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St Davids Bishop's Palace and Close Wall is an imposing palace within the defended perimeter of the cathedral precincts. The surviving buildings date chiefly from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, particularly the work of Bishop Thomas Bek (12...
Mainly early fourteenth-century remains of a large courtyard castle, including a massive twin-towered gatehouse. Probably built by Gilbert de Clare (the Last, d. 1314)....
Strata Florida Abbey was initially founded in 1164 on a nearby site, the present buildings were erected under the patronage of the Lord Rhys (d. 1197). The Cistercians at Strata Florida were loyal supporters of the Welsh Princes. Traditional burial p...
Swansea Castle is the remains of the Braose castle dating to the late thirteenth century. The later distinctive arcaded parapet is reminiscent of the episcopal palaces at Lamphey and St Davids. Swansea Castle can only be viewed externally....
Today's visitors to Weobley can admire one of the few surviving fortified manor houses in Wales. Weobley (pronounced web-lee) was the proud home of the de la Bere family until the 15th century. There aren't many places left where you can stand at th...
White Castle is the best preserved of the Three Castles, namely, White, Skenfrith and Grosmont. The heart of this castle is surrounded by powerful round towers. The Three Castles are usually grouped together because for a large part of their history...
Carew Castle and Tidal Mill The magnificent Carew Castle has a history spanning 2,000 years. Set in a stunning location, overlooking a 23-acre millpond, the castle displays the development from a Norman fortification to an Elizabethan country house. ...
Picton Castle - Picton Castle is a most unusual ancient building being in design half fortified manor house and half fully developed medieval castle. From the outside with its four symmetrically spaced half round towers and gatehouse entrance ...
Talley Abbey is a twelfth century remains of a Premonstratensian Abbey. Talley Abbey was founded for the Premonstratensian order by the Lord Rhys, between 1184 and 1189. Parts of the abbey church survive....
Llawhaden Castleis a fortified palace of the bishops of St Davids, first created as a ringwork in the twelfth century and totally rebuilt mainly in the fourteenth century....
Lamphey Bishop's Palace was the retreat of choice for those medieval bishops seeking solace from the everyday stresses of Church and State. The medieval bishops of St Davids were worldly men who enjoyed the privileges of wealth, power and status. Lam...
Pembroke Castle is the birthplace of Henry VII and idyllically set on the banks of the river estuary,this mighty fortress is steeped in British history. A true wonder of Wales. Pembroke Castle has a long and fascinating history, for it was around 1...
Manorbier Castle and Garden has such a splendid setting overlooking a beautiful unspoilt beach, families love to explore Manorbier Castle and bring a little bit of history to life. The impressive Great Hall, Chapel and Turrets are dotted with life...
Fonmon Castle is one of the few mediaeval castles which are still lived in as a home. Since it was built by the St. John family c1200, it has only changed hands once. In 1656, during the English Civil War it was bought by Colonel Philip Jones, a dire...
Coity Castle was originally established soon after 1100, much of the castle dates from the fourteenth century and later. Parts were rebuilt following the siege by Owain Glyn Dwr in 1404-05....
Newcastle was initially a Norman castle, the site appears to have been refortified by Henry II in the 1180s, as indicated by the exceptional quality of the masonry....
Ogmore Castle is a substantial remains of a Norman stone-built castle, raised by the de Londres family. The initial earthwork castle was established by William de Londres, soon after 1100....
In the heart of the capital city is Cardiff Castle, a truly remarkable site with a history that spans over 2000 years. Roman soldiers slept here, noble knights held court here, and the Bute family, with extraordinary wealth and vision, transformed th...
Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier exhibits artifacts from 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, 1st King's Dragoon Guards, The Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards). 24th Foot ( South Wales Borderers), The Welch Regiment (41st & 69th Foot), and The Ro...
The Firing Line Museum is located in Cardiff Castle. Firing Line is a World-Class exhibition commemorating over 300 years of proud and distinguished history including the Battle of Waterloo 1815, Rorke's Drift against the Zulus 1879 as well as rec...
The Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery houses the first steam whistle, the first voting ballot box and dresses by Laura Ashley and Julien McDonald. The surroundings, Cyfarthfa Castle, home to William Crawshay II and family, serve as a reminder ...
Usk Castle is set in enchanting, romantic ruins overlooking the small town of Usk, and the wide river valley beyond. "It is like the secret castle that no one's ever found" exclaimed a young boy, seeing the natural and peaceful setting, the ancient w...
Colchester's distinctive heritage is nowhere more apparent than in Castle Park. A site of national importance, this Victorian Park contains evidence of 2000 years of history and is a landscape moulded by the people of Colchester over many eras. Ca...
Follow in the footsteps of Roman soldiers, Norman invaders, the Witchfinder General and the devastation of Queen Boudica. Explore over 2000 years of some of the most important events in British history in this magnificent Castle! There is so much to ...
Visit Castle House and you will find the largest single collection of Munnings' works, fittingly displayed in the home he was so proud to own. In the gentle tranquil beauty of the English country garden stands Munning's studio, left much as it was...
Hedingham Castle was constructed in 1140AD, both by and for the famous de Vere family. These Earls of Oxford lived here for more than five centuries, and to this day the castle remains under the ownership of their descendants, the Lindsay family. ...
Mountfitchet Castle is a Norman Motte and Bailey Castle and Village, re-constructed on its original historic ancient site, complete with many different buildings, siege weapons and animals roaming freely throughout the 10 acre site, providing a uniqu...
Leeds Castle, set on two islands on the River Len in the heart of Kent, has been home to royalty, lords and ladies for more than 900 years. Visitors are transported through the castle's history; an eclectic mix of period architecture, sumptuous i...
Reculver Towers and Roman Fort is an imposing landmark, the twin 12th-century towers of the ruined church stand amid the remains of an important Roman 'Saxon Shore' fort and a Saxon monastery. Richborough Roman Fort is nearby....
Strategically placed astride the London Road, guarding an important crossing of the River Medway, this imposing fortress has a complex history of destruction and rebuilding. Today it stands as a proud reminder of the history of Rochester along with ...
The Richborough Roman Amphitheatre is evocatively sited amid the East Kent marshes, Richborough is perhaps the most symbolically important of all Roman sites in Britain, witnessing both the beginning and almost the end of Roman rule here. Explore...
Sissinghurst Castle Garden is one of the world's most celebrated gardens, the creation of Vita Sackville-West and her husband Sir Harold Nicolson. Developed around the surviving parts of an Elizabethan mansion with a central red-brick prospect to...
The ruins of a 12th-century stone keep, with panoramic views over the Weald....
Scotney Castle Garden is one of England's most romantic gardens, set in a beautiful wooded estate. Designed in the Picturesque style around the ruins of a 14th-century moated castle, the garden has spectacular displays of rhododendrons, azaleas a...
Upnor Castleis set in tranquil grounds adjoining a riverside village, this rare example of an Elizabethan artillery fort was begun in 1559 and redeveloped in 1599-1601, to protect warships near the new Chatham dockyards. It entirely failed to do ...
Built during the reign of King Henry VIII, Walmer Castle is one of the most fascinating visitor attractions in the South East. Originally designed as part of a chain of coastal artillery defences it evolved into the official residence of the Lord Wa...
Lullingstone Castle is one of the oldest family Estates in the country and dates back to the Domesday. It has been in the Hart Dyke family for 20 generations. Tom Hart Dyke, heir to the Castle, has recently built the famous 'World Garden' within ...
Where else, away from the hustle and crowds of London, could you hope to find such a tranquil and exciting treasure as Chiddingstone Castle? A unique and unspoilt castle in Kent. Stunning Egyptian and Buddhist artefacts, magnificent Japanese arm...
There have been three main periods in the construction of this historic castle. 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 d...
Glenbuchat Castle is a fine example of a Z-plan tower house, built in 1590. Glenbuchat Castle last laird, John Gordon, was a notable Jacobite....
The Whitstable Castle and Gardens is a wonderful day out for those of you with a few hours or even a whole day to spare. The best way to get the most out of your trip to the Castle is to combine it with a visit to nearby Whitstable Old Town, The H...
Castle Park has been awarded Green Flag status, a prestigious award which is the national benchmark for parks and open spaces. This indicates that the park has fulfilled the judging criteria and is a safe, welcoming and well maintained park offering ...
Runston Chapel is a small roofless chapel, established early in the twelfth century....
Built for King Edward I between 1283-87, Master James of St George's design at Conwy remains one of the most outstanding achievements of medieval military....
Begun in 1295, this unfinished castle is the last and largest of King Edward I's Welsh fortifications. Designed by the king's mason-architect, Master James of St George, it is a perfect example of architecture....
King Edward intended this castle to be a royal residence and seat of government for north Wales....
One of the largest medieval fortresses in Britain, begun in 1268 by the Anglo-Norman marcher lord, Gilbert de Clare. Concentrically planned, the rings of stone and water defences are formidable even today....
There are few castles in Wales - or Europe for that matter - which can boast a more spectacular location than Carreg Cennen. Its ruins crown a precipitous crag in a remote corner of the Brecon Beacons....
