If a student chooses to study in the UK he will get more than a well developed education. Of course, they will be able to check hundreds ( if not thousands of years) of history and cultural life. Many of the UK universities are in front of historical areas that can take us back in time. If you love history, or if you want to go on a learning trip, you can check those areas.
If you’re juggling coursework and want to make the most of these experiences, a reliable UK essay writing service like UKWritings.com can help manage your assignments, giving you more time to explore and learn outside the classroom. Let’s explore some of the historical places located near their respective universities.
Oxford’s Ancient Wonders
The world’s oldest university, Oxford University, is home to a wealth of history. Walking into the inner sanctuary of the Bodleian Library, only about 10 minutes walk from the main campus of the University of Oxford, one is immediately struck by the incredible age and grandeur of one of the oldest libraries in Europe, the first modern university library with its current name.
Within, it remains the current holder of the second-largest book collection and third-largest manuscript collection in Britain; outside, the architecture is quite simply stunning.
If you’re anywhere near Oxford, check out the Ashmolean Museum, the country’s oldest university museum, which boasts an extraordinary collection of fine art and archaeology from every corner of the globe. Colorful millennia-old Egyptian mummies are shown alongside paintings by 20th-century masters.
Cambridge’s Historical Treasures
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Cambridge University cannot afford to be outdone either, with its own venerable buildings. The elaborate Gothic fan-vaulted ceiling of King’s College Chapel – it took more than a century to complete – and the stained-glass windows continue to make the heart skip a beat.
A little further out of Cambridge, all historians should stop at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, a huge aviation museum with hundreds of planes and military vehicles from the two world wars and beyond (including the Spitfire fighter plane).
Edinburgh’s Royal Past
Societies teach us rules so that we can function without too much conflict. Next door at the University of Edinburgh and an easy commute away, Edinburgh Castle has been a symbol of Scotland’s royal history for 1,000 years. Overlooking the city from a rocky crag on a dormant volcano, the castle has hosted medieval sieges, royal births and attacks by Oliver Cromwell.
A five-minute walk along the Royal Mile brings you to Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh’s official home of the British monarch, where you can tour the State Apartments and stand where Mary, Queen of Scots, lived out her tumultuous reign.
London’s Historical Hotspots
Historical sites around London’s universities are plentiful, not least the Tower of London. Part fortress, royal palace, prison, and zoo over the past 1,000 years, it still boasts the Crown Jewels and its famous residents, the Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters.
Or London’s Westminster Abbey, the Gothic church where every coronation since 1066 has taken place, and the resting place of numerous English kings and other luminaries.
| Historical Site | Nearest University | Century Founded | Key Feature |
| Bodleian Library | Oxford | 17th | Rare book collection |
| King’s College Chapel | Cambridge | 15th | Fan-vaulted ceiling |
| Edinburgh Castle | Edinburgh | 12th | Stone of Destiny |
| Tower of London | Various London Unis | 11th | Crown Jewels |
| Westminster Abbey | Various London Unis | 10th | Coronation Church |
Bath’s Roman Heritage
The University of Bath is located close to one of Britain’s most important and best-preserved ancient monuments, the Roman Baths, after which the city is named.
The well-preserved ruins of buildings dating from almost 2,000 years ago include the hot springs from which the city’s name comes, as well as other Roman buildings, original Roman pavements, and many other insights into Roman Britain. The Bath Abbey opposite, with its soaring fan-vaulted roof, is well worth a visit, too.
Durham’s Medieval Marvels
I was a student at Durham University, and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites were sitting on my doorstep. 2: Two! You can find Durham Cathedral (1093), one of the best examples of Norman architecture in Europe, with its massive stone pillars and hushed cloisters to transport you to the 11th century.
Right next door is Durham Castle, which was built to fend off the depredations of the more northern of England’s troublesome neighbors, the Scots, and which is now student accommodation for Durham University. Talk about living history!
St Andrews’ Golfing History
While the University of St Andrews in Scotland is best-known now for being the place where Prince William met Kate Middleton, it has a longer history: it was once home to the largest church in Scotland, St Andrews Cathedral. Most of the buildings are now in ruins, but they are still impressive to visit, as you get a grand view across the North Sea.
Golf aficionados should visit the British Golf Museum, which provides an overview of the history of the game from medieval origins through to the present day. St Andrews is the ‘Home of Golf’ and the museum is situated a short walk from the famous Old Course.
York’s Viking Legacy
Students at York University can even take a trip back in time to the sights, sounds, and smells of Viking-age York by going to the Jorvik Viking Centre, a museum that stands on top of the remains found during archaeological excavations in the city during the 1970s.
Another stop is at the York Minster – one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe – to see its magnificent stained glass windows and marvelous stone carvings.
Wrapping Up Your Historical Journey
Such historic places can get you out of your classroom and into the streets where the action really took place. They can put your reading into a context that will help you grapple with what you are learning and can give you new ways of thinking about your studies. Not to mention that taking out-of-town family and friends to visit historic sites is one of the many perks of living abroad.
These are only some of the historical riches on Breathtaking Britain’s doorstep and a good starting point for exploring what is on offer across the entire country, which is full of wonder. And even the pockets of those students are not so poor that they cannot afford the historically minded: many of these sites have student discounts.
There’s nothing so dull as ticking off UNESCO World Heritage Sites. But by visiting these places, which span the whole of Britain’s past, you can engage creatively with what’s come before, grasp what’s happening around you, and develop an appreciation of the layers of history under your feet.
So while you’re here studying in the UK, take the time to marvel at the resourcefulness of those who built Roman monuments around the country, to walk in the footsteps of kings and queens, and to imagine yourself living, breathing, cooking, working, fighting and sleeping in a medieval castle.
So lay down your textbooks, assemble some companions, and embark on an exploratory journey through history. You might be surprised just by what you can find a mere stone’s throw from your university campus. In the UK, at least, you are never more than a few minutes away from a fragment of living history.