The UK’s Most Well-Preserved Medieval Destinations

Whether you’re wandering through centuries-old market squares or admiring towering Gothic spires, the rich stories of the country's past are always within reach. For a group of small islands, the UK packs an extraordinary amount of heritage, so knowing where to begin can feel a little overwhelming.

By combining Google search trends, user review data, and sentiment analysis, we’ve curated a top 10 list of the most well-preserved medieval destinations in the UK to help you decide where to visit.

With near-perfect scores of 10 for medieval architecture, 10 for picturesque streets, and 9.83 for traditional pubs, Conwy is the undisputed champion of our medieval destinations chart. This North Wales treasure also boasts a preservation index of 9.82.

Surrounded by 13th-century town walls and crowned by the dramatic Conwy Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town is a true time capsule. Wander through the narrow lanes, visit Plas Mawr, one of Britain’s best-preserved Elizabethan houses, and settle into a fireside corner of The Albion for a pint.

In second place at 8.69, Sherborne in Dorset is a medieval marvel with its stone buildings and peaceful abbey. Scoring highly for both medieval architecture and historical landmarks (8.75 and 7.61 respectively), the town’s highlights include the magnificent Sherborne Abbey, famed for its fan-vaulted ceilings, and two castles - Sherborne Old Castle, a romantic ruin, and Sherborne Castle, a stately home built by Sir Walter Raleigh. Its quaint streets and centuries-old coaching inns make it ideal for a relaxing, heritage-soaked escape.

In fourth place with a preservation index score of 7.80, England’s smallest city packs a historic punch. Wells earns top marks for its picturesque streets and is home to Vicars’ Close, the oldest continuously inhabited medieval street in Europe, dating back to the 14^th century. At its centre is the breathtaking Wells Cathedral, with its famous scissor arches and peaceful green. Cosy pubs and a laid-back atmosphere make it a top pick for history lovers.

Often dubbed England’s best-preserved medieval village, Lavenham in Suffolk is a timber-framed treasure trove, tied in fourth place with Wells. Its crooked, colourful buildings scored a 9.1 for picturesque streets, and it’s no surprise the village has featured in films like Harry Potter. Visit the striking Church of St Peter and St Paul, then enjoy a pint in the 15th-century Swan Hotel, steeped in charm and history.

Rounding off our top five is the ancient capital of Winchester. Drawing in more than 480 monthly holiday-related searches, it’s one of the most sought-after historic getaways on our list. While its medieval architecture and streets earn solid scores (7.35 and 5.90 respectively), it's the atmosphere that truly sets Winchester apart. Wander through the shadows of Winchester Cathedral and explore the Great Hall – home to the legendary Round Table of King Arthur.

Securing its second top spot, Conwy scored 10 in this category. Its narrow, winding streets, colourful cottages, and views across the harbour create an irresistibly picturesque setting.

Tied at the top spot and home to the world-famous university, Oxford has some of the finest examples of medieval architecture in the country. From the honey-coloured stone buildings to the winding alleyways and iconic college quads, every corner feels like a scene from a period drama.

The birthplace of the playwright William Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the UK’s most iconic market towns, scoring 9.9. Steeped in over 800 years of history, its cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, and scenic riverside views can’t be missed.

With its cosy closes, dramatic skyline, and centuries-old architecture, Edinburgh scored an impressive 9.66 in our ranking. The cobbled streets of the Old Town, alongside the elegant Georgian architecture of the New Town, make it one of the most visually striking cities in the UK.

As England’s former capital, it’s no surprise that Winchester tops our list of traditional pubs with a score of 10. Once home to the first Anglo-Saxon king, Alfred the Great, this historic city is rich in heritage, boasting pubs like the Royal Oak, which dates back to 1002 AD. Enjoy classic ales and hearty meals amid the charming medieval ambience of pubs such as the Eclipse Inn and the Wykeham Arms.

Scoring an impressive 9.83, Conwy serves up one of the most atmospheric pub scenes in the UK, set against the dramatic backdrop of its medieval walls and towering castle. Step into The Albion Ale House, a beautifully restored 1920s pub co-owned by four local breweries, where you'll find a rotating selection of Welsh ales and a warm welcome.

With its stunning cathedral and ancient market square, Salisbury serves up a traditional pub scene full of character and history, with a score of 9.72. Earning third place in our rankings, the city is home to enchanting establishments like The Haunch of Venison – one of the UK’s oldest pubs, complete with a mummified hand behind the bar.

Coming in fourth place, with its cobbled streets and striking cathedral, Durham offers a pub scene as rich in character as its history. Scoring 9.5 on our traditional pubs chart, this northern gem is home to centuries-old watering holes where stories linger in the woodwork. Step into Ye Olde Elm Tree or The Dun Cow (thought to be Durham’s oldest pub), to enjoy real ales and comforting pub fare.

Rounding off our top five cities for traditional pubs is Canterbury, with a score of 9.48. Steeped in medieval charm and literary fame, the city offers a pub experience that feels straight out of a storybook. The city’s pub culture was immortalised by Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales, where pilgrims swapped stories over drinks on their journey to the cathedral.

Inspired to learn more about the history of the UK? Why not take a trip to Birmingham's cathedral to admire the Baroque architecture or delve into the past in one of London's best museums, with over 200 to choose from. Whatever your interests, there’s a UK city waiting to bring history to life.

• To uncover the UK’s best-preserved medieval cities, we analysed public sentiment, reviews and tourism interest across four key cultural markers: medieval architecture, historical landmarks, traditional pubs, and picturesque streets.
  
  
• Each review was assessed for mentions of one or more of the following categories:
  • Medieval architecture – castle, cathedral, gothic, abbey, tower
  • Historical landmarks- landmark, monument, Tudor, bridge, heritage
  • Traditional Pubs – pub, tavern, alehouse, old pub
  • Picturesque streets – cobblestone, alley, street market
  • Only reviews explicitly referencing one of these categories were considered.
     
• To ensure relevance to the city’s charm or visual appeal, we filtered further by looking for words indicating admiration or positive description, such as: beautiful, stunning, charming, traditional, historic, picturesque, lovely, delightful, magnificent, enchanting
  
  
• A review was only included if it contained both a category keyword and at least one descriptive word.
  
  
• Each review was scored using natural language processing to measure sentiment, then aggregated by city. Scores were based 60% on sentiment and 40% on review volume and normalised to a 0–10 scale.
  
  
• We also included Google search volume for holiday-related queries in each city to assess tourism exposure. The final index combined the four sentiment scores and search volume equally, highlighting culturally rich locations that remain underrated by travellers—perfect for those seeking authentic medieval charm.