Castles in Great Britain

Great Britain is a country full of castles and fortifications open for us to explore. Some are large, famous and easy to find, while others are almost forgotten ruins but each castle has it's own story and magic. I love visiting castles and I hope this blog post will inspire you to read about and visit some our national treasures.
Castles in this Blog:
Hever Castle, Kent
The Tower of London, Central London
Windsor Castle, Berkshire

Hever Castle, home to Anne Boleyn

Hever Castle
Some might say that I have an unhealthy relationship with Tudor history. I find it fascinating and Hever castle has a significant role to play within the Tudor period. Hever Castle itself is an attractive fortified manor house surrounded by a moat. The original moated castle was built in 1270 and consisted of a massive gatehouse and a walled bailey, approached by a wooden drawbridge. It was in the late 15th century that the castle became the home of the Bullen family who built a comfortable Tudor house within the walls. The castle was the childhood home of Anne Bullen (Boleyn), future wife of King Henry VIII and mother of Queen Elizabeth I. After failing to provide Henry with the son he wanted, in April 1536 she was executed at the Tower of London. It is said that Henry VIII stood on Snow Hill at Windsor Castle awaiting news of Anne Boleyn's execution which was to be signalled by gunfire from The Round Tower. 
You would perhaps presume that the set for the 2008 film The Other Boleyn Girl with Natalie Portman and Scarlet Johannsen was filmed at Hever Castle. See some behind the scenes clips of The Other Boleyn Girl. But I'm afraid this was not the case. Watch a clip of The Other Boleyn Girl, a scene which supposedly happened at Hever Castle. The film is an adaptation from a book also named The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. Read a review of The Other Boleyn Girl book. 
Back to Hever castle, following the death of Anne Boleyn, her father (Thomas Boleyn) was replaced as Lord Privy Seal and died two years later. Henry VIII then seized the castle and gave it to Anne of Cleves, his fourth wife who has the distinction of being the last of Henry VIII's wives to die. She remained at Hever Castle until her death in 1557, when the castle was bought by the Waldegraves. Sir Edward Waldegrave became the first Baronet of Hever Castle in 1642.

Between 1749 and 1903 the castle was owned by the Meade-Waldos, but by the end of the 19th century the castle was in a state of neglect. In 1903, the wealthy American, William Waldorf, purchased Hever castle and commenced an extensive restoration of the castle, the creation of the lake and gardens and the construction of a Tudor style village to provide more accommodation.
Visitors can view the restored castle including see Anne and Mary Boleyn's room and look through the window they would have done themselves. You can also explore the very pretty gardens, which also contain a Yew Maze, a Splashing Water Maze and an adventure playground for those with a little more energy and a little less height.
You can also get married at Hever Castle which can provide romantic accommodation, an opportunity for formal pictures in the gardens and the Moat Restaurant can be transformed into a venue for music and dancing for up to 120 people. 

Ticket Prices for Hever Castle
You do have the option to visit either the castle and gardens or just simply the gardens. An adult castle and gardens ticket costs £14. A family ticket (2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children) costs £36.  Group passes and annual passes for Hever Castle is available.
If you are not a UK resident then I have a great bit of news for you: The Great British Heritage Pass - 1 ticket - 580 attractions. The pass enables FREE entry to nearly 600 attractions around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including Stonehenge, Edinburgh Castle, the Roman Baths, Shakespeare's Birthplace and much, much more. As a pass holder you will benefit from being able to skip long lines with fast track entry plus they receive an informative guide and full UK map with their purchase. Passes are available for 4, 7, 15 and 30 day durations as individual or family passes. The pass includes Hever Castle & gardens plus 579 other attractions within Great Britain.

Walk in the footsteps of traitors at The Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the world’s most famous fortresses and has seen service as royal palace, prison, armoury and even a zoo. The ancient stones reverberate with dark secrets, priceless jewels glint in fortified vaults and pampered ravens strut the grounds. At least six ravens are kept at the Tower at all times, in accordance with the belief that if they are absent, the kingdom will fall. Constructed over 900 years ago by William the Conqueror, the Tower of London is steeped in a rich history. This fortress was expanded by many medieval kings and is a grand structure used by Royals through the years as a refuge and powerbase. 

The ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn (mother for Queen Elizabeth I) was beheaded in 1536 for treason against King Henry VIII, allegedly haunts the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, where she is buried. It is said that she walks around theWhite Tower carrying her head under her arm. And so goes the song I used to sing as a wee lass “With her head tucked underneath her arm she walks the bloody tower…”

Raven at the Tower of London

Lady Jane Grey was Queen of England for just Nine Days from Monday 10th July 1553 to Wednesday 19th July 1553. Edward VI a devout Protestant and Henry VIII's only son, died of tuberculosis/ His father’s will had specified that Mary should become Queen if Edward died without any heirs but Northumberland had different ideas. He persuaded the dying Edward to leave the throne to 'the Lady Jane and her heirs male.' She was proclaimed Queen of England and the Protestant Queen Jane and her husband Guildford Dudley were taken in full state from Syon House to the Royal Apartments in the Tower of London. On 19th July 1553 Queen Jane was deposed as Queen, she raised no objection - the Catholic Princess Mary was the rightful heir. Lady Jane Grey and her husband were imprisoned in the Tower of London. On 12th February 1554 Lady Jane Grey and her husband Guildford Dudley were executed at the Tower of London. Lady Jane watched her husband go from the Beauchamp Tower to his death on Tower Hill, a few hours before her own execution on the Green. Jane's death warrant was signed by Queen Mary later known as 'Bloody Mary' for her persecution of Protestants. Lady Jane Grey was just 16 years old, a puppet in the hands of her father as many women have been and many in the world still are.     

In February a group of my girlfriends and I went to The National Gallery in London to see a special exhibition: Painting History Delaroche and Lady Jane Grey. I have a copy of Deleroche's 1833 painting 'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey' in my home.  Even though not historically accurate (with regards to the dress of the executioner and Lady Jane Grey herself) and the location (she was executed on the green at a private execution) I find this painting fascinating. There is such tenderness, sorrow yet vulnerability within this theatrical scene. See the painting for yourself at the National Gallery, London.

Read more things to do in London.

Windsor Castle, Long Walk

Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and is notable for its long association with the British Royal family and its architecture. Built over 900 years ago in medieval times, the castle's floor covers a massive 480,000 square feet and is the royal residence of Windsor. The castle is surrounded by some beautiful gardens and the picturesque English countryside. St George's Chapel, inside the grounds, is a fine example of gothic architecture and features the tomb of Henry VIII. Windsor Castle remains an important ceremonial location. The Waterloo ceremony is carried out in the presence of the Queen each year, and the annual ceremony of the Order of the Garter takes place in St George’s Chapel/ When the Queen is in residence (often at weekends) the Guard Mounting ceremony occurs on a daily basis. The Royal Ascot procession leaves the castle each year during the annual meeting. Watch this space for a more detailed blog post. Depending on the train you get it can take from 1hr to 90 mins from London Waterloo and is most certainly worth the trip. Read my post of a lovely 9 mile walking trail you can do from Egham to Windsor.

Visiting attractions in and around London can be expensive. The London Pass is a great way to save money and does include Windsor Castle.

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Things to do when visiting London, England

There is so much to see and do London that you are spoilt for choice. I found the following attractions were great places to take family and friends visiting London with a short amount of time to spend. I will be surely adding more to this list!



Take a cruise on the river Thames
A Thames river cruise is without doubt one of the best ways to see London, weaving through the heart of the city and past so many of its most famous attractions. See and experience the sights and splendour of this great city from the relaxed comfort of a City Cruises modern, all-weather boats. With open upper decks and spacious lower saloons with panoramic windows you’d be sure to have a great time no matter what the English weather has in store! The boat also has access and facilities for wheelchairs. An all day hop-on-hop-off ticket normal ticket price: Adult: £13.50 Child: £6.50.


