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Castles in UKSearch for attractions in the UK here! Alnwick Castle and Gardens - AlnwickAlnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited Castle in England, the first being Windsor Castle, and has been the home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309. The earliest mention of Alnwick Castle in the history books appears soon after 1096 when Yves de Vescy became baron of Alnwick and erected the earliest parts of the Castle. The Castle was first restored by the 1st Lord Percy of Alnwick in the early 1300's and portions of this restoration remain today, including the Abbot's Tower, the Middle Gateway and the Constable's Tower. Ashby de la Zouch Castle - LeicestershireAshby 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 and only achieved castle status in the 15th century, by which time the hall and buttery had been enlarged, with a solar to the east and a large, integral kitchen added to the west. In 1474, Lord Hastings, the Lord Chamberlain to Edward IV, constructed the chapel and the keep, Hastings Tower – a castle within a castle.Ashby has hosted royal visitors – notably Mary, Queen of Scots, twice imprisoned here, and James I, who attended masques and lavish entertainments. Aydon Castle - NorthumberlandOne of the finest examples in England of a 13th-century manor house, Aydon Castle was originally built as an undefended house during a time of unusual peace in the Borders. When this ended it was fortified, but was pillaged and burnt by the Scots in 1315, seized by the English rebels two years later and subjected to much modification. In the 17th century Aydon was converted into a farmhouse, remaining so until 1966. Balmoral Castle - AberdeenshireRoyal Deeside is the magnificent setting for Balmoral Castle, the summer holiday home of our Royal Family. Originally a sixteenth century tower - house, it was visited by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1848. The woodland near the castle is said to have reminded Prince Albert of Thuringia in his own Country. The Prince bought the house and estate as a gift for the Queen. In 1853 William Smith was commissioned to design the castle in the Scottish Baronial style, the work was completed in 1855. Visitors are welcomed into the ballroom to view an exhibition of items from the castle. Paintings, silverware, porcelain and the famous Balmoral tartans can be admired there. Barnard Castle - Co. DurhamPerched high atop a steep bank overlooking the River Tees, Barnard Castle remains an imposing sight. It was damaged in 1630 when Sir Henry Vane bought it to use its stone to rebuild his preferred residence, Raby Castle. The foundations date back to the 12th century. Once one of the largest castles in northern England, it was also the principal residence of the Baliol family and a major power base in the many conflicts between the English and Scottish crowns, the rebellious nobles and the church. Battle Abbey and Battlefield - East SussexThere’s one date in English history that everyone knows – 1066, the year the invading Normans defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings.There is just as much myth surrounding the conflict as known fact. The two armies did not even fight at Hastings, but at a place north of the town now named Battle. In the ruins of the abbey that King William later built to commemorate the event, you can imagine you’re standing on the very spot where the defeated King Harold fell. These days, a free interactive audio tour re-creates the sounds of the battle, as you stand where the Saxon army watched the Normans advancing towards them. With the Saxons occupying the higher ground, the Normans were forced to fight uphill. The battle raged for some hours with neither side gaining an advantage, until its course was decided when the Normans pretended to flee, but then turned back to cut down the Saxons who had broken ranks in pursuit. Bayham Old Abbey - East SussexStanding on the Kent and Sussex borders, this Premonstratensian monastery was founded by Robert Thornham at the turn of the 12th century, and was one of only two houses in England coming directly under the dependency of Premontre (the mother-house in France). Constructed from the golden-coloured local sandstone, Bayham Abbey displays a richness of decoration that was unusual in Premonstratensian churches. The outstanding quality of the carving is also something of a mystery in what was a relatively modest foundation. Beeston Castle - CheshireStanding majestically on a sheer rocky crag, Beeston has perhaps the most stunning views of any castle in England. Its history stretches back more than 4,000 years to when it was a Bronze Age hillfort. The huge castle was built in 1226 and soon became a royal stronghold, only falling centuries later during in the Civil War. ‘The Castle of the Rock’ exhibition outlines the history of this strategic site from prehistoric times, through the Middle Ages to the Civil War. Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens - NorthumberlandThe vast, magnificent garden at Belsay Hall, listed Grade I in the Register of Parks and Gardens, is largely the work of two related men. Sir Charles Monck designed the dramatic Quarry Garden – a series of ravines, corridors and pinnacles, and his grandson, Sir Arthur Middleton, enriched it with all manner of rare and exotic plants. Species of rhododendrons flower for most of the year here and there is also a large Hybrid Rhododendron Garden, in full bloom from late May/June. Then there are the formal terraces and winter garden. Belsay is definitely a plantsman’s garden and much of the original planting survives, including magnificent magnolias, Pieris floribunda and Exochorda giraldii. Berkeley Castle - GloucestershireThis ancient castle has been preserved and gradually transformed from a savage Norman fortress into a truly stately home with a wealth of treasures, paintings by English and Dutch masters, tapestries, furniture of an interesting diversity, silver and porcelain. Highlights of the castle are the massive Norman Keep with the Dungeon and the cell where King Edward II was murdered in 1327, the Picture Gallery, the Dining Room, the medieval Buttery and Kitchens, the Historic Great Hall and the magnificent State Apartments. The castle is surrounded by sweeping lawns and terraced Elizabethan Gardens with many rare plants, with a lily pond and with Queen Elizabeth I's bowling green. Before or after a visit to the Castle there are the delights of the Butterfly Farm set in the walled garden adjacent to the car park. Berry Pomeroy Castle - DevonThis romantic ruined castle is situated in a picturesque Devon valley and steeped in local folklore and legend. The gatehouse and defensive curtain wall date from the late 15th century and behind them are the remains of an Elizabethan country house built C.1560-1600 by the Seymour family. Edward Seymour, first Duke of Somerset – also known as the uncle and governor of the boy-king, Edward VI – acquired the castle in 1547. On the wall of the gatehouse chamber is a 15th-century painting of the three kings bearing gifts to Christ. A fascinating audio tour is also available. Blair Castle - PitlochryWelcome to Blair Castle, the ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. The castle enjoys one of Scotland’s finest settings in the heart of Highland Perthshire. With its roots in the 13th century, Blair Castle’s history extends over some 740 years, during which time it has welcomed countless generations of visitors. At the gateway to the Grampian Mountains on the route north to Inverness, the location was highly strategic. Today we can enjoy the wild beauty of the surrounding landscape but centuries ago it was a threatening and dangerous place. One of the first private homes to open to the public in Scotland, Blair welcomes more visitors than any other. We hope you will enjoy this web site and that you will find the opportunity to come and discover for yourself the castle, its extensive collections and the beautiful grounds. Bolsover Castle - Derbyshire‘By an unlikely miracle,’ wrote the historian and champion of the Castle, Mark Girouard, ‘the keep at Bolsover has survived into this century as an almost untouched expression in stone of the lost world of Elizabethan chivalry and romance.’ The house you see today stands on the site of a medieval castle built by the Peveril family shortly after the Norman Conquest. Sir Charles Cavendish bought the old castle and began work on his ‘Little Castle’ project in 1612. His creation – despite its embattled appearance – was not designed for defence, but for elegant living. Sir Charles intended the house as a retreat from the world to an imaginary golden age of chivalry and pleasure. His son, William, who later became a Duke, inherited the Little Castle in 1616 and set about its completion, assisted by the designer John Smithson. William then added the stately rooms of the Terrace Range and, in 1634, invited the Stuart court to a masque specially written for the occasion. Bothwell Castle - UddingstonThe mighty medieval castle of Bothwell was built on a bluff above a bend in the River Clyde. Building was started by Walter of Moray some time in the latter half of the 1200s. Invasion and repeated siege