Monuments to visit England

Every Saturday, the handicraft market installs its stands. On the second and fourth Saturday of the month, it is joined by the food market. Go to Market Place.

Coming to London and not climbing The Shard is like going to Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower. This extraordinary construction by Renzo Piano is the modern pride of Britain. The building is imposing and magnificent, and the sensation you get once you reach the top is a unique experience. It is the tallest building in Western Europe. When you take the elevator, look up and admire the beautiful images that flash before your eyes. Once at the top, you'll enjoy panoramic views for up to 40 miles around.

This sumptuous and surprising building in the center of Brighton was the brainchild of the eccentric prince and future king George IV. Originally a simple farmhouse, the building was bought by him to be transformed into a classical villa, where he hosted huge receptions. But it wasn't until he became regent that he thought bigger, and things took on their present scale. He commissioned architect John Nash to design a huge palace inspired by India, Asia being a fascination of the English Regency period. Work was carried out between 1815 and 1822, and today it remains the city's undeniable landmark alongside the pier on the waterfront.

Visitors will undoubtedly marvel at the overflowing imagination of the decorator and architect, who pushed fantasy to the limit. Inside, you'll feel like you're in a fairytale palace: columns, bamboo banisters, sea-serpent curtain rods, a gigantic fireplace topped with gilded palms, lacquered, sculpted, mother-of-pearl-encrusted furniture... The palms in the large kitchen match the dragons on the wallpaper in the music room, where Rossini played.

The Royal Pavilion tearoom, on the upper floor, is an eccentric and sophisticated café, with a sunny balcony on fine days overlooking the Royal Pavilion gardens. A must-see when in Brighton.

A museum in a bunker? Funny idea! Yet it is underground that the museum dedicated to Churchill, the English political figure who marked the history of his famous speeches, is located. At the very place where the British Prime Minister took refuge during the Blitz and announced: "This is the room from which I will lead the war." Nothing has been touched and you will find personal items and work tools as they were used by this great character. Churchill's little sentences have not lost any of their salt...

Home of Sir John Soane, the architect behind The Bank of England. A collector and art enthusiast, Soane amassed dozens of architectural pieces and small sculptures, which he installed throughout his house. Explore the new areas open to the public: catacombs, basement and hall. Overflowing with Egyptian, Roman, medieval and Renaissance curiosities, this museum is a little wonder. By reservation, one Friday a month, at dusk, this museum can be visited by candlelight. A magical atmosphere guaranteed!

The Houses of Parliament are held in Westminster Palace. Here, the House of Commons and the House of Lords of the United Kingdom sit. Originally created by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century, the building has long been used as a royal residence, even if no monarch has lived there since the 16th century. The oldest part of the palace, Westminster Hall, dates back to 1097. The rest of the building dates back to the 19th century because, in 1834, a gigantic fire destroyed the medieval palace, sparing only Westminster Hall, the 13th century crypt and the cloister of the St. Stephen's Chapel. The four-storey palace has more than 1,100 rooms. It is one of the jewels of neo-Gothic architecture designed by the architect Sir Charles Barry, who was largely inspired by the Tudor period. It is within the Westminster Palace that you can also discover The Clock Tower, home to Big Ben. The tower was renamed The Elizabeth Tower in 2012 following the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee celebration. After visiting the Houses of Parliament, you will understand how the United Kingdom Parliament works, how the House of Lords is organized and how the House of Commons is organized. Decorated with picturesque anecdotes, the place is pleasant to discover, the nerve centre of the United Kingdom's political power, still cluttered today with protocols and many traditions. The bright red rooms reserved for the Lords contrast with the bright green rooms of the deputies.

It is Bath's flagship attraction, inherited from the Roman occupation. In the 12th century, the King's Bath was built there around the spring. The place became again a place to visit and cure for the benefits it was found. In the 18th century, mineral water began to be consumed and the Pump Room was built for this purpose. It was not until 1880 that the Roman remains were discovered and exhumed. The visit is a true journey through time and the ostentation of ancient elegance. Beware, there can be a lot of people in summer!

After Buckingham Palace, it is the second royal place in England, one of the main official residences of the royal family, which still comes here very regularly, usually at Easter and for a week at the end of June. The castle is located in the Thames Valley, west of London, in the city of Windsor in Berkshire. Built 900 years ago by William the Conqueror, 40 km from London, to defend its western access, Windsor Castle has been a royal residence since the 11th century. It was redesigned and enlarged many times: cloister, porte Henri VII, Saint-George chapel founded by King Edward in 1475... King Edward III of England made this chapel in Windsor the cradle of the Order of the Garter in 1348. You can admire many paintings and family portraits and an important collection of armour and weapons. As an anecdote, on 20 November 1992, an important part of the castle - including the Saint-George hall - was damaged by the fire. The fire broke out in the private chapel and caused significant damage to the northwestern part of the building. As the building had not been insured, several royal residences were open to the public in order to raise the 40 million pounds needed for repairs. Since then, the best craftsmen in Great Britain have worked on its restoration, and the work accomplished is superb. It is here that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married on May 19, 2018, in the St. George's Chapel. Another unforgettable event.

The most famous and perhaps the most beautiful of Cambridge's colleges. The main attraction is the superb Perpendicular Gothic chapel, featuring Rubens' Adoration of the Magi, a spectacular fan vault and ^16th-century stained glass windows. It's one of the most spectacular examples of late Gothic architecture. A splendid alchemy of stone, wood and stained glass. It was founded in 1441 by Henry VI.

This 60.60 metre high Doric column has great significance for Londoners as it commemorates one of the city's most painful events, the Great Fire of 1666 which devastated the City. The monument stands exactly 60.60 metres from the spot where the fire started, at a baker's in Pudding Lane. The column was designed by Christopher Wren, who was also responsible for the reconstruction of many buildings after the fire. The 311 steps of the spiral staircase can be climbed.

This magnificent theatre enjoys a spectacular location, perched on the cliffs of the small municipality of Porthcurno. Although it looks like an antique hemicycle, its construction only began in 1930, thanks to the plans of a tireless English lady, Miss Cade, who completed most of it. It still hosts performances in the summer and the back of each seat bears the inscription of a work : The Merchant of Venice, Alice in Wonderland... If you're in the area during the summer, be sure to spend the evening.

This magnificent palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a model of grandeur and architecture, typical of the great British noble residences. The Duke of Marlborough, who won the Battle of Blenheim against the French in 1704, lived in these sumptuous interiors surrounded by superb parkland. It's also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, national hero and several-time Prime Minister. An exhibition traces his life and plunges us into the intimacy of this statesman. Cafés, restaurants and stores on site.