Castles in the UK

[lauralane]

Travelling all round the lower part of the uk and have a 5 year old boy that wants to see Castles. Can anyone please recommend some interesting ones and location? Many thanks.

[Prudie]

Lees Castle near Maidstone in Kent is a stunner, set in the middle of a lake.

[Prudie]

sorry - Leeds Castle

[Jemisa]

Warwick Castle is the most brilliant castle ever, got everything there and soo picturesque. He will love it.

Arundle Castle is another, Beautiful.

jem

[Andyvon]

How far south laura?

You will have a good day out at Windsor Castle, although entry isn't cheap and you have to pay extra to visit castle attractions such as Queen Mary's Dollshouse (well worth it though!). I love St. George's Chapel at Windsor which contains the graves of many monarchs including Charles I and Henry VIII and Jane Seymour.

Further south there are many older castles, although many are smaller and less well preserved. Some that come to mind are:- Southsea and Portchester Castles near Portsmouth, Hurst Castle in Hampshire, Pevensey near Eastbourne, Arundal Castle has been mentioned near Brighton, Bodiam Castle in Kent, Carisbrooke on the Isle of Wight.

If you can obtain an AA or other UK road atlas, they will all be marked on there along with other attractions. You can then check prices, opening times and other details on-line.

Have fun.

[Answerprancer]

Bodiam in Sussex is fantastic - complete with moat and huge koi carp.

[lauralane]

WOW , just great ....Thank you

[boxtops]

II don't know where you are coming from Laura, but a trip to East Kent is very much worth while for history-viewing.
f you are thinking of Leeds Castle, stay on the M2 motorway for an hour and come down to Dover - there are loads of events some weekends, it's been revamped inside, hugely popular with tourists. http://www.english-he...perties/dover-castle/

Just along the coast is Walmer Castle which used to be a residence of both the Duke of Wellington (see his boots!) and the Queen Mother - a pretty castle on the coast with lovely grounds. A bit further round, Deal Castle is open but empty apart from a few cannonballs - very tiny but nice for a lad, a pocket-castle!
You can then turn back up the coast and call it at Richborough Fort, which are Roman remains, often events like falconry happening there - then back to Reculver on the north Kent Coast which is a ruin but right on the sea.
Dover itself is worth a look, the Bronze Age Boat is in our little museum, next door is the Roman Painted House the Western Heights have Napoleonic fortifications but you really need a good day and a good imagination at the moment (except for the few days per year when they open the grand shaft and you can walk down from the top of the cliffs to shore level, inside the chalk, on a long winding staircase.

[bednobs]

portchester castle

[malagabob]

Caerphilly castle in S Wales 2nd larget in area in Europe, built around 1272

[TWR]

North Wales, these Large castles are not that far apart, Rhuddlan castle, Conway Castle,( This is within the town of Conway) Penrhyn Castle, Beaumaris Castle (Anglesey) Caernarfon Castle ( Where Prince Charles Was Crowned Prince of Wales & it's very large with Ample parking) Cricketh Castle, Harlech Castle, Have a look on Castles in Wales.