Newport Castle was built in the 14th Century and was extensively destroyed by Owain Glyndwr. The remains stand on the banks of the river Usk surrounded by main roads and the railway line and is largely unappreciated. However, there is a walkway that ...
Begun in 1277, this was the second of King Edward I's great Welsh fortifications. A protected river dock forms one side of the defence....
Windsor Castle is one of three official residences of The Queen and has been home to the Sovereign for over 900 years. The Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and the oldest....
Medieval manor house, modified during the Tudor period, including a magnificently carved Renaissance porch....
Late eleventh- or early twelfth-century motte with thirteenth-century round stone keep. Three floors, with fine views....
Substantial remains of one of the earliest stone-built castles in Britain - the centre of the medieval Marcher lordship of Chepstow. The castle was modified and developed in successive stages throughout the Middle Ages and saw further action during a...
Perched in an imposing position, the castle is still dominated by the twin-towered gatehouse built by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth ('the Great'). Extended by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd ('the Last'), and later remodelled by Edward I and Edward II....
Begun by Henry de Lacy in 1282, with the support of King Edward I, the site is dominated by an impressive triple-towered gatehouse, the link between defended town and castle ward.
The Photograph is CADW Copyright....
The remains of this castle, begun by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd ('the Last') in 1273 and captured by the English in 1277, have recently been revealed by excavations.
The Photograph is CADW Copyright....
A square stone keep, dating from the thirteenth century, remains of this castle built by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth ('the Great'). The site was remodelled by King Edward I.
The Photograph is CADW Copyright....
Substantial remains of thirteenth-century castle of Hubert de Burgh, raised on an earlier motte. It was later remodelled by the house of Lancaster.
The Photograph is CADW Copyright....
Built between 1283 and 1289 by Master James of St George for King Edward I. The castle is designed on a concentric plan with a small but powerful inner ward dominated by an impressive twin-towered gatehouse and four round corner towers. Seized by Owa...
Impressive remains of a castle established as a huge earthwork in the early twelfth century. The stone castle was first raised by the de Chaworths, and was much modified later by the earls (eventually dukes) of Lancaster.
The Photograph is CADW Co...
Established in the early twelfth century as an earthwork castle, it was rebuilt in stone by the Anglo-Norman de Brian family during the later thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries. Sir John Perrot later transformed it into a Tudor mansion in the ...
Oxwich Castle is the remains of a sumptuous, mock-fortified manor built by the Mansel family during the sixteenth century....
Remains of impressive fifteenth-century castle built by Sir William ap Thomas and his son William Herbert, remodelled by William Somerset, third earl of Worcester, 1549-89. Despite demolition attempts during the Civil War, much of the hexagonal-shape...
For over 900 years Tretower Court and Castle has been altered, adjusted and adapted. Much of this was done to keep up with style, fashion and the tastes of the time. The Picards and the Vaughans who lived here were rich influential Welsh families; t...
Castle begun by Henry III in 1223 and given to Hubert de Burgh in 1228. Held by the Mortimers in the fourteenth century, it was later demolished on the order of Parliament after the Civil War....
Balmoral Castle on the Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland is the private residence of The Queen. Beloved by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Balmoral Castle has remained a favourite residence for The Queen and her family during the summer ho...
Boston Castle was build as a shooting lodge by Thomas Howard 3rd Earl of Effingham on the summit of Canklow. a site on the south-western outskirts of Rotherham. The bold hill overlooked Rotherham and the valley of the Don, at was at an altitude of 30...
Dramatic fortified manor house. Built between the 14th and 16th centuries, the castle has been home to the Gilbert family for most of the last 600 years. Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1539-1583) was coloniser of Newfoundland and half-brother to Sir Walter Ra...
Thousand-year-old castle rising above the Isle of Purbeck. One of Britain's most majestic ruins, the castle controlled the gateway through the Purbeck Hills and has been an important stronghold since the time of William the Conqueror. Defended during...
Ancient castle with fine interiors and sub-tropical gardens. Dramatically sited on a wooded hill, a castle has existed here since at least Norman times. The 15th-century gatehouse survives, and the present building was remodelled in 1868-72 by Antony...
Perfect example of a late medieval moated castle. One of the most famous and evocative castles in Britain, Bodiam was built in 1385, as both a defence and a comfortable home. The exterior is virtually complete and the ramparts rise dramatically above...
Dramatic 15th-century red-brick tower, with six floors to explore. This vast fortified and moated tower was built for Ralph Cromwell, Lord Treasurer of England from 1433 to 1443. The building was restored by Lord Curzon between 1911 and 1914 and cont...
Castellated manor house set in extensive parkland. Croft Castle is an imposing country house containing fine Georgian interiors and furniture, and with family connections dating back to the Norman Conquest. There are restored walled gardens and a par...
14th-century tower. Located in the main street of the town, the tower contains a local history exhibition organised by the Friends of Dalton Castle.
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Medieval house extended in Elizabethan times, with handsome gardens. Originally built in the Middle Ages by the Strickland family, who still live here, this imposing house has an exceptional series of oak-panelled rooms culminating in the Inlaid Cham...
Massive ruined castle in an impressive coastal setting. A magnificent ruin dominating a lonely stretch of Northumberland's beautiful coastline, Dunstanburgh must be reached on foot along paths following the rocky shore.
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Romantic 16th-century castle with spectacular views, transformed by Lutyens into an Edwardian holiday home. Dramatically perched on a rocky crag and accessible over a causeway at low tide only, the island castle presents an exciting and alluring aspe...
Magnificent 14th-century fortress of the Welsh Marches. Completed in 1310, Chirk's rather austere exterior belies the comfortable and elegant state rooms inside, with elaborate plasterwork, superb Adam-style furniture, tapestries and portraits. Featu...
The coracle, a one-person boat native to these parts, has a history dating back thousands of years. Cilgerran Castle, which overlooks the Teifi, a river favoured by the peculiar vessel, isn't doing too badly either. Almost 800 years young and countin...
Dinefwr Park and Castle is set in an 18th-century landscape park, enclosing a medieval deer park. Dinefwr is home to more than 100 fallow deer and a small herd of Dinefwr White Park Cattle. A number of scenic walks include access to Dinefwr Castle, w...
19th-century fantasy castle with spectacular contents and grounds. This enormous neo-Norman castle sits between Snowdonia and the Menai Strait. Built by Thomas Hopper between 1820 and 1845 for the wealthy Pennant family, who made their fortune from J...
Medieval castle rising dramatically above the celebrated garden. The world-famous garden, overhung with enormous clipped yews, shelters rare and tender plants. Laid out under the influence of Italian and French styles, it retains its original lead st...
Remains of an early 13th-century fortress. The castle was built beside the River Monnow to command one of the main routes between England and Wales, at a time when the two nations were involved in a long drawn-out conflict following the Norman Conque...
The remains of a medieval castle crucial to Anglo-Scottish warfare, superseded by the most complete and breathtakingly impressive bastioned town defences in England, mainly Elizabethan but updated in the 17th and 18th centuries. Surrounding the whole...
Commanding a vital ford over the River Tweed, Norham was one of the strongest of the border castles, and the most often attacked by the Scots. Besieged at least thirteen times - once for nearly a year by Robert Bruce - it was called 'the most dangero...
Etal was built in the mid-14th century by Robert Manners as a defence against Scots raiders, in a strategic position by a ford over the River Till. It fell to James IV's invading Scots army in 1513, immediately before their cata-strophic defeat at ne...
The riverside ruins of Edlingham Castle are, principally the solar tower, of a manor house progressively fortified against the Scots during the 14th century. History of Edlingham Castle By 1174, a manor house at the location was in the poss...
The magnificent cross-shaped keep of Warkworth, crowning a hilltop rising steeply above the River Coquet, dominates one of the largest, strongest and most impressive fortresses in northern England. The castle's most famous owners were the Percy famil...
The internationally-renowned Uffington White Horse can be seen for miles away leaping across the head of a dramatic dry valley in the Ridgeway escarpment.
But this is only part of the unique complex of ancient remains that are found at White Horse...
The remains of the largest castle in Devon, in an outstandingly picturesque setting on a wooded spur above the rushing River Okement. Begun soon after the Norman Conquest as a motte and bailey castle with a stone keep, it was converted into a sumptuo...
Beautifully sited on the fringe of Dartmoor, Lydford boasts three defensive features. Near the centre is a 13th-century tower keep on a mound, later a prison notorious for harsh punishments - 'the most annoyous, contagious and detestable place within...
Tucked away in a steep wooded valley, Berry Pomeroy Castle is the perfect romantic ruin. Within the 15th-century defences of the Pomeroy family castle looms the dramatic four-storey shell of the great Elizabethan mansion of the Seymours. On the wall ...
One of the most picturesquely- sited fortresses in England. For over six hundred years Dartmouth Castle has guarded the narrow entrance to the Dart Estuary and the busy, vibrant port of Dartmouth.
This fascinating complex of defences was begun in...
