Bodiam Castle
A 14th-century moated castle with round towers at each corner reflected in the water, one of England's most fairy-tale-like castles.
Bodiam Castle was built in 1385 by the knight Sir Edward Dalyngrigge to defend against French invasion. Its exterior is almost completely intact: the square walls, four corner round towers and gatehouse are all surrounded by a wide moat, making it the textbook image of a 'typical medieval castle'. The interior is now ruins, but you can climb the towers for views over the moat and the Rother Valley. It is managed by the National Trust, and an admission ticket is required. It is about 20 km from Rye, roughly 30 minutes by car. In summer, you can take the Kent & East Sussex Railway steam train from Tenterden to Bodiam station, then walk 10 minutes.
Opening hours
About 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (shorter hours in winter; check the official website)
Nearby sights
- Great Dixter House & Gardens
- Battle Abbey & 1066 Battlefield
- Sissinghurst Castle Garden
- Hastings Castle
- Hastings Pier
- East Hill Cliff Railway
- Hastings Old Town & The Stade
- Kent & East Sussex Railway & Tenterden