From Stonehenge to the supposedly haunted Tower of London, the UK certainly has no shortage of mystical places to visit. If you got an itch for something a little eerie, you could head to one of London’s most famous cemeteries.
Prefer something a little more challenging? If so, you can dare to find your way out of one of England’s largest mazes. So, where are some of the most mystical places in England to visit? Here are five of our favourites.
Six ravens to guard the Kingdom
In the 17th century, King Charles II received an ominous warning that if six ravens were ever not present atop the Tower of London, the kingdom would fall. From that time forward, the Tower of London has always been home to six (or seven) ravens.
Many believe this superstition dates back much further than the 17th century, with roots in ancient Celtic religion. These ravens are free to roam within the tower walls, and lucky visitors may even get to watch them feed.
England’s most mysterious cemetery
With its weathered and overgrown gothic Victorian tombs, it’s hard to find a creepier location than Highgate cemetery. Established in 1832, Highgate has an abundant history of mystery and mysticism.
In the 1970s, the cemetery was frequently used in popular British horror films. This led to a renewed interest in the cemetery. Stories of vampires and a mysterious hovering creature soon spread about town. The “Highgate Vampire Sensation” culminated with two competing magicians both claiming that they would be the first to find and slay the Highgate Vampire. More recently, the Highgate Cemetery was one of the film locations for the movie Fantastic Beasts.
Put on your hobbit wear and head for Puzzlewood
In the dense forests of Dean near Coleford, you’ll find the otherworldly Puzzlewood. Covering more than 14 acres, this popular outdoor destination is said to have inspired many locations within J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings novels. With its bending trees, dense moss-covered rocks and rustic bridges, it’s easy to lose track of time in this forest playground.
Get lost in Longleat Hedge Maze
On the grounds of the grand Longleat Estate in Wiltshire can be found the longest hedge maze in the world. Created in 1978, the maze is made up of around 16,000 English yew trees. This complex labyrinth of plant life covers 1.48 acres with over 2.7 km of pathways. The seemingly endless maze features six raised bridges and multiple dead ends, all surrounding a central raised tower. This central tower is your goal and the only way out.
In the footsteps of druids at Stonehenge
This ancient structure pulls visitors in from across the globe. Built over 5,000 years ago, Stonehenge still holds many unanswered questions.
Why was it built? With its 33-meter diameter and monoliths reaching heights of nine meters, the mysterious structure is hypothesized to have been a burial ground or astronomical observatory for druidic rituals.
Though the answers to the questions may be lost in time, you can still stand where the ancient druids of the land once stood.
You can explore The UK Driving, and if you are also interested in diving deeper into the mysteries and legends of Stonehenge? Check out our Stonehenge tours.