A classic Norman motte and bailey castle, founded soon after the Conquest to overawe the Saxon town. A well-preserved later shell-keep crowns its steep mound, giving sweeping views across the town rooftops to the River Dart....
Launceston Castle's in Cornwall keep is set on the high motte of a stronghold built soon after the Norman Conquest. Its North gate was famously used as a gaol for George Fox during the reign of Charles II. As the venue for the county assizes and gaol...
With its spectacular location on one of England's most dramatic coastlines, Tintagel is an awe-inspiring and romantic spot, a place of legends. Joined to the mainland by a narrow neck of land, Tintagel Island faces the full force of the Atlantic. On ...
Restormel Castle in Lostwithiel, Cornwall was built in c. 1300, the great circular shell-keep of Restormel survives in good condition. It stands on an earlier Norman mound surrounded by a deep dry ditch, atop a high spur beside the River Fowey. Twice...
St Catherine's Castle in Fowey, Cornwall is one of a pair of small artillery forts built by Henry VIII in the 1530s to defend Fowey Harbour, consisting of two storeys with gun ports at ground level....
St Mawes Castle in Truro, Cornwall is among the best-preserved of Henry VIII's coastal artillery fortresses, and the most elaborately decorated of them all.One of the chain of forts built between 1539 and 1545 to counter an invasion threat from Catho...
At Pendennis Castle in Falmouth Cornwall you can discover the wartime secrets of Cornwall's greatest fortress. Pendennis Castle was built by King Henry VIII to defend against possible attack by Spain and France. Throughout its 450-year history, Pende...
Farleigh Hungerford was begun in the 1370s by Sir Thomas Hungerford, Speaker of the Commons, and extended in the 15th century by his son Walter, Lord Hungerford, Agincourt veteran and distinguished medieval statesman. The remains of their fortress, b...
Ludgershall Castle and Cross ruins and earthworks are of a royal castle dating mainly from the 12th and 13th centuries, frequently used as a hunting lodge. The remains of the medieval cross stand in the centre of the village....
Nunney Castle i9s the striking and picturesque moated castle of Nunney was built in the 1370s by Sir John de la Mere, who had seemingly served in the French wars. Certainly it was designed in the latest French style, resembling a miniature version...
One of England's most romantic castles, in a secluded lakeside setting Built in the late 14th century for John, fifth Lord Lovel, this unusual six-sided castle was unique in medieval English architecture. Not only was it a secure house, it was also a...
One of the most advanced of the artillery fortresses built by Henry VIII: used as a prison for eminent 17th-century captives, and later strengthened during the 19th and 20th centuries. It commands the narrow entrance to the Solent.
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Built by Bishop Roger of Salisbury in the 12th century as a strongly defended palace, Sherborne Old Castle became a powerful Royalist base during the Civil War. Described as 'malicious and mischievous' by Cromwell, it fell in 1645 after a fierce elev...
The remains of Christchurch Castle include parts of the mound-top keep, and more unusually the 12th-century riverside chamber block or 'Constable's House'. This very early example of domestic architecture includes a rare Norman chimney....
Among the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe, Maiden Castle's huge multiple ramparts enclose an area equivalent to 50 football pitches, protecting several hundred residents. Excavations in the 1930s and 1980s revealed the site's 40...
The history of this fortress, which overlooks Portland harbour, is diverse and fascinating. Built by Henry VIII to defend Weymouth against possible French and Spanish invasion, its squat appearance is typical of the artillery forts built in the early...
The striking twin-towered 14th- century gatehouse of this castle, later the focus of a Civil War siege and battle, survives amid impressive earthworks.
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The impressive shell-keep and other defences of a castle founded in 1138 and redeveloped by Henry II after 1155. Long a residence of the wealthy bishops of Winchester , the medieval fortress itself was abandoned after Civil War service, but the later...
Begun as a 12th-century Norman keep and bailey castle, the palace was the chief residence of the Bishops of Winchester. Situated next to Winchester Cathedral, its extensive ruins reflect their importance and wealth. The last great occasion at Wolvese...
This artillery fort, built by Henry VIII to defend the sea passage to Southampton, was recently used as a Navy and RAF base....
Portchester can be considered a complete history of England in one place. First used by the Romans as a base from which they could clear the sea of barbarian raiders, it became a Saxon settlement from the middle of the 5th century until the end of th...
Bramber Castle are now the remains of a Norman castle on the banks of the River Adur, founded by William de Braose c. 1075. The Bramber Castle earthworks are dominated by a towering wall of the keep gatehouse....
Hadleigh Castle and Country Park is set in the romantic ruins of a royal castle overlooking the Essex marshes. Hadleigh was begun in about 1215 by Hubert de Burgh, but extensively refortified by Edward III during the Hundred Years War, becoming a...
The remains of one of the earliest Norman stone castles, built c. 1100 and little changed afterwards, including the full-height motte wall and part of the hall.
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With a history stretching back over sixteen centuries, Pevensey Castle chronicles more graphically than any other fortress the story of Britain's south coast defences. Beginning in the 4th century as one of the last and strongest of the Roman 'Saxon ...
The ruins of an unusually unaltered artillery fort, built by Henry VIII to guard the port of Rye. There are monthly guided walks round Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, including the castle....
For a fascinating day out on the Kent coast look no further than Deal Castle. Built by the order of King Henry VIII it is one of the finest Tudor artillery castles in England, and among the earliest and most elaborate of a chain of coastal forts, ...
The History of Dover Castle Commanding the shortest sea crossing between England and the continent, Dover Castle has a long and immensely eventful history. Many centuries before King Henry II began the great stone castle here in the 1160s, its...
Clun Castle's dramatic riverside ruins and extensive earthworks of a Welsh Border Norman castle, its tall keep unusually set on the side of its mound....
Stokesay Castle is quite simply the finest and best preserved fortified medieval manor house in England. Set in peaceful countryside near the Welsh border, the castle, timber-framed gatehouse and parish church form an unforgettably picturesque group....
A powerful thick-walled round keep of c. 1200, characteristic of the Welsh Borders, on a large earthen mound amid other castle remains. Set in the beautiful Olchon valley, with magnificent views of the Black Mountains....
Goodrich stands majestically on a wooded hill commanding the passage of the River Wye into the picturesque valley of Symonds Yat. The castle was begun in the late 11th century, by the English thegn Godric who gave it his name.
A generation later t...
The fine twin-towered gatehouse of this castle, built by Edward I in 1292, once defended a factory making crossbow bolts from Forest of Dean iron. Long a prison, it is now a youth hostel in marvellous walking country....
The earthworks forming Deddington Castle lie in a rural location to the south-east of the village of Deddington. No stonework is visible above ground today, but the site is nevertheless a striking one owing to the scale of the earthworks – the ...
The substantial remains of a strong and important motte and bailey castle dating from the 11th to 13th centuries, with surrounding walls, ditches and earthworks....
Framlingham is a magnificent example of a late 12th-century castle. Built by Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, the castle, together with Framlingham Mere, was designed both as a stronghold and as a symbol of power and status - as befitted one of the most...
Discover one of England's most complete and unusual keeps at this fascinating visitor attraction in Suffolk. The unique polygonal tower keep of Orford Castle, stands beside the pretty town and former port which Henry II also developed here. Orford ...
Once the stronghold of the turbulent Mortimer family, Wigmore Castle was abandoned by the 17th century. Now it is among the most remarkable ruins in England , largely buried up to first floor level by earth and fallen masonry. Yet many of its fortifi...
Kenilworth Castle has been intimately linked with some of the most important figures in English history. With its impressive Norman keep, John of Gaunt's great hall, and the magnificent buildings raised for Queen Elizabeth I, it is among the largest ...
Weeting Castle are now the ruins of what was a substantial early medieval manor house surrounded by a shallow, rectangular moat....
The imposing stone walls, with added towers for catapults, of a Roman 3rd-century Saxon Shore fort. Panoramic views over Breydon Water, into which the fourth wall long since collapsed.
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Moreton Corbet Castle are the ruins of the medieval castle and Tudor manor house of the Corbets are dominated by the theatrical shell of an ambitious Elizabethan mansion wing in Italianate style, which was devastated during the Civil War. Fine Corbet...
The red sandstone shell of a semi-fortified tower house, built in 1284-93 by Bishop Burnell, Edward I's Lord Chancellor. Parliaments were twice held here, in 1283 and 1285....
Ashby Castle forms the backdrop to the famous jousting scenes in Sir Walter Scott's classic novel of 1819, Ivanhoe. Now a ruin, the castle began as a manor house in the 12th century. It only achieved castle status in the 15th century, by which time t...
Begun in the 1480s by Lord Hastings, but never completed. Recently reopened after extensive conservation work....
The Chester Castle: Agricola Tower and Castle Walls has its original gateway to Chester Castle, this 12th-century tower houses a chapel with exceptionally fine wall paintings of c. 1220, rediscovered in the 1980s. An access stair to the castle's wall...
Beeston Castle in Cheshire Stands majestically on a sheer rocky crag, Beeston has perhaps the most stunning views of any castle in England. Excavations indicate that a Bronze Age settlement and Iron Age hillfort occupied the site long before the cast...
