Great Britain is located in the northwest of Europe. The full and official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The most attractive for tourists are the world-famous major cities of England and Scotland – London and Edinburgh. But no less important and interesting are the smallest towns of the country that preserve their history, customs and culture.

Top 5 smallest cities in Britain
Southwold
Bakewell
Paradise
Beric-upon-Tuid
Whitby

Southwold is a small resort town by the river
At the top of the list is Southwold in Suffolk County. A verdant little town of 2.68 sq km, Southwold sits high on a cliff near the River Blyth. It was once a busy fishing port, though today you can still find fishermen at work in this seaside resort town. Southwold has a population of 1,098 and is the smallest town in Britain. For a time, it was home to the famous writer and publicist George Orwell. Today, tourists come here for a vacation.

There are ancient buildings, a small harbor, sandy beach, even set up a small production in the form of a brewery. The local pier was built in 1990 and is 190 meters long. For the entertainment of the townspeople there are rides, made in the style of retro, arcade machines.

The buildings in the town are built mainly in the Georgian style. A fire that broke out in 1659, destroyed many buildings of the city, after the residents have built all over again, near the houses were left special lawns, which, according to the people, will prevent the spread of fire.

The harbor at the mouth of the Blyth River, is a quiet beautiful place where fishermen’s boats are leaning against wooden piers. Along the shore, dried nets are scattered everywhere. Southwold is adorned by a tall lighthouse, towering proudly above the narrow streets. In honor of the battle against the Danes in 1672, a monument of six cannons was built in a line.

The pride and main attraction of Southwold is St. Edmund’s Church. It is a beautiful building erected in the 15th century. The symmetrical, plain walls are decorated with finely carved windows. Inside stretches a nave with beautiful proportions, crowned by a vault with statues of angels, a cross partition with images of prophets, apostles, who were deprived of their faces by Protestants during the Reformation. There is another church in town, Holy Trinity.

Bakewell is a picturesque old place
An amazing place, buried in greenery and flowers is located in Great Britain, the county of Derbyshire. It’s a small town, which locals insistently call a village. The history of the town goes back to the Anglo-Saxon times, the local church was built in 620 BC. There are beautiful old streets, centuries-old stone buildings and houses.

An ancient landmark of the city is the medieval castle Haddon Hall. It houses a chapel, partly preserved from late Romanesque times. The castle was built in the 15th century, the garden around it was arranged in the Baroque period. In 1990 the garden was completely renovated, from its terrace with stunning views. Not far from the city is the Peak District National Park. It was here, on the grounds of the castle, that the famous movies were once filmed:

“Jen Eyre.”
“Elizabeth.”
“Pride and Prejudice.
“One of the Boleyns.”
“The Princess Bride.”

Many tourists visit Bakewell in order to enjoy its antiquity. It has everything you need for the comfort of guests: hotels, including five-star, cafes, cozy restaurants.

The city is home to one of England’s most chic treasure houses, Chatsworth House, stunning with its sumptuous interiors and beautiful works of art from the collection of the Dukes of Devonshire. For several centuries it was their residence. The building is a rare example in Britain of a Baroque aesthetic that can rival Howard Castle and Blenheim Palace in architectural sophistication. The palace was begun to be built in 1687 by the first Duke of Devonshire, and for this he invited the best specialists of the time. Today Chatsworth House is very popular with tourists and is a colorful movie set.

Paradise – the medieval town of England
The small town of 4.2 square kilometers is located in the county of East Sussex, on a hill not far from the sea coast, on the right bank of the river Rother. There used to be a fishing settlement here, which existed before the Norman Conquest. In the 13th century Paradise became an important seaport and one of the most privileged ports in England. Over time, the sea began to recede, and the city lost its role as a port. Today the sea is 3 kilometers from it.

Rye was repeatedly attacked by the French and Spaniards in the Middle Ages. In the 18th century the second name of Paradise was “smugglers town”. The town’s cellars and dungeons were completely occupied by smugglers, who set up a network of hiding places in them.

The town has its own valuable attractions. The historical buildings have been preserved here. The main historic streets are rightly called Watchbell Street, Mermaid Street, and Church Square. Most of Rye’s houses were built in the 15th and 18th centuries.

One of the oldest buildings in the city is Ypres Tower. This tower was erected in 1249 and was also called the Biddings Tower. It protected the citizens from the French. Later its name was changed in honor of its founder by the name of John de Ypres. Today it houses a historical museum.

The city had 4 original fortified entrances built during the time of King Edward III, the only surviving one being the Landgate. In 2015, the arch was in danger of collapse due to a huge amount of pigeon droppings that weighed over 25 tons. Fortunately, the landmark was cleared and saved.

The historic building on Mermaid Street is occupied by the Mermaid Hotel. It is one of the most popular hotels in the southeast of England. The building was built back in 1420, with Tudor-style additions in the 16th century. The cellars, built in 1156, remain in good condition. Townspeople say that the hotel is sometimes haunted by the ghosts of executed criminals and women.