A 900-YEAR-OLD castle in the UK has been named one of the best attractions to visit – for the ninth time.
Tamworth Castle in Staffordshire attracts thousands of visitors every year thanks to its long history, family-friendly games, and costume characters.
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The Staffordshire castle has over 900 years of history from its important seat in Anglo-Saxon England to being the home of wealthy, noble, Victorian families.
From the 7th to the 9th Century, Tamworth Castle was at the heart of the kingdom of Mercia in Anglo-Saxon England.
During this time, prominent royal families were said to have celebrated Christmas and Easter at the castle.
In 913, the castle was re-fortified by Aethelflaed, the daughter of King Alfred the Great, and the Lady of the Mercians.
Dubbed the “warrior queen” by historians, Aethelflaed played an important role in key military campaigns until she died in Tamworth Castle in 918.
In the centuries following Aethelflaed‘s death, the castle was occupied by several noble families until it was sold to Tamworth Borough Council in 1889.
Two years later, Tamworth Castle opened as a museum and has been welcoming members of the public ever since.
Inside the castle, visitors will be able to explore 15 different rooms as well as the site’s courtyard.
In addition to exploring the castle’s 15 rooms, there are also plenty of hands-on activities to keep younger visitors entertained.
For example, families can try out domestic chores, wear heavy armour in the armoury, or sit at a Tudor banquet table.
They can also crush herbs and spices with a pestle and mortar, and get dressed up in hats and wigs too.
To delve further into the castle’s history, visitors can also explore the Saxon Exhibition, which even has real pieces of the Staffordshire Hoard.
There’s also a brand-new augmented reality trail called Tamworth AR Explorer, which can be downloaded for free.
Meanwhile, staff members and volunteers will also be dressed up in authentic costumes too.
Tamworth Castle also runs seasonal events throughout the year, including Tales from the Darkside.
From October 25, 2023, to November 5, 2023, will be able to explore the castle’s spooky side with ghost hunts, candlelit readings, and murder mystery events.
The castle has received a 4.5/5 star rating from more than 700 reviews on TripAdvisor.
It has also been recognised as a Tripadvisor 2023 Travellers’ Choice award winner thanks to glowing customer reviews.
It’s not the first time – the castle has won the award every year since 2015, excluding 2021 during the pandemic.
One person wrote: “A good value day out. We often go during the half term, and the kids love it.”
While another added: “It is such a well-preserved castle. It’s great for kids with lots of interactive activities and costumes to try on.
“The rooms have been beautifully furnished with period pieces from the Victoria and Albert Museum.”
Entry tickets into the castle cost £9.75 for a full-paying adult, and £7.50 for children aged between two to 15 years.
The castle is open from 9.30am until 4.30pm five days a week, with slightly later opening times on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
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