The remains of a 13th-century hexagonal castle, birthplace in 1367 of the future King Henry IV, with adjacent earthworks. Besieged and taken by Cromwell's Parliamentarians in 1643....
Be transported back to the golden age of chivalry and romance. Set on a hilltop overlooking the Vale of Scarsdale, Bolsover Castle enjoys panoramic views over the beautiful Derbyshire countryside. Children will love the fairytale Little Castle, desig...
One of the largest, best-preserved and most lavishly decorated keeps in England, surrounded by 20 acres of mighty earthworks. Begun in 1138 by William d'Albini for his new wife, the widow of Henry I, in the 14th century it became the luxurious exile-...
The delightful village of Castle Acre boasts an extraordinary wealth of history. Situated on the Peddar's Way, a major trade and pilgrim route to Thetford, Bromholm Priory and Walsingham, it is a very rare and complete survival of a Norman planne...
The extensive ruins of a late medieval and Tudor fortified manor house, its knapped flint walls reflected in the lake enlarged from its original moat. Baconsthorpe is the work of several generations of the locally powerful (but somewhat disreputable)...
Perched high above the pretty village of Castleton, the castle offers breathtaking views of the Peak District. Founded soon after 1066 by William Peverel, one of William the Conqueror's most trusted knights, it played an important role in guarding th...
The white, cylindrical keep of this 12th-century castle is a spectacular structure. Built of magnesian limestone, it is the only example of its kind in England. Recently restored, with two new floors and a roof, it is a fine example of medieval archi...
The ruined hall and chamber of a fortified manor house of the powerful Percy family, dating mainly from the 14th and 15th centuries. Its undercroft is cut into a rocky outcrop.
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An impressive Norman motte and bailey castle, dating from before 1086 and among the first raised in Yorkshire, with the earthworks of an attendant fortified 'borough'....
Standing strongly in the city it has dominated for nine centuries, Carlisle Castle was a constantly updated working fortress until well within living memory. Now its rich and varied visitor attractions reflect its long and eventful history.
Even b...
One of the finest and most unaltered examples of a 13th-century English manor house, Aydon Castle stands in a secluded woodland setting. It was originally built as an undefended residence, but almost immediately fortified on the outbreak of Anglo-Sco...
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, in Northumberland has something for everyone, with a fine medieval castle, a Greek Revival villa and outstanding, plant-rich gardens to explore. Take in thirty acres of picturesque landscaping, including magnificent r...
Begun between 1100 and 1120 to defend a strategic crossing of the River Tyne against Scottish invaders, Prudhoe Castle has been continuously occupied for over nine centuries. After two sieges during the 1170s - the Scots attackers reportedly declarin...
Set in an almost impregnable position on a steep headland between the river and the North Sea, Tynemouth has always been as much a fortress as a religious site.
Here stood a 7th-century Anglian monastery, burial place of Oswin, sainted King of No...
The distinctive and highly decorative gatehouse-tower of a castle built by the wealthy Sir William Hylton, shortly before 1400. Originally containing four floors of self-contained family accommodation, its entrance front displays royal and family her...
The mainly 15th-century remains of a castle begun by Bishop Strickland of Carlisle and developed by the Nevilles and Richard III. Set in a municipal park opposite the railway station....
In a picturesque setting beside the crossing of the River Eamont, Brougham Castle was founded in the early 13th century by King John's agent Robert de Vieuxpont. His great keep largely survives, amid many later buildings - including the unusual doubl...
Commanding a magnificent view of the Pennines, medieval Brough Castle stands within the earth-works of a Roman fort guarding the strategic Stainmore routeway. The impressive tower-keep dates from c. 1200, replacing an earlier stronghold destroyed by ...
The massive ruins of Henry II's 12th-century tower keep, set within the earthworks of a Roman fort guarding the strategic Stainmore pass over the Pennines....
Set on a high rock above the River Tees, imposing Barnard Castle was the stronghold of the Balliol family. Taking its name from Bernard de Balliol, who rebuilt it in the 12th century, it includes a fine great hall and a dominating round-towered keep....
A charming Gothic Revival 'eyecatcher' built in 1760 in the park of the Bishops of Durham. It provided deer with shelter and food, and had rooms for picnics and enjoying the view....
Dramatically situated high on a rocky promontory, the castle's formidable keep looks over the River Swale and the rooftops of the market town of Richmond. Originally built by the Normans to control the north, the castle's past as a fortress, barracks...
The childhood and favourite home of Richard III, Middleham Castle was a fortress of the mighty Neville family, Earls of Westmoreland and of Warwick. Around the massive 12th-century central keep, they progressively constructed three ranges of luxuriou...
Surrounded by spectacular banks and ditches, the great medieval castle's impressive ruins stand beside the attractive market town of Helmsley. The fortress was probably begun after 1120 by Walter Espec - 'Walter the Woodpecker'. Renowned for piety as...
Pickering Castle is set in an attractive moors-edge market town. It is a classic and well-preserved example of an early earthwork castle refortified in stone during the 13th and 14th centuries, centred upon a shell-keep crowning an impressive motte. ...
Scarborough Castle defends a prominent headland between two bays, with sheer drops to the sea and only a narrow landward approach. Long before the castle was built, this natural fortress was favoured by prehistoric settlers - a splendid Bronze Age sw...
Craigievar's Great Tower has changed very little since it was first built by Master William Forbes in the early 17th century. His family continued to live in the castle for the next 350 years and when a group of benefactors (including members of ...
Crathes is a magnificent 16th-century tower house standing on an estate granted to the Burnett family in 1323 by King Robert the Bruce. He presented them with the ancient Horn of Leys, which you can see today in the Great Hall. The horn symbol was ad...
A visit to Drum Castle is a little like striding across the centuries. Its chameleon-like character has evolved with the additions made to the building over the years. Here you'll find a medieval tower, a Jacobean mansion house and several 'modern...
Ghosts, legends and folklore are all woven into the tapestry of Fyvie's 800-year history. Each tower of this magnificent Scottish Baronial fortress is traditionally associated with one of the castle's five successive families ' Preston, Meldrum, Seto...
With its dramatic clifftop setting, Robert Adam architecture, fascinating history and beautiful surroundings, it's easy to see why Culzean Castle is one of Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions. Surrounded by Culzean Country Park, a 242 he...
The birthplace of Sir William Alexander, James VI's Lieutenant for the Plantation of Nova Scotia. An exhibition in the Nova Scotia Commemoration Room tells the story of this ill-fated scheme. Although it's not a Trust property, the Trust worked close...
Kellie Castle, completed around 1606 and once home to the Earls of Kellie, was restored by the Lorimer family in 1878. The oldest tower, dating back to 1360, is said to be haunted, but today the castle is a tranquil spot. Admire the magnificent plast...
Set in peaceful parkland, this fine 16th-century tower house is packed with enough art and antiques to keep connoisseurs happy all day. It contains fine French furniture; English, continental and Chinese porcelain; and a major collection of paintings...
This ruined castle is romantically situated on a rocky promontory jutting into Loch Carron, commanding fine views westwards to Skye. First recorded in 1472 when it was a stronghold of the Lords of the Isles, it later belonged to the MacDonnells of Gl...
Bursting to the towers with action and adventure including the world's biggest siege machine, thrilling jousting tournaments, breathtaking birds of prey, daredevil knights and an entire castle-ful of colourful characters, Warwick Castle guarantees a ...
A magnificent Georgian Castle dramatically situated in the foothills of the Malverns, near Ledbury Herefordshire and is surrounded by a beautiful deer park lake and arboretum. The castle is still the home of the Hervey-Bathurst family and its lavish...
Probably built by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth ('the Great') early in the thirteenth century, the castle is dominated by a massive round-towered keep, still standing up to 50 feet....
Halton Castle in Runcorn Cheshire is very important as it is one of only 2 surviving Norman Castles in Cheshire. It is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster but in 2002 Norton Priory took on management on behalf of Halton Borough Council. The castle is ine...
Dudley Zoological Gardens is home to many endangered species and plays a part in their continued survival. Visit the 11th century castle in the grounds or take a ghost tour and find out whether it really is haunted. Special events are held throughou...
The ruins at Weoley Castle are over 700 years old and are the remains of the moated medieval manor house that once stood here. The site has been inhabited from the 12th century and, according to the Doomsday Book, was part of the estates of William F...
The quintessential Victorian ‘Highland’ estate, Brodick Castle, Garden & Country Park on the Isle of Arran is the perfect place for a family day out. Dramatically set against the backdrop of Goatfell mountain, the grand red sandstone Scottish ...
Situated in rural Ayrshire, against a spectacular coastal backdrop, Dundonald Castle is a monument which stands as testimony, not only to the origins of the Royal Stewart dynasty, but also to the development of the nation of Scotland itself. Havi...
Sited on top of an extinct volcano, gaining stunning views across City of Edinburgh, the castle has witnessed many of the defining events of Scottish history. A key attraction within the castle is the Scottish Crown Jewels. The crown, sword and scept...
