Best historical days out in the UK

Discover the best museums, castles and other historical attractions near you – and find out how you can save money on admission using your Boundless membership.

We’re always being told to look ahead to the future, but sometimes visiting the past can be a lot more fun. There are hundreds of historical attractions in the UK, from museums to medieval villages, bunkers to battle re-enactments, giving people of all ages the chance to step back in time and see how their ancestors lived.

To help you find the best historical days out near you, we’ve handpicked a selection from every region. As well as telling you what you can expect during your visit, we’ve highlighted where you can save money with your Boundless membership, enabling you to have a great time without breaking the bank.

Best historical days out in London & the South East

Kaihsu Tai/Creative CommonsChurchill War Rooms

As British Prime Minister during the Second World War, Sir Winston Churchill played a pivotal role in defeating the Nazis. And the underground bunker where the legendary leader and his team masterminded Hitler’s downfall is now a major visitor attraction. Untouched since the 1940s, the Churchill War Rooms are packed with intriguing artefacts and stories of the people who served here, making it a must for military buffs and families alike. While you’re here, be sure to visit the Churchill Museum, which celebrates the life and career of this political icon.

Boundless offer: Boundless Plus members get the National Art Pass provided by Art Fund, which will gain you entry to over 250 cultural venues and 50% off major exhibitions. This includes the Churchill War Rooms, as well as many other discounts on cultural attractions across the UK.

Tower of London

As you explore the darkened corridors of Britain’s most famous castle, you can almost hear the blood-curdling screams of prisoners who were once held captive there – everyone from Anne Boleyn to Guy Fawkes. And their harrowing stories aren’t the only thing you’ll discover on a visit to this much-loved attraction. From the famous Yeoman Warders and ravens, to the Royal Mint and, of course, the dazzling Crown Jewels, the Tower of London is brimming with things to see and do.

Boundless offer: Boundless Plus members get unlimited access to all sites in the Historic Royal Palaces portfolio, including the Tower of London, for themselves plus one additional child per visit.

Milestones Living History Museum

One of the best ways to find out what life was like in the olden days is to walk through a life-size simulation – and you can do exactly that at Milestones Living History Museum. This immersive attraction recreates Hampshire streets from Victorian times to the war years, with authentic shops and cars making you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Whether you’re eight or 80, it’s a fascinating experience – and you can get money off with your Boundless membership.

Boundless offer: Boundless Plus members get access to the National Art Pass, which will give you 50% off entry to Milestones Living History Museum, as well as many other discounts on cultural attractions across the UK. Want to visit at the same time as other Boundless members? Then why not tag along on the Farnborough and Guildford Group’s day trip in September.

Best historical days out in the South West & Wales

St Fagans National Museum of HistoryWatermouth Castle

Not a castle in the truest sense, this Devon attraction is more like a theme park, with children’s rides, play areas and activities galore. There are plenty of bygone treasures to enjoy here, though, from the Dungeon Labyrinths, home to vintage pier machines, antique bikes and more, to the Castle Treasures exhibition, where you’ll find everything from suits of armour to classic handcarts and trophies. Something for everyone, as the old saying goes!

Boundless offer: All members get access to Kids Pass, which will enable you to save 20% on entry to Watermouth Castle.

Jane Austen Centre

There’s just something about Jane Austen’s novels that makes us want to keep revisiting them (Colin Firth climbing out of a lake in a sopping wet shirt as Mr Darcy might’ve helped!). If the likes of Pride & Prejudice and Northanger Abbey get you all hot under the collar, then a trip to the Jane Austen Centre in Bath – a city in which the author lived for five years – is a must. Listen to character actors telling her story, try writing with a quill and ink, and even dress up in costumes from the era.

Boundless offer: Members can save 20% on a visit to the Jane Austen Centre with Mr Darcy’s afternoon tea in the Regency Tea Room for two when booking through Virgin Experience Days.

St Fagans National Museum of History

Standing in the grounds of St Fagans Castle and Gardens, near Cardiff, this ever-popular attraction (pictured above) contains 40 historic buildings that have been removed from their original locations and meticulously reconstructed. Visit a Tudor merchant’s house, a school, a workmen’s institute and much more. Since St Fagans is a working museum, you can also expect to see livestock and farming demonstrations, while craft workshops should keep young kids occupied.

Boundless offer: St Fagans is free to enter – however, with the National Art Pass you get as part of your Boundless Plus membership, you can enjoy a 10% saving in the shop and café.

Best historical days out in the Midlands & the East

Cotswold Motoring Museum

Such is the generic nature of vehicles these days, it’s easy to forget how distinctive and charismatic our cars and bikes used to be. Well, the Cotswold Motoring Museum (pictured above) gives you the chance to refresh your memory, housing an abundance of bygone rides, not only from everyday life but from the worlds of TV and sport, too. With hundreds of other interesting artefacts also on display, from kids’ toys to fashions and household items, it’s a breathtaking blast from the past.