Walk in the footsteps of traitors
The Tower of London is one of the world’s most famous fortresses and has seen service as royal palace, prison, armoury and even a zoo. The ancient stones reverberate with dark secrets, priceless jewels glint in fortified vaults and pampered ravens strut the grounds. At least six ravens are kept at the Tower at all times, in accordance with the belief that if they are absent, the kingdom will fall. Listen to Shady, a beefeater at the Tower of London, talks about the myth behind the royal decree that states that there must be six ravens in the tower at all times. Constructed over 900 years ago by William the Conqueror, the Tower of London is steeped in a rich history. This fortress was expanded by many medieval kings and is a grand structure used by Royals through the years as a refuge and powerbase. The ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn (mother for Queen Elizabeth I) was beheaded in 1536 for treason against King Henry VIII, allegedly haunts the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, where she is buried. It is said that she walks around the White Tower carrying her head under her arm. And so goes the song I used to sing as a wee lass “With her head tucked underneath her arm she walks the bloody tower…”
Read:
Traitors Executed in the Tower of London
The Princes in the Tower of London
See where William and Katherine Middleton married
It’s no doubt, Westminster Abbey was the perfect venue for the Royal wedding this year. It’s just a short walk from the Thames and really is a must-see venue. It is the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, a living church, a royal peculiar and home to the unique pageant of British history. This beautiful gothic church is a Unesco World Heritage Site popular with many visitors to London. The abbey host free London events throughout the eyar including brass bands (a particular favourite of mine), recitals and children's events. Westminster Abbey also has it's own YouTube channel where you can watch videos of the Abbey including that of the Royal Weding 2011.


See The Duchess of Cambridge's Wedding Dress

When the Duchess of Cambridge stepped out of her vintage Rolls Royce in a Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dress on her wedding day she stepped into fashion history. An astonishing two billion people from around the world watched the royal wedding, including myself and 50 others at a street party in Camden Town. Now is your chance to see 'that dress' up close and personal. Kate Middleton's bridal gown had been on display in London as part of Buckingham Palace's annual summer opening. More than 600,000 members of the public passed through the doors of the Queen’s London residence.The £10m proceeds from the summer opening will go towards the upkeep of the Royal Collection, comprised of paintings, furniture and antiques collected by monarchs over the past 500 years and held in trust by the Queen on behalf of the nation. Visitors had the chance to see the world famous ivory satin gazar dress with a fitted bodice up close and examine the fine handmade lace appliqué floral detailing which worked so well on film. The ivory silk tulle veil decorated with embroidered flowers that the Duchess wore on her big day will also be on display as well as the diamond encrusted Cartier tiara that held the veil in place. The Duchess was lent the tiara for the day by the Queen, representing her something borrowed. The impressive nine-foot train is opened out displaying the dress in all its glory.

If you would like the opportunity to see the dress the exhibition at Buckingham Palace is now closed but fear not. The dress will be on display at the Design Museum, in Shad Thames along the southbank of the river Thames from February 8th 2012.
Royal Wedding Dress Accessories
With all that material it was difficult to see the detail on The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding shoes. At the exhibition you can the ivory embroidered bridal shoes which were also designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The diamond earrings given to the Duchess by her family are also exhibited. They bear acorns in a nod to the Middleton family's new coat of arms.
The Royal Wedding Cake
Visitors will also be see the marvelous royal wedding cake created by Fiona Cairns, complete with a mark made by the happy couple as they cut it with a ceremonial sword.
Video of Alexander McQuee designer Sarah Burton:The special exhibition also features a video of Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton talking about her inspiration for the dress and the intricate design process.

Take a tour of the Olympic 2012 site
If you are visiting London before August 2012 then a guided tour of the 2012 Olympic site will fill you in on the preparations for the 2012 London Olympics as well as the plans for the site after the games are a distant memory. They take place at 11am everyday. You also get to see a few hidden gems along London's waterway. The tour is led by a qualified Blue Badge Tourist Guide so you will be sure to have a well researched and presented tour. You can book online or just turn up at the Bromley-by-Bow underground station.

Gaze at the stars
Entitled 'Glamour of the Gods,' admire the beauty of Hollywood stars from the 1920s and beyond at this National Portrait Gallery exhibition. With captivating images from both stage and screen, this exhibition oozes with glitz and glamour.




Visit Tudor London
Hampton Court Palace is the former home of the flamboyant King Henry VIII, he extended and developed this grand palace after acquiring it in the 1520's. Its many royal occupants have ensured the palace has fabulous furnishings, tapestries and paintings. Set in 60 acres of formal gardens, which include the famous maze and Great Vine, this palace is well worth a visit. The powerful 1966 film A Man for All Seasons directed by Fred Zinneman was filmed on location at Hampton Court Palace. My favourite part of Hampton Court Palace are the tapestries which are simply amazing. I had more appreciation of the amount of skill, cost and effort involved when creating a tapestry after reading The Lady and The Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier. Watch the video to learn a little more about the tapestries at Hampton Court Palace.













