Tickets to Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden

Sprawled among fields and hedges on Kenilworth's outskirts, this spine-tingling ruin is one of England's most impressive castles. In 1266, it survived the longest siege in English history when Edward I's forces threw themselves at the battlements for six whole months. A few centuries down the line, in 1575, it became famous for a 19-day festivity where Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, entertained Queen Elizabeth I. Stroll through the massive red sandstone Norman keep and medieval great hall range, the favorite residence of Henry V and the early Tudor kings. Scale the heights of the tower that the earl built to woo the queen and step onto the viewing platforms to get a 'queen's eye view.' The Elizabethan garden has been recreated and offers a colorful depiction of the couple's romance.

Explore the onsite exhibition celebrating the life and achievements of John Davenport Siddeley, the car and aviation pioneer who bought the castle in his retirement. This will give you a chance to understand the glamor of early motoring. Explore the imposing Elizabethan gatehouse, and check out the exhibition that tells the royal love story of Queen Elizabeth I and the earl. The rooms are furnished as they were in the 1930s when the last caretaker moved out. Take the stairs of Leicester's Building and visualize the queen's private apartments in their heyday. Gaze out and admire views of the castle and countryside, just like Queen Elizabeth I would have done. Wander through the Elizabethan garden and see the dazzling 5.5-meter (18 foot) high marble fountain as well as the bejeweled aviary.