County guide · The Castle Rolls

Best castles in Cumbria

14 castles in Cumbria, from Carlisle's centuries as one of Britain's most besieged border fortresses to the Lake District's quieter ruins.

14Castles listed here

Wray Castle, the best-reviewed castle in this list.

Map

Every castle on this list - 14 in total, 6 free to enter, 1 you can stay overnight in

Wray Castle

Cumbria

Victorian mock-Gothic castle; closed for refurbishment until 2027

★ 4.1 · 5,707 reviews

Sizergh Castle

Cumbria

Medieval pele-tower house; NT now brands it Sizergh

★ 4.6 · 5,100 reviews

Carlisle Castle

Cumbria

Working border fortress with roofed keep

★ 4.4 · 4,695 reviews

Lowther Castle

Cumbria

Stabilised shell with major gardens

★ 4.6 · 4,609 reviews

Brougham Castle

Cumbria

★ 4.6 · 1,351 reviews

Brough Castle

Cumbria

★ 4.5 · 992 reviews

Penrith Castle

Cumbria

Ruin in public park

★ 4.3 · 758 reviews

Appleby Castle

Cumbria

Castle hotel plus daily keep/grounds tours

★ 4.2 · 523 reviews

Egremont Castle

Cumbria

Free access ruin in public park

★ 4.3 · 248 reviews

Piel Castle

Cumbria

On Piel Island; seasonal ferry from Roa Island

★ 4.8 · 213 reviews

Dalton Castle

Cumbria

14th-century pele tower; open Saturday afternoons in season

★ 4.1 · 104 reviews

Kendal Castle

Cumbria

Free hilltop ruin, Katherine Parr association

Muncaster Castle

Cumbria

B&B in stable-yard buildings, not castle

Pendragon Castle

Cumbria

Informal free access, Mallerstang valley