It’s a great jumping off point for exploring other parts of the Wall on the Housesteads Roman Trail: Hadrian’s Wall stretches 73 miles from coast to coast, and as the biggest Roman fort in Britain, Housesteads is one of its highlights. After you’ve explored the ruins of the house you can take in the wonderful views of the surrounding estate. It enjoyed a second lease of life as the focal point of parkland designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown.
Houghton House (a 15 minute drive from Wrest Park) was once an impressive hunting lodge but it fell into disuse and was gutted in the late 18th century. It opens on the first Sunday afternoon of the month between April and September. Many of them are commemorated with remarkable life-like statues. Wrest Park was home to the De Grey family, and for three centuries they chose to be buried in a mausoleum attached to a nearby parish church. There are activity packs and audio trails for families as well as a play area by the cafe. The beautiful gardens and woodlands at Wrest Park showcase three centuries of garden design influenced by French, Dutch, Italian and English styles. You can see it from the outside at any time, but you’ll need to call ahead to get inside the hall to see its impressive timber beam ceiling. It’s a 15 minute drive inland from Dover. The Knights Hospitaller had links to the hall of St John’s Commandery. The foundations of the tiny Knights Templar Church are very close to the Western Heights – in fact, they were discovered during the construction of the fortress. This vast fortress can be seen from the outside at any time, but for a closer look, the Western Heights Preservation Society runs open days and tours of the site throughout the year. During the Napoleonic Wars it was felt that the Dover’s defences needed updating, so the Western Heights were built on the other side of the harbour to the castle. PLACES TO GO NEAR ME FOR FREE FREE
It’s a fascinating site to visit, and these free sites nearby will make excellent additions to your trip.
Intriguing and important moments in English history from the Roman period right up to the Cold War have left their mark on Dover Castle. With great views over the Wiltshire countryside and plenty of space to run around, it’s a perfect place for a picnic or a spot of kite flying. It’s an Iron Age hillfort with a 17th century white horse.
Bratton Camp and White Horse is half an hour away from Stonehenge. The remains of a medieval cross stand in the nearby town, which has shops and places to eat. Slightly further afield, kids will love exploring the ruins of Ludgershall Castle, which was once one of Henry III’s favourite castles – he visited at least 21 times. Today the holes where the timber would have been are marked with concrete blocks, but you can still get a sense of the size and atmosphere of this mysterious place. The timber posts may have supported a building, or they may have been painted and carved like totem poles. Built around 2300BC, we know that six concentric rings of timber pillars once stood here, but no one is quite sure why. 
The Neolithic Woodhenge is just over three miles from Stonehenge. You can also explore the Neolithic houses outside the visitor centre and see the reconstructed face of one of our ancestors, but when you’re finished some brilliant free sites are just a stone’s throw away. Stonehenge, the world’s most famous stone circle, is a truly iconic landmark. We have picked 7 top sites around the country and a selection of free places to visit afterwards for a history-packed day out that won’t break the bank. From remote stone circles to ruined abbeys, and Norman castles to Roman temples, you can explore thousands of years of history for absolutely nothing. We look after over 400 historic places, and remarkably, 250 of those are free to visit.
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