Every visitable castle
in the United Kingdom.
Find a castle near you, see what visitors actually made of it, and work out whether it is worth the trip.
432 castles, across every heritage body and private estate that opens its gates - English Heritage, National Trust, Cadw, Historic Environment Scotland, and every independent castle besides. Each entry shows its Google rating and review count, whether it is free to walk into or ticketed, and whether it stands whole or in ruin.
The 10 top-rated castles
Barcaldine Castle
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Roch Castle
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Hever Castle
Kent, England
Dunnottar Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Castell Dinas Bran
Denbighshire, Wales
Castell y Bere
Gwynedd, Wales
Glenapp Castle
South Ayrshire, Scotland
Carnasserie Castle
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Glengorm Castle
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Piel Castle
Cumbria, England
The chart - all 432 plotted
432 castles
Hever Castle
Kent, England
Dunnottar Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Tower of London
Greater London, England
Windsor Castle
Berkshire, England
Conwy Castle
Conwy, Wales
Bamburgh Castle
Northumberland, England
Dover Castle
Kent, England
Leeds Castle
Kent, England
Arundel Castle
West Sussex, England
Corfe Castle
Dorset, England
Dunrobin Castle
Highland, Scotland
Dunster Castle
Somerset, England
Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly, Wales
Powis Castle
Powys, Wales
Pembroke Castle
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Bodiam Castle
East Sussex, England
Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden
Warwickshire, England
Chirk Castle
Wrexham, Wales
Scotney Castle
Kent, England
Glamis Castle
Angus, Scotland
Penrhyn Castle
Gwynedd, Wales
Culzean Castle
South Ayrshire, Scotland
Edinburgh Castle
City of Edinburgh, Scotland
Walmer Castle and Gardens
Kent, England
Blackness Castle
Falkirk, Scotland
Raglan Castle
Monmouthshire, Wales
Stirling Castle
Stirling, Scotland
Eilean Donan Castle
Highland, Scotland
Warwick Castle
Warwickshire, England
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff, Wales
Blair Castle
Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Tintagel Castle
Cornwall, England
Carew Castle & Tidal Mill
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Caernarfon Castle
Gwynedd, Wales
Alnwick Castle
Northumberland, England
Craigmillar Castle
City of Edinburgh, Scotland
Lincoln Castle
Lincolnshire, England
Tantallon Castle
East Lothian, Scotland
Goodrich Castle
Herefordshire, England
Muncaster Castle
Cumbria, England
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
Northumberland, England
Stokesay Castle
Shropshire, England
Rochester Castle
Kent, England
Dunluce Castle
County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Scarborough Castle
North Yorkshire, England
Castle Howard
North Yorkshire, England
Beaumaris Castle
Isle of Anglesey, Wales
Castell Dinas Bran
Denbighshire, Wales
Harlech Castle
Gwynedd, Wales
Kidwelly Castle
Carmarthenshire, Wales
Carreg Cennen Castle
Carmarthenshire, Wales
Hillsborough Castle
County Down, Northern Ireland
Bolsover Castle
Derbyshire, England
Ludlow Castle
Shropshire, England
Castle Fraser
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Kent, England
Inveraray Castle
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Carisbrooke Castle
Isle of Wight, England
Old Wardour Castle
Wiltshire, England
Dinefwr Castle
Carmarthenshire, Wales
Portchester Castle
Hampshire, England
Berkeley Castle
Gloucestershire, England
Sizergh Castle
Cumbria, England
Knaresborough Castle
North Yorkshire, England
Fyvie Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Pendennis Castle
Cornwall, England
Lowther Castle
Cumbria, England
Castell Coch
Cardiff, Wales
Sudeley Castle
Gloucestershire, England
Chepstow Castle
Monmouthshire, Wales
Eastnor Castle
Herefordshire, England
Ogmore Castle
Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Warkworth Castle and Hermitage
Northumberland, England
Balhousie Castle (Black Watch Castle & Museum)
Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Raby Castle
County Durham, England
Cawdor Castle
Highland, Scotland
Tynemouth Priory and Castle
Tyne and Wear, England
Croft Castle
Herefordshire, England
Dolbadarn Castle
Gwynedd, Wales
Langley Castle
Northumberland, England
Crathes Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Drummond Castle
Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Caerlaverock Castle
