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Amazing castles of England remind us of the country’s long and interesting past, full of old stories. These huge stone buildings are found everywhere and still show how powerful, romantic, and well-built things were back then. Some were strong forts built to fight off enemies, while others were fancy homes for kings and queens. Come with us as we look at ten of the most well-known and interesting castles in England. Each one tells its own special story. Let’s take a look at the castles of England. When you explore these amazing places, you’ll learn interesting stories and understand more about England’s long history.
Table of Contents
| Rank | The Castle of England | Built By |
| Windsor Castle | William the Conqueror (started) | |
| Tower of London | William the Conqueror (started) | |
| Dover Castle | Origins pre-Norman Conquest, significant Norman work by William the Conqueror, and Henry II | |
| Warwick Castle | William the Conqueror | |
| Leeds Castle | Robert de Crevecoeur (on a site with earlier history) | |
| Bamburgh Castle | Ida of Bernicia (Anglo-Saxon – early fort), Norman castle built later | |
| Alnwick Castle | The earliest parts Norman, significant development over centuries by the Percy family | |
| Bodiam Castle | Sir Edward Dalyngrigge | |
| Highclere Castle | Built on the site of an earlier medieval structure, the current house is largely 19th-century. | |
| Conwy Castle | King Edward I |
List of Top 10 Castles of England Worth Visiting
This list shows ten of the best and most important old castles of England. You can learn a lot about England’s history and see amazing old buildings at these places.
1. Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle sits proudly high up overlooking the River Thames. Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest castle in the world that people still live in. The Royal Family has lived there for almost a thousand years. This was built by William the Conqueror a very long time ago, since then every king and queen have kept building it and made it bigger.
This Castle of England is also called the Round Tower, which has fancy rooms inside known as the state Apartments, with the church St. George’s Chapel, where many kings and queens are buried.
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Windsor, Berkshire |
| Construction Year | 11th Century onwards |
| Primary Function(s) | Royal Residence, Fortress |
| Tour Availability | Yes, State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel, Precincts, etc. |
| Key Facts to Note | Oldest and largest occupied castle globally; Site of significant royal events (weddings, funerals); Houses significant art collections. |
2. Tower of London
The Tower of London isn’t just a strong fort; it’s a really old castle right by the River Thames. William the Conqueror built the White Tower. Throughout history, it has served many purposes: it was a royal home, a place to keep weapons and treasure, and even a zoo for animals! Plus, it was also used as a prison.
The Tower of London used to be a place where people were locked up and killed. Now, you can see the shiny Crown Jewels there, and guards called Beefeaters work there. There’s an old story that says if the ravens leave, the Tower and the King or Queen will be in trouble.
| Feature | Details |
| Location | London |
| Construction Year | 11th Century onwards |
| Primary Function(s) | Royal Residence (historical), Fortress, Prison (historical), Treasury, Mint |
| Tour Availability | Yes, including the Crown Jewels, the White Tower, Beefeater Tours, etc. |
| Key Facts to Note | Historically served multiple roles; The Crown Jewels are a major attraction; Associated with famous prisoners and executions. |
3. Dover Castle
Because it looks over the water between England and France, Dover Castle was built by King Henry II, is in a really important place. This big, old castle has helped protect England for hundreds of years, so people call it the “Key to England.” It even has ancient things like a lighthouse from Roman times and a church from Saxon times, and lots of secret tunnels from World War II.
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Dover, Kent |
| Construction Year | 11th Century onwards |
| Primary Function(s) | Military Fortress, Royal Residence |
| Tour Availability | Yes, including the Great Tower, Secret Wartime Tunnels, and Roman Pharos. |
| Key Facts to Note | Strategically important for coastal defence; Contains remnants from Roman and Saxon periods; Extensive network of WWII tunnels. |
4. Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is old, with a history of over 900 years. It’s a fun place to visit because you feel like you’re in the olden days. William the Conqueror built it a long time ago, and it became a strong castle during the Middle Ages.
Today, Warwick Castle is known for its amazing historical shows, like jousting knights and falconry displays. This Castle in England has fancy rooms, gardens, with beautiful views.
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Warwick, Warwickshire |
| Construction Year | 11th Century onwards |
| Primary Function(s) | Medieval Fortress, Royal Residence (historical), Tourist Attraction |
| Tour Availability | Yes, including State Rooms, Towers, Dungeons, and Historical Shows. |
| Key Facts to Note | Notable for its medieval reenactments and historical interpretations, Associated with powerful figures like Richard Neville (“Kingmaker”). |
5. Leeds Castle
People often say that Leeds Castle is “the prettiest castle in the world.” It looks beautiful because it sits on two islands in a calm lake in Kent. It started as a strong fort built by the Normans and later became a home for six of England’s queens from the Middle Ages.
Inside Leeds Castle, there are beautiful rooms with lovely gardens (they even have a maze!). Because it’s in such a beautiful location and has a long history, it feels like a truly magical place.
