One of the many wonderful things about the UK is the rich history we have, including the collection of castles that still stand today. Here we have a list of four of these impressive buildings and grounds that could hold the scenery for your next photo canvas.

Hever Castle, Kent
This 13th century castle was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and is filled with treasures from her life and family and, of course, her husband Henry VIII. Hever Castle and gardens (pictured) are beautiful and, on a sunny day, can give the most picturesque view of England there is. You can’t help but take great picture after great picture.
The gardens surrounding the castle include the Italian Garden and topiary as well as the lakeside and Sunday Walk. There’s also a water maze on Sixteen Acre Island and the Yew Maze is great for children to explore. An excellent place for a family photograph with a beautiful backdrop - tripod at the ready!

Caernarfon Castle, North Wales
Described as a “brute of a fortress”, Caernarfon Castle is one of the most impressive structures in Wales. It was built under instruction by King Edward I in 1830 and has World Heritage status. The castle has unusual polygonal towers (that are worthy of a picture or two) as well as an eagle tower. The lure of water - the River Seiont - and easy access to the sea made the banks of this river an ideal spot for Edward’s foreboding castle.

Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
This castle is home to the Duke of Northumberland’s family, the Percys, who have lived there for over 700 years and is the second largest inhabited castle in the country. Alnwick Castle combines medieval architecture with Italianate state rooms, providing the perfect setting for beautiful photographs. Scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot here as well as the castle being used as ‘Brancaster Castle’ in several episodes of the popular TV show Downton Abbey.

Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh
Dominating the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, the castle sits on Castle Rock. With a complex building history, parts of Edinburgh Castle have been there since the 12th century - such as St Margaret’s Chapel - while others, such as the Great Hall, were erected in 1510. It is the number one tourist attraction in the city and has so much varying history to capture.
The castle is home to the National War Museum of Scotland, the Honours (Crown Jewels) of Scotland, the stone of destiny, the famous Mons Meg gun and the One O’ Clock gun.

The UK also has some excellent beaches to test out your photography skills and have a fun day out with the family. Check out the ParrotPrint shoreline snap guide to getting it right. We also have some great creative canvas ideas for the beach to inspire your camera action next time you're beside the seaside.