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Guildford Castle
Surrey, England
Castle Ward
County Down, Northern Ireland
Richmond Castle
North Yorkshire, England
St Michael's Mount
Cornwall, England
Grimsthorpe Castle
Lincolnshire, England
Barnard Castle
County Durham, England
Fonmon Castle
Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Bolton Castle
North Yorkshire, England
Laugharne Castle
Carmarthenshire, Wales
Cyfarthfa Castle
Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Castle Rising Castle
Norfolk, England
Caldicot Castle
Monmouthshire, Wales
Castle Campbell
Clackmannanshire, Scotland
Dunstanburgh Castle
Northumberland, England
Hartlebury Castle
Worcestershire, England
Llansteffan Castle
Carmarthenshire, Wales
Aberystwyth Castle
Ceredigion, Wales
Lauriston Castle
City of Edinburgh, Scotland
Tamworth Castle
Staffordshire, England
Lulworth Castle
Dorset, England
Kelburn Castle
North Ayrshire, Scotland
Durham Castle
County Durham, England
Amberley Castle
West Sussex, England
Castell y Bere
Gwynedd, Wales
Drumlanrig Castle
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Kilchurn Castle
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Brodick Castle
North Ayrshire, Scotland
Hensol Castle
Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Glenapp Castle
South Ayrshire, Scotland
Crossbasket Castle
South Lanarkshire, Scotland
Middleham Castle
North Yorkshire, England
Tretower Court and Castle
Powys, Wales
Mountfitchet Castle
Essex, England
Broughton Castle
Oxfordshire, England
Duart Castle
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Ballygally Castle
County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Carnasserie Castle
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Drum Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Nunney Castle
Somerset, England
Dryslwyn Castle
Carmarthenshire, Wales
Berry Pomeroy Castle
Devon, England
Picton Castle
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Floors Castle
Scottish Borders, Scotland
Brougham Castle
Cumbria, England
Grosmont Castle
Monmouthshire, Wales
Aberdour Castle and Gardens
Fife, Scotland
Hadleigh Castle
Essex, England
Flint Castle
Flintshire, Wales
Thirlestane Castle
Scottish Borders, Scotland
Dirleton Castle
East Lothian, Scotland
Thornbury Castle
Gloucestershire, England
Duffus Castle
Moray, Scotland
Lympne Castle
Kent, England
Barcaldine Castle
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Craigievar Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Bridgnorth Castle
Shropshire, England
Hedingham Castle
Essex, England
Farleigh Hungerford Castle
Somerset, England
Portencross Castle
North Ayrshire, Scotland
Roch Castle
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Auckland Castle
County Durham, England
Lochleven Castle
Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Skenfrith Castle
Monmouthshire, Wales
Rockingham Castle
Northamptonshire, England
Huntly Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
White Castle
Monmouthshire, Wales
Castle Kennedy
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Ballindalloch Castle
Moray, Scotland
Dundrum Castle
County Down, Northern Ireland
Montgomery Castle
Powys, Wales
Ewloe Castle
Flintshire, Wales
Glengorm Castle
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Moreton Corbet Castle
Shropshire, England
Skipness Castle and Chapel
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Castle Menzies
Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Piel Castle
Cumbria, England
Whittington Castle
Shropshire, England
Auchindoun Castle
Moray, Scotland
Edlingham Castle
Northumberland, England
Hopton Castle
Shropshire, England
Coity Castle
Bridgend, Wales
Gwydir Castle
Conwy, Wales
Castle Acre Castle and Bailey Gate
Norfolk, England
Inverlochy Castle Hotel
Highland, Scotland
Llawhaden Castle
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Hermitage Castle
Scottish Borders, Scotland
Kilmartin Castle
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Antrim Castle Gardens
County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Threave Castle
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
St Donat's Castle
Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Delgatie Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Dolforwyn Castle
Powys, Wales
Tolquhon Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Dalquharran Castle
Ayrshire, Scotland
Leslie Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Kildrummy Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Kinnaird Head Castle Lighthouse
