Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit England

A mecca for tourism, history, heritage and mystery, Stonehenge is on the bucket list of many visitors to the UK. It is surely Europe's best-known prehistoric monument. Immortalized in literature and film on numerous occasions, it is a Unesco World Heritage Site that still holds all its secrets. Indeed, there are still many questions as to why these enormous monoliths were placed there in the first place, and what techniques were used to move them. Recent renovations have seen the grassing over of a road that had spoiled the site's charm, and the construction of a new on-site museum that will tell you all you need to know about the site. While you can't get within 5 metres of the stones to ensure their preservation, you can admire them from the path around them and soak up their mystical beauty. Immerse yourself in this atmosphere and step back in time to the Neolithic era with the help of the excellent commentary on the audio guide, which will take you around the stones following the different orientations of the sun. A timeless experience.

Don't forget to book your visit online to guarantee admission. A shuttle bus from the modern visitor center can take you to the stone circle, 2 km away. Alternatively, you can take a walk and soak up the sights.

The site's history dates back some 5,000 years. Stonehenge was a Neolithic place of worship and burial, consisting of a ditch and an embankment. 4,000 years ago, the bluestones were brought down from the mountains of south-west Wales, and 500 years later, they were installed at the center of the circle of standing stones we see today, which originate from the Malborough Downs, some 30 km away. The site may have become a Druidic ceremonial place, but its origins are Celtic.

When the Celtic people, of Indo-European origins, arrived in Europe in the first millennium BC, Stonehenge was already abandoned. The Greek writer Ephoros describes the Celtic people as one of the four most remarkable barbarian civilizations, along with the Libyans, Persians and Scythians.

Reputed to be curious, intellectual, creative and resistant to any organized system, they undermined all the states of antiquity, without ever creating one themselves. Their favorite literary form was poetry, transmitted orally.

A must on this site: come on a solstice day when the sun is aligned with the axis of the megaliths.

Commissioned by King Charles II in 1675 from architect Christopher Wren, the Royal Observatory allowed astronomer John Flamsteed to observe the sky. The royal park that surrounds it is partly designed by Le Nôtre. Inside the Observatory is the Greenwich meridian, whose line can be seen on the ground. In 1884, it was decided that the Greenwich meridian would correspond to the 0 meridian, from which all distances would be measured from east to west. Recently, calculations have located the meridian a little further east than the trace!

With its poetic, evocative name, Land's End is Cornwall's other famous headland, along with Lizard Point. This is not the most southerly, but the most westerly point in the whole country, offering a wider, more jagged panorama. Spectacular views of the surrounding cliffs, facing the open Atlantic. It's a pity that the site is so overdeveloped for tourism, with several buildings including a small, typically English amusement complex. The best thing to do is simply to park in the (paying) parking lot and head straight for the coast, avoiding all the unnatural attractions, especially in the off-season when the area is not very busy. A famous (very) long-distance hiking route starts here, linking Land's End to John's O' Groats, the last village in north-west Scotland. Nicknamed the "End to End", it covers more than 1,400 km and attracts mainly cyclists, but also a few hikers ready to cross the length of Great Britain... Arm yourself with binoculars, and you'll be able to spot gannets diving right before your eyes. Land's End is one of the most dangerous places for boats to pass through, with its jutting rocks. In all, more than 37 shipwrecks have occurred here. Explanatory panels explain the dangers of these tumultuous, rocky waters. Take your time, watch the waves and enjoy the fresh air.

How is a tornado formed? What is DNA? The answers to all these questions and many more are explained at We The Curious, a fun-filled Cité des sciences. Don't miss the planetarium show to learn how to spot the constellations. The facility also takes advantage of the presence in town of the headquarters of Aardman Animation Studios, creators of Wallace and Gromit, by designing a hands-on space dedicated to animation. From adjusting lighting to learning drawing and movement techniques, it's sure to inspire new vocations!

Discovery of a Chinese porcelain factory in the heart of Cornwall, its history and manufacturing technique.

A factory and a shop of barley sugar for the gourmands. There is plenty to visit and eat.

Geevor Tin Mine is one of the many sites bearing witness to the Cornish coast's industrial past, when ore mining was important. The mine ceased operating in 1990 and is now a tourist attraction. Wearing a helmet, you descend into the mine, with a guide, and it's best to dress accordingly, as the visit can get messy. Claustrophobic visitors are advised not to... To find out more, a museum recounts the history of the site and the life of the miners. Their equipment and a series of photographs are on display. An interesting visit.

We can see the workshops of artisans in activity: turners on wood, potters, goldsmiths and trainers.

Nelson admiral of Nelson restored as it was in 1805. Nelson's bed curtains were embroidered by his mistress, Emma Hamilton! HMS Victory had 800 men on his side when he won against the Fearsome. Three hours after victory, Nelson died, hit by a cannon.

74 metres of embroidery tell you 81 events in the history of England, from 1066 to 1966! Fascinating and informative.

This is the only cheddar cheese factory in Cheddar! It's the perfect opportunity to visit a museum of craftsmanship "in action": you'll see how England's famous favorite cheese is made, as they've known it since 1170. The various stages of the process are shown, and the caves are used as giant refrigerators. The tour naturally ends with a tasting of the different varieties. Every cheddar has its own particularity!

The Cheddar Caves are the main local attraction and are accessible through a single company that manages all the entrances. Several types of tickets are sold, the most common being also the most complete. It gives access to the various caves, the museum (which houses a 40,000-year-old human skeleton) and other attractions (natural and unnatural) such as a bus tour of the gorge, a three-mile hike to the top or access to the observation tower. Climbing and caving trips are also possible.

