York
York. The very word evokes vivid impressions of medieval England quite unlike any other place in the country. York is a city of extraordinary cultural and historical wealth that has lost little of its pre-industrial lustre. Surrounded by a majestic circuit of 13th-century walls that enclose a spider's web of ancient narrow streets, the heart of the city is dominated by the immense, awe-inspiring York Minster, one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world. Every brick and beam seems to be sewn into the tapestry of York's history, while the modern, tourist-orientated city, with its varied museums, restaurants, cafes and traditional pubs, is a carefully maintained heir to that heritage.
The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds rolls gracefully across six counties, though the bulk of it lies in Gloucestershire. It’s a delightful tangle of gloriously golden villages, thatched-roof cottages, evocative churches, rickety almshouses and ancient mansions of honey-coloured stone. If you’ve ever lusted after exposed beams, cream teas or cuisine crammed full of local produce, then here you will be salivating. We should thank the sheep, because the booming medieval wool trade brought wealth to the Cotswolds, leaving behind a proliferation of exquisite buildings. In 1966, the region was declared an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). At 790 sq miles, it’s England’s second-largest protected area after the Lake District. More than 83% is farmland but, even so, around 139,000 people live within the AONB itself. These gentle, dramatic hills are perfect for walking, cycling and horse riding, criss-crossed by a network of long-distance tracks, most notably the 102-mile Cotswold Way.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Towering over diminutive Ludgate Hill in a superb position that's been a place of Christian worship for over 1400 years, St Paul’s is one of London’s most magnificent buildings. For Londoners, the vast dome is a symbol of resilience and pride, standing tall for more than 300 years. View Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece from the inside and climb to the top for breathtaking views of the capital.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is the world’s largest and oldest continuously occupied fortress. A majestic vision of battlements and towers, it’s used for state occasions and is one of the Queen’s principal residences. Whenever she is staying at Windsor, the Royal Standard flies from the Round Tower. You can join a free guided tour (every half hour) of the wards or take a handheld multimedia tour of the lavish State Apartments and beautiful chapels. Some sections may be off-limits if they are in use. To avoid queues, book your tickets online.
William the Conqueror first established the Windsor residence in the year 1080. Since then, it has been rebuilt, remodelled and refurbished by various monarchs to create the massive, sumptuous palace that stands here today. Henry II replaced the original wooden stockade in 1170 with a stone round tower and built the outer walls to the north, east and south; Elizabeth I carried out major palace-wide renovations; Charles II gave the State Apartments a glorious baroque makeover; George IV swept in with his team of artisans; and Queen Victoria refurbished an ornate chapel in memory of her beloved Albert.
Here are some of the highlights:
Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House
Your first stop is likely to be the amazing dolls' house designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens for Queen Mary between 1921 and 1924, to a scale of 1:12. The attention to detail is spellbinding: there's running water, electricity and lighting, tiny Crown Jewels, vintage wine in the cellar and mini books by literary greats in the library.
State Apartments
Spectacular rooms, sumptuously decorated with gilt and chandeliers. Highlights include St George's Hall, used for state banquets, with ceilings covered in the painted shields of the Knights of the Garter. For smaller gatherings, the Queen entertains in the Waterloo Chamber, which commemorates the 1815 victory over Napoleon, with portraits of statesmen including the Duke of Wellington and George IV. The Apartments also house some exquisite pieces of art, among them works by Rubens, Canaletto and van Dyck.
St George’s Chapel
Commissioned for the Order of the Garter by Edward IV in 1475, St. George’s is one of England’s finest examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture. The nave and beautiful fan-vaulted roof were built under Henry VII, with completion under Henry VIII in 1528.
St George's Chapel closes on Sundays, but you can attend a morning service or evensong at 5.15pm.
Albert Memorial Chapel
Built in 1240, the small Albert Memorial Chapel was the place of worship for the Order of the Garter before St George's Chapel was built.. After the death of Prince Albert at Windsor Castle in 1861, Queen Victoria ordered its redecoration as a tribute to her husband and consort. A major feature of the restoration is the magnificent vaulted roof, of which the gold mosaic pieces were crafted in Venice.
Changing of the Guard
A great spectacle, with rousing tunes from a military band, smartly attired in red uniforms and bearskins, the changing of the guard draws crowds to Windsor Castle each day. It usually takes place at 11am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, weather permitting.
Title Image Credit: www.twin-loc.fr (Image Cropped)