Castles & forts

Royal visits, wars and ghosts - our castles and forts have seen them all. Discover the myths, legends and history of some of the best castles in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Dunster Castle in autumn
A view across the moat to Bodiam Castle with summer flags on the bridge

Top 10 castles 

We look after some of the most interesting and enchanting castles in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Here's our pick of the best must-see castles.

Explore our castles
A costumed knight firing an arrow from the battlements at Chirk Castle

Fairytale castles 

Are your children knights on horseback or dragon-slaying maidens? Here's our pick of our favourite fairytale castles to get your family's adventure started.

Fairytale castles
Hugh Napier, saddle tank locomotive

Hugh Napier: 'the little engine I love' 

In our latest Curator’s blog, Elizabeth Green, Lead Curator for Wales, talks about an object she loves, a working steam engine named Hugh Napier from Penrhyn Castle, Gwynedd. Take a closer look at one of the more unusual items in the Trust's collections.

Spectacular hill fort at Croft Ambrey, Herefordshire

Hillforts in the Midlands 

Mysterious hillforts litter the landscapes of the Midlands. Find out more about five of these prehistoric features.

Walking along Hambledon Hill on a summer's evening offers breathtaking vewis

Find a fort in the South West 

From castles to hillforts, take a look at where you can discover defences in the South West.

Castles and forts we recommend
Bodiam castle in the spring

Bodiam Castle 

near Robertsbridge, East Sussex

Archetypal 14th century moated castle with ruined interior - a glimpse of medieval splendour

Partially open today
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Daffodils in bloom at Castle Ward - National Trust, Strangford, Co Down

Castle Ward 

Downpatrick, County Down

Unique 18th-century mansion, famed for its mixture of architectural styles

Partially open today
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Children playing in the spring garden at Castle Drogo

Castle Drogo 

near Exeter, Devon

Nothing is normal. Dramatic castle overlooking the Teign Gorge, undergoing a conservation project to make it watertight

Partially open today
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The history behind our castles

The keep at Corfe Castle

1,000 years of history at Corfe Castle 

Corfe Castle has been a Saxon stronghold, a Norman fortress, a royal palace and a family home in its ten centuries of dominating the Purbeck landscape.

A view of Croft Castle in Herefordshire

Croft Castle: From the Domesday Book to Churchill 

Find out more about the Croft family and their involvement in some of Britain's most famous historical events. What's their connection to the 'Princes in the Tower' and who is buried in Westminster Abbey?

Ambleside Roman Fort from above

Ambleside Roman Fort 

Dating back to the 1st century, there's plenty of history to uncover at the Roman Fort in Ambleside. Find out more about the beginnings and purpose of the fort and imagine a bustling community on your visit to the remains on the shore of Lake Windermere.

Dawn view of Chirk Castle in Wales

Learn more about our castles and forts 

Look beyond the walls of our castles and forts to discover intriguing stories of love, betrayal and warfare. You'll find plenty of inspiration for your next castle visit, as well as learn about modern-day conservation efforts.

Learn about castles and forts

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