2 Best Sights in The South, England

Little remains of this 10th-century Benedictine abbey. However, the grounds of the South Gate House (a private residence constructed in the 16th and 18th centuries using materials from the abbey, including its original Saxon doorway) have some later remnants. The Abbot's Porch, built in 1509, was once the entrance to the abbot's quarters and is notable for its double oriel window with carvings of small animals and the panoramic views from the roof; the 15th-century guesthouse is one of the few surviving monastic hospices in the United Kingdom. At the other end of the village is the monastery's original Tithe Barn. A cottage on the grounds is available for short-term vacation rentals.

Forming the southeast corner of the town's medieval wall, this late-13th-century gatehouse was expanded in the early 14th century, at the start of the Hundred Years' War, to incorporate a two-story gallery and three-story tower. After extensive restoration, the gallery space is now used for a changing roster of art installations and programs. Before this, it served as a gunpowder factory, the town jail, and an archaeology museum. Don't miss the far-reaching views over the city from the roof. There's also a café and bar.