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Narrow Water Castle
County Down, Northern Ireland
Craigston Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Edzell Castle and Garden
Angus, Scotland
Urquhart Castle
Highland, Scotland
Muness Castle
Shetland Islands, Scotland
Castle Sween
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Castle Leod
Highland, Scotland
Killyleagh Castle
County Down, Northern Ireland
Doune Castle
Stirling, Scotland
Belfast Castle
County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Cromwell's Castle
Cornwall, England
Carrickfergus Castle
County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Lancaster Castle
Lancashire, England
Monea Castle
County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
Harewood Castle
West Yorkshire, England
Skipton Castle
North Yorkshire, England
Framlingham Castle
Suffolk, England
St Andrews Castle
Fife, Scotland
Castle Drogo
Devon, England
Elcho Castle
Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Lindisfarne Castle
Northumberland, England
Lumley Castle
County Durham, England
Old Sarum
Wiltshire, England
Glandyfi Castle
Ceredigion, Wales
Colchester Castle
Essex, England
Newcastle Castle
Tyne and Wear, England
Gwrych Castle
Conwy, Wales
Noltland Castle
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Dean Castle
East Ayrshire, Scotland
Helmsley Castle
North Yorkshire, England
King Charles's Castle
Cornwall, England
Beeston Castle
Cheshire, England
Dartmouth Castle
Devon, England
Ripley Castle
North Yorkshire, England
Tattershall Castle
Lincolnshire, England
Powderham Castle
Devon, England
Pevensey Castle
East Sussex, England
Sandal Castle
West Yorkshire, England
Conisbrough Castle
South Yorkshire, England
Newark Castle
Nottinghamshire, England
Bodelwyddan Castle
Denbighshire, Wales
Herstmonceux Castle
East Sussex, England
Southsea Castle
Hampshire, England
Watermouth Castle
Devon, England
Brodie Castle
Moray, Scotland
Dumbarton Castle
West Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Pontefract Castle
West Yorkshire, England
Glenarm Castle
County Antrim, Northern Ireland
St Mawes Castle
Cornwall, England
Chillingham Castle
Northumberland, England
Enniskillen Castle
County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
Lewes Castle
East Sussex, England
Rhuddlan Castle
Denbighshire, Wales
Broughty Castle
Dundee City, Scotland
Stafford Castle
Staffordshire, England
Dunstaffnage Castle and Chapel
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Castle of Mey
Highland, Scotland
Orford Castle
Suffolk, England
Manorbier Castle
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Ashby de la Zouch Castle
Leicestershire, England
Oystermouth Castle
Swansea, Wales
Sherborne Castle
Dorset, England
Shrewsbury Castle
Shropshire, England
Restormel Castle
Cornwall, England
Oakham Castle
Rutland, England
Denbigh Castle
Denbighshire, Wales
Lullingstone Castle
Kent, England
Christchurch Castle and Norman House
Dorset, England
Rye Castle (Ypres Tower)
East Sussex, England
Dundonald Castle
South Ayrshire, Scotland
Melville Castle Hotel
Midlothian, Scotland
Brough Castle
Cumbria, England
Bramber Castle
West Sussex, England
Berkhamsted Castle
Hertfordshire, England
Burgh Castle Roman Fort
Norfolk, England
Kellie Castle
Fife, Scotland
Castle Stalker
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Spofforth Castle
North Yorkshire, England
Abergavenny Castle & Museum
Monmouthshire, Wales
Kendal Castle
Cumbria, England
Fonab Castle Hotel
Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Stonefield Castle Hotel
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Bolingbroke Castle
Lincolnshire, England
Farnham Castle Keep
Surrey, England
Hay Castle
Powys, Wales
Hylton Castle
Tyne and Wear, England
Huntingtower Castle
Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Earl's Palace, Birsay
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Chiddingstone Castle
Kent, England
Lochranza Castle
North Ayrshire, Scotland
Norham Castle
Northumberland, England
Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle and Ramparts
Northumberland, England
Acton Burnell Castle
Shropshire, England
Baconsthorpe Castle
Norfolk, England
Loch Doon Castle
East Ayrshire, Scotland
Brancepeth Castle
County Durham, England
Caerhays Castle
Cornwall, England
Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Smailholm Tower
Scottish Borders, Scotland
Tully Castle
County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
Morton Castle
