Few landmarks capture the spirit of the North quite like the Angel of the North . Designed by Antony Gormley  and unveiled in 1998 , it stands 20 metres high with a wingspan wider than a jumbo jet — a sculpture that has become a symbol of strength, resilience, and identity for the North East. Built from 200 tonnes of steel, it was created on the site of a former coal mine, its massive frame rising from the very ground that once powered our industrial past. Some saw it as cont

At the mouth of the River Wear stands Roker Lighthouse , a beautifully built granite tower that has watched over Sunderland’s harbour for more than a hundred years. Completed in 1903, it was designed by Thomas Meik and constructed using interlocking granite blocks shipped from Aberdeen. Its striking red and white bands make it instantly recognisable, a visual anchor for generations of sailors, shipbuilders, and seaside visitors. The lighthouse was originally lit by a paraffin

Hidden in the upper reaches of Dentdale, Dent Head Viaduct  is one of the quiet giants of the Settle–Carlisle Railway. Built between 1869 and 1875, this 10-arch structure was part of one of the most ambitious engineering projects of the Victorian age, designed to connect Yorkshire with Carlisle through some of England’s harshest terrain. Each block of limestone was quarried locally, and every arch still bears the marks of the men who carved, lifted, and laid them in freezing

Standing alone against the elements, Steetley Pier  is one of Hartlepool’s most distinctive coastal landmarks. Originally built to serve the Steetley Magnesite Works, the pier once channelled seawater nearly a mile inland to extract magnesium from sea salts — a process that helped supply British industry for decades. When the works closed in the late 1980s, the pier was abandoned to the tides, slowly succumbing to rust and erosion. Yet, in its decay, it’s found a strange new

Tucked into the rugged hills near Middleton-in-Teesdale, Coldberry Lead Mine  is a haunting reminder of a time when the North Pennines were among the most industrious regions in Britain. Lead mining dominated this landscape for centuries, shaping both the land and the lives of those who worked it. The miners here endured long, dangerous days underground, their efforts feeding the nation’s demand for lead — used in everything from pipes and paint to ammunition and roofing. Col

You don’t stumble upon Lowther Castle  — it appears. Vast, unexpected, and ghostly beautiful against the morning light, this incredible ruin stands as one of Cumbria’s most striking landmarks. Built in the early 1800s  for William, 1st Earl of Lonsdale , and designed by Robert Smirke  — the same architect behind the British Museum  — it was a Gothic masterpiece created to show off power and wealth, not to defend it. For generations it was the heart of the Lowther Estate , fil

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge  has become one of the most recognisable landmarks in Northern England — an elegant sweep of steel and light uniting two sides of the River Tyne. Designed by WilkinsonEyre Architects and engineered by Gifford, it opened in 2001 and immediately captured global attention for its ingenuity: the entire bridge tilts on hydraulic rams to allow ships to pass beneath, earning it the affectionate nickname “the Blinking Eye.” Beyond its technical brillia

Built in the 14th century  by the powerful Neville family , Raby Castle  has long stood as one of the grandest medieval fortresses in northern England. Its massive towers, battlements, and curtain walls have witnessed centuries of politics and power — from the days of the Nevilles and their role in the Rising of the North , to its later years under the Vanes , the Earls of Darlington  and Dukes of Cleveland , who transformed it into the stately home we see today. Few castles

Every so often, a drive through Northumberland turns into an unexpected adventure — and Codger’s Fort  is exactly that kind of discovery. Perched on a rocky outcrop above the Simonside Hills, the ruin looks ancient at first glance: weathered stone, turrets half-fallen, and commanding views over the Coquet Valley. But it’s not quite what it seems. Built around 1760 by Sir Walter Blackett of Wallington Hall, Codger’s Fort was designed purely for effect — a romantic folly meant

Few places hold atmosphere quite like Rievaulx Abbey  at sunset. Nestled in a secluded valley near Helmsley, this Cistercian abbey was founded in 1132 by monks from Clairvaux in France, under the guidance of St Aelred, one of the most revered abbots of medieval England. For over four centuries, Rievaulx thrived as a centre of faith, scholarship, and industry, its monks transforming the wild valley into a self-sufficient community of prayer and production. The Abbey’s decline

In the quiet stillness of early morning, before the trains stir and the wind sweeps across the open moor, Batty Moss  glows beneath one of Britain’s most iconic landmarks — the Ribblehead Viaduct . Standing 104 feet high and stretching 400 metres across the valley, it was completed in 1874 as part of the Settle–Carlisle Railway, linking Yorkshire with Cumbria through some of the most challenging terrain in England. The viaduct’s story is one of both triumph and tragedy. Thous

Few places capture the drama of the Yorkshire coast like Scarborough Castle  at sunset. Perched high on a rugged promontory between the town’s north and south bays, the castle commands sweeping views that stretch far along the shoreline. Its story begins around 1130 when William le Gros, Earl of Albemarle, first fortified the headland — but its history reaches even deeper, with traces of Iron Age, Roman, and Viking settlement all found here. Once a royal stronghold, Scarborou

There are few places in Yorkshire that capture the tranquillity of Easby quite like this. Set along a quiet bend of the River Swale, Easby Abbey  was founded in the mid-12th century by the Premonstratensian canons — an order known for combining monastic life with active service. They prayed, farmed, and welcomed travellers seeking rest along the old route to Richmond. But like so many others, the abbey’s life came to an abrupt end in 1536, when Henry VIII’s Dissolution stripp

Hidden deep within the trees of the Harewood Estate lie the haunting remains of Harewood Castle — a 14th-century fortress built by Sir William Aldborough. Once a proud symbol of power and prestige, it later became a forgotten relic, left to crumble quietly into the woodland it once ruled over. Its walls have seen battles, banquets, and centuries of silence.

Perched high above the North Sea, Whitby Abbey has always had an otherworldly presence — its skeletal ruins silhouetted against the sky, carrying a thousand years of history and myth. Originally founded in the 7th century by St Hild of Whitby, the abbey grew into one of the most important religious centres in medieval England before falling to ruin after Henry VIII’s Dissolution in 1539. For centuries it has stood as a symbol of resilience, inspiration, a