Broughton Castle

Broughton Castle is a moated and fortified manor house near Banbury in North Oxfordshire. Set in parkland and built of the rich local Hornton ironstone, it was selected by Simon Jenkins as one of only twenty to be awarded five stars in his book England’s Thousand Best Houses.

A hugely popular and impressive house and grounds, beautifully furnished and lovingly restored, with fascinating historical artifacts throughout. For a full day you enjoy this in conjunction with another local activity, and although they seem child friendly it is definitely only for the calmer kids.

'Broughton Castle is about the most beautiful castle in all England, for sheer loveliness of the combination of water, woods and picturesque buildings.'

A generous tribute from historian Sir Charles Oman, and one continued by the noted diarist James Lees-Milne: 'It is still the most romantic house imaginable.'

The core of the house was built in 1306 and the gatehouse in the early fifteenth century, but most of what you see today dates from the 1550’s. It was a centre of opposition to Charles I and was besieged and damaged after the Battle of Edgehill in 1642.

Broughton Castle is home to the 21st Lord and Lady Saye & Sele, whose family name is Fiennes. The ownership of the Castle has remained in the same family since 1447.