Four interesting UK Castles

Being one of the future counties left with a monarchy and a rich history, it is no wonder that Britain’s castles are a big draw for tourists. Whether you’re already from the UK and just visiting somewhere new or coming from overseas, here are some of Britain’s best castles and a few of the other activities you can get involved with while you’re in the area.

Windsor Castle, Berkshire

Perhaps one of the best known castles in the UK, this castle is still used by the British royal family and since being founded by William the Conqueror, it has been residence of 39 of Britain’s monarchs. It’s famous has increased this year after being picked as the wedding venue for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, visitors to the castle can in fact wander around St George’s Chapel which is a ticketed attraction. On certain days you can do the ultimate British tourist thing and watch the changing of the guard, it takes place at 11am on select days (be sure to check before you go to avoid disappointment). The Queen’s Guard march around the streets of Windsor and then onto the castle grounds to switch sentry duty, if you’re lucky enough to be in the high street at the time, you’ll get a great view of the famous crimson jackets as they go buy.
If you’ve got some spare time after exploring the castle, there are plenty of other things for you to do. Until the new year, you can view the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ wedding outfits which are on display in Windsor. If you find yourself nearby on 28^th October, you could always head to Oakley Court for a memorabilia fair, which is perfect for any film fan. Failing that, you could always visit Legoland Windsor, which hosts different themed events all year around.

Dover Castle, Kent

As you can imagine, being so close to the famous white cliffs, this particular castle has played an integral part in Britain’s military history. Among other things in its varied history, Dover Castle was used as an evacuation point during the second World War for the soldiers returning from Dunkirk. History buffs will love the underground tunnels that stretch into the White Cliffs which show off the hospital as well as the headquarters that were responsible for guarding the Straights of Dover. The tunnels were renovated in the sixties after falling out of disuse a decade beforehand as a place for government and military officials to be evacuated should there be a nuclear crisis. Thankfully, the only thing explosive about Kent now is its busy events calendar. There are a whole host of things to keep you entertained once you’ve finished exploring the castle. Younger visitors coming to the area during half term might want to check out the Haunted Castle event that is going on, or perhaps you’d like a sampler of what the area’s Christmas markets will be like by going to Elham’ Christmas Market preview evening.

Tintagel Castle, Cornwall

Once a stronghold on the coast, Tintagel Castle was once a key place in trading between the UK and mainland Europe. It has also been named as the birthplace of King Arthur, so any fans of the old legends will want to make the pilgrimage to here. Merlin’s Cave is also nearby and is open for visitors. Tintagel is a beautiful place to visit and is a site for scientific research, so you can be sure of some amazing views and interesting wildlife. If you’re visiting Cornwall, make sure to bring a car with you so you can explore the rest of Cornwall. Maybe find somewhere to stay over and visit Gin and Swing in Fowey where you can listen to some amazing swing music whilst sampling some amazing craft gin. If you’re in the area in October, enjoy some history and explore more of the countryside by taking part in the Victorian Weekend at Bodmin and Wenford.

Castle Drogo, Devon

Castle Drogo is a country house and castle in Devon, it was the last castle to be built in England. It is now a National Trust property and as such, hosts a events throughout the year, as well as walking trails and chances to explore the gardens. It was built in 1910 by Julius Drew who after buying the land commissioned someone to build him a castle. Drogo Castle is near the Dartmoor area of Devon which has some amazing views and plenty of interesting places to stay and visit. You could always find out more about the wildlife in the area by joining in a Dartmoor Autumn Foraging Course or for something a little scarier, take part in Spooktacular at Burrator which includes traditional Halloween activities plus costumes are encouraged!

This is just a small selection of the castles on offer in the UK, seen any other spectacular castles? Let us know! You can get in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!