One of Scotland's grandest castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture, Stirling Castle commands the countryside for many miles around. It towers over some of the most important battlefields of Scotland's past including Stirling ...
St Columba visited with peaceful intent around AD 580. Not so the English, who seized the castle in 1296. Nor the MacDonalds, Lords of the Isles, who stormed through the glen time and again in the later Middle Ages, ruling with a rod of iron from th...
The Mine and Counter-mine ' these unique underground passages give visitors a palpable sense of the horrific nature of medieval siege warfare. The Bottle Dungeon ' one of the most infamous castle prisons in medieval Britain, cut out of the solid rock...
With its moat, twin towered gatehouse and imposing battlements, Caerlaverock Castle is the epitome of the medieval stronghold. The castle's turbulent history owes much to its proximity to England which brought it into border conflicts. Visitors can e...
Cochrane’s Castle? Auchindoun Castle is believed to have been built by Thomas Cochrane (sometimes erroneously called Robert). This shadowy, late 15th-century figure was a favourite of King James III. It is said that Cochrane built the great ...
One castle and three dynasties For over 500 years, Balvenie Castle served as the formidable stronghold of the great lords who ruled over this part of north-east Scotland. The immensely powerful ‘Black’ Comyn earls of Buchan built it in the...
Corgarff Castle and Barracks Corgarff Castle is not as ordinary as the visitor might imagine on first seeing it in its lonely moorland setting. The unusual appearance of the little tower is confirmed as the visitor draws near and makes out mor...
Duffus Castle is one of the finest examples of a motte and bailey castle in Scotland with a later, very fine, stone hall house and curtain wall....
Remarkable for its splendid architecture, Huntly Castle served as a baronial residence for five centuries. Many impressive features include a fine heraldic sculpture and inscribed stone friezes. The earliest stronghold on the site sheltered Robert...
Inverlochy Castle is a fine well-preserved 13th-century castle of the Comyn family; in the form of a square, with round towers at the corners. The largest tower of Inverlochy Castle was the donjon or keep. Inverlochy Castle is one of Scotland,...
The great castle of Kildrummy was the stronghold of the Earls of Mar. Although ruined, it remains a fine example of a 13th century castle with its curtain wall, four round towers, hall and chapel. Hitsory of Kildrummy Castle Noblest ...
Castle at the head of the point of land Kinnaird Head (cinn na h’airde in Gaelic) means ‘at the head of the point of land’. One look at the map is enough to show that this particular point of land beside Fraserburgh is no ordinary promon...
Tolquhon Castle is noted for its highly ornamented gatehouse, Tolquhon is one of the most picturesque of the castles in the Grampian countryside.The gatehouse is a real gem, built not to deter, but to impress which it still contrives to do. The ma...
A residence for newly-weds Balvaird offers a fine illustration of the way in which a 16th-century landowner’s fortified house could provide a good degree of security for its occupants while at the same time affording them a high level of com...
Strong point on the Tay ‘Broughty’ probably means ‘strong point on the Tay’. We cannot be sure when the mouth of the Tay was first fortified, but the present castle was built at the end of the 15th century. In 1490, the 2nd Lord G...
The roofless but otherwise complete ruin of a tower house of about 1500, with a section of defensive barmkin wall and a remarkable corner tower with a square cap-house corbelled out. Much visited by James IV.
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An outstanding example of 16th-century Scottish architecture, which is both intact and hardly altered. The castle owes its striking appearance to asymmetrical square garrett chambers corbelled out over two circular towers at diagonally opposite corne...
A Noble Residence Edzell Castle is enchanting. The red sandstone castle walls, set amid pleasing green parkland, conjure up an image of a noble bygone age. Medieval society was not all fighting and feuding. Everyday lordly life in late-medieva...
Elcho Castle is one of Scotland's best-preserved 16th-century tower houses. It was built around the time of the Protestant Reformation in 1560 by a member of the family of Wemyss of that Ilk. The family could trace their lineage back to the 12th cent...
Once known as The House of Ruthven, Huntingtower Castle comprises two fine and complete tower houses. The hall of the eastern tower has a fine painted ceiling. The painted decoration - a beguiling early-16th-century painted ceiling and wall frescoes ...
The island fastness of Lochleven is associated with many colourful events and has been visited by countless distinguished personalities during its history. Some of those taking the boat across Loch Leven came of their own accord, including King Robe...
Take to the trees and speed down zip slides high above the Kentish hilltops. Featuring zip slides up to 100 feet above the forest floor and 250 metres in length adrenalin is guaranteed! Take in the stunning views of Leeds Castle and its grounds -...
Antonine Wall: Rough Castle is the best-preserved length of rampart and ditch, together with the earthworks of a fort ' the most complete on the Wall ' and a short length of military way with quarry pits. This is the best site to gain an impressio...
A bishop’s residence In 1559, on the eve of the Protestant Reformation, the Earl of Argyll granted the lands of Carnasserie to his ‘familiar servant’, Master John Carswell, rector of Kilmartin. Following the Reformation, Master John bec...
Doune Castle was built around 1400 by Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany, Earl of Menteith and Fife. Younger brother of the weak and feeble Robert III, he was the effective ruler of the kingdom from 1388 until his death in 1420. He is known to histor...
A bulwark in the west Dunstaffnage Castle is one of the oldest stone castles in Scotland. It guards the seaward approach from the Firth of Lorn to the Pass of Brander – and thereby the heart of Scotland. The castle was built around 1220, pr...
Kilchurn has a four-storey tower built in the mid 15th century by Sir Colin Campbell, 1st of Glenorchy. Much enlarged in 1693, it incorporates the first purpose-built barracks in Scotland. The substantial ruins are some of the most picturesque in the...
Skipness Castle and Chapel is a tale of three nations and three families Skipness Castle was begun in the early 13th century, when Argyll was ruled not by Scotland but by Norway. The builder was probably either Suibhne (Sven) ‘the Red’, f...
Five centuries of noble living Aberdour Castle served as a residence for three noble families over a period of 500 years – the Mortimers, Randolphs and Douglases. The present complex of roofed buildings and ruined structures perfectly illus...
Begun for James II in 1460, Ravenscraig Castle consists of two round towers linked by a cross range. The west tower of Ravenscraig Castle was the residence of James II's widow, Queen Mary of Gueldres....
Antonine Wall: Westerwood to Castlecary is a well preserved historic section of ditch....
One of Scotland’s greatest castles Bothwell Castle is one of the outstanding monuments of medieval Scotland. It owes its origins to Walter of Moray, a northern aristocratic family who acquired Bothwell in 1242. He (or his son William, kn...
Constructed between 1500 and 1550, Cadzow Castle was known as the castle in the woods of Hamilton. The castle was built by Sir James Hamilton of Finnart for his half brother, the second Earl of Arran. The property overlooks a parkland known as ...
A hidden gem Hidden away in the rolling hills of Clydesdale, Craignethan Castle is the last great private stronghold constructed in Scotland. It was without parallel, comprising an exceptional residential tower protected by a most unusual arti...
The altered ruin of an unusual 15th-century castle. The property consists of a central tower with four square corner towers, set within 12th-century earthworks. Affords excellent views of south-west Glasgow. Strong footwear recommended....
Defender of the realm Dumbarton Castle guards the point where the River Leven joins the River Clyde. Its recorded history reaches back 1,500 years. At that time the place was known as Alt Clut, ‘Rock of the Clyde’. Later it became known by...
Loch Doon Castle has been transplanted in the mid-1930s from an island in the middle of Loch Doon due to a hydro electric scheme, the castle consists of an eleven-sided curtain wall, of fine masonry, dating from 1300. Loch Doon has a unique populatio...
Maxwell’s house Newark Castle is a rediscovered treasure. For too long it lurked behind the giant cranes and sheds of the Clyde’s great shipyards. Only recently has it re-emerged to take its rightful place in the townscape of Port Glasgow....
Set in rolling Ayrshire parkland, Rowallan Castle is a hidden gem. The castle is an extraordinary Renaissance house and within it is the evidence of its development from the 13th century to the 18th century. It was the home of an important Ayrshire f...
The port of Linlithgow Blackness Castle stands beside the Firth of Forth, at the seaport which in medieval times served the royal burgh of Linlithgow. The castle was built in the 15th century by one of Scotland’s more powerful families, the ...
A well preserved medieval castle, Craigmillar has a tower house, courtyard and gardens. Craigmillar's story is linked with that of Mary Queen of Scots. Superb views from tower house....
A hidden gem Crichton Castle stands tucked away out of sight, on a terrace overlooking the River Tyne in Midlothian. It was a noble residence for some 200 years, from the late 14th century through to the close of the 16th century. It was seldo...
A residence of three noble families Dirleton Castle has graced the heart of Dirleton since the 13th century. For the first 400 years, it served as the residence of three noble families – the de Vauxes, Haliburtons and Ruthvens. The subsequen...
Hailes Castle is a beautifully sited ruin incorporating a fortified manor of 13th century date, extended in the 14th and 15th centuries. There are two vaulted pit-prisons....