The north coast of Cornwall is splendid, and home to some of England's finest coastal scenery. From west to east, you can admire the beauty of this coastline by walking along the sea from the road. If the beaches here are divine and pearly white, it's largely because they're often completely covered at high tide. The vistas change with the day, and you're just as likely to contemplate stretches of fine sand arched by cliffs, as granite rocks dropping sheer into the capricious Atlantic.

Gwithian Towans Beach: an immense white-sand beach fringed by dunes, a place full of charm and grandeur, popular with surfers.

Godrevy Point: its pretty cliffs provide unobstructed views of the surrounding area, and the attraction of this point also lies in the small island opposite it, with its lighthouse: Godrevy Lighthouse.

Portreath: a tiny, recessed village, typical of Cornwall, with a pretty beach at the foot of the green cliffs.

Hell's Mouth: between Gwithian and Portreath, this spot is easy to access from the road, with parking available at the Hells Mouth Kitchen and Bar. The photogenic cliffs are high above the water, and the area is of great beauty.

St Agnes and Wheal Coates: the cliffs south of St Agnes are among the most impressive in the region. Very high and covered with heather, you can admire the picturesque remains of old small stone mines on the Wheal Coates side. The superb beaches of Chapel Porth and Porthowan Beach, popular with surfers, stretch as far as the eye can see below. A short walk from the Porthowan parking lot to Trevaunance Cove is the perfect way to enjoy a Cornish postcard. If you simply wish to take a look at the ruins of Wheal Coates, a National Trust parking lot on Beacon Drive makes the site easily accessible on foot. For a bit of height, Beacon Hill is nearby.

The coastline between St Agnes and Perranporth is one of the steepest in the area and makes for a superb walk between the two towns. The view of the beach from the heights around YHA Perranporth is breathtaking.

Bedruthan Steps: the Bedruthan Steps could be straight out of an Australian or New Zealand postcard. At low tide, when they're no longer being rocked by the waves, these breathtaking masses of rock sit enthroned on a pristine beach, at the foot of the cliffs and facing the open sea. It's one of the most dazzling sights you'll ever see!

The villages of Mawgan Porth, Porthcothan, Harlyn, Trevone and New Polzeath are all very characteristic of the region.

Trevrose Head: visible from Newquay, this majestic headland juts out into the Atlantic and offers some stunning scenery, with its lighthouse and towering cliffs.

Stepper Point and Pentire Point: facing each other on either side of the mouth of the River Camel, these two charming, easy-to-reach points offer sweeping panoramas.

Port Quinn and Port Isaac: these adjoining Cornish villages are well worth a photo stop.

Between Boscastle and Bude: the cliffs in the area of Crackington Haven and Millook Haven are absolutely breathtaking, displaying an original and more complex geology than in the rest of the county.

This new immersive attraction from the BBC is based on the BBC Studios Natural History Unit's Seven Worlds TV series. You plunge into the heart of the wilderness world, discovering the history of the universe and other wonders of our planet through huge projections of impressive scale. Each space and projection is set to a text by the famous British writer and naturalist David Attenborough, as well as the music from the series. A breathtaking experience for young and old alike.

Let us take you on a half-day tour of Stonehenge, one of England's most mysterious sites. Comfortably seated in your purple minibus, you'll be able to observe the splendid surrounding countryside while enjoying the commentary of your driver and guide, who will be delighted to pass on his knowledge of the area and answer any questions you may have. The tour lasts a total of 4 hours, from pick-up to return to the city. The meeting point is in front of the Abbey Hotel in the center of Bath.

Let us take you on a half-day tour of Stonehenge, one of England's most mysterious sites. Comfortably seated in your purple minibus, you'll be able to observe the splendid surrounding countryside while enjoying the commentary of your driver and guide, who will be delighted to pass on his knowledge of the area and answer any questions you may have. The tour lasts a total of 4 hours, from pick-up to return to the city. The meeting point is in front of the Abbey Hotel in the center of Bath.

Follow in the footsteps of Queen Victoria as you discover the Queen's and Prince Albert's favorite vacation spots across the Isle of Wight from Osborne House.

Osborne House, East Cowes, Queen Victoria's vacation home.

Carisbrooke Castle, Newport, residence of Princess Beatrice, the Queen's daughter, from 1912.

St Mildred's Church, East Cowes, Queen Victoria's place of prayer.

Prince Consort Building, Ryde, formerly the Queen's private yacht club.

Newport Minster, Newport, rebuilt at Queen Victoria's request, featuring a marble sculpture of her daughter, Princess Elizabeth.

Fort Victoria Country Park, Yarmouth, created to protect Portsmouth from French invasion.

Shanklin Chine, in Shanklin, opened to the public in 1817, one of the favorite haunts of the young Princess Victoria, who first visited the site with her mother in 1833 at the age of 14.

Ventnor Botanic Garden, in St Lawrence, where a former hospital stood during the Victorian era.

Farringford, Freshwater Bay, a former retreat for a group of Victorian writers, artists and intellectuals, including the poet Lord Tennyson. He was a regular guest at Osbourne House.

Egypt Point, West Cowes, Queen Victoria's favorite panoramic viewpoint.

Northwood House, West Cowes, venue for high society balls and parties attended by Queen Victoria.

Other attractions includeThe Royal Hotel, Blackgang Chine and, of course, The Needles.