Thatcher would be proud…read more Looking around Hever, many would be left with the impression that the owners are enormous fans of Anne Boleyn. The unfortunate wife of Henry VIII is, after all, the main focus of the exhibition and makes an appearance on much of the marketing material. But look a bit closer, and the more astute visitor may notice a different, more 'true blue', streak permeating the house. Yes, Labour voters clutch your pearls, but the proprietors appear to be worshippers of none other than Margaret Thatcher. (More so than Ms Boleyn, I would wager.) In the castle, visitors are treated to a near life-size oil painting of the union basher. And for those lucky enough to stay in the guest house for the price of £300 per night, they will find a letter written by the Iron Lady to thank the castle for her stay that has been framed and hung in one of the hallways. Among the owners personal possessions, I note Ms Boleyn has not received a similar dose of affection. Of interest is also the fact that this castle, its stunning gardens and water maze, owe their amazing condition to our friends across the Atlantic. Most stately homes in Britain are now virtually on their knees, with years of decline and underinvestment in the country reflected in their faded carpets, moth-eaten curtains and peeling paintwork. Hever, however, has avoided this fate for the good reason that it was bought by... gasp... an AMERICAN. Horrifying as it may sound, Mr Astor - who owes his astounding wealth to the rise of New York City - purchased the castle and injected nothing short of a fortune into it in order to create the attraction that we see today. Demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit so often absent in Britain, he then had the vision to order the construction of a second moat, a lake, a walled Italian garden complete with artefacts from Pompeii, a 'wall waterfall' and to direct the gardeners to shape some bushes like a chess set. I don't think he was involved in the water maze, so loved locally, but its presence reflects Hever's enduring ambitious spirit. Perhaps it was this spirit that so inspired Margaret Thatcher to write of Hever: 'I have seen several castles and large country houses but none as perfect as Hever.'

If you are visiting London, Hever Castle is a must do. Only a 90 minute drive from London hotels,…read morethe trip is well worth the wait upon arrival. From its sprawling vistas to the castle itself this place is a real treat. There is a large lake on site that offers rowing, an area that allows you to try your hand at archery and even a place to see falconry. There are jousting exhibitions and plenty of food from the cafe or restaurant on site. The REAL gem is the castle. Home for Queen Anne Boleyn from 5 years old to 12 one can only imagine the wonder this place brought her. The castle provides an audio tour in several languages so there is no issue there. (The staff are marvelously kind and helpful in the castle and in the dining areas and gift shop.) It's small but chock full of informative history about Anne Boleyn as well as those who lived in the castle after her death. If you are looking for a respite from the concrete jungle and noisy planet that is London, Hever provides you with lots of peace and quiet Tour the rose garden or just sit and enjoy the views and shade from the trees. It's an idyllic setting and a trip that will make your visit to the UK complete.

Ightham Mote (pronounced 'Eye-tum Moat') is one of my favourite spots to take friends and visitors…read more The setting, on a hot summer's day, is just perfect: you approach through a lovely, quiet valley (astonishingly so, given how close you are to London), and suddenly, there is a beautiful 14th Century Manor-House, set in a wide moat, surrounded by delightful gardens. The house itself dates from 1320, with additions dating to around the early 1500's. Set around an internal courtyard, features include the original 14th century Great Hall, Old Chapel, Crypt, and a Tudor chapel with a painted ceiling, with motifs reflecting the marriage of Catherine of Aragon to Henry VIII. The house features classic overhanging Tudor wooden-framed walls. The gardens are small but delightful, but the parkland around is very extensive (over 500 acres - 200 hectares). There are both cycle-ways and marked foot-paths around the estate for the more energetic visitor. Being owned by the National Trust, there is an excellent small shop and cafe, with details on accessibility on its web-site.

This is a charming historical building and gardens. Dating back to the 13th century, it reflects…read morethe layers of renovation over the ages all on top of the original 'bones'. It also has a wonderful feel to it of a house someone really lived in, as opposed to a cold museum. Oh, and be sure not to miss the painting of the house and moat by Winston Churchill in the library! The gardens are also lovely, small scale, with some very pretty topiary. All this is set into the background of the moat, which provides a cool feel on a warm summer day. The cafe is also nicely run with a good selection of fresh items for lunch or snack. All in all, a very worthwhile stop!!

If I was giving a review for what a pain it is to get to Down House on public transport, this would…read morebe a 1 star (there are two buses you can take - one is every 90 minutes, the other every 60...). But once you drag yourself there, Down House is simply lovely. I actually only quickly flew through the ground floor of the house, but even on my quick visit I could see it was full of interesting things and I will definitely be back to explore more properly. However, this visit was for a garden tour, which I wholeheartedly recommend. We were in a private group - about 15 of us, and the tour was £75 on top of the normal entrance fee (£12.30 if you want to gift aid it). They do offer the garden tour for everyone on Wednesdays and Sundays in July and August for a small fee on top (£4). Our tour was lead by the gardener, Christina, a knowledgeable and enthusiastic lady from Prague. She knew the garden inside out, but also had plenty of Darwin spiel. It was interesting to learn how much of the garden is planted to Darwin's specifications. The kitchen garden is spectacular, and they try to plant strains popular from the 1800s, even if there's often something 'better' developed now. They use the vegetables in the café, and also sell some (I was eyeing up, but too slow, courgettes with the flower attached - 3 for £1!) The garden also still does some of Darwin's experiments. It's all in a lovely setting and the nearby village of Downe is quaint with a couple of pubs and a church. All in all, a fine day out that you can get to on London transport, but feel like you're in the middle of the countryside (and well, you are!)