Boundless offer: All members get unlimited entry to the Cotswold Motoring Museum. Want to make a weekend of it? Book a stay at the Boundless-owned Cotswold Cottages and you’ll save up to 20% (plus an extra 10% during our Spring into Summer sale).

Aston Hall

One of the last great houses built in the Jacobean style, Aston Hall in Birmingham is one of the most imposing and intriguing buildings in the country – which may be why it’s inspired authors from Charles Dickens to Arthur Conan Doyle. Recently restored, it’s home to more than 30 beautiful period rooms, furnished by the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Explore the breathtaking Long Gallery, the servants’ quarters and the Great Oak Staircase, which still shows damage inflicted during the English Civil War. A word of warning, though – Aston Hall is notorious for its ghost sightings!

Boundless offer: Boundless Plus members get access to the National Art Pass, which will enable you to get free entry to Aston Hall, a 10% discount in the shop and café, along with many other discounts on cultural attractions across the UK.

Black Country Living Museum

Like most parts of the UK, the Black Country has changed a lot over the years – as you’ll see at this award-winning attraction. Possibly the closest you’ll ever get to actually going back in time, the Black Country Living Museum recreates 250 years of Midlands life, with over 80 reconstructed houses, stores and workshops, many of them populated by costumed actors. Educational and frequently eye-opening, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

Best historical days out in the North

Getty ImagesBeamish Museum

Winner of the 2025 Museum of the Year Award, and numerous other accolades over the years, this ’open-air museum’ in County Durham reconstructs North East town and country life through the ages, with a community of costumed actors on hand to demonstrate crafts and regale visitors with stories. It’s a thrilling experience, and with dozens of events also happening at Beamish throughout the year, it’s an absolute must for history fans.

Boundless offer: The National Art Pass comes as a part of Boundless Plus memberships, which will enable you to get 50% off entry to Beamish Museum, along with many other discounts on cultural attractions across the UK.

Lancaster Castle

From witch trials to notorious robbers – a thousand years of history are brought to life at this grade I-listed attraction. Among Lancaster Castle’s many highlights are its Gatehouse, one of the finest of its kind in England; the Crown Court, complete with the original branding iron used to punish unruly defendants; and Shire Hall, which today showcases one of the country’s finest displays of chivalric heraldry.

Souter Lighthouse

The world’s first electric lighthouse, Souter was seen as “a marvel of its age”. Though this Victorian trail-blazer is no longer in service, it’s now cared for by the National Trust and open as a tourist attraction, giving you the chance to learn about its amazing history and the people who helped to protect this part of the North East coast. After you’ve finished exploring, take a stroll along the Leas – two and a half miles of magnesium limestone cliffs affording stunning views across the North Sea.

Boundless offer: Members save 10% every time they purchase a National Trust gift card via Daily Discounts, which can be used for admission, to pay for goods at National Trust shops and cafés, and when buying National Trust membership.

Best historical days out in Scotland & Northern Ireland

Getty ImagesBattle of Bannockburn Experience

Fought in 1314 between the armies of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, and King Edward II of England – and ultimately won by the former – the Battle of Bannockburn marks a major milestone in Scottish history. And this awe-inspiring attraction (pictured above) thrusts you right into the heart of the conflict, enabling you to experience the sights, sounds and even smells of this bloody engagement. With commemorative monuments adding to the general ambience, it’s a great day out for young and old.

Boundless offer: Boundless Plus members get unlimited access to all National Trust for Scotland places – including the Battle of Bannockburn Experience – along with free admission for one additional adult and up to six children per visit, plus a free parking pass.

Highland Folk Museum

Like a Scottish version of St Fagans (see ‘Best historical days out in the South West & Wales), the Highland Folk Museum shows what life was like for people living in this part of the world from the 1700s to the mid 20th century. Explore more than 35 carefully reconstructed historical buildings, where you’ll learn about everyday working traditions and how people spent their downtime. Afterwards, enjoy a picnic while enjoying the museum’s epic mountain backdrop. Free to enter.

Titanic Belfast

When RMS Titanic set off from Southampton on 10 April 1912, bound for New York City, no one could’ve predicted what fate had in store for the “unsinkable” vessel. The rest, as they say, is history – and you can learn all about it at this award-winning attraction. From the ship’s construction to its tragic demise, Titanic Belfast brings this incredible tale to life through a series of immersive exhibits and stunning artefacts.

Boundless offer: Members can get 20% off a Titanic Museum and Belfast City Sightseeing Bus Tour for Two Adults when booking through Virgin Experience Days.