England’s landscape reveals itself through centuries of fortification — from the Tower of London’s medieval fortress complex guarding the Thames to the romantic ruins of Tintagel Castle perched above Cornwall’s Atlantic coast, from the strategic might of Dover Castle’s clifftop position to the intimate Tudor elegance of Hever Castle’s moated manor house. These structures span a thousand years of architectural evolution, encompassing everything from Norman keeps and Plantagenet palaces to Georgian follies masquerading as medieval strongholds. Yet visiting English castles intelligently requires understanding far more than their historical significance — opening hours, parking arrangements, ticket prices and specific accessibility considerations determine whether your visit delights or frustrates.
These English castle guides provide the practical information that shapes successful visits, organised by region to help you plan efficient itineraries without crisscrossing the country unnecessarily. Each article delivers essential visitor details — from understanding which part of the Tower of London deserves your immediate attention to discovering how to access Tintagel’s most dramatic viewpoint without paying the full admission price, from navigating the parking challenges at Warwick Castle to appreciating what makes Dunstanburgh Castle’s remote coastal location both spectacular and logistically demanding. Whether you’re planning a concentrated castle tour through Yorkshire, exploring the West Midlands’ fortified heritage, or incorporating one or two strategic castle visits into a broader English exploration, these guides help you arrive prepared with realistic expectations about what each castle offers and what visiting actually entails.
London castle guides
- The part of the Tower of London you should visit first.
- Is the Tower of London worth the ticket price?
South-East England castle guides
- A practical guide to visiting Dover Castle.
- What to expect inside St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
- A practical guide to visiting Hever Castle in Kent.
- A practical guide to visiting Leeds Castle in Kent.
- Plan your visit to Bodiam Castle in Sussex.
South-West England castle guides
- Visiting Berry Pomeroy Castle in Devon – England’s most haunted castle.
- How to get into the best bit of Tintagel Castle without paying.
East Midlands castle guides
- What to expect at Peveril Castle, Castleton.
- A practical guide to visiting Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle.
West Midlands castle guides
- Practical tips for visiting Kenilworth Castle.
- Visitor tips for Stokesay Castle in Shropshire.
- Is there free parking at Warwick Castle?
Yorkshire castle guides
- What to see and do at Helmsley Castle.
- A practical guide to visiting Pontefract Castle.
North-East England castle guides
- A practical guide to Dunstanburgh Castle.
- Visiting Durham Castle – what you need to know.
- How to get the best out of a visit to Alnwick Castle.
- A first time visitors’ guide to Bamburgh Castle.
- What to expect when visiting Newcastle Castle.
North-West England castle guides
- Prices, opening hours and visitor tips for Beeston Castle in Cheshire.
- Practical guide to visiting Carlisle Castle in Cumbria.