England links
General
The National Trust preserves over 200 historic buildings, 600 miles of coastline, and 248,000 hectares of countryside, but it is entirely reliant on donors, members, and the general public for its existence. Visit their website to get involved, plan your trip, attend an event, hire a venue, or even rent one of their special self-catering holiday cottages.
English Heritage is devoted to protecting and promoting England's unique historical landmarks and environment, overseeing more than 400 sites. It is partly funded by the government, but relies also on revenues from members and visitors to its properties. You'll find lots of useful information on its website about visiting a property, hiring a property for a private event (forget about Stonehenge), attending an event, or renting a self-catering holiday cottage.
The Landmark Trust is a wonderful charity that rescues historic and architecturally stunning buildings in distress and renovates them into self-catering accommodations. You'll even find some castles and palaces among the 200 buildings listed. Highly recommended!
If you're not a resident of the UK, look into buying a Heritage Pass from Visit Britain. Passes are good for entry into 600 sites in Britain, including 150 castles, 200 stately homes, gardens, monuments and royal residences--many part of the National Trust.
Come see what the U.K. has to offer in its beautiful National Parks on its official website. You'll find links to all the parks in its system, latest news, activities, events, and more.
You don't have to love museums to have a lot of fun on the 24-Hour Museum site. Over 3000 British museums, galleries, heritage sites, exhibitions, and articles are promoted here.
Transportation
Ready to book your rail travel? Click here for Rail Europe, a Castle and Palace Hotels partner.
Durham University oversees Durham Castle and also handles guided tours (the only way to visit the castle). You'll find visitor information and history about the castle on its site. If you plan on visiting Durham Cathedral, be sure to visit its website for a schedule on services, musical events, and interesting historical and conservation information.
No visit to the North East is complete without a visit to Hadrian's Wall. This comprehensive site with lots of photos and links for potential hikers and cyclists is a good place to start. Housesteads Roman Fort is owned by the National Trust and maintained and managed by English Heritage.
For an introduction to Hexham Abbey, its website has information for casual visitors or for those who wish to attend the Hexham Abbey International Music Festival.
English Heritage oversees the management of Barnard Castle and Dunstanburgh Castle in the North East region. If you enter the castle name in the search box, a number of articles, including visitor information will come up.
Come visit Raby Castle, one of England's most beautiful castles through its excellent website. Here you'll also find information on renting a self-catering holiday cottage on the castle grounds.
On Alnwick Castle's website you'll find historical background, visitor information, and everything you need to know if you wish to hire the property for a private event, wedding, or film location.
The dramatically situated Bamburgh Castle has its own website with all the background information you need. If you're interested in living in a castle apartment on a medium to long-term rental basis, you'll find contact information. The site has lots of good links to the area.
Take a virtual tour through the old castle of Newcastle. Good historical information on this site.
The National Trust administers Holy Island (Lindisfarne), while English Heritage maintains the island's priory.
The website for Northumberland National Park has loads of pictures, a virtual tour, links to cycling and hiking activities, and the latest news and events.
You'll get a fairly good idea of what a visit to the Beamish Open-Air Museum is like from its website. Not all museums are open all year. Come here for visitor information.
KENT
Discover the heritage and history of Canterbury Cathedral and have all your questions answered on this excellent website.
English Heritage oversees the management of Dover Castle and Rochester Castle in Kent. If you enter the castle name in the search box, a number of articles, including visitor information will come up.
Hever Castle maintains its own website with the usual visitor information, historical background on Anne Boleyn's childhood home, and contacts should you wish to hire the castle for your private event.
Leeds Castle has a comprehensive website that includes the various events, such as musical concerts, the castle puts on. If you would like to go up in a hot-air balloon over the castle, hire the castle for a private event or wedding, or just come to visit, you'll find everything you need to know.
Take a virtual tour and more through the gardens and great house of Penshurst Place.
The National Trust oversees several of the great homes of Kent, including Chartwell, Knole, Ightham Mote, and the splendid castle garden of Sissinghurst.
SUSSEX
If you wish to visit Battle, site of the history-changing Battle of Hastings, English Heritage maintains the battle ground.
In Sussex, The National Trust oversees Bodiam Castle and the great Petworth House.
Founded in 1846, the Sussex Archaeological Society performs ongoing historical and archaeological research into the treasures of Sussex, including Lewes Castle and Fishbourne Roman Palace. On its website, you'll find visitor details and information if you wish to hire one of their historic properties for your private event.
Since Herstmonceux Castle is part of a university (tours are given), it would be wise to check out the official website for the latest information.
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HAMPSHIRE
Buy an admission ticket, download a harbor map, and learn all about the HMS Victory and Mary Rose that make up part of Portsmouth's historic dockyard. While in Portsmouth, the D-Day Museum tells the story of those who took part in one of the most famous operations of World War II. English Heritage takes care of Portchester Castle, which overlooks Portsmouth.
On the Isle of Wight, English Heritage oversees the upkeep of Carisbrooke Castle and Osbourne House, one of the favored residences of Queen Victoria.
Fans of Jane Austen will probably already know about Chawton, where there is a small museum dedicated to the author. Chawton's website has visitor information, some photos, a list of upcoming events, and links to the Chawton House Library and Jane Austen Society of the U.K., North America, and Australia.
