Castles Voted Brits Favourite Countryside Feature

Windsor Castle is named Britains best-loved in nationwide survey

Viewers will have their castle fixation fulfilled by a new Castle collection on the free television on-demand service UKTV Play

As the Queen celebrates her 90th birthday year, one of her most historic residences has been named the nations best-loved castle.

Windsor Castle in Berkshire - which dates back to the 11th century - topped the poll commissioned by TV on demand service UKTV Play to launch The Castle Collection - a selection of programmes celebrating the eclectic range of shows featuring castles, from Time Team to The Secret Lives of the Tudors - even Lovejoy. Windsor has had an illustrious role in British history for centuries. Europes longest occupied palace has been used by all monarchs since Henry I first stayed there 1110. It was followed in the nations affections by Bodiam Castle, with Edinburgh Castle in third position. Dover Castle and Alnwick Castle - used as a Hogwarts location for the earlier Harry Potter films - were fourth and fifth respectively.

More than nine in ten Brits (91%) believe castles are an important part of British heritage and history, and the same number have paid to visit a castle as a tourist attraction. The tapestry of historic castles dotted around the UK also topped a list of the things which make people most proud of the UK countryside, with the rolling greenery and hedgerows placed second and the Lake District ranked third.

And its not just the scenery people like to soak up, the poll revealed that four out of five people visiting a castle expect to see a GHOST.

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Castles are clearly a passion for many Brits with almost nine out of ten (88%) saying they have visited a castle within the UK. And of those who have not done so, more than half (51%) would like to.

Emma Boston, general manager, UKTV Play, said,

We are a nation of castle lovers and there are an incredible array of beautiful historical ancient treasures across the country. When we looked at the shows that proved really popular on the service we found that those set in or featuring castles often did really well. So we created the Castle Collection on UTKV Play, where you can find fantastic historical programming such as Time Team, Secrets of Britain and Castle Builders - as well as the surprising, such as an episode of paranormal show Ghost Adventures set in a castle. At UKTV, our mantra is to love your thing so if castles are your thing we have lined up some amazing shows for you.

Despite being close to the nations heart, Windsor missed out on the honours for being the most romantic of the UKs castles. That accolade went to 14th century Bodiam Castle in East Sussex - with its wide moat and access across a bridge ticking most of the boxes for what Brits expect from a classic castle.

Asked their favourite feature for a classic castle, three fifths (61%) said it should be surrounded by water, with round turrets and a bridge access the next most important. Brits also believe our castles have an air of the supernatural, with over four in ten (43%) expecting to potentially see a ghost when visiting a castle in the UK. Bodiam Castle - a National Trust property since 1925 - which was thought to be the most romantic example of a classic British castle, chosen by more than half (55%) of those polled, with Eastnor the runner up and Windsor in third place.

The survey was commissioned to celebrate the launch of the Castle Collection on UKTVs on demand TV service UKTV Play which will feature an array of programmes including Time Team, Secrets of Britain, Castle Builders, Ghost Adventures, Inquisition and Tales of Irish Castles.

The Castle Collection is available now on UKTV Play.

For more information, please contact Shaneil Patel or Emma Denley at Taylor Herring: SP@taylorherring.com | ED@taylorherring.com | Tel: 0208 206 5151

NOTES TO EDITORS The full Castle Collection will include: Yesterday

Tales of Irish Castles Ep 1 -6

Time Team (Doc 04/16), 1, Real Night Of The Round Table

Time Team (15) Ep (13) The Fort of the Earls

Time Team (15) Ep 6

Castle Builders Ep 1-3

Secrets of Britain Ep 1 - Secrets of the Tower Of London

Time Team S20 Ep 9

Time Team S20 Ep 11

Inquisition Ep 1 Cathars and Templars

Really

Ghost Adventures S7 Ep 9

Ghost Adventures S7 Ep 10

About UKTV Play UKTV Play is the fast-growing on demand TV service where you can watch the TV shows you love from Dave, Yesterday, Really and Drama wherever you want, whenever you want. The good news? We love them too. Love digging into history or laughing out loud to new, British comedy you cant see anywhere else? So do we. Enjoy an engrossing, nail-biting true crime story or powerful real life documentaries? No problem. In the mood to luxuriate in a decadent period drama or hang on the edge of your seat during a pulsating crime drama? Were with you. Theres so much brilliant TV on UKTV Play - Taskmaster, Alan Davies As Yet Untitled, Suits, Parks and Recreation, Red Dwarf, Most Haunted, New Tricks, Pride and Prejudice, Call The Midwife, The Bill and Birds of a Feather - to name a few, so youll never be stuck for something to watch. With the UKTV Play app you can stream your favourite TV for free via your computer, tablet or smart phone. It has never been easier to watch the things you love most, so download the app and delve in. You can also put your feet up and watch on the telly, thanks to Virgin TV, YouView, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. If youre an M+ subscriber on Virgin Media or BT TV customer, shows from other great UKTV channels - Gold, W, Alibi, Good Food, Home and Eden - are on the menu as well.

uktvplay.co.uk / @UKTVPlay on Twitter

About UKTV UKTV is the biggest multichannel broadcaster in the UK. The award-winning independent has eleven imaginative brands - UKTV Play, Dave, W, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food.

LINK:	http://corporate.uktv.co.uk/news/article/windsor-king-castles/...
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