Visit this amazing and remarable house where Charles Darwin the Victorian scientist revolutionised…read morethe world with his groundbreaking theory regading evolution.I was touched by his spirit when I visited this place to see the room where the origins of the species was written.There are extensive interactive exhibitions on Darwin's life and theories and will captivate all age groups.

Knebworth house, gardens and park is a brilliant family day out. The grounds are huge, the gardens…read moreare interesting, and the house is beautiful. You can park the car by the house and gardens, and also at the bottom of the park. For the kids, there is a huge adventure playground (best to do this on the way out as it's right at the bottom of the park, miles from the house and gardens), which has a good range of play equipment for pretty much any age range. In the summer they have a free bouncy castle too. The gardens are seperated into different areas, and it is all very well signposted so you won't get lost. The dinosaur garden is really good, and the kitchen garden smells heavenly in the right seasons. There is a fun maze too. The house itself is really beautiful, and you can pay extra to have tours. I could go on forever explaining everything here, but I won't. Rest assured it is well worth the entrance fee. The cafe is really expensive so take a picnic!

Penshurst Place evidently still resembles that which Sir John de Pulteney, a former Mayor of…read moreLondon, constructed between 1338 and 1341. it has a rich history. Penshurst changed hands between a few dukes after Sir John and, in 1483, was inherited by Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham. Edward was the son of Henry Stafford (the 2nd Duke) and Katherine Woodville, sister to Queen Elizabeth (wife of King Henry IV). King Henry VIII had visited Edward (whom he considered a threat to the crown) at Penshurst in 1519 and even though the king had been lavished with what today would be over £1 million as a gift, King Henry VIII had Edward convicted of treason and executed in 1521, at which point the king took control of the estate. Henry used Penshurst as a hunting lodge but it was also where he stayed when he visited nearby Hever Castle while courting his future 2nd wife and queen, Anne Boleyn. Fast-forward to the king's divorce from his 4th wife, Anne of Cleves and Penshurst became hers, for a short time, as part of the settlement. Sir Ralph Fane (also Vane), who was knighted on the field of combat, was granted Penshurst in 1550 by Edward VI, the 13 year old King of England. However, less than two years later, Fane was convicted and hanged for treason, at which time the manor was given to Sir William Sidney by Edward VI as a reward for Sidney's services as steward and tutor to the household. Penshurst has remained in the Sidney family since 1552! By the late 1700's, the estate had started falling into disrepair. Restorations began in 1818 and the estate did well until damage was sustained during World War II. As a means to assist funding restorations in 1947, Penshurst Place was opened to the public. The family's stewardship of the manor has resided, since 1991, with Philip Sidney, 2nd Viscount De L'Isle MBE, Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Kent. Though a fairly narrow building it is long and when one is touring through the various rooms you can glimpse much of the history that is held within the walls, from paintings that adorn the walls to mannequins wearing period clothing, from armor that had been worn to fancy lace and elaborate bedding. When visiting anywhere near Kent, England, Penshurst Place should be on the short list to tour. It doesn't take a long time but the history is worth your time.

Had a wonderful tour here while I was in England, beautiful gardens, and lots of history here.read more

Reculver Towers is the remains of a 12th century church, which is located on the remains of Roman…read moreand Saxon buildings. The Towers themselves are perched on the top of a large cliff, which has been heavily eroded in the past and is the reason why there are only partial remains of the church left standing. Due to its location on the north coast, the towers lend themselves to some lovely photographs with the sunset to their rear and the sea to one side. There is a large stony beach at the base of the cliffs, which is ideal for dog walking rather than bathing, as the Thames Estuary leaves it somewhat muddy. Also be aware that the tide can come rather far in at certain times of the year, partially cutting off some areas at the base of the cliffs!! There are reputed to be a decent number of fossils to be found along the beach, especially following storms, though me and the dog have never found anything exciting. There is ample parking in the vicinity of the towers, good paths suitable for wheelchairs and buggies along the cliff top. There is also a pub very close by and a small shop/amusements arcade associated with the nearby caravan park. All in all, a nice place for a picnic or for a stroll.

A beautiful area to have a picnic on a sunny day. About 3k walk from Herne Bay. Not easily…read moreaccessible by public transport. Very good toilet facilities though, which is important on a picnic! Worth a visit if you're in the area, as it really is a beautiful spot.

