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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Paranormal experiences at Tudor House and Garden
Wonder what life was like during Henry VIII’s reign? Step in to the past in an ancient Southampton home.
Location: Southampton, Hampshire
Discover spooky tunnels at the Royal Armouries Fort Nelson
Hear the echoes as you head deep into the dark tunnels of this unique Victorian Fort, poised for attack from a French invasion.
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
How did the leopard get his spots? Visit Rudyard Kipling’s home
Explore Bateman's, the 17th century home of the Jungle Book and The Just So Stories author, nestled in the leafy Sussex Weald.
Location: Burwash, East Sussex
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
Take a step back in time in Southsea
From the Tudor ramparts of Henry VIII's Southsea Castle, to The D-Day Story, there's plenty of Portsmouth’s heritage for you to explore in the seaside town of Southsea.
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Go on a tour of Oxford University
A host of famous alumni and one... Harry Potter?
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire
Have a close encounter with Daleks and medieval peasants in Essex
Choose to travel back in time to medieval England in 1066, the toys of your childhood or even WWII (though chances are you’ll want to do all three).
Location: Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex
Explore Rottingdean, the home of Rudyard Kipling
Step into the world of Rudyard Kipling by visiting his traditional English gardens in Rottingdean, near Brighton and Hove.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex