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England boasts a huge wealth of castles, fortresses and palaces. They have long attracted tourists and were treated as the biggest attractions for travelers.
Bamburgh Castle
It is located on the shores of the North Sea in Northumberland. The first preserved mention of the castle dates back to 547. The fortress owes its name Bamburgh (Old English: Bebbanburgh) to Etelfrid of Northumbria, who named it in honor of his beloved wife Bebba. In 993, the castle was destroyed by the Vikings, and the Normans soon built a new fortress here, and part of it has survived to this day. In the 19th century, William Armstrong restored the castle, which was falling into ruin. His descendants manage the building to this day.
Leeds Castle
It is situated in Kent. The castle was built in 1119 by Robert de Crevecoeur. Already 150 years later, the stronghold served as the royal residence of the King of England – Edward I and his wife – Eleanor of Castile. Since then, it has been consistently expanded. The surroundings add to the shine of the building. There is a beautiful lake and green areas around. The name may confuse tourists. The castle – contrary to its name – is not located in the city of Leeds, but near the widely unknown village of Leeds.
Alnwick Castle
It is situated in the town of Alnwick in Northumberland in the north of the country. In winter it serves as the residence of the Dukes of Northumberland, and at other times of the year it is one of the region’s most popular attractions. The library located in the castle is worth attention. It is very richly equipped. Around the building there are gardens with numerous fountains. Its interiors are probably familiar to many of us – it is the site of numerous film sets, including: all the adventures of Harry Potter.
Dover Castle
It comes from the 12th century and is located in southeastern England. It towers over the city because it is located on a hill, and in the past it was supposed to guard the sea route. The fortification was already built by William the Conqueror, but it was given its present form only during the reign of Henry II. An extensive system of undergrounds was created in this area, from where the evacuation of Dunkirk was directed. There was a garrison in the castle until 1958.
Warwick Castle
This castle has seen countless battles. Death can be felt here almost at every step. The building located in central England was built in 1068 by William the Conqueror. The ghost of Sir Fulke Greville, murdered by his servant, haunts the castle tower. Many visitors complain of dizziness and nausea after touching the walls of the castle dungeons.
Bodiam Castle
This stronghold is surrounded by a moat. It was built in 1385 to defend against the French invasion. During the civil war it was demolished. Now the National Trust is raising funds to rebuild the roof of the fortress. Renovations have been going on here since the 19th century. The castle is located in Robertsbridge in East Sussex in the south-east of England. Historical films have been shot here many times, and in the 1950s Boldiam served as a film set for the series „Robin Hood”.
Windsor Royal Castle
This castle has been the residence of English kings since 1110. It is located in Berkshire, England. The building is surrounded by walls with towers and gates. It was built on the orders of William I the Conqueror and then expanded by subsequent rulers. Today, Queen Elizabeth II receives official guests here. It is the largest inhabited castle in the world – it is 800 meters long and its floor area is 45,000 m2. In 1992, part of the castle burned down completely in a fire, but its reconstruction was completed 5 years later.
