Places of interest

The United Kingdom is home to a remarkable variety of heritage sites, museums, galleries, and natural landscapes. Many of these places are free to visit and are among the most celebrated in the world.

Britain has some of the world's finest free museums and galleries, particularly in London. Entry to the major national museums and galleries in the UK is free of charge.

Key institutions include:

• The British Museum (London) — holds over 8 million objects covering human history and culture from around the world; the Rosetta Stone and Elgin Marbles are among its most celebrated exhibits
• The National Gallery (London, Trafalgar Square) — Western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th century; admission is free
• The Natural History Museum (London) — famous for dinosaur skeletons and the blue whale exhibit
• The Science Museum (London) — history of science, technology, and medicine
• The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) (London) — the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design
• Tate Modern (London) — national collection of modern and contemporary art
• The National Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh)
• Amgueddfa Cymru / Museum Wales (Cardiff and across Wales)

• Stonehenge (Wiltshire) — prehistoric monument built from approximately 3,000 BC; a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Edinburgh Castle (Edinburgh) — perched on volcanic rock; houses the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny
• The Tower of London — historic fortress on the Thames; houses the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom; a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Windsor Castle (Berkshire) — the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world; an official residence of the monarch
• Hadrian's Wall (northern England) — built by the Romans in AD 122; stretches 73 miles; a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Blenheim Palace (Oxfordshire) — birthplace of Winston Churchill; a UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Buckingham Palace (London) — official London residence of the monarch; Changing of the Guard ceremony
• Palace of Holyroodhouse (Edinburgh) — official Scottish residence of the monarch
• Kensington Palace (London) — official residence of several members of the Royal Family
• Hampton Court Palace (Surrey) — magnificent Tudor palace; built by Cardinal Wolsey, later taken by Henry VIII

• The Lake District (Cumbria) — England's largest National Park; a UNESCO World Heritage Site; associated with poets Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter
• Snowdonia / Eryri (Wales) — National Park; home to Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), the highest mountain in Wales
• The Cairngorms (Scotland) — the largest National Park in the UK by area
• The Giant's Causeway (Northern Ireland) — a UNESCO World Heritage Site; made up of approximately 40,000 interlocking hexagonal basalt columns formed by volcanic activity
• The Jurassic Coast (Dorset and Devon) — a UNESCO World Heritage Site; 95 miles of coastline exposing 185 million years of Earth's geological history

• Edinburgh — capital of Scotland; Edinburgh Festival (world's largest arts festival, held in August)
• Cardiff — capital of Wales; Senedd (Welsh Parliament); Cardiff Castle
• Belfast — capital of Northern Ireland; Titanic Belfast museum (RMS Titanic was built in Belfast's shipyards)
• Bath — a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Roman Baths; Royal Crescent (Georgian architecture)
• Stratford-upon-Avon — birthplace of William Shakespeare
• Canterbury — home of Canterbury Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury; a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Well done! You've completed all topics in Chapter 4 — A modern, thriving society. Continue your preparation with practice questions to test your knowledge.