Fodor's Expert Review Hever Castle

It's hard to imagine a more romantic castle than this: a maze of turrets and battlements encircled by a water lily–bound moat filled with fabulous beasts (enormous Japanese koi carp) and nestled within rolling hills. The childhood home of Anne Boleyn, this is where the second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I was courted by Henry. He was enamored with her for a time but had her beheaded in 1536 after she failed to give birth to a son. He then gifted Boleyn's home to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves.

Famous though it was, the castle fell into disrepair in the 19th century. When American millionaire William Waldorf Astor acquired it in 1903, he needed additional space to house his staff. His novel solution was to build a replica Tudor village, using only methods, materials, and even tools appropriate to the era. The result is more or less completely indistinguishable from the genuine Tudor parts.

Astor also created the stunning gardens, which today include a wonderful yew maze, ponds, playgrounds, tea shops, gift shops, plant shops—you get the picture. There's a notable collection of Tudor portraits, and in summer, activities are nonstop here, with jousting, falconry exhibitions, and country fairs, making this one of southern England's most rewarding castles to visit. In one of the Victorian wings, B&B rooms go for upwards of £175 per night for a basic room; there's also a four-bedroom holiday cottage available for £4,150 a week.