About a 45-minute drive from our home in the Shropshire countryside is one of the first stone castles to ever be built in England, in the town of Ludlow and dating back to the 11th century.

The castle ruins were amazing as you can still climb the largest tower and see the countryside for miles in every direction.

We read about secret doors through the outer castle wall to let out defenders to strike attackers of the castle, how the castle had exchanged hands through many civil wars and how strategic the viewpoints were from this particular location…with line-of-sight all the way into Whales.

The boys even found what they called one of the castle toilets, which is a highlight at age 13!

The whole town was pleasant, kept in an older British style and way less crowded than any attractions in London. We strolled through a market on the way up that added to the ambiance.

MORE INFO: 

Ludlow Castle is a ruined medieval fortification in the town of the same name in the English county of Shropshire, standing on a promontory overlooking the River Teme. The castle was probably founded by Walter de Lacy after the Norman conquest and was one of the first stone castles to be built in England.