There are plenty of reasons to love Hever Castle, beginning with that seriously impressive moat – a perfect defence against enemies of your queendom, or just annoying relatives. Archery displays, falconry shows, and informative historical displays round off an excellent day out. This is, naturally, the only reason one needs a trebuchet in 2020, but still, you love to see it. Warwick Castle Photo: 1068Īll these castles near London are brilliant in their own right, but for me, Warwick Castle stands alone for one simple reason: they’ve got a goddamn, honest-to-God awesome trebuchet, which they routinely use to fling heavy objects for the delight of guests. The castle was mostly dismantled during the English Civil War, and has remained a picturesque ruin despite some restoration work. It was built to repel the French during the Hundred Years War, but since they didn’t bother pitching up, the castle was left alone until the War of the Roses, when even that moat couldn’t prevent a quick surrender. You’d ideally need a boat to conquer Bodiam Castle, which – save for a small causeway up to the main gate – is surrounded on all sides by water. You can take tours of the state apartments, see St George’s Chapel (where Harry and Meghan were married), and there’s the added benefit of Legoland being nearby, too. The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, Windsor Castle has been home to a whopping 39 monarchs, including our current Queen, Elizabeth II. You’ll need a pretty convincing claim to dislodge the current tenant, so a day visit should suffice. It’s now available on Airbnb, too! More information available here. However, should you remain clueless about what the Crawleys are up to, you’re advised to visit for sumptuous state rooms, sculpted gardens, and picnic concerts, amongst other events. Highclere Castle is – of course – more widely known as Downton Abbey, and thus makes for an absolute must-visit for fans of the show. I’m sure you recognise this one, even if you’re not sure where from. Highclere Castle Photo: 1679, remodelled 1842-49 Unless you’re beset by cloudy foes, of course… Read all about it here.Įscaping the city offers a better chance of capturing a castle – these castles near London range from country mansions to hilltop ruins, but all are worth a visit! 4. Severndroog Castle never hosted armies or repelled invaders, but on a clear day, you can see seven counties (and most of London) from the viewing platform on the top. OK, so it’s technically a folly rather than a castle, but this little delight is still impressive enough to snag a spot on our list. A visit here might encompass a paid guided tour – or checking out the Ceremony of the Keys, which is free – seasonal events such as their annual ice rink, or one-off events, like this breathtaking Remembrance Day event. Nearly 1000 years later, it’s still standing, famously housing the Crown Jewels and a flock of ravens (including some recently-born baby ravens!). Like we could possibly overlook this one… One of the city’s oldest and most recognisable tourist attractions, the Tower of London has stood since William the Conqueror decided the capital needed a fortress to remind Londoners of his conquest. There’s only one Queen in town, but if you fancied a lesser title for the day, head to one of these fine castles in London and maybe bestow yourself with a dukedom or something? 1.
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