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Expert Review of Ripley Castle and Gardens

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Family Review of Ripley Castle and Gardens

Away Travel Expert: Christine Loomis

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FamilyExpert Rating Recommended for:
Children aged 3 - 5 , 6 - 12 and 13 - 17

FamilyExpert Tips & Helpful Hints

• Want to go into a real, lived-in British castle? Here's your chance. Ripley Castle has been the home of the Ingilby family for the past 700 years. Their family history reflects English history--plague, persecution, royal visits, assassination plots, rebellion, loyalty, executions, and more. Ingilby ancestors worked for Edward III, Henry VIII, Mary Tudor, and Elizabeth I.
• Guided castle tours start at the front door on the hour, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It takes about 1 1/4 hours to go through the seven rooms on display and hear the stories. After seeing the castle, go out into the walled gardens and park, stroll the lakeside path, check out the children's play area, and watch the herds of deer.
• "We have gone to a lot of trouble to ensure that the tours are as interesting for children as they are for adults," says the Ingilby family. Not surprising given that five children still live at the castle today.