Gav Grayston 
Description
Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight has had a mixed past. It’s was a prison that kept Charles I during the Civil War, a somewhere for royalty to stay during the summer, and an artillery fortress in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
The castle is on a hilltop, and the first fort was built around 1000 years ago, probably to escape raids from Vikings.
Now the castle is one of English Heritage’s top ten family attractions, as voted for by visitors.
There are plenty of castle ruins to explore, as well as visiting the castle’s donkeys.
If the kids still have plenty of energy, there are 71 steps to climb around the remains of the 14th Century motte and keep.
Visit the English Heritage website to see if there’s a family event on at the castle.
