Hever Castle, the childhood home of Ann Boleyn, is a short trip south and east of London and makes for one of the most interesting day trips in the UK. With history and public services abound, Hever castle is a destination that should be on most people’s list to visit. If you’re looking for fantastic free days out in England then this is one place that you should visit.The Tudor castle is not only a wonderful place to visit for the history, sights, and architecture, but it is also one of the most sought after venues for weddings, corporate events, and large banquets. The gardens on the grounds offer several mazes, including the famous Splashing Water Maze. Built on a sixteen acre island, Splashing Water Maze is made up of a series of concentric stepping stone walkways sitting over water; at intervals, the stones tilt when stood on and hidden water jets spring into action to soak the unwary visitor. The aim is to reach the stone grotto in the centre without getting wet. Few are successful although it is great fun and challenges young and old alike.The oldest part of the castle dates to 1270 and consisted of the gatehouse and a walled bailey. In the early 1500s the Bullen family bought the castle and added a Tudor dwelling within the walls and so it became the childhood home of its most famous inhabitant, Anne Boleyn. It later passed into the ownership of Henry’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. From 1557 onwards the Castle was owned by a number of families including the Waldegraves, the Humfreys and the Meade Waldos. Finally, in 1903, William Waldorf Astor invested time, money and imagination in restoring the Castle, building the ’Tudor Village’ and creating the gardens and lake.There are many water features around the gardens, including Half Moon Pond, the Cascade Rockery, the cool and shady grottoes, the formal loggia fountain based on the Trevi fountain in Rome, and the more informal Two Sisters Pond. Hever Castle should be on your list of day trips in the UK not to miss out on.