Stronghold of the Douglases Mighty Tantallon Castle was built in the 1350s by a nobleman at the height of his power. In 1354, William Douglas came into possession of all his father’s lands, as well as those of his uncle, ‘the Good Sir Jame...
An awesome, eerie ruin, set in a lonely spot, Hermitage Castle has a history filled with intrigue, murders, trysts, torture, and treason.
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A house of the McCullochs Cardoness Castle is a fine example of a Scottish tower-house castle. It was built in the later 15th century as the fortified residence of the McCullochs. They were a prominent Galloway family, who rubbed shoulders wit...
A 16th-century residence Carsluith Castle is a lightly-defended tower house. It is typical of the many L-planned tower houses built by the landed gentry throughout Scotland after the Protestant Reformation of 1560. Carsluith, though, has a mor...
Lochmaben Castle is the much reduced remains of a royal castle originally built by the English in the 14th century. Lochmaben Castle was extensively rebuilt during the reign of James IV (1488-1513). Largely dismantled after its capture by James VI...
A family home MacLellan’s Castle is named after Sir Thomas MacLellan of Bombie (d. 1597). Sir Thomas was provost of Kirkcudbright and a powerful man in local politics. Following the Protestant Reformation in 1560, he acquired the site and b...
Morton Castle is a fine late 13th-century hall house, a stronghold of the Douglases....
Welcome to Muncaster Castle & Gardens, one of the best places to visit in the Lake District for a fun family day out! The Muncaster Experience is different for everyone. Be amazed by seeing more than 200 owls at The World Owl Centre. Wonder and watch...
Visit Caldicot's magnificent medieval castle set in fifty-five acres of beautiful parkland. Discover its colourful history with an audio tour. Relax and enjoy the grounds and explore hands-on activities. Facilities include a gift shop, tea room, even...
Bodelwyddan Castle is situated in Denbighshire, North Wales. Set in 260 acres of magnificent parkland, the Castle is a partner of the National Portrait Gallery and is open to the public most days throughout the year. As well as being a historic house...
Surrounded by beautiful parkland with views of the Jurassic Coast, this 17th-century hunting lodge has remained in the same family since 1641. Since a devastating fire in 1929, the building has been restored externally and consolidated inside. The di...
A late 16th-century tower house with circular towers at diagonally opposite corners. The northernmost castle in the British Isles, Muness has remarkably fine architectural details.
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A fine castellated mansion built in 1600 by Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney, who was notorious for his cruelty....
Kisimul Castle (Caisteal Chiosmuil, castle of the rock of the small bay) is testament to the nature of Gaelic lordship in the Middle Ages. The island fastness in Castle Bay was the residence of the chief of the Macneils of Barra, who claimed descent ...
Cubbie Row's Castle and St Mary's Chapel is probably one of the earliest stone castles to survive in Scotland, built in about 1145 by the Norseman Kolbein Hruga. It is a small rectangular tower enclosed in a circular ditch. The ruined chapel is of la...
Noltland Castle is a fine, ruined Z-plan tower, built between 1560 and 1573 but never completed. Remarkable for its large number of gun loops and impressive staircase. Noltland Castle is on the island of Westray, 1m West of Pierowall village. Reac...
Over 900 years old, Skipton Castle is one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England and is well worth a visit at any season of the year. Visitors can explore every corner of this impressive history-rich castle, which withsto...
The history of Sudeley Castle and its award-winning gardens spans over a thousand years and contains many varied tales of royal associations, wars and periods of neglect and subsequent restoration. The Castle has changed hands over a dozen times ...
Reputedly England's finest example of a motte and bailey castle with a splendid 13th century gatehouse, Tonbridge Castle is set in landscaped gardens overlooking the River Medway. The site is well interpreted and there are audio tours of the gat...
Inside the castle are many notable collections, from the military treasures in the guardroom to the stunning staterooms with their impressive period art, tapestries, furniture and sculpture. In contrast to the grandeur of the State Rooms, the Old Kit...
An impressive example of the motte and bailey system, Stafford Castle enjoyed mixed fortunes throughout the medieval period. In the 14th century Ralph, a founder member of the Order of the Garter, became the1st Earl of Stafford. He ordered the buildi...
Hertford Castle is a Grade 1 listed building and has been built on the plot of a Norman Castle. Sited in the middle of Hertford and hidden from the noise and fast living of town life by the stone and flint curtain wall.
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Cholmondeley Castle and Gardens in Malpas Cheshire is a stunning castle is of the early 19th century and stands raised above the lake. The gardens and the natural beauty of the woodlands frame the lake beautifully....
Raby Castle is one of the biggest and most striking English medieval castles around to day, and provides a great day out for the whole family....
Slains Castle is a large imposing ruin fronting directly onto south facing cliffs about a kilometer east of Cruden Bay. You can walk to it from the village itself. There are, confusingly, two Slains Castles on this stretch of coast. The original l...
Kimbolton Castle in Huntingdon Cambridgeshire was Katherine of Aragon's last home. The Castle is now home of Kimbolton School. There are still outstanding Pellegrini murals and a fine collection of portraits....
Fotheringhay Castle Site in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire is an impressive Norman stone motte and bailey fortress. The large motte is partly surrounded by a wide wet trench and holds the foundations for a D-shaped polygonal donjon. Inside are the hidd...
A beautiful castle set in acres of landscape gardens ans natural woodland....
Wynyard Woodland Park (formerly known as the Castle Eden Walkway) started life as a working railway carrying freight to the ports along the River Tees. Now it provides visitors with miles of flat footpaths and numerous circular walks. Housed in the o...
The Castle and Gardens are open to the public all year round and make a really interesting and entertaining day out. you can take one of our guided tours through the castle and learn of the history behind it.
Our history is one of political, mili...
A stronghold of Medieval Kings, Knaresborough Castle still stands towering over the River Nidd. A visit to the site includes a tour to discover what Royalty got up to in the King's Tower, get a glimpse of the dungeon and walk through the underground ...
Bolton Castle is a spectacular mediaeval fortress, preserved in outstanding condition and situated in the heart of Wensleydale, inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Completed in 1399, its scars bear testament to over 600 years of history, includ...
York Castle Museum is one of Britain's leading museums of everyday life. York Castle Museum shows how people used to live by displaying thousands of household objects and by recreating rooms, shops, streets - and even prison cells. York Castle...
The castle was built in Scots Baronial style, in red sandstone, and is one of the finest examples of these majestic family homes in the country.
Still a family home for the second owner, much of the interior fitments and furnishings remain faith...
What makes Floors Castle stand out from most historic buildings is that it is also a family home - our family home. The house was originally built for my predecessor, the 1st Duke of Roxburghe, in 1721. But, like any family home, it is continually un...
Bruce Castle is a Grade I listed 16th Century manor house in 20 acres of parkland. William Compton - a member of Henry VIII's court, built the oldest surviving parts of the building. Since then the building has been modified several times by new o...
Brechin Castle and the splendid Castle Gardens have been in the Dalhousie Family since the 17th Century. The estate encompasses 55,000 acres of stunning countryside in Angus County. Lord Dalhousie is clan chieftain of Clan Maule of Panmure in Angus a...
Glamis Castle, home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, was the childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and birthplace of HRH Princess Margaret. The Castle was also the setting for Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”. Our guides p...
Lochranza Castle is a fine tower house, a 16th-century reconstruction of a late 12th-century hall house. The mountains to the south of Lochranza Castle are home to many birds. Lochranza Castle offers a good vantage point for watching seals....
Dates seem to be uncertain for the earliest parts of Sorn Castle, but the original tower seems to have been of late 14th century origin, or perhaps even earlier. The Castle occupiers an admirable defensive position poised on a cliff above the Rive...
Four families have lived at Blairquhan. The McWhirters built the first tower-house in about 1346. Through marriage they were succeeded by the Kennedys, who built a large regular front south west of the Tower in 1573. In the early 17th Century the...
A secret forest, a crocodile swamp and an amazing adventure course makes Kelburn Country Centre one of Scotland's most thrilling days out for kids. Based around a 13th Century castle that's had an amazing makeover courtesy of a team of Brazilian ...
The Country Park, covering over 200 acres, boasts beautiful woodland walks, adventure playground, pets corner, visitor centre, tearoom, shop and a fantastic 14th century castle housing world class collections including historic weapons, armour and mu...
Loudoun Castle Family Theme Park is NOW CLOSED. Set in over 500 acres of magnificent parkland and with the imposing, historical castle as a stunning backdrop, Loudoun Castle has something for every age group. Fantastic and thrilling Theme Park ...
In 1991 Sir Lachlan Maclean, the present Clan Chief engaged Professor Sir James Dunbar Naismith to repair the castle. The main repairs were completed in 1995, but work on the castle still continues. Today the castle is open to the public, for whic...
Torosay Castle - NOW CLOSED to the Public Positioned in the most spectacular setting imaginable, Torosay Castle was completed in 1858 by the eminent Architect David Bryce in the Scottish Baronial style. Bryce also designed the Bank of Scotl...
