Staycations have become increasingly popular, for many good reasons. Why bother with the stress of foreign travel when there are majestic castles and beautiful historic towns to explore in our own country?
My books give a complete listing of all of the castles in each county, with rich descriptions and historical outlines, as well as all the information you need to plan your staycation; how to get there, where to park and what activities are available on site.
Did you ever visit a place – then find out later that there was another attraction just down the road but you missed it? My books give details of other places near the castle which are also worth a holiday visit. There is information for people who want to actually stop over in a castle or historical manor house, and even a section for those romantic souls who would like to get married in a castle!
Exploring the Castles of Kent
Kent enjoys an abundance of beautiful castles, including Hever, Leeds, Tonbridge, Rochester and Dover, as well as grandiose Tudor palaces and romantic ruins. Originally many of them were intended to protect the coastline from foreign enemies, but now they provide an excellent setting for a relaxing holiday. You can stay in the castle where Henry VIII courted Anne Boleyn, or in a historical manor-house where Queen Victoria used to go ice-skating on the frozen pond. Other features in the surrounding area are listed, including Roman villas, museums, cathedrals and safari parks.
Exploring the Castles of Eastern England
There are some beautiful castles in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. Some, like Framlingham are huge and others, like Orford, are smaller but fascinating.
One Castle in this area has just been renovated at a cost of millions and now houses a major museum. Others lie derelict, romantic ruins out in the countryside.
There are even churches which had to build fortifications to keep out the hungry peasants.
Exploring the Castles Around London
The first part of the book relates to castles, palaces and city walls in the area we know as greater London, including Windsor Castle and the Tower of London. There are also directions for walking tours around London’s main attractions.
The major part of the book deals with castles in the home counties; Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey. Essex and Kent have been covered in other books in the series but some of their best castles are also included here. There is guidance on which castles can be easily reached by public transport, for those who want a day out of London but do not have a motor vehicle.
All books are available on Amazon.
Coming soon:
Exploring the Castles of Northumbria. (2027)
Bruce W Johnson 