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Windsor Castle, England

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, and one of the most important royal residences in Britain.

The following list provides a selection of castles in England and Wales. Specifically London, South-West England and Wales. We hope you’ll find the links helpful.

Windsor Castle

Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has been continuously used by monarchs for nearly 1,000 years and remains an active royal home today.

Visitors come to see the State Apartments, St George’s Chapel (burial place of many monarchs including Elizabeth II), and the ceremonial heart of the Order of the Garter. Its scale, pageantry, and living royal function make Windsor unmatched in England.

🔗 https://www.rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle

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Tower of London

The Tower of London is England’s most infamous castle and fortress, founded in 1066 and expanded by successive monarchs. It has served as a royal palace, prison, execution site, armoury, and treasury, shaping nearly every chapter of English history.

Top highlights include the Crown Jewels, the White Tower, and guided stories from the Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters). Few places combine royal splendour and brutality so powerfully, which is why the Tower remains one of the UK’s most visited historic sites.

🔗 https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/

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Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Castle offers 2,000 years of history in one compact, city-centre site. Built over a Roman fort and transformed into a medieval stronghold, it later became a lavish Victorian fantasy palace under the Marquesses of Bute.

Visitors can explore Roman walls, Norman keeps, medieval interiors, and ornate Victorian rooms — all within walking distance of Cardiff’s shopping and restaurant districts. It’s one of the most accessible and varied castles in Britain.

🔗 https://www.cardiffcastle.com

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Old Wardour Castle

Old Wardour Castle is one of England’s most dramatic medieval ruins, built in the late 14th century as a luxurious circular residence rather than a purely defensive fortress. Its design symbolised status and refinement at the height of medieval nobility.

Partially destroyed during the English Civil War, the castle was never rebuilt, leaving behind a haunting interior open to the sky. Quiet, scenic, and deeply atmospheric, it’s a favourite for photographers and visitors seeking less crowded heritage sites.

🔗 https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/old-wardour-castle/

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Nunney Castle

Nunney Castle is a beautifully proportioned late medieval castle surrounded by a tranquil moat near Frome. Built between 1373–1381 by a wealthy soldier of the Hundred Years’ War, it reflects the era when castles balanced defence with prestige.

Damaged during the Civil War but never demolished, Nunney survives as one of England’s most photogenic ruins. Free entry, easy access, and reflective waters make it a standout stop for relaxed exploration.

🔗 https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/nunney-castle/

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Farleigh Hungerford Castle

Farleigh Hungerford Castle is a quietly haunting fortress near Bath, known as much for its dark family history as its architecture. Built in the late 1300s by the Hungerford family, it reveals stories of betrayal, imprisonment, and alleged murder.

Its most striking feature is St Leonard’s Chapel, containing rare medieval wall paintings and tombs. Unlike grand royal castles, Farleigh offers a more intimate, unsettling look at medieval power and decline.

🔗 https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/farleigh-hungerford-castle/

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Why These Castles Work So Well Together

As a collection, these castles tell the full story of Britain’s fortified past:

• Royal power (Windsor, Tower of London)
• Urban defence and transformation (Cardiff)
• Medieval ambition and collapse (Old Wardour, Nunney, Farleigh)

They vary in scale, mood, and purpose — which is exactly why travellers return year after year. Together, they form a best-in-class My Return Ticket castle trail across England and Wales.

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