Find places to visit in Britain by name, location, type of attraction, or other keyword.
This listings directory of over 950 entries is being phased out.
It now excludes places and things of interest in North East England.
These can be found in ABAB’s Places.
Places to visit in Yorkshire will be moved to ABAB’s Places during May.
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Mostly ruined 12th century castle with later additions, including some fine Tudor apartments. The castle was besieged by Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War and slighted after it was taken. The castle's history actually takes you on a nice journey through the last 1000 years or so and the town of Helmsley itself is a delight. It is possible to walk to Rievaulx Abbey, and back.
While you're about it you might want to check out the English Heritage Archaeology Store, which is in the same town - booking for the latter is essential.
Helmsley
Hever Castle dates from the 13th century and, famously, was once home to the Bullen, or Boleyn, family. Anne Boleyn spent part of her childhood here. After the Boleyns fell from favour, Henry VIII gave Hever to Anne of Cleves. It passed through various hands until being acquired by the American millionaire, William Waldorf Astor, in the early 20th century. Hever Castle and its grounds today is really his creation. He renovated the castle and created a lake, maze and Italian garden.
The castle and grounds are open to the public and also house the museum of the Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry. Hever additionally offers accommodation, golf and conference facilities.
Nr Edenbridge
Preserved cold war bunker designed to help continue some semblance of government following nuclear attack. Also known as 'the secret nuclear bunker'. Not recommended.
Kelvedon Hatch
Once a royal castle, and a favourite residence of Lancastrian kings. But Kenilworth is associated by the majority of people with the Elizabethan era, when it was owned by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, the queen's favourite. Though Kenilworth Castle is mostly ruined now, some rooms can still be seen, together with period fittings and furnishings. The site is enormous and impressive, and now includes an Elizabethan garden.
Castle Road
Kenilworth
Leeds Castle is said to be "the loveliest castle in the world." It is certainly one of the loveliest in Britain. And with eight centuries of history, including an association with six queens, beautiful gardens, a maze, a fabulous playground for kids - you can easily spend a day at Leeds Castle.
Nr Maidstone
Lewes Castle was built by the Norman William de Warenne, the Earl of Surrey, sometime around 1069, initially in wood. The castle was held by the de Warenne family until 1347, after which it slowly declined. It is a rare example (only two in Britain, the other being at Lincoln) of a castle with two mottes - defensive hills. One, Brack Mont, is inaccessible and stands adjacent to what is now a bowling green, once the castle's tilting yard. The remaining keep has been repaired, was used as a residence in the 18th century, and is largely intact, with great views of Lewes and the surrounding hills from the top. The castle also has a fine 14th century barbican gate and tower. The Battle of Lewes, between King Henry III and the rebel baron, Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, was fought on nearby downland and in the fields surrounding the town on 14th May 1264. The castle is owned and managed by the Sussex Archaeological Museum, who also run a museum with artefacts dating from prehistoric to medieval times in Barbican House, opposite the castle, which is also the place to buy your tickets. Be wary of weddings and other events closing all or part of the castle - check the website before you make a special trip.
Lewes
Lincoln Castle has a one-thousand-year history. Built by William the Conqueror, initially in wood and later in stone, allegedly using recycled Roman blocks, the castle has been the site of conflict, as well as a prison. It was fought over during the 12th century Anarchy and withstood a 40-day siege in the early 12th century. Just a few years later, it featured in the Battle of Lincoln in 1217, when royalist forces defeated an invading French army; had they not prevailed, England would almost certainly have come under French rule. It was besieged again during the English Civil when, in 1644, defending Royalists were overwhelmed by Parliamentary forces. Later, it became a prison. During the Second World War, Civil Defence Volunteers perched on the castle’s walls scanned the skies overhead for enemy aircraft.
Courts have been held at Lincoln Castle for centuries. Today, there is a 19th century courthouse on the site, still used for criminal trials.
Little remains of the medieval castle. Visitors can tour the Victorian prison block and view one of the four surviving original copies of Magna Carta. This is one of Lincoln’s treasures. Apart from the prison and the courthouse, the bailey area of the old castle is just an open space, freely open to the public when the castle is open. However, the highlight of a visit is to walk around the castle walls, taking in various towers along the way, and with spectacular views of the cathedral and city. The wall walk was part of a multi-million-pound restoration project between 2010 and 2015; and it has been done extremely well.
Lincoln
Lochindorb Castle is known as the Lair of the Wolf of Badenoch. It was built in the 13th century on a partly artificial island on the loch, when it was a stronghold of the Comyns. Later, the castle was occupied by the English and it was visited by Edward I in 1303. For awhile, it was used as a prison. At the end of the 14th century, it was gifted by King Robert II to his third son, Alexander Stewart, the Earl of Buchan - the Wolf of Badenoch.
Lochindorb is located about 6.5 miles north of Grantown-on-Spey on minor roads between the B9007 and the A939. You will need a car or bike to get there. The castle can only be reached by boat; so you'll need to find one of those too.
Nr Grantown-on-Spey
Enormous - according to English Heritage equivalent to 50 football pitches - Iron Age hillfort with multiple and complex ramparts and ditches. This was ancient Dorchester! Here, Vespasian's highly trained Roman troops overcame the British defenders, the Durotriges tribe, one of whom ended up with a ballista in his spine. There's not much to see, but quite a lot to marvel and wonder at.
Photo by Major George Allen (1891–1940) (Ashmolean Museum) public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Dorchester
Aldeburgh's Martello Tower is the largest and most northerly of more than 100 Martello Towers built from Sussex to Suffolk to help defend England from the French. Aldeburgh's tower is unusual because it is quatrefoil in shape - four towers in one, designed to take 4 guns. It was built between 1808-1812. Derelict by the 1970s, it was restored by the Landmark Trust and is now managed by them as a holiday let. It is not generally open to the public so please respect people's privacy is you want to see it from the outside. It sits just a few minutes walk south of Aldeburgh, on the shingle spit of Orford Ness between the River Alde and the North Sea.
Aldeburgh
If your favourite attraction is not listed yet, and you have a good quality digital photograph of it that you are able to freely send, please get in touch.