12 Best Sights in The Southeast, England

You've probably already seen Arundel Castle without knowing it, at least on screen; the castle's striking resemblance to Windsor means that it's frequently used as a stand-in for its more famous cousin in movies and television.

Begun in the 11th century, this vast castle remains rich with the history of the Fitzalan and Howard families and holds paintings by van Dyck, Gainsborough, and Reynolds. During the 18th century and in the Victorian era it was reconstructed in the fashionable Gothic style—although the keep, rising from its conical mound, is as old as the original castle (climb its 130 steps for great views of the River Arun), and the barbican and the Barons' Hall date from the 13th century. Among the treasures here are the rosary beads and prayer book used by Mary, Queen of Scots, in preparing for her execution.

The formal garden, a triumph of order and beauty, is also worth a visit. Special events happen year-round, including a week of jousting, usually in late July. (Ticket prices rise slightly during event weeks.) Although the castle's ceremonial entrance is at the top of High Street, you enter at the bottom, close to the parking lot.

Immortalized in paintings, photographs, and films, Bodiam Castle (pronounced Boe-dee-um) rises out of the distance like a piece of medieval legend. From the outside, it's one of Britain's most impressive castles, with turrets, battlements, a glassy moat (one of the very few still in use), and two-foot-thick walls. However, once you cross the drawbridge to the interior there's little to see but ruins, albeit on an impressive scale. Built in 1385 to withstand a threatened French invasion, it was partly demolished during the English Civil War of 1642–46 and has been uninhabited ever since. Still, you can climb the intact towers to take in sweeping views of the surrounding vineyards and countryside, and kids love running around the keep. The castle, 12 miles northwest of Rye, schedules organized activities for kids during school holidays.

For a unique way to approach Bodiam Castle, take a 45-minute river cruise through the pretty Sussex countryside. Boats leave from the riverbank in Newenden; find more information and sailing times at  www.bodiamboatingstation.co.uk.

Towering high above the ramparts of the city's famous white cliffs, spectacular Dover Castle is a mighty medieval castle that has served as an important strategic center over the centuries. Although it incorporates some older features, including a Roman lighthouse (one of the oldest in the world) and an Anglo-Saxon church, most of the castle dates to Norman times. It was begun by Henry II in 1181 but incorporates additions from almost every succeeding century. The Great Tower re-creates how the opulent castle would have looked in Henry's time, complete with sound effects, interactive displays, and courtly characters in medieval costume.

History jumps forward the better part of a millennium (and becomes rather more sober in the telling) as you venture down into the labyrinthine Secret Wartime Tunnels. The castle played a surprisingly dramatic role in World War II, the full extent to which remained unknown for years afterward. These well-thought-out interactive galleries tell the complete story. The tunnels themselves, originally built during the Napoleonic Wars, were used as a top-secret intelligence-gathering base in the fight against Hitler.

With a banner waving from one tower and a glassy moat crossed by what was once a drawbridge, this fairy-tale castle has everything except knights in shining armor. Situated 13 miles northwest of Hastings in the direction of Lewes, the redbrick structure was originally built by Sir Roger Fiennes (ancestor of actor Ralph Fiennes) in 1444, although it was altered in the Elizabethan age and again early in the 20th century after it had largely fallen to ruin.

Today, most visitors come to explore the castle's stunning grounds, comprising hundreds of acres of themed gardens (including the formal walled Elizabethan garden), lily-covered lakes, and winding woodland paths. Kids will also enjoy the rope maze. The castle itself is owned by the Canadian Queen's University, so opportunities to get inside are limited—though check the website for occasional guided tours. If you do make it inside, don't miss the stunning Tudor staircase (see if you can spot the odd one out among the lion sculptures) and the corner room with a medieval dungeon and an escape tunnel.

Families visiting Herstmonceux Castle may also want to stop at the neighboring Observatory Science Centre ( www.the-observatory.org;  £9.50) for its entertaining and hands-on astronomical exhibitions.

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.

Every inch a grand medieval castle, Leeds is more like a storybook illustration of what an English castle should look like, from the fortresslike exterior to the breathtaking rooms within. Ramparts and battlements? Check. Moat? Check. Ancient stone walkways on which a knight in shining armor might pass by at any second? Pretty much.