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Leeds, Kent |
| Construction Year | 12th Century onwards |
| Primary Function(s) | Royal Residence (historical), Private Estate, Tourist Attraction |
| Tour Availability | Yes, including the castle interiors, gardens, maze, and falconry displays. |
| Key Facts to Note | Known for its picturesque setting on islands, served as a residence for six medieval queens; it features diverse gardens and attractions. |
6. Bamburgh Castle
This castle of England, Bamburgh, is in a cool spot on black rocks looking over the Northumberland coast. It’s been there since Anglo-Saxon times, so it has a long history. Because it’s big and in an important place, it was a very strong castle.
Inside Bamburgh Castle, you will see the big, fancy rooms. You’ll learn about the Vikings who were there and how it’s linked to royalty, with great views of the coast and the islands. The castle has a museum too, with lots of cool old things that show its history.
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Bamburgh, Northumberland |
| Construction Year | 11th Century onwards (site with earlier fortifications) |
| Primary Function(s) | Fortress (historical), Royal Residence (historical), Museum |
| Tour Availability | Yes, including state rooms, museum collections, and grounds. |
| Key Facts to Note | Occupied a historically significant site with Anglo-Saxon origins; it offers significant archaeological finds related to the region. |
7. Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle is the second-largest castle in England where people still live. The Percy family has lived there for over 700 years. Because it looks like a cool, old-fashioned castle, it’s been used in lots of movies, especially as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films!
Inside Alnwick Castle, you will find the big, beautiful rooms and the lovely gardens. There’s even a special garden with poisonous plants! This castle’s building holds so much history, including the Percy family who lived there.
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Alnwick, Northumberland |
| Construction Year | 11th Century onwards |
| Primary Function(s) | Ducal Residence, Historic Site, Film Location |
| Tour Availability | Yes, including state rooms, gardens (including Poison Garden), and broomstick training. |
| Key Facts to Note | The ancestral home of the Duke of Northumberland, Served as a filming location for major movies and TV shows; Features a unique Poison Garden. |
8. Bodiam Castle
Bodiam Castle in East Sussex is a classic castle from the 1300s with water all around it, and it feels like something out of a fairytale. Its even shape, big towers, and wide moat make it a perfect place for taking pictures.
The inside of Bodiam Castle is mostly ruins, but the outside still looks great. You can easily picture how big and impressive it used to be. You can walk around the water, check out the main gate, and climb the towers for nice views of the countryside.
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Robertsbridge, East Sussex |
| Construction Year | 14th Century |
| Primary Function(s) | Moated Fortress (historical), Tourist Attraction |
| Tour Availability | Yes, exterior and limited interior access, moor walks. |
| Key Facts to Note | A well-preserved example of a late medieval moated castle; Its symmetrical design is architecturally significant. |
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9. Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle is a huge, beautiful castle in England that’s on the same land as an old castle. It’s a really important place historically, so we’re including it. You probably know it as the place where they filmed the “Downton Abbey” show.
Inside Highclere Castle, you can see the pretty rooms. Outside, there are big gardens designed by a well-known gardener. You can also learn about the Carnarvon family, who have lived there for a long time. One of them, the 5th Earl, is famous for discovering the tomb of the Egyptian king Tutankhamun.
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Highclere, Hampshire |
| Construction Year | 19th Century (on the site of an earlier castle) |
| Primary Function(s) | Country House, Historic Site, Film Location |
| Tour Availability | Yes, limited tours of the interior and gardens are available. |
| Key Facts to Note | Became famous as the setting for “Downton Abbey”; The Carnarvon family has significant historical connections, including the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. |
10. Conwy Castle
Conwy Castle is a wonderful castle in North Wales that shows how they built castles for fighting in the late 1200s. Even though it’s in Wales, it’s connected to England because an English king, Edward I, built it when he was taking over Wales. Its strong, tall walls and eight huge towers are still in great shape today.
You can walk along the top of the castle walls to see amazing views of the river where it meets the sea (the Conwy estuary) and the Snowdonia mountains. The walls around the town next to the castle are also mostly still standing, and they give you a cool idea of how towns were protected in the Middle Ages.
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Conwy, Wales |
| Construction Year | Late 13th Century |
| Primary Function(s) | Military Fortress (historical), Royal Residence (historical), Tourist Attraction |
| Tour Availability | Yes, extensive access to walls, towers, and great halls remains. |
| Key Facts to Note | A UNESCO World Heritage Site, A prime example of medieval military architecture built by Edward I; Its town walls are largely intact. |
So, visiting these amazing castles in England is like stepping back in time. Many of these old castles have their own exciting stories to tell, if you just pay attention. Whether you plan a trip to see them or simply remember them through this blog for your general knowledge, these are important parts of history that shouldn’t be forgotten.
FAQs
Basically, castles are strong, which were built many years ago, often as homes for kings and queens, or some important people, especially designed to be defended.
We can’t give an exact number of castles in England. People disagree on what counts, and lots of them are now just ruins or private houses. But there are hundreds of sites across the country that were once castles or still have remains of them.
Castles of England were basically built back in time to protect people, especially when the Normans took over England in 1066. They also acted as government offices, showed off the power of important people, and were homes for the rulers.
Most of the castles of England were built when the Normans took over England between 1000s to 1400s.
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