Royal destinations you need to visit in the UK

A version of this story appeared in the July 7 edition of CNN’s Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on Britain’s royal family. Sign up here.

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Wimbledon is on, the sun is shining and the Pimm’s is chilling in the fridge – summer has well and truly arrived. For those planning an escape to Europe and who want to add a sense of history, there are a fair few regal attractions beyond London that you might like to include in your itinerary.

Research in 2011 by Visit Britain found that around 60% of tourists to the UK are likely to visit places associated with the royal family, according to Ross Bennett-Cook, a visiting lecturer at the School of Architecture and Cities at London’s University of Westminster. While there is no more recent data on royal sites specifically, in 2022 Visit Britain found that history and heritage were the biggest pull factors for tourists.

For those looking to follow in the footsteps of the Windsors in London and check out the English capital’s many palaces, museums and galleries, we’ve got you covered here. But if you’re hoping to go a bit further afield and immerse yourself in the 1,000-year history of the monarchy, here are a few suggestions to get you going:

Windsor Castle: Okay, so this first one is a little obvious given how many royal events have taken place here in recent years but just in case… The oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, Windsor Castle was an official residence of the late Queen Elizabeth II and passed to King Charles III after her death. The structure itself dates back to around 1070, when William the Conqueror chose the land and construction began.

It has seen many changes since that time, with various royals making adjustments over the years – Edward III made costly renovations in the 14th century and extensive restorations were undertaken following a devastating fire in 1992. When you travel here, you should plan on spending two to three hours within the castle grounds, making your way between the various sections open to the public. St. George’s Chapel is the obvious draw as the location of Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding as well as the final resting place of the late Queen and her husband, Prince Philip. But make sure to leave plenty of time for the State Apartments and the Changing of the Guard.