we enjoyed tea/coffee ,scone and jam and very nice shortbread. We we were pleased to see that the clotted cream for the cream tea was served in a reusable pot which is much more sensible than the standard foil sealed type pot. Very good visit.
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