Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The only thing that would have made me enjoy this book more would be if it came with a plane ticket. I am dying to get back to England to visit some of the castles that I have not seen and I loved learning more about those castles that I have visited.

NetGalley, Kerrie Hoar

This book contains bite-size amounts of information about a large amount of castles in England. Each chapter is to do with a different area of the UK (e.g Kent) and then has smaller snippets within of different castles. This book was one clearly written out of passion. You can feel the excitement and interest in the pages when reading this book and it’s so well researched. I loved reading about the origins and basic history of these different castles, including ones I know and love myself such as Hever Castle and Dover castle, as they are in my home county of Kent.

I felt sucked back into these different time periods and with each castle discussed could imagine myself walking around them and soaking up the history. If you’re the kind of person that loves these sorts of visits during holidays or just day trips, this is definitely one to read and it made me want to visit more castles!!

Overall it was so well written and researched and I loved the passion involved in the writing.

Read the full review here

Life and Tea Blog

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Having stayed in Canterbury before covid I immensely enjoyed this book. It was like having a private tour with the best tour guide.

NetGalley, Morgan Schaer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I absolutely love castles, and I absolutely love England. Therefore, it makes sense that I absolutely love castles in England! This book is perfect for my interests. It helps to have an updated version of this subject. I liked reading through this book and found it educational, clear to read, and entertaining.

NetGalley, A Home Library

What a fantastic little book, I must admit I read this book as soon as it came. I’ve always been a big fan of castles and their history, and living here in Wales where there are over 500 castles this book is a must for any fan of castles.

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UK Historian

Fascinating look at the many, many castles to be found in England. I had no idea there were so many! I enjoyed reading the histories, the descriptions, and the stories about them. I will definitely be bringing a copy of this book on my next visit!

NetGalley, Randal White

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I was excited to see this book pop up on NetGalley, and it did not disappoint! The sheer number of castles in England can be incredibly overwhelming, and even if you are a dedicated historian, it can be easy to forget which is which. Davis is a skilled writer, and thoroughly covers an incredible number of castles without feeling like a dictionary or an encyclopedia. I particularly loved that local legends and ghost stories were included, as those are often ignored in histories.

NetGalley, Jessica Storoschuk

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

An interesting, informative and well researched book that made me discover new places and could be used as a travel guide.
I like how it's organised per area and the stories it tells.
Highly recommended.

NetGalley, Anna Maria Giacomasso

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A great reference on British castles. I would honestly consider taking this book with me if I decided to visit the UK and tour the castles. I would highly recommend this great and accessible work.

NetGalley, Dylan Simon

It is like a virtual tour with a guide who knows each one intimately. If you are at all a lover of castles, do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy of this treat. You will not be disappointed.

NetGalley, Brandi Rawlins

The Castles of England have always evoked a sense of wonder - and of course, their local haunts. Everyone loves a good ghost story - but there is much more to these castles than just ghosts.
The English countryside is steeped in history, and the dotting of castles that dominate the landscape have stories and histories.

This book was amazing, and I absolutely loved reading about all the different castles and stories that are associated with them. The information is not overwhelming, and for those who are not familiar with some of the castles, this is a great starting point for those who are wanting to get a deeper understanding of England, their castles, and history.

NetGalley, Rebecca Hill

The book is broken down into chapters per location. I love the legends and ghost stories that were included for the individual castles. There were several castles that I had never heard of, with interesting vignettes to whet my appetite for new locations to visit on my next trip to England, If historical architecture is an interest to you, I highly recommend this book. It has individual stories, plus a bibliography and appendixes for quick research and review.

NetGalley, Ashley Cloninger

This book is an informative, interesting history of England’s expansive array of castles. Overall, a great read for English history lovers.

NetGalley, Miranda Vaughters

This book strikes me as a labor of love on the part of the author and readers are the richer for it. Castles of England is a pieced together work of history and folklore. The history of medieval castles really is a fascinating one and reading this book as a citizen of a country still in its infancy in comparison to England, I was enthralled with the history in this book.

I would recommend this title to any castle fanatic or lover of medieval history.

NetGalley, Michelle Smith

Every castle teems with secrets, some more than others, all of them fascinating whether they are true or legend. In this book the author describes many castles in England, some well known, others less so. The focus is on the people who lived in these castles. As a castle fiend, exploring those intact or ruined gives me such joy as my imagination goes wild as I learn about history and life in that particular region and era. What could be better than engaging all your senses and getting enveloped in curiosity?

The author explains what a castle is. Most were homes and/or strongholds but over the years have also been monasteries, WWII hospitals, schools, hunting lodges. and prisons Some are now hotels and museums. Even those with only one or two walls still standing are atmospheric. Many are achingly beautiful and picturesque, some have spectacular gardens and spellbinding fairytale qualities. Skeletons have been discovered, conjuring up a host of questions and mysteries. The castles are riddled with hauntings, said to be ghosts of those who have mysteries attached to them such as unexplained disappearances or deaths. Not just humans, either.

Of those castles mentioned in this book Tintagel, Arundel, Bodiam and Bamburgh are some of my personal favourites. Their surroundings and mighty character as well as myths are intriguing. Ghosts of cats and dogs, naughty children, a lady in pink, a merman, monks and tricks of light are just some of many eerie sightings people are said to have seen/see at the castles in this book. Not just the seen but the unseen such as screams, thuds, horses' hooves, rattling chains and being watched have been common experiences through history to present. One story which stands out most to me is the young woman who, in a game of hide and seek, hid herself too well.

Castle lovers, do read this riveting book. You will learn a lot of history and insight into life in the medieval period and what each castle is known for including connections with royalty as well as ordinary folk going about their lives, its purpose, construction and surroundings.

NetGalley, Brenda Carleton

Firstly, I was astonished that there were so many hidden gems within our country. There are castles that I have never heard of, along with others I have read of in only myth and legend.
This is more than a book about castles of stone, limestone, wood and timber. It is about their history and those that played a part in it. The author takes the reader on an awe-inspiring trip into the past.
There are some remarkable tales, some are fact, and some fiction. There are tales of ghosts and of legends, hidden treasures and murders. I love some of the more obscure legends of ghostly apparitions.
But anything involving Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and Merlin pique my interest. That includes Camelot, and so my favourite has to be Castle Cadbury, where there is a theory that it could actually be the much-heralded Camelot.
The way the author has incorporated each individual castle into the book is like having its own mini-story. Each description and text that accompanies it has been well researched, offering insightful observations. This is a well written and well-researched book. Written with style and precision like a good textbook should be. There is also a best of the rest at the end of the book. Plus, there is also an index, a Bibliography, two appendices and a list of useful websites you can access for further reading.
There are photos and pictures at the back of the book of the castles and some of their occupants. They are in black and white, but that makes them a little more atmospheric.
I really enjoyed this book. A great reference tool. Every library should have one.

NetGalley, John Derek

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Castles of England by John Paul Davis is a great nonfiction and history of the array of English castles that I loved learning about.

This is a great, streamlined presentation of a vast array of the older and “newer” castles that are present in varying degrees within England. The author effortlessly presents them by way of breaking it all down geographically and within each section not only lists said structures, but also some of the important events and happenings that are associated and how they came to be.

It was great learning a little more about some of these fascinating, often pivotal, and historical structures that truly reflect a history that cannot, and should not, be forgotten.

5/5 stars

NetGalley, Rachel Fox