Castles and historic properties
Peacocks strut across manicured lawns, children shriek with delight as they try to find their way out of fiendishly difficult mazes, and well-kept gardens dazzle year-round at England’s many historic houses and well-preserved castles. Once inside, enthusiastic curators bring history to life with their expert knowledge and often funny insights into the lives, loves, and artefacts of generations of inhabitants. Castle breaks give you more chances of bumping into the present owners of an English castle, many of whom still live in wings of the properties. Just don’t forget to retrieve your children from that maze before you head home.
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Sip Earl Grey where it was created: Howick Hall
Earl Grey tea is enjoyed – usually at around 4pm – all over the world, but few know it was invented in Northumberland for Charles, 2nd Earl Grey.
Location: Howick, Northumberland
Expect the unexpected with a visit to Croome
Escape to Croome and explore its Palladian Bath stone mansion house set in extensive parkland designed by ‘Capability’ Brown.
Location: Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire
Be enchanted on a tour of Witley Court & Gardens
Enjoy a great day out in Worcestershire at Witley Court and Gardens with its interesting history and landscaped gardens.
Location: Great Witley, Worcestershire
Discover the gruesome past of Leicester's Guildhall
One of the oldest civic buildings in the country, Leicester’s Guildhall stands beside Leicester Cathedral and has many gruesome stories to tell.
Location: Leicester
Take part in a 900-year-old tradition
Walk along Winchester’s water meadows to a beautiful medieval almshouse and you are following in the footsteps of weary travellers through the ages.
Location: Winchester, Hampshire
Walk in Roman footsteps at Arbeia Roman Fort
Britain’s biggest and best reconstruction of a Roman fort is the perfect place to immerse yourself in an ancient way of life.
Location: South Shields, South Tyneside
Visit the "most popular filming location in the world" in Greenwich, London
Explore the magnificent buildings of the Old Royal Naval College - a film set for major blockbusters including Les Misérables and Cinderella.
Location: Greenwich, London
Stand astride the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory Greenwich
Stand with one foot in the east and one in the west and feel on top of the world at this historic observatory.
Location: Greenwich, London
A stately experience at Weston Park
See what it is like to live like an Earl in this beautiful stately home.
Location: Weston under Lizard, Shropshire
Audley End House
An atmospheric portrait of daily life in Victorian times.
Location: Saffron Walden, Essex
Stroll along the ruins of Tintagel Castle
Tintagel Castle is full of legend and mystery, and these evocative ruins have got to be one of England’s most mysterious and romantic spots.
Location: Tintagel, Cornwall
Be captivated by the grandeur of Chatsworth
With its palatial surrounds and starring role in Pride & Prejudice, Chatsworth House is one of the Peak District’s most celebrated destinations.
Location: Bakewell, Derbyshire
Head to St Michael's Mount
It’s not often you get to follow in a giant’s footsteps...
Location: Marazion, Cornwall
Visit the tranquil Sissinghurst Castle Gardens
Sissinghurst is known to green-fingered enthusiasts the world-over as the epitome of an English country garden.
Location: Sissinghurst, Kent
Be a real knight or princess for the day at Bodiam Castle
Take a glimpse of medieval splendour where brooding walls rise majestically from a moat, and let the magic of Bodiam Castle capture your imagination.
Location: Robertsbridge, East Sussex
Uncover Blackpool’s Victorian heritage and charm
Explore the Winter Gardens innate beauty and enjoy afternoon tea in the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
Location: Blackpool, Lancashire
Discover the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales
A photographer’s dream, the Yorkshire Dales has many moods – from wild and windswept to quietly tranquil – each dramatically beautiful.
Location: Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire
Discover a castle fit for a prince
Explore artistic treasures in Auckland Castle, home of the Prince Bishops of Durham for 900 years, and set to host a spectacular new show from 2016.
Location: Vale of Durham, Durham
Discover Hidden Secrets at Burghley House
Take a trip through the Historical Garden of Surprises, Contemplate the Contemporary Sculpture Garden, or follow the Gruesomely Grubby Gardens tour...
Location: Stamford, Lincolnshire
Rock concerts and Gothic architecture at Knebworth House
Set in 250 acres of rolling Hertfordshire countryside, Knebworth House is one of England's most colourful stately homes.
Location: Knebworth, Hertfordshire
From London to Newcastle: 16 days out near you
Pack up a picnic, hop in the car and swap the city for some of these beautiful English sights - all an hour or less from a major city.
