Off the Beaten Track in England's Small Cities

Last week I introduced you to some of my favorite off the beaten track spots in England's major cities. Things can get overwhelming when visiting London or Manchester so having a few less touristy attractions to visit is always a good idea.

However, when visiting a smaller city in England I find it quite hard to figure out what exactly to do. Yes, most English cities are beautiful in itself and don't need much planning, but what is there to do once you've walked up and down the city's high street? Go to their cathedral? Sometimes I find myself MORE overwhelmed when planning trips to smaller cities because you have to do more research on what is worth seeing.

Most of the attractions on this list were found by complete accident. Towards the end of my time in England I found myself planning less and less and just going with the flow. However, if you do want to visit some of England's smaller cities here are a few off the beaten track attractions definitely worth visiting.

TEWKESBURY | WAR OF THE ROSES BATTLE TRAIL

Tewkesbury is possibly one of my favorite places in all of England. Big statement I know, but Tewkesbury is so untouched, so unique, so wonderful. I booked a room in a Tudor-era inn for one night. I ended up having the time of my life. My favorite part of the trip was following the War of the Roses Battle Trail map. The Battle of Tewkesbury was one of the most important battles during the Wars of the Roses and today you can explore the trail which leads you through battlefields, over rivers, and to a 15th century pub. 

CHEDDAR | JACOB'S LADDER 

Cheddar may be famous for being the home of Cheddar cheese, however there is more to do in this tiny village than expected! Explore the caves, have an afternoon tea, even get a selfie with Britain's oldest complete skeleton! Any trip to Cheddar is not complete without a hike up Jacob's Ladder. 274 up the side of a gorge, Jacob's Ladder give's you amazing views of Britain's largest gorge and the village of Cheddar itself. 

WORCESTER | PRINCE ARTHUR'S TOMB

Worcester (a city I will never be able to pronounce correctly) is home to not one royal grave, but two. King John, famous for agreeing to the Magna Carta, is buried just before the high alter in this beautiful cathedral. However, my trip to Worcester was to visit a different royal grave. Prince Arthur's grave to be exact. For anyone with an interest in early Tudor history, Prince Arthur's tomb is beautifully decorated with Tudor symbolism and should be appreciated for it's significance in the history of England.

AVEBURY | AVEBURY HENGE

Stonehenge is cool. If you're visiting England for the first time, Stonehenge is a must. However, the stones are protected (and rightly so) due to years and years of poor preservation. The stones just can't handle the amount of visitors who go on a daily basis. Not too far away lies a very similar stone circle with no admission price, no barriers, and barely any crowds. If you are looking for a more up close and personal experience with a mysterious ancient rock formation, look no further than Avebury!

Happy Monday!
xoxo