County guide · The Castle Rolls
Best castles in County Durham
8 castles in County Durham, led by Raby - the Nevilles' 14th-century fortress in a deer park near Staindrop, and the most-reviewed castle on this list. In the city itself, Durham Castle shares a World Heritage Site with the cathedral and is still lived in, as the home of University College. Only Bowes costs nothing: its Norman keep stands in the corner of the Roman fort at Lavatrae, guarding the old road over Stainmore, and English Heritage leaves the site open.
Map
Every castle on this list - 8 in total, 1 free to enter, 5 you can stay overnight in
Raby Castle
County Durham
Lumley Castle
County Durham
Dining and events open to non-residents
Barnard Castle
County Durham
Durham Castle
County Durham
Guided tours; B&B during university vacations
Walworth Castle
County Durham
16thC castle hotel near Darlington
Auckland Castle
County Durham
Former bishops' palace-castle, restored 2019; self-catering Auckland Palace Stays cottages sit yards from the gates
Brancepeth Castle
County Durham
~76 open days yearly; castle holiday flat
Bowes Castle
County Durham Free entry
Massive Norman keep ruin
Common questions
How many castles are there in County Durham?
This roll lists 8 visitable castles, fortresses and tower houses in County Durham. Of those, 1 is free to enter and 3 charge admission.
Which castles in County Durham are free to visit?
Bowes Castle is the one open-access castle in County Durham with no admission charge.
What is the best-rated castle in County Durham?
Raby Castle carries the strongest public rating of any castle in County Durham on this roll - 4.6/5 from 3,926 Google reviews.
Can you stay overnight in a castle in County Durham?
Yes - 5 of the castles listed here offer overnight stays, including Lumley Castle, Durham Castle, Walworth Castle and Auckland Castle.
Can you reach any castle in County Durham by train?
3 of the 8 sit within 1.5 miles of a railway station, namely Durham Castle (Durham, 0.3 miles), Auckland Castle (Bishop Auckland, 0.7 miles) and Lumley Castle (Chester-le-Street, 1.0 miles). Those are straight-line distances from the station to the castle, so the walk on the ground is longer than the figure.
Can you go inside every castle in County Durham?
Not all of them on the same terms. 4 of the 8 restrict what a visitor can see. Lumley Castle and Walworth Castle are hotels, so there is no way in without booking a room or a table. At Durham Castle and Brancepeth Castle you get the grounds or a booked tour rather than free run of the building.