Discover the first castle to fall to gunpowder, the first stately home opened to the public and the National Trust’s inaugural acquisition
Longleat
The Elizabethan seat of the Marquess of Bath can boast two big firsts. It was the first stately home in Britain to open to the public as a tourist attraction, in 1949, and it also became the site of the UK’s first safari park in 1966. Today, it stands as impressively over the rolling Wiltshire countryside as it did when it was completed in 1580.
Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7NW
Pembroke Castle
This huge medieval fortress dates back to the 11th century, when the Normans invaded Wales. It’s been the site of many significant historical events including, in 1457, the birth of Henry VII – the first Tudor monarch. Intriguingly, the castle was virtually destroyed in 1648 during the second English civil war, remaining in ruins until the late 19th century when it was acquired for a major restoration that would not be completed until 1928.
Pembroke, SA71 4LA
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