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Balvaird Castle
Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Spynie Palace
Moray, Scotland
Star Castle
Cornwall, England
Craignethan Castle
South Lanarkshire, Scotland
Astley Castle
Warwickshire, England
Crichton Castle
Midlothian, Scotland
Upton Castle
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Cawood Castle
North Yorkshire, England
Clackmannan Tower
Clackmannanshire, Scotland
Cubbie Roo's Castle
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Castle of St John, Stranraer
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Narrow Water Keep
County Down, Northern Ireland
Preston Tower
East Lothian, Scotland
Rayleigh Mount
Essex, England
Greenknowe Tower
Scottish Borders, Scotland
Drumcoltran Tower
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Dunyvaig Castle
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Ferniehirst Castle
Scottish Borders, Scotland
Marisco Castle
Devon, England
Chipchase Castle
Northumberland, England
Kilclief Castle
County Down, Northern Ireland
Morpeth Castle
Northumberland, England
Southampton Castle Vault
Hampshire, England
Scotstarvit Tower
Fife, Scotland
Roxburgh Castle
Scottish Borders, Scotland
Richard's Castle
Herefordshire, England
Wiston Castle
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Cardoness Castle
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Menstrie Castle
Clackmannanshire, Scotland
Jordan's Castle
County Down, Northern Ireland
Bristol Castle
Bristol, England
Kisimul Castle
Na h-Eileanan Siar, Scotland
Caergwrle Castle
Flintshire, Wales
Pendragon Castle
Cumbria, England
Bronllys Castle
Powys, Wales
Lydford Castle and Saxon Town
Devon, England
Daw's Castle
Somerset, England
Alloa Tower
Clackmannanshire, Scotland
Old Beaupre Castle
Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Newport Castle
Newport, Wales
Strome Castle
Highland, Scotland
Tiverton Castle
Devon, England
Kingswear Castle
Devon, England
Bowes Castle
County Durham, England
Glenbuchat Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Orchardton Tower
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Wigmore Castle
Herefordshire, England
Carsluith Castle
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Hailes Castle
East Lothian, Scotland
Wallingford Castle
Oxfordshire, England
Sutton Valence Castle
Kent, England
Crookston Castle
Glasgow City, Scotland
Weobley Castle
Swansea, Wales
Newcastle (Bridgend) Castle
Bridgend, Wales
Balvenie Castle
Moray, Scotland
St Briavels Castle
Gloucestershire, England
Scalloway Castle
Shetland Islands, Scotland
Dalton Castle
Cumbria, England
Cadzow Castle
South Lanarkshire, Scotland
Aydon Castle
Northumberland, England
Rothesay Castle
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Greencastle Royal Castle
County Down, Northern Ireland
Dornoch Castle Hotel
Highland, Scotland
Sherborne Old Castle
Dorset, England
Burleigh Castle
Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Oxwich Castle
Swansea, Wales
St Quentin's Castle (Llanblethian)
Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Egremont Castle
Cumbria, England
Claypotts Castle
Dundee City, Scotland
St Catherine's Castle
Cornwall, England
Bickleigh Castle
Devon, England
Castle of Old Wick
Highland, Scotland
Caister Castle
Norfolk, England
St Leonard's Tower
Kent, England
Calshot Castle
Hampshire, England
Corgarff Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Rougemont Castle
Devon, England
Clitheroe Castle
Lancashire, England
Newark Castle
Inverclyde, Scotland
Longtown Castle
Herefordshire, England
Camber Castle
East Sussex, England
Odiham Castle
Hampshire, England
Craig-y-Nos Castle
Powys, Wales
Chester Castle: Agricola Tower and Castle Walls
Cheshire, England
Dolwyddelan Castle
Conwy, Wales
Tutbury Castle
Staffordshire, England
Clun Castle
Shropshire, England
Okehampton Castle
Devon, England
Weeting Castle
Norfolk, England
Dunollie Castle
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Ludgershall Castle and Cross
Wiltshire, England
Wolvesey Castle (Old Bishop's Palace)
Hampshire, England
Braemar Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Launceston Castle
Cornwall, England
Cilgerran Castle
Pembrokeshire, Wales
MacLellan's Castle
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Walworth Castle
County Durham, England
Lochmaben Castle
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Armadale Castle, Gardens & Museum
Highland, Scotland
Dunseverick Castle
County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Pickering Castle
