Our pick of the five best English Heritage castles

Holidaying in the UK (the so-called ‘staycation’) is becoming more and more popular – and it’s sort of a no-brainer, with there being so much to see and an increasing choice of hotels and places to stay.
One thing that the UK has always been famous for is the amount of castles that it has. There are hundreds of castles in the UK – many in the care of English Heritage, and most of them well worth visiting – but here is a pick of the top five that I’ve been to myself and recommend seeing, together with suggestions of some great hotels and B&Bs.
Dover Castle
Dover Castle is a magnificent building in Kent which stands high above the white cliffs of Dover and has guarded the shores for over 900 years.
You can dive into the vast history of this castle as you visit the Great Tower – which is brought to life by costumed interpreters on selected days – explore the incredible underground hospital, which will show you the castle’s purpose during WWII, and then trek through the medieval tunnels which were started in 1216 during a siege.
There is an incredible amount of things to see and discover at Dover Castle, so you might even want to consider spending two days here – in which case, Farthingloe B&B is in a great location for visiting the castle.
Warkworth Castle
Warkworth Castle was and remains one of the largest and most impressive fortresses in the North East of England.
It was once the home to the powerful Percy family and to Harry Hotspur, who was a hero in Northumberland with many Border ballads written about him. Today, Warkworth Castle is guaranteed to impress any visitor.
For a place that is both tranquil and exciting, you can also take a boat trip to the Hermitage – a religious building carved out of rock – half a mile downstream from the castle. And if you’re looking to extend your visit, you could stay in the luxury Warkworth House Hotel, which offers some great rooms as well as delicious meals in the hotel restaurant.
Carisbrooke Castle
This fairytale castle is situated on the Isle of Wight and is most famous for being the royal prison of Charles I. Story has it that Charles tried to escape from this prison but failed as he ended up stuck between two bars. Centuries later, you can experience what it would have been like to be a prisoner in this giant structure, and try to find the room from which Charles attempted his escape.
There are also some famous donkeys at Carisbrooke Castle – who operate the tread wheel to get water from the well – while the gardens and scenery are stunning, and well worth paying a visit to. If you’re looking to enjoy the Isle of Wight for longer than just a day trip, then the Lyndhurst Hotel in nearby Sandown is an excellent place to stay.
Tintagel Castle
Tintagel Castle is where the legend of King Arthur was born, and it is arguably the best English castle for losing yourself in imagination.
The location, in Cornwall, is absolutely breathtaking, and the epic walk up the old steps to the castle is something that tourists really love. The scenery of the ocean crashing up against the rocks here is something else, and you will be sure to enjoy the mystery of the place. There is also a really picturesque bridge that you can cross before heading down the beach to take a refreshing swim.
If you’re holidaying in Cornwall, the nearby Camelot Castle Hotel – continuing the King Arthur theme – is the perfect location to stay.
Beeston Castle and Woodland Park
Beeston Castle in Cheshire probably has the most spectacular views of any castle in the UK, as on a clear day you can see eight different counties.
The views are beautiful but so too are the castle ruins which dominate the vast landscape. There are also some magical woodlands that you can explore which surround the castle, and wildlife trails that the kids will love.
For some post-walk food and drink, The Pheasant Inn can be found within close proximity of the castle – which is just a half-hour drive from Chester city centre.
What’s your favourite British castle? Do you agree with our recommendations? Share your thoughts below!
For information on English Heritage membership – giving you unlimited entry to these and 400 other historic places – head over to the English Heritage website.
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[…] stop is the iconic white cliffs and impressive castle in Dover (as featured in our English Heritage castles blog from last year), before sailing on to the bustling Cornish port of Falmouth via a stop in St Peter […]