For Christmas last year Boyfriend’s parent bought me an English Heritage membership. (Jolly nice of them wasn’t it?) I’ve been a National Trust member for years, lured in mainly by the cream teas, but had never really got into English Heritage apart from a visit to a castle with Belle on the Isle of Wight last summer.
Now though, I am a convert. This week my new handbook and magazine arrived, giving me the perfect excuse to turn off Twitter for a few minutes, make a cup of tea and read some real words on actual paper. You know, the old fashioned stuff, made of trees?
![English Heritage](https://slummysinglemummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/English-Heritage-1024x682.jpg)
As part of my list of 40 things to do before I’m 40, I plan to visit every county in England, and I thought that English Heritage would be an ideal way to make sure I did something wholesome along the way, rather than just stopping in every county for a cake. I’ve browsed my brochure and come up with five English Heritage sites I would love to visit on my travels:
Stonehenge
A bit of a classic this one. I have driven past it a few times, and have a vague memory of visiting when I was small (although it could have been anywhere really – perhaps the stones just looked big because I was little?) but I would love to visit properly.
There is just something so magical about it isn’t there? Seriously, those stones are massive, how did they even get there?? Please do take a quick look at the video – it’s really short but just beautiful.
Bolsover Castle
The East Midlands generally is the region of England that I have visited least, so I thought I should pick out a couple from this area. I was drawn to Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire as it’s described as a ‘fantasy castle of frivolity’ – ‘a uniquely preserved example from an age of extravagance.’
Well, I’m always up for a bit of extravagant frivolity as you know, so what’s not to love?
![Bolsover Castle](https://slummysinglemummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Bolsover-Castle.jpg)
Peveril Castle
Also in Derbyshire, I thought this one would make a nice contrast to Bolsover, as it used to be a prison. Call me morbid if you will but there is something very evocative about a ruined prison. Gazing out over the Peak District I imagine getting a real sense of what life may have been like as a prisoner – the vast, sparsely-populated landscape stretching for miles.
It hasn’t always been a prison mind you – mentioned in the Domesday survey, Peveril Castle is one of England’s earliest Norman fortresses. Pretty cool.
![Peveril castle](https://slummysinglemummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Peveril-castle.jpg)
Whitby Abbey
Having lived near Glastonbury for the majority of my life I have a bit of a soft spot for ruined abbeys and Whitby Abbey looks particularly beautiful. In fact, its gothic splendour is said to have inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula – spooky stuff. There are even sometimes live performances, helping you to get into the Dracula spirit of things, which is always fun.
![Whitby Abbey](https://slummysinglemummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Whitby-Abbey.jpg)
Audley End House and Gardens
When you think Essex you might not immediately think stately homes and sites of historical interest, but Audley End House looks like a cracker and Essex is on my list of counties I’ve never been to. Reopening this spring after a huge redevelopment project, Audley End House promises the whole upstairs downstairs thing – showing the contrast between how different members of the household lived.
I always love seeing the kitchens and servants’ quarters in old houses as I think these create much more powerful, relatable stories.
![Audley end house and gardens](https://slummysinglemummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Audley-end-house-and-gardens.jpg)
What are your favourite English Heritage sites?
All images apart from the one of my cup of tea are courtesy of English Heritage.