Magical Mystery of England Brings to Live the Arthurian Legend

It’s the stories that make a place magical and classical. An infant floating to a cave raised to be one of the greatest kings; pulling a magical sword out of a stone to prove you are worthy of a throne; a table of knights sworn to uphold the principles of chivalry – this is the stuff that legends are made of. This is the stuff that England is made of. And today, you can be a part of it as well. England’s most famous myth revolves around King Arthur and his knights, his wizard advisor Merlin, and the fantastic adventures their stories weave around.

Today, you can follow in their footsteps and retrace the legendary tracks in a mystical tour of Britain. To begin chronologically, you can begin at Tintagel, Cornwall, in the deep recesses of the cave where Arthur was rumoured to have been found as a baby by Merlin. The beautiful shell filled space fills up during high tide and is especially popular with scuba divers in search of fossils. In Chislehurst, Kent, a set of caves is said to be more than 8000 years old. Historians have found nine druid altars and some say it has a high likelihood of having once been Merlin’s secret cave. The water reservoir at the top of Pentonville, Kings Cross is another site closely associated with both Merlin and the worship of the sacred head.

In the North East of England at Kirkby Stephen, lies ruins that they were once a medieval castle belonging to Uther Pendragon, Arthur’s father. Local legends elaborate on how Uther tried to fill a moat around the hill by diverting the nearby River Eden. A road trip through England and the beautiful countryside would be the best way to experience the magic. Why not choose to stay at an English bed and breakfast for an authentic experience. Needless to say, they will offer a very different experience than the hotels London might offer.

The North West also has its share of legends. In Alderley Edge, Cheshire, there is a large outcrop of sandstone known as the Edge. The ground underneath it is said to be home to a cave in which Arthur and his knights slept. Nearby is a mossy area from which water drips into a small stone trough. There is an ancient ruin of a bearded, weather-beaten face above with a message underneath – “Drink of this and take thy fill, for the water falls by the wizard’s will”.

If the goose bumps haven’t got to you yet, try a romantic pilgrimage. Knights don’t come shinier than Sir Lancelot. Head for the sandy shores of Northumberland to the medieval fortress of Bamburgh Castle, which is rumoured to be the site for Sir Lancelot’s castle. In the dark ages, the site was known as ‘Din Guayrdi’ (suggesting ‘guard’), which led people to the Arthurian legend. Sir Gawain’s skull is said to rest in Dover Castle on the beautiful white cliffs.

The ruins of England tell haunting tales that continue to mesmerise us, centuries later. Italy and Greece are not the only ones with tales of myths and legends. The Hotels Rome offers come with intricate stories of truant gods and goddesses, and England has a fair share of those too. Let the magic enter your life and see how far a little romance can take you.