Built to defend an important port on the River Adur, Bramber Castle was constructed as a motte and…read morebailey castle around 1073 by William De Braose, who fought alongside William the Conqueror at the battle of Hastings in 1066. Apart from a period of confiscation during the reign of King John, it remained in the ownership of the De Braose family until themale line died out in 1324. Thereafter, it passed via the Mowbray and Howard families into the estate of the Dukes of Norfolk, who held it until it until 1926. It was given to the National Trust in 1946. Very little survives of the original castle, thanks to a gradual decline over the years, damage during the Civil War in 1642 and looting of the stones as a quarry for building by the locals. The most prominent feature is the tall and unsteady-looking fragment of the Gatehouse tower, still standing to almost its full original height. In the centre of the grounds is the impressive original motte, its earthen mound rising some 30ft (10m). A short distance away is a section of the curtain wall which survives up to 10ft (3m) in places. Around the perimeter are also the remains of the castle's impressive moat. (NB be careful with small children, as there are some sheer drops in places). Although the ruins are rather fragmentary, the grounds are beautifully kept by the National Trust, and make a wonderful place for a picnic, as well as affording excellent views of the surrounding countryside.

This place is a bit of a let down. There seems to be no effort to make it obvious where/what parts…read moreof the ruins were. They have a lame sign at the entrance but little else. It just seems like an enclosed play field.

Southwick is now firmly part of the suburban sprawl running from Brighton and Shoreham, and is…read moreknown to most people for the power station that dominates the far side of Shoreham Harbour. But there was a community here in Saxon times, and its church is surprisingly ancient. In fact, the walk from the station crosses the Green, an attractive and villagey stretch of tree-lined common which splits Southwick into two halves. There are some handsome cottages surrounded by well appointed semi-detached suburban homes, and a rather less appealing row of post-war shops. St Michael and All Angels was, until the 18th century, dedicated to St Margaret, and sits among a very pretty churchyard, thickly studded with trees. Although there was probably a church here in Saxon times, it first recorded in 1086, and in 1206 the right to appoint the rector was granted to the Templars, and then to the Hospitallers, although much of the early mediaeval period was taken up with disputes over these rights with the monks of Sele Priory. The ownership passed from Sele Priory to Magdelene College at the Dissolution, and patronage thereafter passed to the Crown until the 20th century. Fire in the 19th Century damaged the nave and an unexploded bomb (and the subsequent excavation to remove it) damaged the tower in 1941. The church itself is built of flint, and is essentially in three parts: the tower, nave and chancel. The tower is by far the most impressive part: its foundations and lower walls are said to be Saxon, although it mostly dates from the late 12th and 13th centuries. It is an attractive composition, with paired round-headed arches with narrow openings surmounted by paired gothic lancets and, above that, a shingle broach spire. The west door is also attractive, but a modern addition: the tower was carefully taken down and faithfully rebuilt in 1950 after the bomb damage, with vestries built either side. The chancel is mostly 13th century, with two original lancets, framed by a 14th century chancel arch. There are two round headed arches to the south, although the central column probably dates from the Victorian rebuilding. A 14th wooden screen with narrow lancets also survives in the south aisle. The nave burned down in the 1830s and was rebuilt with narrow lean-to aisles in 1834, with round-headed arcades and lancet windows. Pevsner's Buildings of England described the nave as a 'loveless cover for pew-space', which I think is a bit harsh, although there's no doubt it doesn't match the quality of the tower. The furnishings other than the south aisle screen - are limited in interest to what appears to be a mediaeval aumbry, some 18th and 19th century tombs and memorials, and a sturdy, square font, probably from the 13th century. The church is today the centre of large and busy parish, and has a vibrant church life, with services daily through the week.

The Tree Cathedral is another hidden gem of Milton Keynes. I walked in the area back in March when…read morethe trees were all bare but even then it looked insanely cool. I've looked up photos of the tree cathedral in full bloom and it's just beautiful. Constructed in 1986 to look like Norwich Cathedral, I'm sure it's a great spot for small ceremonies. It's divided into various sections all meticulously planned which you can read about on the plaque right in front of the cathedral. It has a nice stone path down the center for easy navigation. Upon reading a bit more on the Tree Cathedral when I got home - you can now scatter ashes there. Peaceful and creepy at the same time. The Tree Cathedral can be found opposite of Willen Lake.

A nice place with a lovely open scenery for walking but several including one of my children have…read morealmost drowned in the lake after falling over face first into it.... Going to this location I would suggest keeping your kids well away from the lake Also a while back a murderer used the woodland as a hiding place and wasn't found by the police until six days after he was sleeping there... It's s great place but is it a safe place?

The Five Arches is an area of woodland and open grassland so names because of the five arches that…read moremake up the bridge across the river that runs through it. In the summer, children often paddle in the water and throw stones into the water from the bridge. There's also a park for children to play in which has been modernised to include some exciting looking playground toys. The wooded area provides a fun alternative for youngsters wanting to climb amongst the trees and play hide and seek and a local pub, The White Cross, is a great place for a drink and snack afterwards.