The Castle Rolls
Family-friendly castles.
27 castles that visitors recommend for a family day out - the ones where people specifically said their kids loved it - drawn from publicly available Google reviews across every operator and all four nations.
England - 17
Bodiam Castle
East Sussex
“…n to the age of the group, so making it fun for kids. There are videos running inside the building telling of th…”
Bolsover Castle
Derbyshire
“…indows, ceilings, walls and tapestries. Fun for kids, with a very good dressing up box for to put on costumes an…”
Bolton Castle
North Yorkshire
“…eat cafe and toilets. Parking costs £5. Great for children and adults. Due to the nature of the building not accessibl…”
Deal Castle
Kent
“…twear if you're planning to explore it. Family friendly exhibits inside cover the castle's history and stories of t…”
Dudley Castle
West Midlands
“…otally worth it. Highly recommend for a family day out!”
Eastnor Castle
Herefordshire
“…of toilets at good intervals. Excellent family day out”
Farnham Castle Keep
Surrey
“…nal and well worth visiting. Me and the kids loved this and will return on a Wednesday for the guided tour of…”
Hadleigh Castle
Essex
“…family picnic and explore the history. Family friendly, lovely for couples and a perfect hang out for teenagers to…”
Hever Castle
Kent
“…places, educational aspect and so much fun for kids - mazes, hills, lakes, boats, archery, playground with sand…”
Lowther Castle
Cumbria
“…to see. Lovely gardens and grounds too. Kids loved the play area which seemed to have something for everyone.…”
Middleham Castle
North Yorkshire
“…e best ruined castle I’ve ever visited. Kids will love all the little pitch black nooks/rooms and all the rooms th…”
Old Wardour Castle
Wiltshire
“…le and lake to take in the view of. Our kids enjoyed being able to explore the castle.”
Portland Castle
Dorset
“…love this castle, our second visit. The kids loved playing with cannons and dressing up and watching the helic…”
Tamworth Castle
Staffordshire
“…e to Georgian and Victorian settings. - Family‑friendly exhibits - Interactive displays, narrow staircases to explo…”
Tintagel Castle
Cornwall
“Great place to visit. Kids enjoyed it. Great scenery. Lots of history to take in. Be prepared…”
Totnes Castle
Devon
“…ny times, but we had a great visit! The children loved pretending to be soldiers as we walked around the wall. The…”
Walmer Castle and Gardens
Kent
“…all, a great mix of history, space, and family-friendly fun. Well worth a visit.”
Northern Ireland - 1
Scotland - 5
Balvaird Castle
Perth and Kinross
“…k for most visitors. It’s dog-friendly, family-friendly, and best of all - free to visit. Tip: Visit around golden…”
Edinburgh Castle
City of Edinburgh
“…at experience for the whole family. The kids loved it, and our in-laws and siblings really enjoyed exploring t…”
Edzell Castle and Garden
Angus
“…e able to search without interruptions. Kids enjoyed a run about the wide open spaces. Some of the best gardens…”
Kinnaird Head Castle Lighthouse
Aberdeenshire
“…dels, and maritime artifacts. It’s very family-friendly, and you can explore both indoors and outdoors. The site is…”
Tolquhon Castle
Aberdeenshire
“…knowledgeable and friendly staff, too. Great for kids and picnics”
Wales - 4
Abergavenny Castle & Museum
Monmouthshire
“A lovely free to visit dog/family friendly attraction this ruins/museum is. Fairly near to the town ce…”
Conwy Castle
Conwy
“…o imagine life in the Middle Ages. The children loved exploring the towers and walkways, while we enjoyed learnin…”
Gwrych Castle
Conwy
“Lovely family day out. Good price. Beautiful views. Amazing event to spend time w…”
Newcastle (Bridgend) Castle
Bridgend
“…much left, just the outer wall remains, great for kids to run around as you can keep an eye on them, entrance gate…”
Where this list comes from
Every castle here is listed because a real visitor recommended it for children or a family day out in a Google review - not because it has a car park. It's the castles where families themselves said their kids enjoyed it, so it reflects real visits rather than a marketing claim. The neighbouring question, which castles actually have a playground on site, is answered from the operators' own websites on the castles with playgrounds page.
Always check before you book
What suits one family's ages and stamina won't suit another's, and activities and trails are often seasonal or holiday-only. Check the castle's own page (linked from every entry) for what's on before you plan a day around it.