The Top 10 Most Visited Castles in Britain

Castles in the UK: The Top 10 Most Visited Castles in Britain

The top 10 most visited castles in the UK are Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, Windsor Castle near London, Stirling Castle also in Scotland, Leeds Castle in Kent, Urquhart Castle in the Scottish Highlands overlooking Loch Ness, Warwick Castle, Culzean Castle (Aryshire, Scotland), Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, Dover Castle in Kent and Conwy Castle in Wales.

This list excludes the Tower of London - Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, a.k.a. the Tower of London, on the north bank of the River Thames in central London which serves as a secure fortress and museum and attracts a massive 2.9 million annual visitors.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle - peers down on the city of Edinburgh from its perch on an extinct volcano. The history of Edinburgh Castle is bound up with the history of the Scottish nation and as such Edinburgh Castle is the most popular attraction in the country, attracting over 2 million visitors a year.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle - has the distinction of being the largest occupied castle in the world as well as being the longest occupied palace in Europe. Since 1917 Windsor has been the family name of the Royal Family, and the castle keep is central in the family crest.

Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle - a mostly 15th and 16th century castle and one of the largest in Scotland. The castle and the surrounding area are important in the establishment and independence of the Scottish nation. The castle was long associated with the Scottish royal family. Altogether around 620,000 people visit annually.

Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle - is sometimes described as the "loveliest castle in the world" and is a favourite destination for one day tours for tourists from London. Around 470,000 people visit yearly.

It is known for its wide, glittering lake and 500 acres of beautifully manicured parkland. It was a royal residence from the time of Henry VIII (reigned from 1509 to 1547), who spent large sums of money refurbishing and remodelling the buildings.

Visitors to the castle may be surprised to know that it once served as a prison and that the gatehouse now holds a small dog collar museum. The grounds of Leeds Castle have both an aviary and a maze.

Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle is a ruined 13th century castle on the shores of Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland.

The present castle was built over what was once a stone Medieval fort in the 13th century. It was used during the wars between Scotland and England in the following century and was once a royal castle. The first mention of the castle in historical records, in fact, is in 1296 when Edward I of England captured it. However, it was to change hands a number of times during the conflict.

It is now one of the most visited in Scotland after Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle. Sightseers arrive by bus or on boat tours of Loch Ness from Inverness.

Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle is advertised as 'Britain's Ultimate Castle'. The castle is a historic site as well as an amusement park (Knight's Village) so bring the kids for a fun and educational day out. It is a medieval castle that was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 AD. The castle was meant to overawe the defeated Saxons with a display of formidable Norman force and might.

The impressive and large castle is a symbol of power traditionally belonging to the Earl of Warwick but has also served as a prison. King Edward IV was famously imprisoned here and captured Royalists were later held here during the English Civil War in the 1640's. Walking around the exterior of the castle, the visitor may encounter two siege engines, a trebuchet and the ballista.

The grounds have frequent historical reenactments by enthusiastic performers dressed in period costume and include very realistic combat with swords as well as Medieval music.

Culzean Castle

Culzean Castle is a dramatic clifftop masterpiece and an 18th-century architectural gem designed by Robert Adam. It also has a historic connection to US President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Located in South Ayrshire, Scotland, it blends grand Georgian style with a vast surrounding country park. The castle is perched dramatically on rugged Ayrshire cliffs overlooking the Firth of Clyde, offering clear views toward the island of Arran and Ailsa Craig.

Tintagel Castle

Tintagel Castle is a ruined 13th century castle in Cornwall. It combines dramatic coastal geography, Arthurian legend, and early medieval trade history. Managed by English Heritage, the site sits on rugged cliffs in Cornwall, split by the sea and connected by a modern footbridge that opened in 2019.

Dover Castle

Dover Castle in the port town of Dover in Kent is England's largest castle and one of its most important and historic fortresses.

The castle as we know it today was begun during the reign of Henry II (1133-1189) with improvements to the castle occurring at regular intervals thereafter including during the reign of Henry VIII and during the Napoleonic Wars when Dover Castle's strategic importance as the "key to England" was recognised.

The first and only underground barracks for troops were built here during the wars with Napoleon's France.

Conway Castle

Conwy Castle located on the banks of the River Conwy near its mouth, Conwy Castle is an impressive 13th-century castle and fortified town. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd, that also includes Beaumaris Castle, Caernarfon Castle, and Harlech Castle.