Caister Castle
Norfolk, England
Photo: John Fielding from Norwich, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Adrian S Pye, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Adrian S Pye, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Private owner
- Condition
- Partial ruin
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Nearest station
- Great Yarmouth, 2.8 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- Tower plus motor museum; May-September
Pinpoint
Castle Ln, Caister-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth NR30 5SN
Telephone 01664 567707
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
A 15th-century tower, reputed to be one of the earliest brick buildings in England, now paired improbably with a private motor museum housing over 200 cars, bikes, and oddities, open only from May to September. Reviewers consistently rate the car collection above the castle history itself, which gets comparatively little on-site interpretation.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The motor museum - reviewers call it genuinely world-class, unexpectedly so given how little it's advertised.
Before you go
It only opens May to September, so check the season before travelling; the tower climb to the top is worth doing for the views, but reviewers note you need reasonable fitness to manage it.
What visitors say
Caister Castle reviews · 4.4 / 5 across 565 Google reviews
Reviewers are consistently enthusiastic about Caister Castle, with the on-site vintage car collection repeatedly singled out as a highlight alongside the climb up the medieval tower for its views.
Staff are described as friendly and helpful, and the small tearoom gets praised for good value.
One reviewer wished there was more information provided about the castle itself, feeling the exhibits leaned more towards the car collection.
“A fantastic place to visit, particularly if you're interested in old vehicles. There's an energetic climb up the tower, with amazing views of the area, a woodland walk and a s.all tearoom providing very light snacks”- Ronnie Aldous, visitor review
Walks at Caister Castle
Caister Castle is on our walks roll because a visitor described a walk here in their own review:
“There's an energetic climb up the tower, with amazing views of the area, a woodland walk and a s.all tearoom providing very light snacks”- Ronnie Aldous, visitor review
Comparing options? See every UK castle with a walk visitors describe.
One visitor's account, not a route guide. We hold no distances, waymarks or start points. For the actual route, check the operator's own site and an Ordnance Survey map before you set out, and treat coastal and clifftop paths as weather- and tide-dependent.
History
Sir John Fastolf · 1432-1446
Sir John Fastolf, inspiration for Shakespeare's Falstaff, built this 100-foot brick tower between 1432 and 1446-among England's earliest brick structures. Besieged and captured by the Duke of Norfolk in 1469, it fell into ruin after 1600 when a new house replaced it nearby. The tower survives intact today and remains climbable.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Terrain & accessibility
- “Nice little cafe, and the car collection was really good, so many different vehicles, bikes, prams and so much more.” - Sarah Towers
- Facilities
- “There's an energetic climb up the tower, with amazing views of the area, a woodland walk and a s.all tearoom providing very light snacks” - Ronnie Aldous
Common questions about Caister Castle
Where is Caister Castle?
Caister Castle is in Norfolk, England, at Castle Ln, Caister-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth NR30 5SN.
Do you need a ticket to visit Caister Castle?
Yes - Caister Castle is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by Private owner. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
Are there walks at Caister Castle?
Visitor reviews describe walking here - one reviewer wrote: “There's an energetic climb up the tower, with amazing views of the area, a woodland walk and a s.all tearoom providing very light snacks”. That is one visitor's account rather than a route guide, so check the operator's own site and an Ordnance Survey map for distances, paths and start points before setting out.
What is the highlight of visiting Caister Castle?
The motor museum - reviewers call it genuinely world-class, unexpectedly so given how little it's advertised.
Is Caister Castle a ruin or still intact?
Caister Castle is a partial ruin - Tower plus motor museum; May-September.
