Farleigh Hungerford Castle

I visited Farleigh Hungerford Castle on a Friday afternoon, and it ended up being an absolutely fantastic experience. If you’re looking for a quiet, relaxed historical site without the massive crowds of bigger tourist traps, this is the place to go. I didn't even need to pre-book—I just turned up and was able to walk right in. It’s excellent value for money, and an added bonus is that the parking is completely free (a rarity these days!). As an English Heritage site, the ruins are beautifully maintained, but the real charm is in the history. Built in the late 14th century by Sir Thomas Hungerford, the castle was the seat of the powerful Hungerford family for over 300 years. You can still see the remains of the fashionable "quadrangular" design and two of the imposing corner towers. The absolute highlight, however, is the beautifully preserved chapel. When Walter Hungerford expanded the castle in the 15th century, he built the outer walls right around the local parish church, absorbing it into the castle grounds to serve as his family's private chapel. Inside, you'll find incredible 15th-century wall paintings (including a massive 14-foot Saint George and the Dragon) and grand marble tombs. But make sure you find the stairs leading down to the crypt. There, you'll discover something genuinely eerie and unique: a collection of 17th-century human-shaped (anthropoid) lead coffins containing the remains of the Hungerford family, some of which still have their original moulded "death mask" faces. It's renowned as the best collection of its kind in Britain. The site also has a wonderfully dark history. The audio guide and exhibits in the old Priest’s House detail some of the family's wild scandals—including Agnes Hungerford, who had her first husband strangled and his body burned in the castle’s kitchen furnace before marrying the Lord of the castle! Overall, Farleigh Hungerford is a brilliant, atmospheric ruin set in the gorgeous Somerset countryside. It’s easy to explore at your own pace, deeply historic, and wonderfully peaceful. Highly recommended for a relaxed afternoon out!

· via Google

We were greeted by the entrance of this historical landmark as you drive though the outer gates! We were warmly greeted by staff who were enthusiastic to help! Many families came here. When we attended it was only open on the weekend. However the wait was worth it! A lot of history inside dating back to the conception of this landmark. It was great to see and very calming.

· via Google

Interesting castle where you drive through the main arch to a free little car park so can see a lot before you even pay. We spent an hour as it was very hot but could have spent longer. Audio guide if you wanted one but there were plenty of panels.

· via Google

A great place to visit. We were able to explore the grounds and the buildings in our own time and learn lots about the castle using the audio guide handset which was provided for free.

· via Google