meant that the original design of the castle was never completed and what you see today is largely the work of the Earls of Douglas in the years around 1400. Bothwell Castle is roughly rectangular in shape. Its west end is occupied by the remains of the massive circular donjon or keep. The east end of the castle comprises the great hall and the south east tower. The angle behind the great hall was, until about 1700, home to the north east tower, a large square tower built in about 1400 to replace the siege-damaged donjon and considerably taller than the surviving south east tower. Only its base survives. Brougham Castle - CumbriaBrougham Castle was built by Robert de Vieuxpont in 1214 on the site of a Roman fort. The great tower largely survives, though later buildings were destroyed by fire in 1521. The keep and service buildings were surrounded by a timber palisade, replaced by Robert Clifford with a stone curtain wall C. 1300. He further strengthened the castle against attacks from the Scots and it was to prove vital during the Anglo-Scottish wars and the Wars of the Roses. Brougham’s military usefulness diminished after medieval times and there were periods of neglect, when the owners preferred to live elsewhere. It was also once home to Lady Anne Clifford, who inherited it in 1643. Today, the site features an introductory exhibition, including carved stones from the nearby Roman fort. Buildwas Abbey - ShropshireSet beside the River Severn, against a backdrop of wooded grounds a short distance from the Iron Bridge, are the extensive remains of this Cistercian abbey, founded in 1135. Bushmead Priory - BedfordshireRare survival of an Augustinian priory’s medieval refectory, with its original timber roof, wall paintings and stained glass. Byland Abbey - North YorkshireThis beautiful ruin, set in the shadow of the Hambleton Hills, was once one of the great northern Cistercian monasteries. A truly outstanding example of early Gothic architecture, its splendid tiles are a testament to its earlier magnificence. Calshot Castle - HampshireThis defence fort, built by Henry VIII to defend the sea passage to Southampton, was recently used as a Navy and RAF base. Camber Castle - East SussexA rare example of an original Henrician fort. Nature Reserve, including castle. A visit to Camber Castle today involves a pleasant one mile walk across flat fields. The castle is managed by Rye Harbour Nature Reserve in co-operation with English Heritage and guided walks around the nature reserve and castle are organised regularly. The exterior of the castle is free to visit at any reasonable time, and the interior can be visited on weekend afternoons in the summer. Carisbrooke Castle - Isle of WightCrowning a hilltop south of Newport, this castle was the dominant defensive position on the Isle of Wight for more than 600 years. With its keep, battlements and working well house Carisbrooke Castle is an exciting site for the whole family to explore.There was a Saxon presence here in the 7th century and a timber campaign fort in the late 11th century, while the curtain wall and keep were built after 1101. The present castle has existed on this site since 1100, when the island was granted to the de Redvers family. In 1293, the castle passed on to the crown and, when England came under threat from France and Spain, Carisbrooke became enormously significant in the defence of the realm. After the Spanish Armada passed alarmingly close in 1588, it was suspected that the Spanish might attempt to seize the island. Carlisle Castle - CumbriaCarlisle Castle amply repays those wishing to explore its 900-year history. Once commanding the western end of the Anglo-Scottish border, the castle has witnessed, over the centuries, countless conflicts and sieges, as both the English and Scots laid claim to it. The original castle was an earth-and-wood construction, built in 1093 by William II. In 1122, when Henry I gave orders that the existing defences at Carlisle Castle be refashioned, work on the first stone buildings began. The city walls and the stone keep were constructed over the next decade, today, the great keep is the oldest building in the fortress complex.The elaborate wall-carvings in one small cell were probably made by prisoners of Richard of Gloucester in about 1480, but these weren’t the last prisoners to be held at Carlisle. Castle Acre Priory - NorfolkA pit stop for pilgrims over the centuries, with a recreated herb garden. The delightful village of Castle Acre boasts an extraordinary wealth of history and is a good example of Norman estate planning. Situated on the Peddars Way, Castle Acre was originally built as a