Castles in the UK

Alnwick, Northumberland  

Alnwick Castle is one of Europe´s finest. It is the second largest inhabited Castle in England and has been the home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309. Dating... more

Arundel, West Sussex  

The medieval Arundel Castle, dating back to the Norman Conquest has been and is the home of the Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Arundel. There are amazing artefacts to see, collected by... more

Bamburgh, Northumberland  

Bamburgh Castle: Once the home to the Kings of Northumbria, this site has been occupied since pre-historic times, from earthen fortifications to a Norman Keep, through to the 20th... more

Belvoir, Grantham, Leicestershire  

Belvoir Castle is the home of the Duke & Duchess of Rutland with stunning views over the Vale of Belvoir. The castle was rebuilt after it was almost destroyed by fire in 1816. One of... more

Berkeley, Gloucestershire  

Berkeley Castle has been in the possession of the same family for over 800 years - celebrated by Shakespeare, the scene of Edward II´s murder in 1327, breached by the Roundheads in the... more

Blair Atholl, Pitlochry, Perth & Kinross  

Blair Castle has been the ancient home and fortress of the Earls and Dukes of Atholl for over 725 years. Some 30 rooms of infinite variety display beautiful furniture, fine collections... more

Maybole, Ayrshire  

Blairquhan Castle was built for Sir David Hunter Blair, 3rd Baronet in 1821-24 by William Burn. A short walk from the castle is a walled garden which was laid out in the 1800s. The... more

Brodick, Isle of Arran, Ayrshire  

Brodick Castle, the site of this ancient seat of the Dukes of Hamilton which was a fortress even in Viking times. The 13th century fortified tower was developed in the 16th century and... more

Brodie Castle, Brodie, Forres, Moray  

Brodie Castle is a fine 16th century Z-plan tower house set in peaceful parkland, was the home of the Brodie family until the late 20th century. Additions were made to the building in... more

Banbury, Oxfordshire  

Broughton Castle is a historic 14th and 16th century moated manor house owned by the Fiennes family for over 600 years, and still lived in by their descendants Lord and Lady Saye &... more

Castle Street, Cardiff, Cardiff Area  

At Cardiff Castle, discover 2000 years of history in the heart of the city. From the arrival of the Romans, through the Norman Conquest to lavish Victorian design - all have left their... more

Drewsteignton, Exeter, Devon  

Castle Drogo was designed by Sir Edward Lutyens and built of granite in the early 20th century for millionaire Julius Drewe. The interior includes family portraits, oak fittings and... more

Sauchen, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire  

Castle Fraser, the most elaborate Z-plan castle in Scotland, was built between 1575 and 1636 by the 6th laird, Michael Fraser. One of the towers is seven stories high. The castle... more

York, North Yorkshire  

Castle Howard is a magnificent 18th century house, built for Charles Howard the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, whose descendants still live there. There is an 80ft painted and gilded dome and... more

Mey, Thurso, Highland  

The Castle of Mey, built in the 1560s, was bought by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1952. So began The Queen Mother´s love affair with The Castle & Gardens of Mey,... more

Nairn, Highland  

Cawdor Castle, the most romantic Castle in the Highlands, has a magical name linked with Macbeth by Shakespeare. It was built in the 14th century as a private fortress by the Thanes of... more

Wooler, Northumberland  

Chillingham Castle has been owned by Earls Grey and relations since the 1200s. Active restoration of complex masonry, metalwork and ornamental plaster has gradually brought the great... more

Chirk, Wrexham  

Chirk Castle is the only Edwardian fortress in North Wales to have been continuously occupied since it was built in the 14th century. The elegant state rooms house elaborate... more

Banchory, Aberdeenshire  

Crathes Castle, built in the 16th century, is an excellent example of an L-tower house of the period with four stories and an attic. King Robert the Bruce granted the lands of Leys to... more

Leominster, Herefordshire  

Croft Castle is 15th century and has recently had a major refurbishment and has been the home of the Croft family since Doomsday. Fine interiors display period furnishings and... more

Maybole, Ayrshire  

Culzean Castle, converted by Robert Adam from a fortified tower house into an elegant residence for David Kennedy, 10th Earl of Cassillis, between 1777 and 1792. It is on a cliff... more

Drumoak, Banchory, Aberdeenshire  

The keep at Drum Castle is one of the three oldest tower houses surviving in Scotland. The original house was enlarged with the creation of a very fine Jacobean mansion in 1619 and a... more

Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway  

Drumlanrig Castle, the Dumfriesshire home of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry KT, was built between 1679 and 1691 by William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry. Local pink sandstone... more

Dunrobin Castle, Golspie, Highland  

Dating from the 13th century, Dunrobin is the most northerly and largest of Scottish houses, with 189 rooms. It has been continuously lived in since the early 1300s. The house was... more

Dunster, Minehead, Somerset  

Originally built in Norman times, Dunster Castle was remodelled in the late 19th century for the Luttrell family, who lived here for 600 years. Only the 13th century gatehouse has... more

Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, Highland  

Any visit to the Isle of Skye would be incomplete without savouring the wealth of history offered by Dunvegan Castle & Gardens, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and... more

Ledbury, Herefordshire  

Eastnor Castle, a `fairytale´ castle in medieval style, was designed in 1812 by John First Earl Somers. A 60ft high Hall leads to a series of state rooms and a Gothic Drawing Room. The... more

Castlehill, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh  

Edinburgh Castle is famous worldwide as an icon of Scotland. Once the home of kings and queens it is now the country´s premier visitor attraction. It boasts a magnificent Great Hall,... more

Roxburghe Estates Office, Kelso, Scottish Borders  

Floors Castle, the largest inhabited castle in Scotland, is home to the Duke of Roxburghe. Designed and built by William Adam, it was begun in 1721 and transformed by Playfair in 1849... more

Fyvie, Turriff, Aberdeenshire  

Fyvie Castle was once a royal stronghold, one of a chain of fortresses throughout medieval Scotland. The five towers are traditionally associated with the five successive families that... more

Glamis, Angus  

Glamis Castle has been the family home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and a royal residence, since 1372. It was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the late Queen Mother... more

Bourne, Lincolnshire  

Grimsthorpe Castle, dating from 13th century, has been the home of the de Eresby family since 1516 when it was granted to the 11th Baron Willoughby de Eresby by Henry V111. The State... more

Edenbridge, Kent  

Hever Castle, a romantic 13th century moated castle, was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII´s second wife - inside there are prayer books signed and inscribed by Anne Boleyn.... more

Highclere, Newbury, Hampshire  

Highclere Castle is the ancestral home of the Earls of Carnarvon. In the 1830s the 3rd Earl commissioned Sir Charles Barry to transform the original Georgian house into this soaring... more

Argyll Estates Office, Cherry Park, Inveraray, Argyll & Bute  

Inveraray Castle was erected between 1745 and 1785 to replace an earlier traditional fortified keep. It was designed by Roger Morris and decorated by Robert Mylne. On display are the... more

Fairlie, Largs, Ayrshire  

Kelburn Castle is the home of the Earls of Glasgow, probably the oldest castle in Scotland to have been continuously inhabited by the same family. The Boyle family, originally de... more

Pittenweem, Anstruther, Fife  

The first records of Kellie Castle date back to the 12th century, and it was restored by James Lorimer in the late 19th century. It is a very fine example of Scottish domestic... more

Maidstone, Kent  

Leeds Castle, known as `the loveliest castle in the world´ and is listed in the Doomesday Book. Rising from two islands in the centre of a lake, this castle has been a Norman... more

Holy Island, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland  

Lindisfarne Castle was built in 1550 to protect Holy Island, this Tudor fort was converted into a private house in 1903 by the young Edwin Lutyens for Edward Hudson. It can only be... more

Ravenglass, Cumbria  

Muncaster Castle, home of the Pennington family since 1208, is probably built on Roman foundations. Anthony Salvin remodelled the Castle in the 1860s. The Great Hall is filled with... more

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire  

Situated high above the city, Nottingham Castle is a 17th century Mansion built over 300 years ago, on the site of a medieval castle originally built by William the Conqueror. A vibrant... more

Market Place, Oakham, Rutland  

Oakham Castle was built in the 12th century by Walkelin de Ferrers, the Great Hall is one of the finest examples of domestic architecture for that period in Britain. In the hall is a... more

Bangor, Gwynedd  

Penrhyn Castle is a massive 19th century neo-Norman castle, built for the wealthy Pennant family. It is crammed with fascinating things including a one-ton slate bed made for Queen... more

Rhos, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire  

A beautiful hybrid, Picton Castle consists of a 13th century castle with splendid Georgian wing added in 1790s. Guided tours span nearly 800 years, starting in the medieval castle,... more

Welshpool, Powys  

Powis Castle is built on a high rock overlooking the garden terraces and has been the home of the Earls of Powis for many generations. There is a wealth of fine paintings and furniture,... more

Staindrop, Darlington, Durham  

Raby Castle; This dramatic mediaeval Castle, built by the mighty Nevills has been home to Lord Barnard´s family since 1626. Set within a large deer park, with delightful rolling... more

Ripley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire  

Ripley Castle was the dowry received by Sir Thomas Ingilby when he married Edeline Thweng in the early 1300s, and the Ingilby family still live there. The 16th century Old Tower was... more

Market Harborough, Northamptonshire  

Rockingham Castle was built by William the Conqueror and was regularly used by the early Kings of England until it was granted to Edward Watson in the 16th century, whose ancestors... more

New Road, Sherborne, Dorset  

Sherborne Castle is an historic country house, built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and extended by the Digby family whose stately home it has been since 1617. The rooms are a variety of... more

Sizergh, Kendal, Cumbria  

The medieval Sizergh Castle has been the home of the Strickland family for over 750 years. The 14th century tower was extended in Tudor times. It has an exceptional series of... more