Ruins of St. Mary's Abbey in the garden adjoining the Yorkshire Museum in York. The former Benedictine abbey was the richest in northern England; it was destroyed on orders of Henry VIII during the "Dissolution of the Monasteries" in the 16th century.

Ruins in the Museum Gardens adjacent to the Yorkshire Museum in York.

Promenade along the River Ouse in York. Lendal Bridge appears in the background.

The Merchant Adventurers' Hall was one of the most important buildings in medieval York. The majority of the structure was built in 1357; its Great Hall was where merchants gathered to conduct business and socialize, while its Undercroft served as a hospital and almshouse for the poor. The Merchant Adventurers today no longer conduct mercantile activities but are a charitable group. The Hall is the largest timber-framed building in the UK still standing and used for its original purpose.

The ruined keep of the medieval Norman castle in York is referred to as Clifford's Tower.

Much of York's ancient walls still survive; they are punctuated by four main gatehouses (referred to as "bars"). Bootham Bar has some of the oldest surviving stonework - dating to the 11th century A.D. It was built almost exactly on the site of the northwestern gate of Eboracum, the Roman settlement that evolved into York. This view, taken from Exhibition Square, shows York Minster, the city's famous cathedral, in the background.

Substantial portions of York's city walls have been preserved. Although the Romans first constructed walls around the city (which they called Eboracum), most of the current walls date to medieval (12th-14th century) times.

Layers showing the build up of York's defenses through the ages.

A view of the towers on the western front of York Minster. Construction on this Gothic cathedral, one of the largest in northern Europe, began in 1220; it was not completed until 1472.

A closer view of the front facade of York Minster, whose formal title is "The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St. Peter in York."

Time, weather, and pollution have all taken their toll on the carvings decorating the exterior of York Minster. Sections of the cathedral continue to undergo restoration. Replacement stonework is fashioned in a special stoneyard next to the cathedral.

Some of York Minster's decorative roof finials show severe weathering, as well as areas where restoration has taken place.

A view across some of the York Minster roofs.

A close up of one of the York Minster entrances highlighting some of the replacement carvings installed as part of the restoration effort.

A portion of the choir screen in York Minster shows carvings of many of England's early kings.

Statue of Roman Emperor Constantine at the south transept of York Minster. This is near the spot where Constantine was proclaimed Augustus (i.e., co-emperor) in 306 A.D. by his troops. Following a six-year civil war, Constantine became sole emperor and allowed religious freedom throughout the empire. His Edict proved a turning point for the spread of the Christian Church.

St. William's College, adjacent to York Minster, serves as a convention and meeting center for the cathedral.

The Theatre Royal in York dates dates back to 1744; it sits on the site of the medieval St. Leonard's Hospital. Parts of the old hospital can still be seen in the archways and walls. Under the stage is a well that is believed to date back to the Roman era in York's history.

The Shambles, formerly an open-air meat market in York, is now a popular tourist destination lined with picturesque shops.

Wildflowers growing atop a wall in York.

Street scene in Portsmouth, England.

HMS Warrior, a museum ship docked in Portsmouth Harbor, England. Completed in 1861, she was the first armor-plated, iron-hulled warship built for the British Royal Navy. In its day, Warrior was the largest, fastest, most heavily armed and armored warship in the world. She was powered by sail or steam-driven propeller, or both.

HMS Warrior docked in Portsmouth Harbor, England. The city's iconic Spinnaker Tower, opened in 2005, appears at the left. The tower's height is 170 m (560 ft); it has three viewing decks at 100-, 105-, and 110-meter levels.

Trackways for one of the swivel guns on HMS Warrior.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy in the historic dockyards area of Portsmouth Harbor, England.

HMS Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship from the Battle of Trafalgar, in drydock at the historic dockyards area of Portsmouth Harbor, England. She is the world's oldest naval ship still in commission and carries 104 guns.

Entrance gangway to HMS Victory, berthed at the historic dockyard in Portsmouth, England.

Gundeck on HMS Victory - Britain's most famous battleship - berthed at the historic dockyard in Portsmouth, England.

View from HMS Victory onto Portsmouth Harbor. The ship in drydock is the M33, a World War I monitor (gunboat) dating to 1915.

The simple curving lines of the Mary Rose Museum contrast with the ornate carvings on the stern of HMS Victory in the historic dockyard area in Portsmouth, England. The Mary Rose was a 16th-century warship that sank abruptly in 1545 during an engagement with the French. She was salvaged in 1982 along with thousands of artifacts and today serves as the centerpiece of an eponymous nautical museum and maritime archeological center.

