12. Bodiam Castle
Bodiam Castle in East Sussex is a striking 14th-century moated fortress, built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge and constructed at the height of the Hundred Years’ War, ostensibly to defend against French incursions, though its design suggests display as much as defence.
Its layout is quadrangular, with round towers at each corner and a central courtyard surrounded by curtain walls. A wide moat encircles the structure, giving the castle one of the most photogenic profiles in Britain. Inside, the domestic buildings and great hall once flourished, although over time many interiors fell into ruin.
In the centuries after its construction the castle passed through several hands. It was involved in the English Civil War, when it was sold and partially dismantled, leaving it in a ruinous state.
Later restoration efforts in the 19th and 20th centuries brought renewed attention and care; the site was eventually given to the National Trust in the 1920s.