Fascinating English Heritage Castles to visit in the East Midlands

It's the summer holidays and you're sitting on your favourite picnic blanket. The sun is shining and you're watching your kids run around the field in front of a castle ruin. You've spent the morning learning history related to the castle - which even the kids found interesting - and you're about to enjoy the lovely packed lunch you brought with you. It's been a brilliant morning spent with your family exploring the fascinating English Heritage Castle you visited - and the best bit? It was only a short drive from your home in the East Midlands.



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | Venture inside the castles and explore!
Explore inside the castles too!



Like the sound of that? It could be you by visiting one of the fascinating English Heritage Castles in the East Midlands - there are so many of them and I'm almost certain there's one on your doorstep! Read on to find out where your nearest castle is.



English Heritage Castles in Derbyshire




Bolsover Castle


Okay, so I started with my favourite - Bolsover Castle. Of all the English Heritage Castles we've visited in the East Midlands Bolsover Castle is my favourite because it's where I married the love of my life. I remember planning our wedding and wondering where on earth we would get married - and then I found out you could get married in a castle - I mean who wouldn't want to get married in a castle? It's out of a fairytale, isn't it? So yes, Bolsover Castle is my favourite place to visit and it will always hold that special place in my heart.



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | I married my love in Bolsover Castle.



But it's not on the list because of its personal meaning to me, it's actually a fascinating castle. You can explore the ruin and the intact part of the castle. You can walk along the wall, see paintings of past residents of the castle and even learn about the history of Bolsover and the surrounding area. There are some awesome views from the top of the castle too. Oh, and if you visit, pay special attention to the Star Chamber - I said my vows in there!



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | See fantastic sculptures around Bolsover Castle.



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | Explore the ruin of Bolsover Castle
The boys loved investigating the ruin at Bolsover.



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | Walk along the wall and see far into the distance.
There are amazing views to be had on the wall!



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | Hubby and I said our vows in the Star Chamber at Bolsover Castle.
Hubby and I saying our vows.



Hardwick Old Hall


Hardwick Old Hall may not be a castle, but it may as well be. It has an interesting ruin to walk through which has stairs so you can even walk around and see the upstairs despite there being no floor in some places. 



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | Hardwick Old Hall is a great place to spend the day.
Let your kids explore while you listen to the audio tour.



If you visit Hardwick Old Hall though you really must listen to the audio tour - not only does it tell you about the Hall and its residents but it has some interesting facts too, like the reason behind the four-poster bed which I'd always wondered about.



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | You can see Hardwick Hall from the old hall too!
You can even see Hardwick Hall from the Old Hall - brilliant.



The last time we visited Hardwick Old Hall we had a blast. It was so much fun learning about the residents of the area and the things they got up to. And I remember the kids saying they'd enjoyed it too, and given they were probably 5 and 11 at the time I think that's a win!



Peveril Castle


In Castleton in Derbyshire, Peveril Castle has some breathtaking views all around and there's an interesting Keep for you to explore. Again there are ruins to walk around too, and dotted around the place are plaques with information about what you're looking at. That's where you can learn about the history of Peveril Castle





A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.

Marcus Garvey





Peveril Castle is one of the earliest Norman fortresses and the Doomsday survey mentions it!

It's been a few years since we last visited Peveril Castle, but it was a great place to learn about English history and appreciate the things our ancestors did to keep the area safe. As it's mostly a ruin, it's definitely one of the most fascinating English Heritage Castles in the East Midlands.



Sutton Scarsdale Hall


While not really a castle, Sutton Scarsdale Hall is still an interesting English Heritage property to visit if you're enjoying the castles. There's plenty to see and wonder about, as well as explore. There's a lovely field in the area too so you'd be able to enjoy a lovely picnic while looking at the vast shell of the Georgian mansion. Just looking at the columns on the outside makes me wonder about the people that once lived there. Have you ever visited?



English Heritage Castles in Nottinghamshire




Rufford Abbey


The most interesting thing about Rufford Abbey is that it has both ruins and a later built mansion. In Rufford Country Park, the ruins that date from 1170 were incorporated into a 17th century mansion. At Rufford Abbey you can learn about another one of Bess of Hardwick's husbands as well as enjoy walks or a picnic in the 150 acre country park.




Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | Rufford Abbey has places for you to explore as well as a fantastic field to have a picnic.
A plan of the Abbey.



As we live fairly close, Rufford Abbey is on our list to visit this summer - it's a great place to wander around as well as learn about the history. With the country park and plenty of grassy areas, it's the perfect place to enjoy a summer picnic while the kids run around.






Mattersey Priory


While a small ruin, you can still imagine what things might've been like for residents back in the 13th century refectory and kitchen. Despite there not being much left of the original building, there are plans for you to check out showing the layout of the building and you can learn about a fire that ruined the church nearby, and the history of the Gilbertine monasteries.



English Heritage Castles in Lincolnshire




Tattershall College


The building of Tattershall College completed in 1460 by William of Wainfleet, Bishop of Winchester, after the death of Lord Cromwell, its patron. As you walk around the interior of the college, you'll see Tudor arched doorways and note the red brickwork, which makes the college one of the oldest brickwork buildings in England as it retains its original fabric.

I always find it interesting to walk around old buildings like this and imagine what life would've been like for its residents.



Bolingbroke Castle


The remains of a 13th century hexagon shaped castle, the birthplace of the future King Henry IV. Later besieged and taken by Lord Cromwell's parliamentarians. There's not much to see, apart from the ruins, but I still think it's worth visiting, because you can see the brickwork used to build the original Bolingbroke Castle.





History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again.

Kurt Vonnegut





Lincoln Medieval Bishop's Palace


I always enjoy visiting Lincoln, what with the cathedral and the lovely streets and shops. If you ever visit Lincoln, you really must visit Lincoln Medieval Bishop's Palace where you can see one of the once most important buildings in England.

The palace stands almost in the shadow of Lincoln Cathedral and you can walk around the ruins led by a fantastic audio tour. And after walking around the Palace and learning about its history, you can enjoy a picnic in the gardens nearby, they're a peaceful place to sit and reflect and enjoy a family picnic.



Gainsborough Old Hall


One of the biggest and best-preserved medieval manor houses in England, Gainsborough Old Hall is a must visit. See an enormous medieval kitchen with an immense fireplace and an ornate wooden ceiling in the great hall. You can check out the interactive floor plans and see lovely wall paintings while walking around the hall. Gainsborough Old Hall is such an interesting place to visit as it's not a ruin - it's a well-preserved building with a roof! You can wander around and look at everything and learn about its history too. Win.



Thornton Abbey & Gatehouse


With a truly breathtaking gatehouse building to explore, and a field to enjoy a family picnic, Thornton Abbey & Gatehouse is a great place to visit. Learn about the history of one of Britain's richest Augustinian abbeys as it was one of the few places to survive the suppression of monasteries. It's a place to snap some amazing photos and enjoy family time - a great day to be had by all.



English Heritage Castles in Leicestershire




Kirby Muxloe Castle




Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | Kirby Muxloe Castle is a really interesting place.



An actual moated castle you can explore the remains and learn the history surrounding the fortified mansion. Built for Lord Hastings, Kirby Muxloe Castle serves as a poignant memorial to his ambition and sudden death, as he was seized and executed by Richard III.



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | Check out the tower at Kirby Muxloe.



You can explore the castle and enjoy a picnic on the grounds, and take a stroll around the moat. Definitely one for your summer/school holidays list.



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | A moat surrounds Kirby Muxloe Castle.



Ashby de la Zouch Castle



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | Ashby De La Zouch Castle is an interesting place to check out.



One of my favourite places to visit in Leicestershire, Ashby Castle is a great place for a family day out. With an audio tour where you can learn about its colourful history including the attacks during Civil War, and a tower where you can climb and see breathtaking views from the top, Ashby Castle is sure to be top of your list whenever you're looking for a family day out.  



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | Morgan walking along the ruins of the castle.



I remember enjoying a sit down on the grounds of Ashby Castle as the boys ran around exploring the ruins nearby. I remember smiling as I watched them play and how I was enjoying a rest after exploring the tower. It really is a great day out.



