As a giant history nerd I need no invitation to share my top day trips to historical palaces, stately homes, castles. As I explore more I’ll add to this list, but for now here are 6 of my favourite historic places to visit in England.
(If you’ve been here before and are confused, this blog was previously titled “4 Historical Homes to Visit In England” but I couldn’t resist adding more!)
1. Hampton Court Palace
I’m starting with my favourite because I want everyone else to be as interested in the Tudors as I am. It’s so easy to spend four or five hours here wishing your bed was as grand as the ones here, watching a historic cooking demonstration, staring at art and weaponry, and exploring the gardens.
I could give you a history lesson on Hampton Court Palace, but that’s what Horrible Histories is for, so let me provide some practicalities instead.
Parking: A large car park lies just beyond the field opposite the palace. You’ll need to walk from here (5-10mins) to get in, or do a quick dive out of your taxi if they’ll allow you to jump out closer to the building.
Tickets: Booking in advance on the website is advised to avoid disappointment on the day.
Looking Around: Wear trainers or another comfy alternative. You’ll walk through the kitchens, bedrooms, stately rooms and the grounds. Seating is limited around the building so I recommend visiting in good weather so that you can pitch up on the grass for a rest.
2. Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is slightly expensive but so much fun to explore. Climbing the walls, walking the halls, watching birds of prey swoop overhead… it doesn’t get better! Oh wait. It does. There’s jousting, archery, and watching a giant catapult fire things through the air.
This castle has nailed tourism and is well organised. The only thing we found was a lack of shady areas so bring a hat if you’re there in the summer.
Parking: this castle comes equipped with lots of parking. No need to worry about finding a car park. If you don’t drive, book your trains using this link to get some great deals.
Getting in the Spirit of things: As with most attractions, buying souvenirs can be pricey. You’ll find children want to dress up as the shoes begin and knights joust and perform. Save yourself from having to spend extra cash in the gift shop by ordering a children’s knight costume before you come. If not a full knight costume, then perhaps just a shield and sword.
Can’t get enough? : If you think one day won’t cut it, opt to stay the night. Check the website for a chance to stay all night. If you can’t go overnight, arrive early to make a full day of it. I would fully recommend that you purchase a Merlin Pass before visiting. That way you’ll save money in the long run if you want to return within the year or visit another Merlin attraction.
3. Windsor Castle
If you’ve read my blogs you’ll know that I’m a frequent visitor of Windsor castle since I live close by. I never tire of visiting, and I always make time to take friends that are in the area there for the day.
Get the train: Windsor itself is not very car friendly for tourists. Parking is expensive and limited, and the car parks are just as far from the castle as the train station. If you can, get the train into either of the two stations (Windsor Central or Windsor and Eton Riverside) and take the short 5 minute walk to the castle. Everything is walkable, and taxis won’t get you much closer to the sites around Windsor since the main shopping street is off limits to cars. So don’t be fooled into getting a taxi around this small town.
The gardens: If you are hoping to visit the different gardens, check ahead to ensure they are open. In multiple occasions I’ve visited when they have been closed, but living close by it’s not been a problem as I know I can always revisit.
Stamp your ticket: Don’t forget to get your ticket stamped before you leave. It will permit you access again and again for free after you leave (usually for a year, but check in case this changes).
4. Arundel Castle
Whilst researching castles near the South coast in England I found Arundel Castle by mistake. It turned out to be an excellent find that we made a whole weekend out of. Just a short car ride from Littlehampton beach, Arundel is set in a small picturesque market town that is well worth trundling around after you’ve visited the castle. This castle is very grand with lots of areas to explore including diverse outdoor areas. You may even think you’re standing in Windsor castle as you approach the very similar courtyard.
Parking: We had no choose but to drive here and found parking was limited. We were lucky to find space as it was very busy. If we were travelling from home we would have booked a train to get here to save time searching for a space. Here is a great website to find cheap train deals to get to Arundel.
Walking: Arundel has a series of inclines which can easily take all your energy. Bring snacks to keep yourself energised and take it slow. You can also skip the areas of the castle with steps if you are unable to climb them and instead opt to enjoy other places of interest ok the ground floors.
The Gardens: Do not miss the gardens. They are stunning. Also, so your research before you go because they sometimes host shows that you can buy tickets for. As if the gardens weren’t already interesting enough!
More info: Here is a full blog dedicated to my weekend in Arundel.
5. Hever Castle
Hever Castle was on my wish list for an extremely long time. As a Tudor nerd I was adamant to make the long journey to see the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. One thing I was not expecting were the beautiful grounds. Ground so extensive that I think we ended up spending more time exploring them that the castle itself.
Parking: Parking was easy to access. We arrived a good half hour ahead of the advertised opening time and managed to find a space without issue. Looking around there were lots of spaces, so even if we had arrived later we feel there would have been no issue finding a space.
Walking in nature: The gardens are something you simply can’t miss. I strongly advise you take a map upon entry and explore all the various pathways as opposed to heading straight for the castle. There’s lots to see with pons, mazes, wildlife and more. You will also find activities going on in different areas that are worth checking out such as falconry.
The castle: Of the historic homes I have visited, this is on the smaller side. The modest castle can feel even smaller as more and more visitors arrive. The staff do well to slow the flow of visitors, but if you were hoping for clear photos of empty rooms, you may struggle to do that here. If you are a Tudor fan like me, you’ll have no problem blocking the other guests out of your mind as you stare up and beautiful paintings and admire the architecture that surrounds you.
6. Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a grand UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been home to royalty for many many years. This historical home plays host to a series of enticing and extravagant events all year round.
Parking: Parking is easy to access but quite a hike from the palace. Wear sturdy shoes to walk through the fields up to the palace. There is a fee for parking even for pass holders. Be sure to book a parking pass even if you hold a palace pass to ensure you get a spot.
Varied Events: The first event we attended at Blenheim Palace was an accident. We had not read up on the ‘what’s on’ section of their website. Instead we had booked our tickets simply expecting to see the palace in it’s natural state. When we arrived we quickly found that there was an event on, focused on fashion. Despite this not being our type of thing, we thoroughly enjoyed walking through the rooms that were all kitted out by different designers. The rooms were incredibly made up whilst still showcasing the items that are always in the room.
The second event we went to was far more planned. We booked well ahead to ensure our spot at the Christmas Peter Pan themed event. For this, we all turned into big kids, gasping with wonder at the magical projections, hopping over bridges, crouching and tiptoeing to get a look inside fairy coves. The whole Christmas event was fabulous.
Get the pass: When visiting I recommend you tick the annual pass option. Because of the range of events they have going on it’s totally worth it. Even if you only go twice in the year. This also means you will have the ability to see the very pretty gardens in different seasons, and visit Churchill’s rooms if you were too engrossed in the events to spend time in them the first time.
Have fun geeking out!
I hope you enjoy visiting these beautifully historic attractions. Feel free to share your comments on them below if you have visited yourself. I love hearing historical facts too, so get sharing!
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TravelJems 