The surprisingly spacious dining quarters aboard HMS Victory were reserved for the officers.

Dust from North Africa mingled with other aerosols in the skies over the United Kingdom (left of center) and Ireland (farther west) on 18 April 2003. In this scene, the dust is more prominent to the north over the Atlantic, where it can be seen as a tan swirl west of Norway. West of Ireland, the haze is grayer, and is more likely pollution. In the United Kingdom, a few bright plumes of white could be associated with fires. Photo courtesy of NASA.

This satellite photo shows Northwest Europe. Visible are the Republic of Ireland (top leftmost), the United Kingdom (top left), France (middle left), Belgium (middle), the Netherlands (top middle), Germany (right), Denmark (top right), Luxembourg (between France, Germany, and Belgium), Switzerland (bottom middle), Italy (bottom middle), and Austria (bottom right); the latter three all cloud covered. The city of Paris is the gray area in northern France. Image courtesy of NASA.

Blenheim Palace in Oxforshire, built between 1705 and 1724, is one of the largest houses in England.

A walk through the Secret Garden on the grounds of Blenheim Palace.

A hidden pool in the Secret Garden at Blenheim Palace.

A variety of low-growing plants highlight a rock garden in the Secret Garden at Blenheim Palace.

Pink rhododendrons in the Secret Garden on the grounds of Blenheim Palace.

One of the belvederes gracing the west end of Blenheim Palace as seen through some of the trees on the grounds of the estate.

Wisteria-bedecked cottage in the town of Burford, the Cotswold hills district, England.

Shops in the town of Burford, the Cotswolds district, England.

Relaxing outside a restaurant in the town of Burford, the Cotswold hills district, England.

Closely packed houses in the town of Burford, the Cotswold hills district, England.

A sunny afternoon in Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswolds district, England.

An inviting cottage in the town of Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswolds district, England.

Typical Cotswolds hills cottage and dry stone walls.

A sturdy Cotswolds house built of locally quarried, distinctive honey-colored limestone.

The Palm House at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England is the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world. Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Inside the Palm House at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, England.

Spiral stairs in Kew Garden's Temperate House or Palm House, the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world. A walkway at a height of 9 m (30 ft) in the 19 m- (62 ft-) high nave allows visitors to look down upon the crowns of the palms. Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

View from a raised walkway down onto a fish pond in the Palm House at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, England.

White rhododendron blossoms at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, England.

Rhododendron blossoms and buds at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, England.

Red rhododendron blossoms at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, England.

Tower Bridge over the River Thames in London gets its name from the nearby Tower of London. Officially opened in 1894, it has become an iconic symbol of the city.

Tower Bridge in London received its name from the nearby Tower of London.

View from out the back of one of London's famous double-decker buses crossing Tower Bridge.

Passing under Tower Bridge as seen through the observation window of a cruise ship.

The Houses of Parliament building in Westminster, London, with its famous Clock Tower. The nickname Big Ben is today frequently applied to the tower, the clock, and the bell, but originally it applied solely to the largest bell inside the tower. The clock holds the distinction of being the world's largest four-faced chiming clock.

The Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament building in Westminster, London. The nickname Big Ben is today frequently applied to the tower, the clock, and the bell, but originally it applied solely to the largest bell inside the tower. The clock is recognized as the world's largest four-faced chiming clock.

Big Ben as seen through the gates of the Palace of Westminster, London.

The statue of Winston Churchill on the grounds of the Houses of Parliament building (Westminster Palace) in London.

The statue of Boudica, Queen of the Celtic Iceni tribe, near Westminster Pier and the Houses of Parliament Clock Tower. Boudica led a fearsome - but ultimately unsuccessful - Celtic revolt against the Romans in A.D. 60 or 61.

A view of London at dusk.

The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe (135 m). The Eye carries 32 sealed and air-conditioned egg-shaped passenger capsules, each of which can hold 25 persons.

A capsule from the London Eye, the city's famous observation wheel.

The London Eye at dusk.

Looking up at the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. This Anglican place of worship rests on Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the city. The present building - designed by Sir Christopher Wren - dates to the 17th century and is generally considered to be the fifth St. Paul's erected on the site.

A vista of London from the Golden Gallery, the highest point of the outer dome of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Some 85 m (280 ft) above the city, this view requires a climb of 530 steps. The large structure on the right is the cathedral's west end clock tower.

A look down into Paternoster Square from the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. The area is the location of the London Stock Exchange, as well as various investment banks.

