Raglan Castle

Everything’s great about this place, from its tower, which evokes memories of earlier fortresses like Caernarfon, to the gatehouse, which ‘wows’ the visitor just as its owner intended. 

Built for show rather than with battle in mind, it still held off Oliver Cromwell’s forces for thirteen weeks in one of the last sieges of the Civil War. The castle was eventually taken and was systematically destroyed by parliament. However, enough remains to still impress.

Raglan was begun in the 1430s, rather late in the day for castle building. Despite this, mod cons such as massive mullioned windows brought the design bang up-to-date, bathing rooms in luxurious light. The oriel window is one of Raglan’s defining features. Raglan also boasted a long gallery, the very height of fashionable living in the Tudor period.

BBC's Merlin was also filmed at the castle.