Castle Howard is an 18th century Baroque stately home in North Yorkshire, one of the grandest and most over the top in England, with 145 rooms and set in 1,000 acres of gardens and parkland. It is owned by the Howard family, and has been for over 300 years. The house was started for the
Inveraray Castle is the imposing ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell and one of the must-see visitor attractions on the West Coast of Scotland. With a spectacular location on Loch Fyne, there has been an Inveraray Castle for around 500 years. The present castle was begun by the 3rd
King’s College was founded by King Henry VI in 1441, the year after he founded Eton College, originally a sister college which sent scholars on to King’s. It is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge and parts are open to the public. The highlight is undoubtedly the chapel, begun by Henry
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Cardigan Castle (Castell Aberteifi) began as an earth and timber Norman fortress in the early 12th century. It was captured by The Lord Rhys ap Gruffydd in 1171 and rebuilt in stone – the first stone castle built by a Welshman. To mark the achievement, he held the first national Eisteddfod there in 1176. The
Perched on castle rock above the old town, Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland’s iconic images and a must-see if you’re visiting the city. Your problem will be time – the place is huge and there is a lot to see and take in. The castle was at the centre of the wars with the
Normanton church is a historic neoclassical church – or half a one, anyway – saved from a watery fate at the bottom of Rutland Water. Apart from being Instagram fodder, it is used as a wedding venue.
HMS Victory, the world’s oldest naval ship still in commission, was Admiral Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. After that victory, the Royal Navy was unchallenged for 100 years. A visit to this icon of Empire is fascinating.
Home to the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, Highclere is a predominantly Victorian mansion set in extensive grounds. The house was redeveloped in Jacobean style by Sir Charles Barry, the architect responsible for the Houses of Parliament, from an earlier Georgian mansion which, itself, replaced a Tudor House. The 5th Earl sponsored the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 and Highclere was used as the location for the TV series Jeeves and Wooster as well as taking the title role in the highly successful Downton Abbey.
Fort George was built in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden (1746), to help control any future Jacobite rebellions in the Highlands. In the event, no threat materialised and Fort George became a base for the British Army – and remains so to this day. It welcomes visitors, however, and there is much to see – from historic barracks to the chapel – and walking round the ramparts. It’s a massive and literally awesome place, built on a point extending into the Moray Firth, where it is possible to see dolphins at play.
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Raby Castle, a formidable 14th-century fortress of the Neville family, was modernized by the Vanes in the 17th century and remains the residence of Lord Barnard. Open seasonally, it features rich history, luxurious interiors, a horse-drawn carriage collection, a deer park, a walled garden, tearooms, and a woodland play area.