Inveraray Castle is a remarkable and unique piece of architecture incorporating Baroque, Palladian and Gothic. Featuring four imposing French influenced conical spires surmounting the stone castelated towers, this unmistakably Scottish Castle was ...
Castle of the Stewarts Rothesay Castle is unique among Scottish castles, both for its early date and for its circular form. It is also famous for its long and close association with the Stewarts – hereditary high stewards until 1371, and the...
Braemar Castle, seat of Clan Farquharson and former home to its chief Captain Alwyne Farquharson opens its doors, free, to clan members on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July. Farquharsons, and septs of Clan Farquharson, such as Coutts, MacHardy, Pate...
Visit Dunnottar Castle for an unforgettable experience. A dramatic and evocative ruined cliff top fortress in a truly stunning setting. As you wander around the extensive buildings - from the keep through the barracks, lodgings, stables and storeh...
Craigston Castle, built between 1604 and 1607, is a historic home of the Urquhart family. The castle is composed of two main wings connected by a high arch over the entrance. There is a corbelled parapet at the top. There are bases for corner turr...
Most recently the home of the late Captain John Hay of Delgatie, Feudal Baron and built around 1049 the Castle has largely been in the Hay family for the last 650 years. It was taken from the Earl of Buchan after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, wh...
A 19th century mansion, built around a 16th century tower house, the Castle has been home to a number of notable Scots, including the King’s Solicitor to Charles I, a goldsmith and a financial genius!
Lauriston has managed to keep the modern day...
The magnificent Drumlanrig Castle, constructed from distinctive pink sandstone, was finished in 1691 by architect William Douglas, the first Duke of Queensberry. Today it is home to part of the internationally renowned Buccleuch Art Collection, and o...
An island fastness Legend tells that Threave Island was the home of the ancient rulers of Galloway a thousand years ago. Today there is no trace of their fortress. The tall, forbidding tower that now dominates the island was built for Sir Arch...
Appleby Castle was founded in 1100 by Ranulf le Meschin, who may have founded the town at the same time. That first structure was little more than an extensive system of earthwork defenses.
The great stone keep of the castle was built sometime aro...
Highcliffe Castle is a Grade I listed building which was built between 1831 and 1835 by Lord Stuart de Rothesay. It has been described as 'the most important remaining example of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture.'
The Castle was ...
Kinnersley Castle is a family home, not a business, and the events we host cover areas that coincide with our own interests and beliefs. Proceeds from these events are seen as a contribution by those who enjoy visiting us towards the upkeep of a prop...
Hampton Court, Herefordshire is a castle on the meadows of the river Lugg, backed by a steep wooded escarpment and surrounded by woodland and grounds of 1,000 acres. Founded by King Henry in the early 15th century the castle has been completely resto...
Dunrobin Castle is the most northerly of Scotland's great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands with 189 rooms. Dunrobin Castle is also one of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the early 1300s, home to the Earls...
As one of the most iconic images of Scotland, Eilean Donan is recognised all around the world. Situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some majestic scenery, it is little wonder that the castle is now on...
Cawdor Castle, for over 600 years the home of the Thanes of Cawdor, is today the home of The Dowager Countess Cawdor.Simply the most romantic castle in the Highlands it has just played host to the wedding of 'Take That' star Mark Owen.Linked with Mac...
Clitheroe Castle Museum opened on 23 May 2009 following major restoration to the Keep and a complete refurbishment of the museum.
Exciting times are here as you can now view the recent developments within the new museum, which include innovative ...
Lancaster Castle, often known as John O' Gaunt's Castle is one of the most historically interesting buildings in Lancashire. Its beginnings date back to Roman times and from its commanding position on the hill overlooking the town of Lancaster and th...
Elvaston Castle Country Park has over 200 acres of woodland, parkland and fascinating formal gardens to explore.
At the heart of the park is the castle building, which despite its name, is really a country house. Today, due to its need for restor...
This remarkable castle, built on the instruction of William the Conqueror, has been my family's home for 450 years. Prior to the Watson's ownership the Castle was held by the crown. There are very few other homes that have been continuously occupied...
Begun in 1277, one of the first castles to be built in Wales by King Edward I. Its most impressive feature is a solitary round tower, isolated from the rest of the inner ward. It features in Shakespeare's Richard II....
Welcome to Alnwick Castle. To many people, on their first sight of this glorious medieval castle, it can seem foreboding, and certainly its history lacks nothing in drama and intrigue. Some of you may recognise us as a film location, for everything f...
The Castle spanning nine acres of land on its rocky plateau high above the Northumberland coastline Bamburgh is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country. Explore the castle and discover more about this iconic building by clicking the di...
This ancient and remarkable fortress is the home of Sir Humphry Wakefield Bt., his wife The Hon. Lady Wakefield and their family. Since 1246 the Castle has been owned by one continuous blood line with the Earls Grey ruling the Castle for the foundin...
Built in 1775 as a hunting lodge for the Duke of Northumberland, Kielder Castle is now the focal point for visitors to the forest. The Castle itself houses a series of exhibitions about the forest and its wildlife, together with an art gallery, infor...
Newark Castle was originally a Saxon fortified manor house, founded by King Edward the Elder. In 1073, Robert Bloet, bishop of Lincoln founded an earthwork motte and bailey fortress on the site. From 1123-33, Bishop Alexander the Magnificent complete...
A 17th Century Ducal mansion, once a medieval stronghold, Nottingham Castle has had a turbulent past. Now home to an internationally renowned art gallery, which has housed exhibitions such as Andy Warhol, Waking Dreams, a collection of Pre-Raphael...
Broughton Castle ... about the most beautiful castle in all England ... for sheer loveliness of the combination of water, woods and picturesque buildings.'
A generous tribute from historian Sir Charles Oman in 1898, and one continued by the noted ...
Extensive, attractive gardens and earthworks on site of Wallingford Castle demolished by Oliver Cromwell. Only limited visual ruins remain. Central Southern England in Bloom best small parks winner....
Sixteenth-century building on a Pictish site occupied by the same family since 1399. Contains Jacobite memorabilia. STB-recommended holiday accommodation available on site....
Drummond Castle was built on a rocky outcrop by John, 1st Lord Drummond. The 2nd Earl, a Privy Councillor to James VI and Charles I, succeeded in 1612 and is credited with transforming both the gardens and the castle. The keep still stands but the re...
Blair Castle and Gardens:
Discover Blair Castle the magnificent ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl, Scotland's most visited historic house and the home of the Atholl Highlanders, Europe's only remaining private army. As a draughty medie...
Ludlow Castle, the finest of medieval ruined castles, set in glorious Shropshire countryside, at the heart of this superb, bustling black & white market town.
Walk through the Castle grounds and see the ancient houses of kings, queens, princes, ju...
The oldest parts of the Castle were built between 1066 and 1074, during the reign of William the Conqueror. There were additions over several centuries. Later, in the late 18th century, Thomas Telford remodelled the interior as a private house. The C...
Wentworth Castle Gardens - the day out on your doorstep. This is a great place to discover with beautiful gardens, deer park and large adventure playground. With family friendly tearooms, gift shop and year round programme of fun events, we are th...
Situated at the heart of England, Tutbury Castle sits on wooded slopes overlooking the winding River Dove, with spectacular views....
Tamworth Castle is the number one heritage
attraction located in the town centre of Tamworth. Six wealthy and influential families have owned the castle over the centuries. On a visit witness the magnificent late medieval Great Hall, grand Tudor C...
The castle grounds are open all year round and admission is free.
There is a small gift shop on the ground floor of the castle.
The Great Tower contains a model of the original castle c1300 AD and interpretation panels tracing the tower's histo...
Cliffe Castle Museum was originally the spectacular mansion of the local Victorian millionaire and textile manufacturer, Henry Isaac Butterfield. It stands in attractive hillside grounds with greenhouses a garden centre, aviaries and a children's pla...
In the Middle Ages, Pontefract Castle was one of the most important fortresses in the country. It became a royal castle in 1399, upon the accession of Henry Bolinbroke to the throne. Richard II subsequently died in the castle the following year aft...
Sandal Castle was probably first built in the early 12th century after William de Warenne received the Manor of Wakefield from Henry I in about 1106.
The earthwork motte and bailey castle was probably completed by about 1130.
The archaeologic...
The ancient earthworks known as Barbury Castle are about five miles south of Swindon and the M4, on the northern edge of the Marlborough Downs.
The main focal points of the park are the Iron Age hill fort, covering about twelve acres, adjacent ro...
Medieval Hemyock Castle is situated in the Blackdown Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The remains may be seen of the gatehouse, part moat and site of other towers around the rectangular plan. There is a small display of pottery shards du...
Haldon Belvedere / Lawrence Castle is a landmark on the Devon skyline which is visible from miles around. It was originally built by Sir Robert Palk, a past Governor of Madras who was reputed to be one of the richest men in England in the late 1700's...
Built in 1391 by Sir Philip Courtenay it has remained in the same family to this day, currently home to the 18th Earl of Devon. Having survived a great deal of damage during the Civil War, the Castle was restored and altered in later centuries. These...