fortified town, protected by its own banks, gateways and ditch. While the town provided for the material needs of the occupants of the castle, the Cluniac priory was built to cater for their spiritual requirements. Castle Acre Priory was inspired by the monastery at Cluny in France and was home to a community of monks until 1537, when Henry VIII disbanded all monastic houses. The village stands on the Pilgrim routes to Thetford, Bromholm Priory and Walsingham. Castle Fraser - InverurieA visit to Castle Fraser is a great day out for the whole family. It is one of the finest castles in Aberdeenshire and is the largest, most elaborate Scottish castle built on the traditional 'Z' plan. The striking simplicity of its Great Hall and the stout walls of this beautiful building evoke the atmosphere of past centuries. In the Hall you can see a traditional 'Laird's lug', learn some of the castle's intriguing history and listen to some of its ghost stories! The castle contains many Fraser family portraits, including one by Raeburn and fine 19th century carpets, curtains and bed hangings. The castle stands in 350 acres of beautiful farmland. Round off your visit by relaxing in the tearoom, enjoying home-baked cakes in the ambience of the 19th-century castle kitchen. Castle Rising Castle - NorfolkCastle Rising Castle Chirk Castle - ChirkChirk Castle, occupied virtually continuously as a castle and stately home for almost 700 years, sits on a hilltop with its best views over the Ceiriog valley to the south. The successor to two known mottes in the area, it was probably built by Roger Mortimer, of the powerful Marcher family, who was granted the area by Edward I after the Welsh defeat in 1282. He was almost certainly given royal assistance in its design and construction, and its similarities to Beaumaris suggest that work may have started as late as 1295, perhaps in response to the Welsh rising of 1294. Cleeve Abbey - SomersetCleeve Abbey Clifford`s Tower - North YorkshireClifford`s Tower Conisbrough Castle - South YorkshireConisbrough Castle Craigievar Castle - AlfordCraigievar Castle is a massive stone L-plan tower house of seven storeys, completed in 1626 it has a fairy-tale appearance. This fairytale-like castle, which exemplifies some of the best Scottish Baronial architecture, seems to have grown naturally out of the beautiful rolling hillsides of Aberdeenshire. The Great Tower stands just as it was when completed by Master William Forbes - 'Danzig Willie' - in 1626. The simplicity of its lower towers contrasts perfectly with the turrets, the cupolas and corbelling which embellish the roof line. Within its walls the collection includes an excellent show of family portraits and 17th-and 18-th century furniture. This perfect Scottish castle remains as unspoiled as it was when lived in by the Forbes-Sempill family. Dartmouth Castle - DevonThis brilliantly positioned defensive castle juts out into the narrow entrance to the Dart Estuary, with the sea lapping at its foot. Begun in the late 14th century, the castle was intended to protect the warehouses and homes of Dartmouth’s merchants. It was one of the earliest castles built with the prospect of artillery attack in mind. It is said that Chaucer based The Shipman character in his Canterbury Tales on the colourful John Hawley – the merchant and mayor of Dartmouth who built the first castle on this site. Today, you can enjoy other tales of the castle as you journey through time from the Tudor period and the Civil War to World War II. Displays on the castle’s 600-year history add to the experience. Deal Castle - KentDeal Castle is one of the finest Tudor artillery works in England. It was built as part of a chain of coastal fortresses at great speed between 1539 and 1540, by order of King Henry VIII, who feared an invasion by the Catholic powers of Europe. Its squat, rounded turrets were designed to deflect incoming cannon fire and act as platforms from which to launch barrages from increasingly sophisticated artillery pieces. Along with Walmer Castle and the largely vanished Sandown Castle, Deal guarded the sheltered anchorage of the Downs – the stretch of water between the shore and the infamous Goodwin Sands, a graveyard of ships. Today, you can explore the whole of the castle from the storerooms to the first-floor captain’s residence. Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum - CambridgeshireDenny Abbey was founded in 1159 by Benedictine monks, as a dependent priory of the great cathedral monastery of Ely. At the heart of Denny stands the medieval Franciscan refectory and the church. Adapted by the Templars, the church underwent radical alterations in 1327, eventually becoming a farmhouse. Explore this lovely abbey still featuring superb Norman interiors. At different times, it housed Benedictine monks, the Knights Templars and nuns of the Franciscan order, the Poor Clares. See the Franciscan nuns' refectory of the mid 14th Century and the rooms converted for their founder, the Countess of Pembroke. Learn how Denny has evolved through the centuries with our displays and children's activities. Dover Castle - KentAt 18:57 hours on 26 May 1940, the signal was received to start Operation Dynamo – the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force and French troops from Dunkirk’s beaches on the northern coast of France. The network of underground tunnels beneath Dover Castle became the nerve centre of the whole operation. The best estimate was that only 45,000 of the troops could be brought back, yet Winston Churchill announced to the House of Commons on 4 June that 338,000 troops had been saved, despite the operation itself coming under attack.Today, you can experience life as it was lived by the 700 personnel based here in the worst days of the World War II. Relive the drama as a wounded pilot is taken into the underground hospital to fight for his life and see the Command Centre that Churchill visited to see the plans that helped lead to Allied victory. Drum Castle - KincardenshireThis castle, one of the most beautiful in Royal Deeside, was owned by the Irvine family of Drum for 653 years. It is very special because it combines a medieval keep, a Jacobean mansion house and a later Victorian extension. The keep is one of the three oldest tower houses in Scotland, probably dating from 1290. The first-floor room, originally the Great Hall, now houses an impressive library. Superb furniture and paintings provide a visual feast for visitors. The atmospheric tearoom is in the original service area of the castle. Nearby, the shop has a wide selection of souvenirs and gifts. In 1644 soldiers destroyed the gardens at Drum, but today you can enjoy the Garden of Historic Roses, created over the last few years-especially delightful in June and July. Dunstanburgh Castle - NorthumberlandDramatic Dunstanburgh Castle was built at a time of political crisis and Anglo-Scottish conflict, when relations soured between King Edward II and his nephew, Thomas Earl of Lancaster, who built the castle. The fallout from their quarrel led eventually to rebellion and the capture and execution of Thomas in 1322. By the 16th century, Dunstanburgh had fallen into decay. It had been built on the grandest possible scale and had reflected the lavish tastes of the earl, but was then left to ruin, perceived to be of no further use. Dunster Castle - DunsterDunster Castle dominates a steep hill overlooking the picturesque village of Dunster. The hill has been fortified since Saxon times, although nothing now remains of these early defences. During the early medieval period the sea reached the base of the hill offering a natural defence, and strong walls, towers, ramparts and outworks protected the other sides. In the late 14th century the castle came into the possession of the Luttrell family, and remained in their ownership for the next six hundred years. The house was modified and developed over the following centuries, and much of the current appearance dates from the 18th century when the park was landscaped and the Green Court, terraced grounds and follies were created. Much of the furniture in the house also dates from this period. Dymchurch Martello Tower - KentDymchurch Martello Tower Eastnor Castle - HerefordshireIn the dramatic setting of the Malvern Hills and surrounded by a beautiful deer park, arboretum and lake, this fairy-tale castle is the home of the Hervey-Bathurst family. Eastnor has undergone a triumphant renaissance in recent years, and many of the Castle treasures are now displayed for the first time in richly decorated Italianate and Gothic splendour. The Castle grounds contain a famous arboretum of spectacular rare trees descending to a 22 acre lake. The deer park beyond, on the western slopes of the Malvern Hills, has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest within the local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Attractions include, Castle Restoration Exhibition, Adventure Playground, Assault Course & Children's Maze, Lakeside Walk and Woodland Walk, Gift Shop, Children's Fun Worksheets, Tea-room, Caravans, Camping and Outdoor Events. Edinburgh CastleA majestic landmark which dominates the capital city's skyline just as it has dominated Scotland's long and colourful history. Edinburgh Castle is the best