Leeds—not to be confused with the city in the north of England; the name comes from its mention as "Esledes" (meaning "hill" or "slope") in the Domesday Book of 1086—has all this and more. One of England's finest castles, it commands two small islands on a peaceful lake. Dating to the 9th century and rebuilt by the Normans in 1119, the castle became a favorite home of many medieval English queens. Henry VIII liked it so much he had it converted from a fortress into a grand palace.

The interior doesn't match the glories of the much-photographed exterior, although there are fine paintings and furniture, including many pieces from the 20th-century refurbishment by the castle's last private owner, Lady Baillie. The outside attractions are more impressive and include a surprisingly tricky maze (made from 2,400 yew trees), which leads to an atmospheric rock-carved grotto, as well as two adventure playgrounds, an aviary of native and exotic birds, and woodland gardens. There are also several dining options, including the informal but excellent Castle View Restaurant (try the haddock-and-chips) while large groups can also book a stay at the historic Battel Hall on the edge of the estate. Leeds Castle is 12 miles southeast of Rochester, off the M20 highway. All tickets are valid for a year, in case you don't manage to see everything in one day.

Erected in 1540 and intricately built to the shape of a Tudor rose, Deal Castle is the largest of the coastal defenses constructed by Henry VIII. A moat surrounds its gloomy passages and austere walls. The castle museum has exhibits about prehistoric, Roman, and Saxon Britain.

Constructed shortly after the Norman invasion of England in 1066, the sturdy keep of Guildford Castle still stands watch over the city center, surrounded by beautiful and colorful gardens (look out for the statue Alice Through the Looking Glass, in honor of local resident Lewis Carroll). Step inside the keep to learn more about its fascinating history, to see a model of the castle as it appeared circa 1300, and to enjoy stunning views of the gardens and the city from the rooftop terrace. Nearby, the castle's old gatehouse houses part of Guildford Museum, with exhibits on local history and archaeology, as well as memorabilia of Lewis Carroll.

Take a thrilling ride up the West Hill Cliff Railway from George Street precinct to the atmospheric ruins of the thousand-year-old fortress now known as Hastings Castle. It was built by William the Conqueror in 1066, before he had even won the Battle of Hastings and conquered England—that's confidence for you. Today all that remains of the country's first Norman castle are mere fragments of the fortifications, some ancient walls, and a number of gloomy dungeons. Nevertheless, you get an excellent view of the chalky cliffs, the rocky coast, and the town below. You can buy a joint ticket that covers admission to Smuggler's Adventure and the nearby Blue Reef aquarium for £22; you then have seven days to see the other attractions.

High above the valley of the River Ouse stand the majestic ruins of Lewes Castle, begun in 1100 by one of the country's Norman conquerors and completed 300 years later. Start your visit at the Barbican House for an introduction to the castle's history through audiovisual displays, town models, tapestries, and archaeology collections before heading up the hill to see the castle itself. It's a bit of a climb to the keep, plus several more steps to the very top of the West and South Towers, but it's worth it for the panoramic views of the town and countryside. The Barbican also has a dress-up room for kids.

The impressive ruins of Rochester Castle comprise a superb example of Norman military architecture. The keep, built in the 1100s using the old Roman city wall as a foundation, is the tallest in England. In 1215, during King John's struggle against the barons who wanted him to sign the Magna Carta, Rochester was subject to one of the most brutal sieges in English history. Thanks to the diarist Samuel Pepys (1633–1703) it's known that the ruins of Rochester Castle were already a popular tourist attraction in the 17th century. Today the structure has been shored up but left without floors, so that from the bottom you can see to the open roof and study the complex structure. At the shop you can pick up well-researched guides to the building.

Another of Henry VIII's coastal fortifications, this castle was converted in 1708 into a residence for the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, a ceremonial honor dating back to the early Middle Ages. Made up of four round towers around a circular keep, the castle has counted many famous figures among its lord wardens, including William Pitt the Younger (1759–1806), the Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), and Sir Winston Churchill (1874–1965). The small museum here homes in on Wellington (who lived here from 1829 until his death), telling the story of his victory at Waterloo through a rather random selection of memorabilia, including an original pair of Wellington boots, which the duke is credited with inventing.

Visitors can enter the drawing and dining rooms of the castle (except when the lord warden is in residence) and explore the eight acres of award-winning gardens that surround the fortification. These include the Glen, a planted former chalk quarry that's now open for the first time in a century, and the sprawling lavender gardens, which come with gorgeous ocean views. The castle is about two miles south of Deal town center.