How Welsh castles were built – choosing the site, stone work, fortifications, and where to put all the bathrooms (garderobes). A great read before you explore the ruined castles. (Picture book)

1285. Fictional diary of eleven-year old Tobias Burgess, sent to live as a page in his uncle's castle. A lively look at castle life from a kid's perspective – staying warm in the kitchen, eating too much rich food at a feast, sneaking out to the fields instead of doing lessons. Wonderful illustrations. (Chapter book, illustrations)

Step into the walls of a medieval city in this super pop-up book – a 3-D crenelated castle that you can see inside, the cathedral with stained glass windows, life in the city, knight's tournaments, war and seiges, arts and entertainment. (Pop-up book)

High quality knight figure (comes with helmet, sword, shield, breast-plate) and sticker shield decorations (you can take them on and off), fun-facts booklet, map of castle sites, mini backgammon board (popular medieval game), plus a lovely stained glass window in the box. (Activity pack)

Break through castle defenses in 3-D mazes. Each page has facts about a castle siege – the plan, approaching the castle, breaching the gatehouse, seizing the battlements, into the castle keep. At the end, crack the heraldic code. (Picture book)