known and most visited of Historic Scotland's buildings. Perched on an extinct volcano and offering stunning views, this instantly recognisable fortress is a powerful national symbol, and part of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site. A rich mix of architectural styles reflects the castle's complex history and role as both stronghold and seat of Kings. The tiny St Margaret's Chapel, Edinburgh's oldest building, dates from the 1100s. Etal Castle - NorthumberlandIn 1341, Robert Manners was granted a licence to fortify his home to protect it against the threat of attack from Scottish raiders. In 1513, when an army of 30,000 Scots led by James IV invaded England, Etal Castle fell, but these invaders were then defeated in the bloody battle that ensued on Flodden Hill. An award-winning exhibition tells the story of the Battle of Flodden and of the border warfare that existed here before the union of the English and Scottish crowns in 1603. Farleigh Hungerford Castle - SomersetFarleigh Hungerford Castle Farnham Castle Keep - SurreyFarnham Castle Keep Finchale Priory - Co. DurhamFinchale Priory Fort Brockhurst - HampshireFort Brockhurst Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal - North YorkshireFountains Abbey has been described as the ‘crown and glory of all that monasticism has left us in England’. There are 800 years of history to be explored in the 320-hectare (790-acre) estate, a World Heritage Site combining architecture and landscape of outstanding historical and aesthetic importance. The ruins of the Cistercian abbey, which was founded in 1132, are the largest such remains in Europe and provide a dramatic focal point for the landscape garden, which was laid out during the first half of the 18th century by John Aislabie. Fountains Mill, one of Europe’s oldest surviving mills, once supplied the monks of Fountains Abbey with flour for baking. It has now been in continuous use for more than 800 years. Framlingham Castle - SuffolkFramlingham 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 influential people in the court of Henry II. Architecturally, the castle is notable for its curtain wall and mural towers, an early example of this style. The castle fulfilled a number of roles. It was at the centre of the struggle between the Bigod barons and the Crown, and Mary Tudor stayed here in 1553, before being crowned Queen. At the end of the 16th century it was a prison; later still a poorhouse and school were built in the grounds. Furness Abbey - CumbriaSt Mary of Furness was founded in 1123 by Stephen, later King of England. It originally belonged to the Order of Savigny, but passed, in 1147, to the Cistercians. They gradually rebuilt and enlarged the ornate church that the Savigniac order had built. This second church was itself remodelled in the 15th century. The church, set in the ‘vale of deadly nightshade’, has long been perceived as a very romantic building – Wordsworth visited the abbey on several occasions and referred to it in his Prelude of 1805. An exhibition on the history of the abbey, with a display of elaborately carved stones, can be seen in the visitor centre. (See also Bow Bridge) Fyvie Castle - TurriffUndoubtedly one of the finest castles in Scotland, Fyvie can trace its royal connections back to 1211 and William the Lion. Robert the Bruce held open-air court at Fyvie and Charles I spent some years here as a child. The five towers give the castle an air of majesty. Each tower of this magnificent Scottish Baronial fortress is traditionally associated with one of the castle's five successive families - Preston, Meldrum, Seaton, Gordon and Forbes-Leith. Art lovers will appreciate Fyvie's rich portrait collection, including works by Batoni, Romney, Gainsborough, Opie, Lawrence and Hoppner. The castle also boasts one of the largest private collections of Raeburns in the world. Glamis Castle - AngusGlamis Castle is the family home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne and has been a royal residence since 1372. It was the childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the birthplace of Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret and the legendary setting of Shakespeare's play "Macbeth". Though the Castle is open to visitors it remains a family home, lived in and loved by the Strathmore family. The Park, landscaped towards the end of the 18th century, contains the Italian Garden - two acres enclosed within high Yew Hedges and a Nature Trail amongst the magnificent Douglas Firs and hardwood trees. Here visitors can enjoy the peace and tranquillity of Glamis.
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