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | Ashby Castle even has a field where the kids can play.



English Heritage Castles in Northants




Kirby Hall


Kirby Hall is one of England’s greatest Elizabethan and 17th-century houses, once owned by Sir Christopher Hatton. While partly roofless there are still rooms redecorated to 17th, and 18th century specifications for you to explore and enjoy. You can get a view of the gardens from inside as well as explore outside too. 



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | Kirby Hall is a great place to explore.
Explore inside and out.



Fascinating English Heritage Castles To Visit In The East Midlands | Walk inside ruins at Kirby Hall.
And don't forget to explore the ruin too.



The gardens are beautifully kept and walking around is peaceful and enjoyable. Be sure to stop by and listen to the audio tour too!




When I was in school, I thought history was boring, but when I visited some of these castles in the East Midlands, I couldn't get enough of the historical information. Learning little snippets about people's lives back then or how they went about building the amazing castles was cool, and I always look forward to going back. The best bit about it all is that the kids enjoy listening to the audio tours too - they listen carefully to the history stories and pay attention to what they hear. And if you're planning on enjoying a picnic too, they even have something to look forward to when they're finished. Visiting any of these English Heritage Castles in the East Midlands is sure to be a fantastic day out - whichever you choose.


Have you ever visited an English Heritage Castle?

How to keep your kids’ bedtime routine this summer holiday

There’s nothing more exciting in a kid’s year than the summer holidays. A whole six weeks free from school to focus on having fun and just being a kid. The same can’t be said for us parents though. The summer holidays for us are stressful, expensive and time-consuming to say the least. 

There is some enjoyment to be had though as we get the chance to spend more time with our kids and enjoy long, lazy summer days together. 

However, all this fun can often throw you kids schedules out of whack. With no school to wake up for it can be difficult to keep your kids feeling energised. This means that when they do go back to school, you’ll have a hard battle getting them to bed at a reasonable hour.



How To Keep Your Kids' Bedtime Routine This Summer Holiday | They can stay up later - but stick to a routine.



With that said, here are a few tips and tricks to keep your kids in their normal sleeping routines. 



Bedtime and sleeping


While the summer holidays are meant to be a break from everything for our kids, it's still important to make sure they’re sticking to their regular sleep schedule. The odd late night here or there won’t do any harm, but the importance of a bedtime routine shouldn’t be overlooked. 

Getting a good, regular nights sleep will stop your child from being irritable and tired which could ruin the summer for both them and you.



How To Keep Your Kids' Bedtime Routine This Summer Holiday | Even babies need a routine.



To combat this, make sure you’ve got their bedrooms properly set up for good night’s kip. 

With lighter evenings it can sometimes be hard to get kids to settle. Therefore, things like blackout blinds massively help to improve the length of time your child sleeps for. Places like Swift Direct Blinds offer a range of blinds and curtains that can be custom made for your windows.

As well as this, trying to stick to a familiar routine is especially important for younger kids and toddlers. Making sure they’ve had a bath and gotten into their pyjamas will keep that familiar pattern that means they’ll find it easier to fall asleep. 



Getting some night-time air


As mentioned previously, summer brings us those longer days and lighter evenings. Use this to your advantage and make the most of it. If your child is struggling to wind down for the evening, go out for some fresh air. 

Whether this is going for a walk or just letting them run around the garden, the fresh air and activity will wear them out soon enough. 

You can also leave their bedroom window slightly open during the night to make sure a cool, fresh breeze is circulating in their room as this has been proven to improve the quality of sleep



Keep their bedding lightweight


If there’s a heatwave (which in England, is optimistic), your little ones will find it hard to get a proper night’s sleep. 



How To Keep Your Kids' Bedtime Routine This Summer Holiday | When it's hot they'll struggle - so let them sleep without the quilt.



If the temperatures are hotter during the day, make sure their bedding isn’t too heavy. This can cause your child to overheat in the night meaning they will wake up and struggle to get back to sleep.

Keep bedding to just the sheets without the duvet and let them sleep in pyjama shorts. 



Be careful of too much sun


This goes without saying but make sure your kids don’t experience too much sun during the day! 

