The UK’s best Tudor attractions

With a renewed interest in everything Tudor thanks to the BBC’s The Tudors and Wolf Hall, we thought we would find out where in the UK you can get a real Tudor experience. We have scoured the land looking for authentic Tudor attractions that you can visit to get a real taste of life five hundred years ago. If you’re staying in one of our holiday cottages nearby, all of these are worth a trip.

This is what we found.

Hampton Court – Surrey

Hampton Court has to be one of the most famous Tudor locations in Britain. Once owned by Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey, this is a truly magnificent palace. Built in the 1500s, the building is made up of several generations of extension from the Great Gatehouse to the Great Hall. Each is magnificent in its own right.

Hever Castle – Kent

Hever Castle was Anne Boleyn’s family home. It’s another 16th century building that has survived remarkably well and is open to the public. The castle is set in lovely grounds with a lake and rose garden. The castle itself feature about as much history as can be squeezed into a single building and is well worth a visit.

Thornbury Castle – Gloucestershire

Thornbury Castle was once owned by the Duke of Buckingham and was built around 1511 to resemble an old-style fortress. Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn were said to have stayed there for a while as guests. The castle is now a hotel and it is possible to stay the night in the room that is thought to have been where Henry and Anne stayed.

Little Moreton Hall – Cheshire

Little Moreton Hall is about as pretty as they come. It’s an enchanting Tudor manor house built in that typical timbered style. It has been lovingly restored to its former glory and is open to the public. This moated house has everything you might imagine a Tudor manor to have, a moat, mullioned windows, a great hall and lovely gardens. Visit it if you can!

The Vyne – Hampshire

The Vyne was home to one of Henry VIII’s favourites, Lord Sandys. This mansion is made of stone and brick and is thought to have been built in the 1520s. It includes a Long Gallery, Stone Gallery and the chapel Each features Tudor decorations including the Tudor Rose, carvings by Giovanni da Maiano and three excellent portraits in oil.

Those five attractions are probably the finest examples of Tudor life we have. If Wolf Hall has reignited your interest in this period of our history, we recommend visiting any and all of these. If you want to make a weekend of it, we have dozens of holiday cottages within easy reach of each!