One of the best things about living in London is how quickly you can get out. As the weather begins to turn, weekends are the perfect time to make the most of the longer days with some of Greater London’s best walks.
This is perhaps one of the world’s most recognised Wonders. Standing proudly on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, the reason behind this mysterious collection of stones is still unknown. The stone they’re constructed from does not occur naturally in Wiltshire; thereforetheymust have been moved many miles, thousands of years ago. Quite how this impressive feat was managed is still a mystery. What we do know is that those Neolithic builders designed Stonehenge to salute the sun on the summer solstice, so it’s clearly a work of purpose and intelligence. You can’t get right up to the stones any more but seeing them from a short distance does not detract from their absolute magnificence.
For those not in the geological know, a gorge is a narrow valley between mountains or hills and typically has a stream running through it and steep, rocky walls enclosing it. It’s very similar to a ravine, or a canyon. Cheddar Gorge is the biggest of its kind in the UK and its dramatic cliffs lead on to incredible views, reaching a height of 450 ft. But if the thought of a height does not fill you with delight, then you can also head underground to explore the stunning Gough’s Cave, sitting neatly under the gorge. Cheddar Gorge
Now this one is very definitely famous worldwide, but as a Wonder it belongs solely to the UK. The long recognised home of the British Royal family, it remains to this day the Queen’s favourite weekend home. For 950 years, this fortress and royal residence has been hosted by the leafy county of Berkshire and it sits looking down majestically onto the town of Windsor. It’s the largest inhabited castle in the world, and its evolution and growth over the centuries have seen it now covering 13 acres. Windsor Castle
Formed over thousands of years by the natural process of coastal erosion, this giant rock arch is not just famous in the UK; it’s known worldwide as a geological Wonder. It’s situated in the beautiful county of Dorset, and sitting close to the shore means that the views of the Durdle Door are incredible, especially if you walk up the hill to enjoy the sight of the majestic Jurassic coast. There is also a beautiful beach for the warmer months, ideal for family picnics, or perhaps a dip in the Atlantic sea if you’re feeling particularly brave! Durdle Door
This is a very unique place indeed and definitely worth travelling to. Sitting in the middle of the beautiful York City, the Minster is Northern Europe’s biggest Gothic cathedral. And while it’s perhaps not a frontrunner in the list of Wonders in the UK, it is consistently voted year after year as one of the Seven Wonders of Britain by the 2 million visitors that pass through its door annually. The Minster took over 250 years to build, and it features the greatest collection of medieval, stained glass windows in the world