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.
Peace and quiet at Belgrave Hall and Gardens
Belgrave Hall was built in the early 18th century, in what was then a small village three miles from the town of Leicester.
Location: Leicester, Leicestershire
Explore the ruins of Ashby Castle
Sir Walter Scott’s classic novel of 1819, Ivanhoe featured Ashby Castle as the backdrop to the famous jousting scenes.
Location: Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
Gastro glamping at the foot of Belvoir Castle
Pronounced ‘beaver’ by locals and literally meaning ‘beautiful view’, the Vale of Belvoir offers the perfect place to hideaway.
Location: Near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Encounter an Elizabethan legacy in Warwickshire
Discover 900 years of English history at Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, a vast medieval fortress and spectacular castle ruins.
Location: Kenilworth, Warwickshire
Discover the secret garden of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
Pay a visit to Anne Hathaway’s family home - the place William Shakespeare courted his future wife.
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Wander a tranquil 1920s garden
The 10-acre gardens of Coton Manor sit in peaceful Northamptonshire countryside.
Location: Coton, Northamptonshire
Have a medieval sleepover at Warwick Castle
For a family holiday with a difference, grab your sleeping bag and head to Warwick Castle to spend the night within the castle's historic grounds.
Location: Warwick, Warwickshire
Immerse yourself in Byron's Nottinghamshire
Discover why notorious romantic poet Lord Byron was 'mad, bad and dangerous to know', with a sumptuous stay at his former home.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Explore the beautiful and curious Rushton Triangular Lodge
This place is proof that in England you'll find architectural treasures in the most unlikely places.
Location: Kettering, Northamptonshire
Experience the medieval romance of Haddon Hall
Grab a loved one and visit one of the oldest and most romantic Tudor houses in Britain.
Location: Bakewell, Derbyshire
Tour the decadent rooms and gardens of Renishaw Hall
Wander round immaculate gardens and artistic rooms at this historic family home.
Location: Renishaw, North Derbyshire
Tour the 18th century Walled Gardens at the Apley Estate
Take a guided tour of the Walled Gardens on the Apley Estate, sample its produce at The Creamery Café or buy your own from Apley Farm Shop.
Location: Apley, Shropshire
Enjoy a winter family break in a historical coach house
Enjoy a family get together with a difference this Christmas at the historic Brackenborough Hall Coach House.
Location: Brackenborough, Lincolnshire
Live like a mediaeval knight at Warwick Castle
Experience an exclusive sleepover in your very own themed Lodge, set in a picturesque woodland grove on the river bank within the Knight's Village of Warwick Castle.
Location: Warwick, Warwickshire
Unlock the secrets of the Tudor queen who never was
Step into the treacherous world of Wolf Hall to trace the turbulent life of Arbella Stuart, niece of Mary Queen of Scots, in Derbyshire.
Location: Near Chesterfield, Derbyshire