See London from up above
Explore the dizzy heights of London in a transparent egg shaped capsule. Located near Waterloo and Charing Cross station, the London Eye gives spectacular views of our capital. Say hello to the 'little people' as you discover a new perspective of our much-loved city



UK World War history
The Churchill War Rooms are dedicated to the life of the ‘greatest Briton’, Sir Winston Churchill, and the secret underground headquarters that were the nerve centre of Britain’s war effort. This maze of historic rooms once buzzed with planning and plotting, strategies and secrets. Walk the dimly-lit corridors and discover the rooms that changed history. The first London museum of its kind, the Churchill War Rooms covers all ninety years of Winston Churchill’s life, divided into five chapters: his early year’s as British Prime Minister starting May 1940; his later years; his childhood; his early political career and the period famously known as the ‘Gathering Storm’. I happily spent 2 hours wandering around. Admission: Adult £15.95*. *Includes voluntary donation.
Of course going to these places all adds up. The London Pass is a great way to save money.



Weekends Only
If browsing market stalls is your thing, then pay a visit to the one with the best atmosphere in London. Diverse, vibrant, and full of items you might not find elsewhere, Greenwich Market is certainly worth a visit on a weekend afternoon.

Sundays Only
For a Sunday shopping spree take a trip to Wembley Market. On Sundays the Wembley Stadium car park is transformed to offer bargain hunters a real treat. Europe’s largest Sunday market, the place is awash with goods galore, from clothes and gadgets to food and music. Whether you've perfected your haggling skills or not, you’re bound to come away with bags full of bargains.

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Read:
Kensington - A Royal Village - walk
The Printers of Fleet Street, London - walk
Traitors Executed in the Tower of London
The Princes in the Tower of London

The islands of Maldives - perfect holiday destination all year round

The islands of Maldives

If a sun filled paradise is what you crave for your ideal then why not make the trip to the Maldives? The Maldives is a true tropical paradise where you can enjoy delicious beaches and sumptuous clear waters without the exclusivity once seen here. Prices have become more affordable, meaning that you can enjoy one of the most stunning places in the world without the cost once associated with a trip here. 

The islands of Maldives have deep blue seas, turquoise reefs, white sandy beaches and palm trees. It is the perfect place to sit on a beach and watch a sunset with a cocktail balanced in your hand. If you enjoy the water then take advantage of the beautiful corals. There are some wonderful sights to behold including turtles, dolphins and sharks.

The islands of Maldives appear in between the trading route of the Indian Ocean. With the to-ing and fro-ing of people due to centuries of trading this is reflected in the Maldivian people, their language, beliefs, arts, and attitudes.

The mixing of cultures is very much seen in Maldivian arts. The music played with the local bodu-beru (big-drum) resemble that of African drumming. The dhoni (a unique Maldivian sailboat) has significant similarities to the Arabian dows. The fine artistry of Maldivians, seen in the intricate details on wooden beams in antique mosques, represents what has been gained from Southeast Asian architecture.

Maldivian culture has continued to evolve with the times. Locals still eat the freshly caught local fish and fishermen still spend days out at sea as they have for generations. Tourism now takes a standing prominence. The effects of the modern world are now embraced, while still striving to uphold the people’s identity, traditions and beliefs. 

Did you know?

Ninety-nine percent of the Maldives is made up of sea. The people of the islands are widely dispersed across the atolls, with about 200 inhabited islands. About 90 islands are developed as tourist resorts and the rest are uninhabited or used for agriculture and other livelihood purposes.

What’s the weather like?

Maldives has two distinct seasons; dry season (and wet season, with the former extending from January to March and the latter from mid-May to November.

The weather in the Maldives is usually picture perfect: sunlit days, breezy nights, balmy mornings, and iridescent sunsets. The temperature hardly changes - which makes packing for your holiday an easier task than other destinations. With the average temperature at c. 30oC throughout the year, the sun is constant most days. 

What you should pack?

Insect repellent (30-50% DEET recommended)

Bathing shoes (coral can be sharp)

Underwater camera

Sun tan lotion (an obvious one I know but it’s hot, hot, hot over there)

Books! (there's not a whole lot to do over there)

What not to pack

Cigarettes

Alcohol (it’s a Muslim country remember)

High Heels (they don’t go well with sand)

Synthetic clothing (need I say more?)

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