Even the slightest burn can make bedding and clothes feel scratchy and sensitive. This will make them feel uncomfortable and ultimately will make getting them to nod off that bit more difficult.

Always make sure your kids are properly protected against the sun by using sun cream, hats and other protective clothing. 

Heat can also cause dehydration, so make sure your kids are properly hydrated throughout the day and make sure to leave a cup or bottle of water by their bed overnight. This way, if they wake up thirsty, they won’t need to come knocking on your door in the early hours. 




Consistency is key when it comes to bedtime routines. By following these steps, you should be able to better keep your kids in their usual routine which will leave them feeling well rested and able to enjoy their summer in the best way possible!

*Collaborative post

How to get housework done in the school holidays

As a stay-at-home mum, with kids who are usually at school, you get the housework done most days. But when they’re home? Not so much. The dishes pile up. The washing mountain is looking more like Everest every day. Dust coats every surface. You also look forward to one or two lie-ins, and forgetting the usual morning routine for a more relaxed start to the day. The housework ends up being last on your list, but it is possible to get the housework done during the school holidays. 

Just set targets.





I'm a housewife: I spend far more time on housework than anything else. 

Annie Dillard 





Your days start with getting out of bed to make breakfast for everyone, resenting not getting your lie in. Making breakfast results in mess; plates and dishes to clean, and food to put away. The daily trudge begins, and you're just not ready for it. 

But can I give you a tip? 



Do the housework during the school holidays 


It sucks, I know. When you get up in a morning and realise you’ve got a ton of work to do before you can even think about the day’s activities. Rather than leaving it until the end of the day, or even for tomorrow, why not get on with it?



How To Get Housework Done In The School Holidays | Fold the laundry, do the ironing. Just get on with it.
Get the laundry folded. Get the ironing done. And then it's done!



There's nothing worse than entering a kitchen to find messy counter tops and dirty dinner plates everywhere. With five minutes of cleaning when breakfast is over, you’ll save yourself doing an hour of tidying later. 

I have left dishes on the countertops. They mount up until I have to put the dishwasher on twice before it's all done and even then I have to spend ages washing pans that won't fit into the dishwasher. Sometimes, I really don't want to do the housework. 

But do you know what always happens? I hate myself when I leave them because it's more work. It uses up time I could use on self-care, or enjoying family time with my boys. 

You will get a tidier home and a happier you if you do the housework little and often. You won't have to spend hours cleaning and you have more time for yourself AND your kids. Try making a shorter to-do list and check things off as you go. 



Don't ease up on the kids  


It may be the school holidays, but don't let them get away with not doing their chores. In fact, it's more important they do them during the holidays than when they're at school. You do daily chores, no matter what's going on, and so should they. 



How To Get Housework Done In The School Holidays | Get the kids involved in doing the housework and you'll win!
Older kids can tackle the vacuuming no problem. 



There's plenty of time for playing games during the holidays, but if you also let them off with the chores, there's more work for YOU and that's not fair. The holidays are for spending time together, not for them to watch you do their chores. 





When it comes to housework the one thing no book of household management can ever tell you is how to begin. Or maybe I mean why.

Katharine Whitehorn 





You could rope them all in getting the housework done during the school holidays. Your youngest can help you load the washing machine or the dryer while your eldest does the vacuuming. Get them to tidy their bedrooms before they go downstairs in a morning. And the Hubby? Well, he can do the dishes, of course! 

You could even try making the game-playing a reward for doing chores. If they don't do chores, there’s no time for playing video games




Get the housework done and there’s no pressure


The most important thing during the school holidays, though, is to give yourself a break



How To Get Housework Done In The School Holidays | By being organised you'll still have time to relax and play with your kids!
Play with your kids, and enjoy the holidays!



It's not only a chance for your kids to get away from school but it's also a chance for you to have a holiday too. Yes, there’s still housework to do, but it's not essential to have the house looking pristine before you step out of the door. 




Give the kitchen a quick tidy in a morning and leave it at that. Your kids want to see you having fun too, so let go of the day-to-day pressures and enjoy time off


What tips could you offer to get the housework done during the holidays?