View through a circular cut opening (glass covered) down onto the crossing under the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

The Royal Albert Hall in London, England as seen from the Albert Memorial looking across Kensington Gore.

The Royal Albert Hall in London, England as seen from Prince Consort Road.

A view of the Albert Memorial as seen from Kensington Gore.

The Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens, London is situated directly to the north of the Royal Albert Hall. It was commissioned by Queen Victoria in memory of her beloved husband, Prince Albert. Built over a period of 10 years, it opened in 1872.

A closer view of the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens, London.

The ornate, Gothic north entrance to Westminster Abbey, in London, England.

Westminster Cathedral in London is the mother church for Roman Catholic community in England and Wales. Opened in 1903, it is renowned for its highly distinctive Byzantine architecture.

Butler's Wharf along the River Thames, London.

The Charing Cross Railroad Station in London. The Hungerford Bridge that leads to the station is flanked by two cable-stayed pedestrian bridges that share the railroad bridge's foundation piers and which are officially named the Golden Jubilee Bridges.

Whitehall Court as seen from the River Thames, London. Although one contiguous building, it consists of two separate constructions. The left portion of the building is The Royal Horseguards hotel, while the remainder is residential.

The 11 m (36 ft)-high blown glass chandelier by Dale Chihuly in the rotunda at the main entrance to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The courtyard of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The courtyard of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

A cast of Trajan's Column (cut in half, upper part seen in foreground) as displayed at the Cast Court in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The acquisition by museums of plaster casts of important monuments and works of art was especially popular in the mid-to-late 19th century, since few people could afford to travel to the Continent to view the originals. The V&A's collection is regarded as one of the finest remaining in the world.

Close up of the base of the cast of Trajan's Column as displayed at the Cast Court in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Cast of an elaborate Moorish entranceway at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

A storage area for casts at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The tip of the distinctive 30 St Mary Axe Building (40 stories; commonly referred to as The Gherkin) as seen from the courtyard of The Tower of London fortress.

The uniquely shaped London City Hall (on the left) is home to the Greater London Authority, which consists of the Mayor of London and a 25-member London Assembly.

The Royal Exchange in London. This - the third exchange building on the site - dates to 1844. The Royal Exchange no longer acts as a center of commerce, but is now a luxurious shopping center.

The impressive facades along Queen's Gate Terrace in London.

An element from The Blues and Royals, in their distinctive blue rain capes, passing along a damp London street. The Blues and Royals are part of the Household Cavalry Regiment performing ceremonial duties on state and royal occasions as well as an armored reconnaissance unit taking part in active military operations around the world. As one of the senior regiments of the British Army, the lineage of The Blues and Royals includes The Royal Horse Guards (Blues) and The Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons) dating back to the Restoration Period of 1660-1661.

Horns, trumpets, bells - London, England.

The Queen's House, Greenwich viewed from Observatory Hill. Shown are the original house (1635) and the wings linked by colonnades (1807). Beyond the House is the Old Royal Naval College, completed in 1712.

The exquisitely carved ceiling of the Chapel at the Queen Mary Court of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

The balcony in the Chapel at the Queen Mary Court of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

A view towards the back of the Chapel at the Queen Mary Court of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, showing part of the balcony and organ.

A section of the Painted Hall and its famous trompe l'oeil decorations at the King William Court of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

One of the buildings making up the Royal Observatory at Greenwich.

A rear entrance to Lowther Lodge, the main building of the Royal Geographical Society in London.

The new glass Pavilion exhibition space of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) opened in 2004 behind Lowther Lodge, the society's main building. Beneath the Pavilion and to the foreground is the Foyle Reading Room and the RGS library, which are covered by a sunken lawn, but which receive illumination through the bush-shaded skylights.

This intriguing "globular cluster of stars" is actually the "constellation" of city lights surrounding London as recorded February 2003 from the International Space Station. The encircling "London Orbital" highway by-pass, the M25, is easiest to pick out south of the city. Even farther south are the lights of Gatwick airport and just inside the western (left hand) stretch of the Orbital is Heathrow. Image courtesy of NASA.

Swaledale, a valley in Yorkshire, northern England.

Much of the exterior of Eastwell Manor in Ashford, Kent, is draped with ivy.

Old Bridge at Warwick Castle, Warwick, England, dates to the 11th century.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage, near Stratford-on-Avon, England, is a spacious 12-room house where Anne - Shakespeare's wife - was brought up.

The main entrance to the Windsor & Eton Central Railway Station, opposite Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England.

