There are some amazing attractions around the country ranging from historic buildings to zoo and gardens. So if you are planning to visit somewhere this summer and have a little money in your pocket, where are the top paid visitor attractions around England? Here we look at the top 10 for children’s entertainment and fun family days out.
Tower of London
The historic castle standing on the banks of the River Thames has been one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country for generations. It stands within the Tower Hamlets borough of London and was originally founded in 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest. It is also home to the Crown Jewels, the queen’s famous collection of jewellery and gems.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is the Gothic abbey church within the City of Westminster and to the west of the Palace of Westminster, better known as the Houses of Parliament. It is the traditional coronation and burial places of the British royalty.
St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of London and stands on Ludgate Hill, the highest part of the City of London. It is dedicated to Paul the Apostle and the originally church was founded back in AD604. The current building was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the late 17th century in English Baroque style following the Great Fire of London.
Flamingo Land Theme Park & Zoo
Flamingo Land combines a theme park, zoo and resort near the village of Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire. Major attractions include Hero, a suspended flying rollercoaster and Pterodactyl, a vertical swing. In the zoo part are animals as diverse as camels, zebras, giraffes, parrots and meerkats.
Windermere Lake Cruises, Bowness
Windermere is the largest lake in the Lake District and the Lake Cruises are a great way to see the most of it. There are a range of cruises running from 45 minutes in length to three hours and even an all-day option.
Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is named as the best zoo in the UK and the 7th best in the world and is also one of the largest zoos in the country. There are over 400 species to be seen and in excess of 12,000 animals so something for all tastes from cute and cuddly to creepy crawlies. The zoo is the most visited wildlife attraction in Britain with over 1.4 million visitors every year.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is an international important botanic research and education institution. Based in Kew, in Richmond-upon-Thames, the famous gardens have much to see but has a serious purpose as well.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is arguably the most recognisable prehistoric monument in the world and is found 8 miles north of Salisbury in Wiltshire. The standing stones are part of a larger complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments including burial mounds and is believed to date from 3000BC onwards.
ZSL London Zoo
ZSL London Zoo is the oldest scientific zoo in the world and opened in 1828 to study animals. Today there are some 800 species represented amongst the 19,000 animals who call the zoo home, meaning it is one of the largest collections in the UK. It is separated across a number of special sections including the Gorilla Kingdom and the Rainforest Life.
Houses of Parliament
The Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster, is the meeting place of both houses of the British parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It stands on the north bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster, beside Westminster Abbey. At one end is the iconic clock tower nicknamed Big Ben.