If you are intending to visit Broadlands, the home of Lord Mountbatten, check out its website first because visiting hours are restrictive.
BERKSHIRE
Naturally, the Crown has leapt straight into the 21st century with its own website. Here is their official website for Windsor Castle, which has ample history and visitor information.
OXFORDSHIRE
The University of Oxford has visitor information, maps, and links to its 39 colleges, museums, and current events. You can even check into applying as a graduate or undergraduate.
Blenheim Palace, one of the most extraordinary palaces in the U.K. has enough historical background, visitor information, and photos to get you started.
WILTSHIRE
The excellent Salisbury Cathedral website has detailed historical background, visitor information, an up-to-date events calendar, and just about anything else you would want to know.
In Wilshire, English Heritage oversees and maintains the ancient monuments of Stonehenge, Avebury, and Old Sarum. Once on the site, enter the name in the search box and relevant pages will come up.
The National Trust administers Stourhead, the great 18th-century house, and the abbey at Lacock.
The grand home of the earls of Pembroke, Wilton House, has a good website filled with visitor information, historical background, and upcoming events.
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AVON AND GLOUCESTER
Any visit to Bath should include visiting the following websites: the Bath Preservation Trust, which oversees No 1 Royal Crescent, the Bath Museum, the Beckford Tower and Museum, and the William Herschel Museum; the official site of the Roman Baths of Bath; the last great Gothic church of England, Bath Abbey; the Holburne Museum of Art; the Jane Austen Centre; and the Museum of Costume. All these sites have photos, visitor information, and plenty of inspiration.
In the Cotswolds, you'll find that the manor home of Owlpen has a comprehensive website with background details, visitor information, and ideas should you wish to stay in a holiday cottage on the grounds. The National Trust oversees Snowshill Manor and Hidcote Manor Garden. Basic information about St. James Church in Chipping Campden, including a link to the annual music festival can be found on its site.
Before heading over to Sudeley Castle, be sure to visit its site since tour times are limited. The site has a lot of useful information about the art at the castle, visiting, renting the castle for a private event, or staying in one of the holiday cottages on the grounds.
Berkeley Castle's website has good historical background, visitor information, and a calendar of the many events (including its summer medieval festival) held at the castle.
The Gloucester Cathedral has an excellent website with detailed historical background, visitor information, and upcoming events.
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SOMERSET
Explore the myths and legends surrounding Glastonbury Abbey, find inspiration viewing the many photos, and find out when services are held on the abbey's official website.
If you would like to learn more about the Glastonbury music festivals, check out their website.
Like the other cathedral websites in Britain, Wells Cathedral offers excellent and comprehensive background and visitor information.
One of the better national park websites, Exmoor National Park offers plenty of activity ideas to make your visit memorable.
DORSET AND DEVON
The National Trust oversees Dorset's dramatic Corfe Castle.
There's not much to the official website for Maiden Castle, the Neolithic stone-and-earth fort, but you will find a map of the area.
Powderham Castle's website is a great insight on how to turn the family estate into a commercial success. There's lots of information here on visiting the castle or renting it for a private event, wedding, or film shoot. Reading about the castle's history and conservation efforts is quite worthwhile.
You'll find an abundance of information about Dartmoor National Park on its website on how to get the most out of your visit. Take a virtual tour or have fun in the online kid's fun zone.
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CORNWALL
English Heritage oversees three great Cornish castles: Pendennis Castle, St. Mawes Castle, and King Arthur's very own Tintagel Castle.
Although administered by The National Trust, St. Michael's Mount has its own website with visitor information, historical background, and special events at this magical place off the coast of England.
The National Trust also oversees one of the great houses of Cornwall: Lanhydrock.
Getting out to the Isles of Scilly is definitely off the beaten path. The Simply Scilly website is the best one out there to answer your questions and use as a planning resource.
Learn all about the Eden Project and its geodesic domes and find out everything you need to know for a visit on its comprehensive website.
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If your travel plans take you to York, the following websites may be useful to you:
Take a virtual tour, find visitor information, and learn about what events are currently going on at the York Minster website. The National Railway Museum website presents its collection, visitor information, upcoming events, and information if you wish to do research.
English Heritage oversees many of the castles and abbeys of Yorkshire, including Richmond Castle, Scarborough Castle, Whitby Abbey, and Rievaulx Abbey.
Skipton Castle has lots of historical background, photos, transportation links, and event and visitor information on its website.
Castle Howard is one of the most famous and most popular of all the great country houses in the UK. On its site, you'll find the usual visitor information, historical background, and events and concerts that are held on the grounds.
Plan an utterly delightful day out at Studley Royal Water Garden and Fountains Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also part of The National Trust.
Visit the Bolton Abbey website to help plan your visit, or discover other activities such as hiking (download maps on the site) or fly fishing.
At Harewood House's website, you can find everything you need to know about touring through the house and grounds, and special exhibitions and events going on at the great house.
If you're on pilgrimage to Yorkshire to visit Brontë country, be sure to check out the Brontë Parsonage Museum and Brontë Society website first.
Begin your discovery of the North York Moors National Park on its website. You'll find plenty of ideas for activities, public transport, maps, and events.
Find out everything that is special about the Yorkshire Dales National Park on its website, as well as practical visitor information.
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