Watermouth Castle is a popular family attraction including Mechanical Music Demonstrations, Musical Water Show, Dungeon Labyrinths, Victorian Displays, Bygone Pier Machines, Animated Fairy Tale Scenes, Tube Slide, Mini Golf, Childrens Carousel, Swing...
Few buildings evoke such a feeling of history as venerable Tiverton Castle. Originally built in 1106 by order of Henry I, and later rebuilt and much enlarged in the 13th and 14th centuries, it was once home of the powerful medieval Earls of Devon an...
Herstmonceux is renowned for its magnificent moated castle, set in beautiful parkland and superb Elizabethan gardens. Built originally as a country home in the mid- 15th - century, Herstmonceux Castle embodies the history of Medieval England and the ...
Fragmentary remains of the Norman castle built on Hastings' West Hill after William the Conqueror's victory at the Battle of Hastings. There are dungeons and the 1066 Story audiovisual presentation is situated alongside in a siege tent. Good views ac...
This imposing Norman castle, offers magnificent views across the town of Lewes and surrounding downland. The adjacent Barbican House holds an extensive collection of local history and archaeological artefacts....
Rye Castle Museum has two sites: the Ypres Tower and East Street -
The Ypres Tower is one of the oldest buildings in Rye, being built in 1249 as part of the town's defences. The Tower has had a chequered history and as you look round the inside y...
There is nearly 1,000 years of history at this great castle, situated in magnificent grounds overlooking the River Arun in West Sussex and built at the end of the 11th century by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel. The oldest feature is the motte, ...
Grimsthorpe Castle rises majestically from the flat landscape of South Lincolnshire, surrounded by its extensive park. The principal front of the house, the last masterpiece of the Baroque architect Sir John Vanbrugh, is calculated to impress. Vanbru...
Berkeley Castle has been lived in by the same family for over 900 years. It is where history has been made. Where Edward II was murdered, where the Barons of the West gathered before Magna Carta and where Queen Elizabeth I hunted and played bowls.
Explore hundreds of weird and wonderful objects inside the museum that show how people used to live in the past. Gaze out of this 18th century mansion house over 400 acres of beautiful parkland and imagine that it all belongs to you and your family....
The Norman remains of Bungay Castle are to be found right in the centre of Bungay hidden behind the main shopping area next to the Buttercross. Bungay Castle dates back to around 1165 and is the second to be built on the site. A motte was erected in ...
Eye Castle is a Norman motte-and-bailey castle with medieval walls and a Victorian folly. When Hugh Bigod, Earl of Norfolk attacked the castle in 1173, during the rebellion against Henry II, it began to lose much of its strategic importance. A...
Situated to the south of the picturesque, historic town of Clare, just two minutes' walk from the town centre, Clare Castle Country Park is a beautiful quiet area to relax, play, get close to nature and learn about Clare's fascinating history. The p...
Southsea Castle was built in 1544, the Castle was part of a series of fortifications constructed by Henry VIII around England's coasts to protect the country from invaders. Barely was the work completed when Henry VIII's flagship, the Mary Rose, trag...
At Upton there are several gardens within a garden which in all extends to about 35 acres. All of the gardens are surrounded by the ARBOTETUM, a collection of rare trees mostly planted in the 1920’s and 30 and include mature specimens of: Drimys w...
The Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle is a unique part of Britain’s maritime heritage, the award-winning coal-fired Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle offers morning, afternoon, evening and full day trips on the Rivers Medway and Thames from the Histori...
About The Castle Climbing Centre The Castle Climbing Centre is run by climbers for climbers and as the premier indoor climbing centre in South East England, we receive more annual visits than any other climbing centre in the U.K. It is constru...
Castle Stalker – in the Gaelic, Stalcaire, meaning Hunter or Falconer – is believed originally to have been the site of a Fortalice (a small fortified building) belonging to the MacDougalls when they were Lords of Lorn, and built around 1320. The...
Castle Sween is one of the earliest castles in Scotland, dating to the 12th century. Later towers were built to Castle Sween in addition to now vanished wooden structures....
With distinctive buses and friendly staff, the choice in selected cities between multi-lingual commentary or live guide, an exclusive Kids Commentary in some destinations,
sightseeing has never been so much fun!...
Boscastle in Cornwall is a picturesque harbour and village on the north Cornish coast. Much of the land in and around Boscastle is owned by the Trust, including the cliffs of Penally Point and Willapark which guard the sinuous harbour entrance, Forra...
The 'last castle to be built in England', set above the Teign Gorge with dramatic views over Dartmoor. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and built between 1911 and 1931 for the self-made food retailing millionaire Julius Drewe, the castle is a masterpiec...
Beautiful wooded valley with 19th-century Gibson mill at its heart, an exemplar of sustainable energy. The landscape encompasses deep rocky ravines, tumbling streams and oak, beech and pine woods. Halfway up the valley loom the Crags - stacks of mill...
One of the largest and best preserved monastic sites in England, the foundation of Castle Acre Priory in about 1090 sprang directly from a visit by William de Warenne II and his wife Gundrada to the great French monastery of Cluny. So impressed were ...
Castlerigg is perhaps the most atmospheric and dramatically sited of all British stone circles, with panoramic views and the mountains of Helvellyn and High Seat as a backdrop. It is also among the earliest British circles, raised in about 3000 BC du...
Approaching Castle Fraser down the Broad Walk, the granite walls rising up to the distinctive turrets make an imposing sight. This was the impression the lairds intended as the present castle took shape between 1575 and 1636 a statement of pride for ...
One of Scotland’s oldest castles The Castle of Old Wick was probably built by an earl of Caithness in the 1100s, making it one of the oldest castles in Scotland. It was built at a time when the kings of Norway held sway over Caithness and Su...
A Lowland stronghold for a Highland chief Everyone is awestruck by Castle Campbell. The imposing ruin stands in solemn isolation upon a narrow ridge, overlooked by a crescent of the Ochil Hills. Two precipitous ravines hem it on either side, t...
A late Gothic church, with a three-sided east end with windows of unusual style. The church is located next to Castle Semple and Barr lochs, both important for their plants and birds. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds RSPB has a visitor c...
Castlelaw Hill Fort is an Iron Age hill fort with a souterrain built in one of the ditches....
Bewcastle is one of the last unspoilt areas of Britain. Farmed, lived in and fought over for three thousand years, it still retains the rugged splendour of the border regions. This is the haunt of buzzard, curlew and lapwing. While sheep now graze ov...
Castle an Dinas is one of the biggest and most outstanding hillforts in Cornwall, set in an imposing position on the summit of Castle Downs with vast panoramic views across central Cornwall....
Castle Howard is one of Britain's finest historic houses and is still home to my family whose forebears conceived, designed, and built it over three centuries ago.
In this, the 21st century, the business flourishing on the estate means we are able...
Ardmaddy Castle Garden rises above its formal walled garden on one side with outstanding views of the Islands on the other. Visitors approach the garden by an old arched footbridge over a burn finding its final path to the sea. A fine collection o...
The Castle Keep of Newcastle upon Tyne was built by Henry II between 1168-1178, it is one of the finest surviving examples of a Norman Keep in the country.
It stands within a site that also contains: an early motte and bailey castle built by Rober...
Welcome to the homepage for Castle Kennedy Gardens, a part of Stair Estates, located in the South West corner of Scotland.
This part of Scotland is surrounded on three sides by the sea, and the influence of the Gulf Stream provides a micro climat...
The Castle of St John is a medieval tower house in the centre of Stranraer. It was built around 1500 by the Adairs of Kilhilt, one of the most powerful families in Wigtownshire. Over the centuries the Castle has been used as a home, a local court, a ...
Cockermouth's Castlegate House Gallery exhibits contemporary paintings, sculpture, ceramics, from English, Scottish and World artists. These include Cumbrian painters Sheila Fell, Percy Kelly, Bill Peascod, June Bennett, Charles Oakley, Winifred Nich...
Castle Donington Museum occupies the ground floor of the Stone House.
A charming 17th Century listed building which was originally used as a farm.
The Museum is situated in the centre of the village, which has many interesting buildings and sho...
This unique example of an English Baroque Garden is being restored as near as possible to the period 1680 - 1762 by Castle Bromwich Hall and Gardens Trust .
The 10 acre Walled Garden contains over 600 species of plants from the period.
The Holl...
One of the best-preserved milecastles on Hadrian's Wall, Poltross includes an oven, a stair to the rampart walk, and the remains of its north gateway....
We have a large collection of domestic and agricultural implements, archaeological and historical information and artifacts and a room dedicated to the 18th century local diarist Parson Woodforde. There is also a costume room and an archive collecti...
Hidden in Brampton Park less than half a mile from the town centre lies Newcastle-Under-Lyme's local history museum featuring over 800 years of Borough history.
Set in beautiful parkland the Museum and Art Gallery has something for everyone. Along...
Housed in the historic former Canvey & District bus Depot built in 1934 and vacated by Eastern National in 1978, the Castle Point Transport Museum is home to over thirty old and rare buses and coaches alongside vintage commercials,military and emerg...
