Some people travel for leisure but for those who love history, Unesco\u2019s World Heritage Sites are a ready-made bucket list.<\/p>\n
The UN agency started these listings in 1978 with a goal of preserving cultural and natural landmarks around the globe, from the Taj Mahal to the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands<\/a>. But you don\u2019t have to venture far to find them as the UK itself is home to 31 such locations. Here are some of the best spots to visit.<\/p>\n Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, England<\/p>\n Blenheim is an \u201celite example\u201d of masterful late 17th- and early 18th-century architecture, said Chris Leadbeater in The Telegraph<\/a>. Designed by John Vanbrugh, the palace\u2019s \u201cbroad wings and art-stuffed chambers\u201d are \u201cbeautifully\u201d sprawled over the Oxfordshire landscape. The grand estate was completed around 1735 and was made in honour of the Duke of Marlborough when he won the Battle of Blenheim in 1704, which took place at Blindheim in Bavaria. The fact that he emerged victorious against Louis XIV, the creator of the famed palace Versailles, \u201cadds a sweet symmetry\u201d to its history.<\/p>\n Article continues below <\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n The Week<\/p>\n Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \nSUBSCRIBE & SAVE\n<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Sign up for The Week’s Free Newsletters<\/p>\n From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n Giant\u2019s Causeway, Co Antrim, N Ireland<\/p>\n This geological formation (pictured above) was not \u201cbuilt by giants\u201d, as legend has it, but is very much a \u201clegendary\u201d spot, said Ted Thornhill in The Independent<\/a>. The causeway is a \u201cspectacular cluster of around 40,000 black basalt polygonal columns\u201d in the sea, reaching heights of up to 39 feet. They are a result of lava that was \u201ccooled some 60 million years ago\u201d. Over time, the structure evolved into \u201ctightly interlocking formations, cracking into remarkably regular geometric shapes\u201d. This is an \u201cexceptionally rare\u201d phenomenon, especially at this scale.<\/p>\n St Kilda, Hirta, Outer Hebrides, Scotland<\/p>\n This spectacular archipelago was the first to achieve a dual listing from Unesco for both its \u201chuman heritage and unique nature\u201d, said Robin McKelvie in The Telegraph. Home to the \u201cworld-famous seabird colonies\u201d, it is a \u201creal-life Jurassic Park, with its own species of mouse and wren\u201d. The enchanting landscape features \u201cTolkien-esque sea cliffs\u201d, while the old village \u201ctells the story\u201d of the locals who lived here until 1930. The best way to experience the dramatic landscape is by hopping on a Hebrides Cruises adventure vessel.<\/p>\n Heart of Neolithic Orkney, Orkney Islands, Scotland<\/p>\n This prehistoric site is older than the Pyramids or Stonehenge. Unesco listed the 5,000-year-old land, highlighting its \u201cremarkable quartet of islands\u201d, said Robin McKelvie in The Telegraph. Visitors can \u201cwander around the village of Skara Brae\u201d and go down a \u201c36-ft tunnel into the chilling Maeshower burial cairn\u201d if they wish to explore the darkness. The \u201cspectacular\u201d Ring of Brodgar henge and Stones of Stenness will make even the most self-assured \u201cponder your own insignificance\u201d. The best part? This glimpse into ancestral life is completely free.<\/p>\n St Agnes, Cornwall, England<\/p>\n This village has a \u201ccompact charm\u201d and is known for its \u201cvibrant local community\u201d, said Parul Sharma on Plymouth Live<\/a>. It is full of \u201cdog-friendly beaches\u201d and \u201ctop-notch pubs and restaurants\u201d, including the Peterville Inn, which was named the UK\u2019s best pub at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence. You will never be short of things to do as \u201cpopular spots for surfing, swimming and sunbathing\u201d can all be found in this \u201cdelightful\u201d coastal town. It is famously home to \u201cCornwall\u2019s most awe-inspiring coastal paths and walks\u201d. The village also has \u201cremnants\u201d of its mining heritage and visitors can still visit the \u201cengine houses and mine shafts\u201d today.<\/p>\n