England is filled with castles! And most of them are very well preserved and amazing to visit. We visited a few English castles and even our kids loved them. They have beautiful museums with lots of old military gear as well as gowns and party dresses from the old times. There is lots to learn in these places as they give you a snapshot in time of British high society. Read on about four of these beautiful fairy tale castles in Britain.
England is known for its many medieval castles that are scattered throughout the English country side. Come along with me as we explore my favorite English castles to visit.
1. Warwick Castle, Warwickshire
Warwick Castle, England – Majestic Warwick Castle with the impressive Guy’s Tower.
See more photos from Warwick Castle, England
Warwick Castle is the quintessential medieval English castle complete with watchtower, drawbridge and a moat. It is a gorgeous site to see once you pass the ticket booth and gift shop. A narrow walking path winds its way downhill and very soon, after a small turn the view opens up completely and the castle appears in full view. It really looks like a castle from a fairy tale.
Warwick castle is worth an entire day in order to take in all the sights, walk on the walls and attend few of the shows they offer. My kids’ favorite show was the Large Birds of Prey show with the largest birds I have seen.
My best tip for visiting Warwick Castle is to arrive early in the day before the tourist buses get there so you don’t have to park your car at the bottom of the hill. If you are planning to visit this area you can look for budget hotels near Warwick Castle.
If you have a few days, you can couple your visit to Warwick Castle with a visit to the gorgeous Stratford-upon-Avon.
2. Leeds Castle, Kent
Birds flying low near Leeds Castle
See more photos from Leeds Castle, England
Leeds Castle in Kent, England is my favorite English castle to visit. It is not as touristy as Warwick Castle and it is smaller. The grounds around the castle are simply gorgeous and the castle itself is built on a small island on a large lake. It’s just a beautiful medieval fairy tale castle.
I spent an entire day at Leeds Castle by myself, but my kids would have loved it as well. There are lots of wild birds flying around the castle and the lake, while the vegetation is abundant and beautifully maintained. Making some extra time to stroll around the beautiful grounds is well worth your time.
Leeds Castle is situated in the beautiful countryside in Kent. Having a rental car is the easiest way to visit. If you are planning a visit to the nearby Canterbury then make sure you visit Leeds Castle. You can look for best hotel prices near Leeds Castle.
3. Windsor Castle, Berkshire
A part of the Southern Wall from Windsor Castle.
See more photos from Windsor, England
Windsor Castle is the most famous English castle and the most visited simply because it makes for a simple and beautiful day trip from London. This castle is popular for good reason, and you should also plan to visit it even if only only spend a few days in London. Windsor Castle is an impressive castle with an amazing history which serves as a working royal residence as well.
Windsor Castle is situated in the the town of Windsor which is a charming small town built over many hundreds of years around the castle itself. The train station area and the Main Street across from the castle provide more areas to visit. If you are driving to Windsor you can find parking on River Street right behind the Main Street across from the castle. If you’re planning to visit this area you can find budget hotel prices around Windsor.
4. Rockingham Castle, Northamptonshire
Road leading to the old church on the Rockingham Castle estate.
See more photos from Rockingham Castle, England
Rockingham Castle is a very old English castle with huge walls and impressive towers. The interior is not large which makes for a very pleasant castle tour. For us, the highlight of our visit to Rockingham Castle were the beautiful gardens which are simply gorgeous. Rockingham Castle gardens are among my most favorite British gardens.
5. Rye Castle, East Sussex
Beautiful view of Rye Castle.
See my photos from Rockingham Rye
Also known as Ypres Tower, Rye Castle is a small but imposing medieval keep. Rye Castle was part of the string of fortifications built against the frequent raids of the French.
The surrounding medieval village of Rye is also beautiful to visit. Rye is one of my favorite day trips from London.
Plan Your English Castles Visits
British Castles are usually large properties and as such there is a lot to see and a very large property to walk through. Therefore, it is best to plan to spend an entire day in order to fully enjoy your experience. In addition, while the castle property is usually located near a town, they are generally far for walking from the town’s train station and therefore they are best visited by using a rental car.
- Warwick Castle official website.
- Leeds Castle official website.
- Windsor Castle official website.
- Rockingham Castle official website.
- Rye Castle official website
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