Castles: questions and Band 8 answers

Yes, a couple of times. Last year, I went to one in the north of England during a weekend trip. It was partly in ruins, but wandering along the old stone ramparts and looking out over the surrounding hills was really impressive.

Not really, to be honest. Where I grew up, we have plenty of ancient temples and royal palaces, but not European-style fortified castles. If people want to see proper medieval fortresses, they usually have to travel abroad to places like Scotland or Germany.

I'd say it’s the sense of history you get when you step inside. You can actually see the craftsmanship from centuries ago, like the massive wooden beams and spiral staircases. It really makes you imagine what day-to-day life was like for people back then.

A little bit, yeah. I remember during primary school history lessons, we built cardboard models of fortresses with working drawbridges and moats. It was mostly about knights and sieges, which I found fascinating at the time, although it was quite simplified.

Definitely, that would be amazing. Some heritage castles have been converted into boutique hotels, and I think spending a night in a four-poster bed surrounded by antique furniture and grand stone fireplaces would be a really memorable experience, even if it might feel slightly spooky.