Windsor Castle in Berkshire County is the largest inhabited castle in the world; dating to the 11th century, it is one of the principal official residences of the British monarch. In 1992, a fire destroyed part of the castle; restoration required five years. The castle is one of Britain's most popular attractions, but not all areas are open to the public.

The Round Tower at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England.

Part of the Quadrangle of the Upper Ward at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England.

Gardens and pond at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England.

The Cathedral of Saint Mary in Salisbury, consecrated in 1258, is an Anglican cathedral built in the Early English Gothic style. It has the tallest church spire in the UK, which required serious buttressing and contains no bell. The cathedral holds the oldest working clock in the world (built 1386) and one of the original surviving copies of the Magna Carta.

Laburnum trees in bloom around Chester Cathedral, England. The cathedral dates back to 1093 and has a free standing bell tower added in the 20th century. The church has been altered many times as attested to by examples of Norman, Early English Gothic, and Perpendicular Gothic styles of architecture. There may have been a Christian basilica on the site during the Roman era.

The Isles of Scilly, an archipelago of approximately 150 islands, are located some 45 km (28 mi) southwest of the westernmost point of England (Land's End). The islands are an erosional remnant of an ancient granite intrusion, and are notable because they have been inhabited for over 4,000 years. Only five of the islands are currently inhabited. Historical and geological evidence indicates that many of the islands were larger and/or connected in the recent past. Even today, it is possible to walk between certain islands during low tides. Image courtesy of NASA.

The entrance to the new St. Michael's Coventry Cathedral, England.

Tower, spire, and part of the outer wall of the old St. Michael's Coventry Cathedral, England. Built in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, the church was bombed and almost obliterated during the Blitz in 1940. Today it stands next to the new cathedral and serves as a place of reflection and reconciliation.

William Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-on-Avon, England.

Dry stone walls line a road in the Lake District in northwest England. The lakes and mountains of this picturesque area were attracting tourists by the end of the 18th century and by 1951 the government formed the Lake District National Park to protect the area from becoming over developed. Its most famous inhabitant was the poet William Wordsworth.

The Choir of Bristol Cathedral (the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity). The church was founded in 1140 as Saint Augustine's Abbey, and rebuilt in 1542 in the Romanesque style; it was added on to again in the 19th century.

Bath Abbey (the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul) is built in a cruciform pattern. Founded in the 7th century, it was rebuilt in the 12th and 16th centuries.

Bath Abbey stands nearby the Roman Baths in Bath, England.

Plaque affixed to Bath Abbey commemorating the site of the coronation of Edgar, the first king of all England, in A.D. 973.

Close up of the Gothic exterior of Bath Abbey, Bath, England.

Fan vaulting over the nave at Bath Abbey, Bath, England.

View across the Pulteney Bridge, which spans the River Avon in Bath, county Sommerset, England. The bridge is lined by shops on both sides.

Looking down onto the River Avon from the Pulteney Bridge in Bath, county Sommerset, England.

A view of Pulteney Bridge over the River Avon in Bath, England. The bridge was modeled after the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy.

A topiary lion stands guard in Parade Garden in Bath, England.

A street scene in Bath, Somerset county, England.

St. Michael's Church in Bath, England.

Hanging flower baskets in Bath, county Sommerset, England.

A model of the baths and associated temple at Aquae Sulis showing the many buildings that made up the complex.

A model of the baths and associated temple at Aquae Sulis (viewed from the opposite side) showing the many buildings that made up the complex.

A view of the reconstructed Great Bath of Aquae Sulis in Bath, with Bath Abbey in the background.

The Great Bath at Aquae Sulis (today Bath) England. Although the water from the hot spring is colorless, it acquires its distinctive green hue from algal growth caused by the heat of the water and from sunlight.

The superstructure of the Roman baths at Aquae Sulis - everything from the base of the columns upward - was reconstructed during Victorian times.

The spring at the Roman Baths at Aquae Sulis (today Bath) England.

The King's Bath at Bath, England.

Hot water (46 degrees C or 115 degrees F) continues to flow into the Great Bath at Aquae Sulis through the original Roman channels.

This arched overflow was part of the impressive Roman engineering arrangements at Aquae Sulis that continue to keep hot water flowing through the bath complex today.

Carved blocks from the pediment of the Temple of Sulis Minerva (the patron deity of the baths at Aquae Sulis).

Foundational remains of some of the buildings at Aquae Sulis. The screen shows what the area looked like in Roman times.

Flowers vying for attention in a window box outside the Roman Baths in Bath, England.

