What is the oldest inhabited castle in England?

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, having served as a royal residence for over 900 years.

Is Leeds Castle near the city of Leeds?

No — despite the name, Leeds Castle is in Kent, in South East England, around 7 miles from Maidstone, and has no connection to the city of Leeds in Yorkshire.

Which English castle is best for families?

Warwick Castle is particularly popular with families thanks to its scale, events and hands-on activities alongside its historic interiors.

Best Castles to Visit in England

England's long history has left it with an exceptional range of castles, from working royal residences to atmospheric medieval ruins.

Whether you're drawn to grand state rooms, dramatic ruins, or castles set in beautiful parkland, England's castles offer a genuinely varied way to explore the country's history.

Windsor Castle

The oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, Windsor Castle remains a working royal residence and is easily reached as a day trip from London.

Warwick Castle

A large medieval castle in the Midlands, popular for its scale, preserved interiors and setting on the River Avon, a short train journey from Birmingham.

The Tower of London

Founded by William the Conqueror, the Tower of London has served as a royal palace, prison and treasury, and today displays the Crown Jewels.

Leeds Castle

Despite its name, Leeds Castle is in Kent, not Yorkshire, set across two islands on a lake and often described as one of the loveliest castles in the world.

Dover Castle

Known as the Key to England, Dover Castle overlooks the Channel crossing to France and includes secret wartime tunnels used during the Second World War.

Bodiam Castle

A picture-perfect moated castle in East Sussex, cared for by the National Trust, known for its near-complete exterior and reflection in the surrounding water.

Clifford's Tower, York

Clifford's Tower, the keep of York Castle

The surviving keep of York Castle, with Norman origins and a complex, sometimes tragic history, offering panoramic views over York from the top.

Choosing Which Castles to Visit

If you only have time for one, Windsor Castle offers the most complete experience as a still-functioning royal residence, while Bodiam Castle is hard to beat for atmosphere if you're drawn to picturesque ruins. Castles in Kent and Sussex, including Leeds Castle, Dover Castle and Bodiam, can realistically be combined into a single multi-day trip from London.

Further north, Warwick Castle and Clifford's Tower in York offer a good pairing if you're exploring the Midlands and Yorkshire.