Bodiam Castle

Address: East Sussex

Opening hours: Visit Bodiam Castle any day, except during special holidays. The castle is open up to 5:00 pm during regular days and up to 5:30 pm during school holidays.

Contact: Phone +44 1580 830436

In East Sussex, there is a 14th century castle with a moat. Bodiam Castle, as it was called, was built by Edward III’s former knight named Sir Dalyngrigge, in 1385. The castle was built together with the express permission of Richard III. It was supposed to defend the place against the invasion of the French during the historically known event, the Hundred Years’ War.

Bodiam Castle does not have a keep because of its quadrangular shape. There are chambers that have been built near the inner courts and even around the defensive walls. Towers mark the entrance and the corners of the castle. The castle was not just built for defence but also for display, having been the home of a knight’s family. It stayed within the family through several generations and until the family’s extinction. Then, it was passed on to the Lewknor family by way of marriage.

The castle has also been acquired by the National Trust. The reason behind the selection is pretty clear as the castle does have a tangible historical significance, having been used as a defence during the Hundred Years’ War. Bodiam Castle is also considered to be one of the best moated castles from the late medieval period. Even if it was not used as a defence, you could still see its natural beauty and drama as you see its ramparts rise over the moat.

Even the interior of the castle still provides visitors a glimpse of what life was like in that castle centuries ago. The spiral staircases add drama and there are battlements in which you can ponder about what it was like to hear attackers from the outside, wondering if you really were protected. On the towers, you can enjoy the scenery offered by the Rother Valley. The wooden portcullis is still in its original form, which makes it a rare sighting in modern times.

When visiting the castle, make sure that you make the most out of it by inspecting every nook and cranny. If you want household interpreters waiting for you by the courtyard, you have to visit the castle during the April to October period.

Visit Bodiam Castle any day, except during special holidays. The castle is open up to 5:00 pm during regular days and up to 5:30 pm during school holidays. Each adult has to pay £7.00 while each child pays half-price. A family of one adult and three children has to pay a package price of £11.60.