A whole lot of history: Heritage cities to call home
All English cities have a history – it’s part of what makes them interesting places to live. And we’re truly spoilt for choice when it comes to heritage cities. They’re places where the architecture, landmarks and streets tell tales of times gone by.
If you’re looking for a historical city to call home, check out these locations where the past is always present.
York
York might be small and compact for a city, but you’ll find history at every turn. Not to mention, spooky stories. Due to reports of hauntings that pepper its long and storied past spanning nearly 2,000 years, York is considered the most haunted city in Europe.
The easiest way to explore York’s history is via the city walls, which have encircled the city centre since Roman times. The walls that currently stand are well-preserved relics of the Middle Ages, and you can walk around them for free whenever you want.
York Minster sits at the heart of it all. The second-largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, it’s a breathtaking feat of architecture that always manages to fascinate, even when you’re a local seeing it every day. Then there’s the iconic Shambles. This cobbled street, with its leaning, timber-framed buildings, is widely considered to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter (and it has the wizard-themed shops to prove it).
York also has a strong Viking legacy, as it was once Jorvik, the capital of Viking Britain – a status that’s still celebrated today. Living here means that now and then, you’ll see people dressed as Vikings parading through the city centre. It might seem strange at first, but after a while you won’t bat an eyelid – it’s all part and parcel of calling York home.
Homes for sale in York
Visit our dedicated Yorkshire and the Humber location page to explore home-buying opportunities in York, including apartments and houses for sale with Shared Ownership.
Worcester
Worcester began as a Roman settlement before becoming a prominent centre for glove-making in the Middle Ages. It played a leading role in British history during the English Civil War, when it was a Royalist stronghold, resulting in King Charles II granting it the title of ‘The Faithful City’. You can delve into this pivotal period of Worcester’s history at The Commandery, a historic building and garden that was previously a Civil War battle HQ.
Elsewhere, explore the city’s past at The Guildhall, a Grade I listed building from the Georgian era. It was once Worcester’s courtrooms; today, it’s a grand venue for events, private parties and Worcester City Council committee meetings.
Last but not least, there’s Worcester Cathedral. Built between 1084 and 1504, the current structure combines different architectural styles, from Norman to Perpendicular Gothic to Victorian, making it one of the most interesting English cathedrals from a design perspective.
Homes for sale in Worcester
Open the door to homeownership in Worcester with schemes like Shared Ownership, and visit our Worcestershire hub to explore more properties in the county.
Oxford
When you hear the name ‘Oxford’, the university is often the first thing that springs to mind. And that makes sense, as it’s one of the oldest universities in the world. This makes it central to Oxford’s history, and the spirit of innovation and creativity that continues to pulse throughout the city. You can see this legacy everywhere you look, especially in the college buildings, with their domes and towers that punctuate the skyline, and give Oxford its nickname of ‘The City of Dreaming Spires’.
But it’s not just education that forms Oxford’s history. From the Pitt Rivers Museum, which explores all eras of human civilisation, to the Medieval Oxford Castle & Prison, there are centuries of fascinating stories waiting to be uncovered in the city.
Homes for sale in Oxford
Ready to step onto the property ladder in Oxford? Explore properties for sale with Shared Ownership, Rent to Buy and other affordable homeownership schemes.
Canterbury
Canterbury transcends the history books – its origins have been traced to the Stone Age. Because it’s so rich in history, part of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, bestowing it with a world-renowned status as an important place to preserve and protect for generations to come.
Like many of the cities on this list, Canterbury is a cathedral city. Founded in 597, the iconic Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest in England and integral to the city’s UNESCO status. It was a pilgrimage site during the Middle Ages, as famously depicted in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, and continues to play a pivotal role in the Church of England.
Elsewhere, Canterbury’s Roman walls, Tudor buildings, and ancient ruins, like St. Augustine’s Abbey, are relics that demonstrate the city’s evolution throughout the ages from its early days as an Anglo-Saxon settlement to its transformation into the vibrant, historic city that stands today.
Homes for sale in Canterbury
Visit our Canterbury page to learn more about living in this cathedral city and find properties for sale through affordable homeownership schemes.
Winchester
Once a major centre of power, Winchester was England’s first capital under King Alfred the Great in the 9th century. Today, Winchester’s medieval town centre, full of narrow streets and ancient buildings, recalls this fascinating past. Winchester City Mill is a prime example of this, having stood next to the River Itchen for over 1,000 years. As is The Great Hall, the only surviving part of Winchester Castle, built by William the Conqueror in 1067. It’s also linked to legends, with the round table mounted on the wall inspired by the tale of King Arthur and his knights.
Winchester Cathedral, the longest medieval cathedral in the world, rises above it all. Climb to the roof on a tower tour for panoramic views of the city. It took over 500 years to build, so you can count on the fact that you’ll notice something new every time you take a closer look at its intricate architecture.
Homes for sale in Winchester
Browse homes for sale in Winchester, including new-build and resale Shared Ownership properties.
Ready to call a historic city home?
When you buy a home in a historical city, you’re investing in a future that blends modern living with a fascinating past. In addition to the locations we’ve explored above, there are many more historical cities in England with homes available through developer-led and government-backed homeownership schemes, from Bath to Durham and everywhere in between. Use our property portal to begin your buying journey in the heritage city you want to call home.
