Another day, another village near London that’s fit for the pages of a fairytale book. And today’s idyllic escape from the chaos of the capital comes in the form of Castle Hedingham; a medieval spot that boasts character, charm, and a whole lot of history. Just the way we like it, hey?
Castle Hedingham
Picture-perfectly perched over in Essex is a village that’s small but oh-so mighty. Castle Hedingham was developed around Hedingham Castle (hence the name); a medieval keep that was constructed in the early 12th century. The 110-feet high castle was built by Aubrey de Vere (the first Earl of Oxford), and is still owned by one of his descendants to this very day. It is one of the best-preserved Norman keeps in the whole of Europe, and is filled to the brim with almost a millennium’s worth of stories to tell.
Things to do in Castle Hedingham
The village itself is filled with gorgeous things to gawp at as you wander around it. The cute cottages and timber-framed buildings will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. And something else that will have you questioning your ability to time-travel is the nearby Colne Valley Railway. This 150-year old heritage railway line spans a mile and allows passengers to hop aboard a vintage diesel train and journey past the lovingly-restored likes of relocated station buildings, antique signal boxes, and cute bridges.
The main attraction of Castle Hedingham, however, is – well… its castle. It’s open to the public on selected days throughout the year for history-buffs to explore the fantastic fortress and its gardens. You might also be interested to hear that you can, in fact, spend a night inside it on certain dates. Hedingham Castle is the only Norman keep in the country that offers visitors the chance to stay overnight, allowing them to have a snooze inside the Royal Chamber that’s found up on the top floor of the castle. Boasting beautifully ornate details, a huge comfy bed, a roomy bath, and – oh, you know – an entire castle; this overnight retreat sure will have you feeling like royalty.
Getting to Castle Hedingham from London
The drive from London to Castle Hedingham takes around 90 minutes, and there is parking available in the village and at the castle. Non-drivers can hop on an hour-long train from Liverpool Street to Braintree, and then take a local onwards bus from there.
Find out more about visiting Hedingham Castle and staying overnight in the Royal Chamber here.
