Castles, stately homes and monuments: eight places where history was made in the UK

Longleat
The Elizabethan seat of the Marquess of Bath can boast two big firsts. It was the first stately home in Britain to open to the public as a tourist attraction, in 1949, and it also became the site of the UK’s first safari park in 1966. Today, it stands as impressively over the rolling Wiltshire countryside as it did when it was completed in 1580.
Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7NW

Pembroke Castle
This huge medieval fortress dates back to the 11th century, when the Normans invaded Wales. It’s been the site of many significant historical events including, in 1457, the birth of Henry VII – the first Tudor monarch. Intriguingly, the castle was virtually destroyed in 1648 during the second English civil war, remaining in ruins until the late 19th century when it was acquired for a major restoration that would not be completed until 1928.
Pembroke, SA71 4LA

Leeds Castle
First recorded in the Domesday Book, Leeds Castle (which, somewhat confusingly, is actually in Kent) was, in the 16th century, home to Henry VIII and the first of his six wives, Catherine of Aragon. On the king’s order, major renovations were made to make it a palace fit for Tudor royals. The castle was later used as a hospital during the second world war.
Maidstone, ME17 1PL

Wallace Monument
Braveheart himself is commemorated at this monument – completed in 1869 after an architectural competition was held for its design – that overlooks the site of the 1297 Battle of Stirling Bridge, William Wallace’s first major victory in the first war of Scottish independence. Wallace’s sword is on display in the gallery.
Abbey Craig, Hillfoots Road, Stirling, FK9 5LF

Bamburgh Castle
In 1464, during the War of the Roses, this became the first castle in England to fall to gunpowder. Thankfully, it was restored to its former glory in Victorian times and still stands proudly overlooking the striking coastline of Northumberland.
Bamburgh, NE69 7DF

Alfriston Clergy House
This 14th-century thatched cottage became the first building ever acquired by the National Trust when one of its founders, Octavia Hill, purchased it for the princely sum of £10 in 1896. Though tiny compared with some of the trust’s grandiose mansions, its fascinating history and pretty gardens help it hold its own.
The Tye, Alfriston, Polegate, East Sussex, BN26 5TL

Slemish mountain
This dramatic peak in County Antrim isn’t just a place of natural beauty, but also the first Irish home of Saint Patrick, who worked around Slemish mountain as a shepherd for six years and is said to have found his faith here, too. Every year crowds gather to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in breathtaking style.
Carnstroan Lane, Broughshane, Ballymena, BT42 4PF

No 1 Royal Crescent
The first home to be built on Bath’s iconic curved street of 30 houses, No 1 is now home to a museum that provides a glimpse of what life was like for the fashionable and wealthy set of 18th-century Bath. Spoiler: with its accommodating parlours, opulent boudoirs and spacious dining room for entertaining distinguished guests, life there was pretty nice to say the least.
1 Royal Crescent, Bath, BA1 2LR

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