North Yorkshire, England
Loughor Castle
Swansea, Wales
Eynsford Castle
Kent, England
Donnington Castle
Berkshire, England
Deddington Castle
Oxfordshire, England
Halton Castle
Cheshire, England
Peveril Castle
Derbyshire, England
Bungay Castle
Suffolk, England
Penrith Castle
Cumbria, England
Ravenscraig Castle
Fife, Scotland
Skipsea Castle
East Riding of Yorkshire, England
Tonbridge Castle
Kent, England
Appleby Castle
Cumbria, England
Portland Castle
Dorset, England
Bothwell Castle
South Lanarkshire, Scotland
Yarmouth Castle
Isle of Wight, England
Peckforton Castle
Cheshire, England
Hurst Castle
Hampshire, England
Whitstable Castle & Gardens
Kent, England
Kirby Muxloe Castle
Leicestershire, England
Prudhoe Castle
Northumberland, England
Criccieth Castle
Gwynedd, Wales
Tulloch Castle Hotel
Highland, Scotland
Etal Castle
Northumberland, England
Dalhousie Castle Hotel
Midlothian, Scotland
Compton Castle
Devon, England
Deal Castle
Kent, England
Winchester Castle (Great Hall)
Hampshire, England
Monmouth Castle
Monmouthshire, Wales
Upnor Castle
Kent, England
Hazlewood Castle
North Yorkshire, England
Belvoir Castle
Leicestershire, England
Carlisle Castle
Cumbria, England
Cardigan Castle
Ceredigion, Wales
Duffield Castle
Derbyshire, England
Oxford Castle & Prison
Oxfordshire, England
Dunvegan Castle
Highland, Scotland
Totnes Castle
Devon, England
Dudley Castle
West Midlands, England
Norwich Castle
Norfolk, England
Swansea Castle
Swansea, Wales
Hastings Castle
East Sussex, England
Clifford's Tower, York
North Yorkshire, England
Inverlochy Castle
Highland, Scotland
Balmoral Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Ruthin Castle
Denbighshire, Wales
Inverness Castle (Inverness Castle Experience)
Highland, Scotland
Wray Castle
Cumbria, England
Nottingham Castle
Nottinghamshire, England
Haverfordwest Castle
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Taunton Castle
Somerset, England
No castle in the roll matches all of those at once. Try widening the radius, or dropping a feature.
Or start from a ready-made list
How this roll was compiled
Every entry started from the official property lists of the UK's heritage bodies - English Heritage, the National Trust, the National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and Cadw - then extended to every private estate, council-run castle, castle hotel and independent trust with a genuine visitor offer. A castle only qualifies if the public can actually get in: a ticket booth, a regular tour, an open ruin, or a hotel occupying the building itself. Earthwork-only sites with nothing standing are left out by design.
Ratings, review counts and the practical notes on each page come from current visitor reviews. Where a fact came from a single reviewer rather than a verified source, it is phrased that way rather than stated as settled history.
Quick answers
How many castles are there in the United Kingdom?
This roll lists 432 castles with a genuine public offer - ticketed entry, regular tours, an accessible ruin, or a hotel occupying the castle itself. Thousands more sites have castle earthworks or foundations with nothing standing to visit; those are excluded here by design.
Which UK castles are free to visit?
120 castles in this roll are free, open-access ruins with no ticket booth - mostly Cadw and Historic Environment Scotland sites maintained as scheduled monuments. Look for the 'Free, open access' badge on any entry.
Can you stay overnight in a UK castle?
Yes - 97 castles in this roll offer bookable accommodation, from English Heritage holiday cottages within the walls at Dover and Walmer to full castle hotels like Thornbury and Amberley. See the full list on the Sleep in a Castle page.
What's the difference between English Heritage, National Trust, Cadw and Historic Environment Scotland castles?
They're the four largest heritage bodies caring for UK castles: English Heritage (England), National Trust (England/Wales/Northern Ireland), Cadw (Wales, the Welsh Government's service), and Historic Environment Scotland (Scotland). Each runs its own membership scheme, and a single membership only covers its own properties - this roll covers all of them plus every private, council and independently run castle besides.
Which is the largest castle in the UK?
Windsor Castle is widely cited as the largest continuously occupied castle in the world, and Dover Castle is the largest castle in England by area. Several Scottish and Welsh entries in this roll - Stirling, Edinburgh, Caerphilly - are also among the largest in their own countries.