A photo of the English countryside near Avebury, in the English county of Wiltshire. The small town is the site of a Neolithic henge that is larger and older than Stonehenge, 32 km (20 mi) to the south.

Vaults of clouds climb above the fields by Overton Hill in Wiltshire, England. Numerous tumuli (burial mounds) dot the hill, which has been the focus of human activities for over 5,000 years.

Stonehenge as seen from the north barrow, Wiltshire County, England. The stone circle was built about 2500 B.C. by a non-writing culture and is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones with several hundred burial mounds. Among its many suggested functions are that it may have served as: an astronomical observatory, a religious site, a domain of the dead, or a place of healing. It has also been connected to Arthurian legend.

Another view of the megaliths that compose Stonehenge.

Built in the English Palladian style between 1737 and 1749, the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford, England houses the Radcliffe Science Library.

Chancel vault of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, England. Uniquely, the church also serves as the chapel for Christ Church, the largest college at the University of Oxford. The church held the distinction of being the smallest cathedral in England for hundreds of years, but in the 20th century a few smaller churches were raised to cathedral status. The house of worship exhibits both Norman and Perpendicular styles.

Iron Bridge spans the Severn River near the town of Ironbridge, England; it was the first arch bridge made of cast iron. Constructed in 1779, the bridge opened in 1781; vehicular traffic was barred from it in 1934.

A remaining section of Hadrian's Wall, England. The wall was a fortification built by the Romans to mark their northern frontier, to prevent raids by Pictish tribes, and to collect customs. Begun in A.D. 122 and largely completed in six years, it was constructed of turf and stone with 80 small fortlets, one for each Roman mile. Eventually 14 to 17 full size forts were added.

Eilean Donan Castle, near Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland was built in 1220 on a small island in Loch Duich as a defense against Danish invaders.

Celtic cross outside of St. Moluag's Church - Teampull Mholuaidh in Scots Gaelic - in the town of Eoropie on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of northern Scotland.

The Standing Stones of Callanish, on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, date to between 2900 and 2600 B.C. Standing stone circles are found throughout the British Isles.

A street scene in Edinburgh. Scotland's capital offers a harmonious blend of historic and modern architecture.

Saint Giles Cathedral, The High Kirk of Edinburgh, Scotland. This view of the west front shows the Tower and the Crown. The latter is believed to date from the 15th century.

Heraldic flags flank the Preston Aisle inside Saint Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh.

A view of the North Transept inside Edinburgh's Saint Giles Cathedral and the great North Window completed by Douglas Strachan, Scotland's most prolific stained glass artist of the 20th century. This window portrays nautical themes: Christ walking on water in the lower section and, in the upper section, Christ calming a tempest; it is one of the most dynamic artworks in the church exhibiting swirling shapes in the glass pieces, and a predominance of blues, greens, and purples in the color composition.

The elaborately carved marble pulpit inside Saint Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh.

A view of the entranceway to Edinburgh Castle. The doorway is flanked by bronze statues of two of Scotland's greatest heroes, Robert the Bruce on the left and William Wallace (a.k.a. Braveheart) on the right. They were added in 1929 on the 600th anniversary of Bruce's death.

A section of the Scottish National War Memorial building located in Edinburgh Castle.

Saint Margaret's Chapel - built circa 1130 - is the oldest building in Edinburgh Castle and in all of Scotland's capital city. It was built by King David I as a private chapel for the royal family and dedicated to his mother, Margaret.

One of two splendid fireplaces inside the Royal Palace in Edinburgh Castle.

The other fine fireplace inside the Royal Palace in Edinburgh Castle.

A view of Edinburgh as seen from its castle.

Looking out onto the city of Edinburgh from the walls of its castle. The oldest parts of the castle date to the 12th century.

A view of Edinburgh from its castle. The Firth of Forth, the estuary of Scotland's Forth River, may be seen in the background.

The entrance to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland. The castle derives its name from the Celtic words "haly" and "ruid" (Holy Cross), it is the official residence of the monarch of the UK in Scotland.

Llangollen, Wales, in the Dee Valley, is the site of the annual International Eisteddfod, a music festival in which singers and dancers from around the world participate.

Heraldic banners decorate the walls of Caernarfon Castle, Wales, constructed by King Edward I following the conquest of Gwynedd. Begun in 1283, it reached it current state in 1323, but was never entirely completed.

Inside Caernarfon Castle, Wales. The tradition of investing the heir to the throne of Britain with the title Prince of Wales was begun in 1301 when King Edward I invested Prince Edward with the title. Prince Charles was the last heir to be invested there in 1969.