Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire.

Kenilworth is the largest castle in England and one of the most picturesque. In 1244 King Henry III awarded the castle to Simon De Monfort, the Earl of Leicester. De Montford was the leader of the Second Baron's Rebellion and defeated the king at the Battle of Lewes in 1264. He was defeated and killed at the Battle of Evesham in 1265, along with his brother Peter. In 1266 tthe castle was the scene of the longest siege in English history which lasted almost a year. The fortress was turned into a palace by John of Gaunt, the father of Henry Bolingbrooke (later King Henry IV). The castle was originally surrounded by a massive defensive lake, which rendered it almost invulnerable to attack. In 1563 Queen Elizabeth gave the castle to her favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester and he entertained the queen there on three occasions. The lake was drained in 1656 and the castle slighted, by blowing up the keep. The castle remains an impressive and romantic ruin.