Best of · CASTLE DAY TRIPS IN THE UK

The 15 Castle Day Trips in the UK That Earn Their Price

30 tours  ·  from $28 a head

Good castle day trips in the UK fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford Day Trip from London - Windsor Castle: royal rooms and limited time
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Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford Day Trip from London

1.Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford Day Trip from London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,292 reviews · 11 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $123Our pick

Travel from Victoria Coach Station to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford on an 11.5-hour guided coach trip. Choose admission to the castle and Stonehenge, hear stories from guides such as Peter, Angela, or Richard, and follow a walking tour through Oxford. Bring lunch and expect a fast pace.

“Viatour Windsor, Stonehenge, Oxford tour Oxford needs to be removed from this tour as it’s not as significant as Windsor and Stonehenge. Some people wait a lifetime to see this beautiful castle. Because we had to rush through we did not get to really enjoy the castle. We stood OUTSIDE IN THE COLD for 1.5 hours. This time should have been allocated to being INSIDE the castle. If we hadn’t had to go to Oxford the time allocated to drive there should have been spent at Windsor. Stonehenge is a quick walk around and the time there was even cut short to rush to Oxford!! Please please to your customers…”

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Inverness: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Trip - Loch Ness begins the journey
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Inverness: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Trip

2.Inverness: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,136 reviews · 12 hours · from $56

Spend 12 hours exploring Skye and the Highlands from Inverness with a Timberbush driver-guide. Expect Portree, Eilean Donan Castle, Kilt Rock, Lealt Falls, the Old Man of Storr, Loch Ness viewpoints, and lively commentary from guides such as Alex, Fiona, Owen, and Liall.

“great tour with Alex very knowledgeable and Good humour just the right amount of time at each stop.”

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London: Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath Full-Day Tour - Windsor Castle and the royal town
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London: Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath Full-Day Tour

3.London: Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,112 reviews · 11.5 hours - 1 day · from $108

You travel by coach from London to Windsor, Stonehenge, and Bath with a guide and personal audio headset. Choose added entry to Windsor Castle and the Roman Baths. Guides such as James, Richard, Angela, and Pablo are praised for clear history, humor, and keeping the day on schedule.

“Angela was a wonderful tour guide. She was a wealth of knowledge and provided us with all the historical facts we needed and then some. She was very passionate about her job and went and of her way to ensure everyone was kept well informed and looked after for the entire journey. She made the entire tour very interesting and very pleasant.”

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Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cotswolds & Warwick Castle Day Trip - Stratford-upon-Avon and Shakespeare’s birthplace
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Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cotswolds & Warwick Castle Day Trip

4.Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cotswolds & Warwick Castle Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,943 reviews · 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $109

Travel by Wi-Fi-equipped coach from London to Warwick Castle, Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, and Oxford, with a scenic Cotswolds drive between stops. Your guide handles the history and timing, while optional admissions let you tailor the day. Guides may include Phil, Robert, Cameron, Andy, or Sandra.

“Long bus ride through beautiful countryside. Tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about the sites visited. I personally wished he was more receptive to questions. Long continuous presentations did not allow for questions to be asked at time of event.”

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Leeds Castle, Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury Day Trip from London with Guided Cathedral Tour - Leeds Castle: a royal setting with room to wander
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Leeds Castle, Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury Day Trip from London with Guided Cathedral Tour

5.Leeds Castle, Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury Day Trip from London with Guided Cathedral Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,820 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $145

Travel from Victoria Coach Station to Leeds Castle, Canterbury, and Dover with an English-speaking guide, climate-controlled coach, Wi-Fi, USB charging, and Vox headphones. Expect strong storytelling, a guided cathedral visit if selected, and a quick Dover photo stop rather than a full castle visit.

“Leeds castle tour was an awesome day out. Our guide Cameron made the day so enjoyable. He was a wealth of knowledge and presented it a humorous and enjoyable manner. Our driver Sonil was excellent at navigating the extremely narrow roads.”

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Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford Day Trip from London - Windsor Castle: royal rooms and limited time
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Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford Day Trip from London

6.Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford Day Trip from London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,474 reviews · 11 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $123

Travel by Wi-Fi-equipped coach from central London to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford. You get castle and monument entry if selected, audio guides at two sites, and a guided Oxford walk. Guides such as Simon, Phil, Sandra, and Rowan have earned praise for clear, lively commentary.

“Our tour guide, Cameron, and bus driver, Michelangelo, were amazing! There was A LOT of time spent in the bus and not very much time at each spot. Our tour guide called it a “taster tour” which is exactly what it sounds like. You get a tiny taste of each of the 3 places. If you want to spend longer than an hour or hour and a half at each spot, then it would not work well for you. We just felt a bit rushed at each spot. In hindsight, I would have packed a cooler or sack lunch so that we didn’t waste any time buying food. I also…”

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From Belfast: Giant's Causeway Guided Day Tour With Castles - Belfast City Hall to Carrickfergus Castle
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From Belfast: Giant’s Causeway Guided Day Tour With Castles

7.From Belfast: Giant’s Causeway Guided Day Tour With Castles

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,312 reviews · 8.5 hours · from $28Best value

Travel from Belfast along the Antrim Coast with an English-speaking guide such as Dave, Troy, Mark, or Stuart. You’ll see castles, caves, harbors, the Dark Hedges, Bushmills, and Giant’s Causeway, with live stories, photo stops, and about 90 minutes at the basalt columns.

“The tour was really lovely and gave us lots of new impressions. Just a small tip: it would be great to let travelers know in advance that the route is quite winding with lots of hairpin bends. For passengers like me who get travel-sick easily, that kind of heads-up is really helpful.”

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Oban, Glencoe, Highlands Lochs & Castles Small Group Day Tour from Glasgow - Rest and Be Thankful brings a quick mountain view
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Oban, Glencoe, Highlands Lochs & Castles Small Group Day Tour from Glasgow

8.Oban, Glencoe, Highlands Lochs & Castles Small Group Day Tour from Glasgow

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,432 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $50Top rated

Travel from Glasgow in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach with a driver-guide such as James, George, or Caitlin. See Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Oban, Inveraray, Kilchurn Castle, Castle Stalker, Rannoch Moor, and Loch Awe, with photo stops and time for lunch.

“It was a great little adventure! So glad my daughter and I went. Our tour guide Jeff C was awesome! Friendly, funny, sarcastic and knew how to have a good in-between of story telling, music and just driving time. Would highly recommend”

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Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Tour from Inverness - Eilean Donan Castle adds history and atmosphere
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Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Tour from Inverness

9.Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,236 reviews · from $94

Travel from Inverness to Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle, and the Isle of Skye in a small group of up to 16 people. Your English-speaking guide handles the driving and shares local tales, while you visit Portree, Sligachan, the Old Man of Storr, Quiraing, Kilt Rock, and Lealt Falls.

“This trip was great! Harrison was very entertaining and made sure we saw the most in our long day. We also had plenty of bathroom stops which is always a concern of mine. The stop at Kilt Rock was an absolute bucket list item and totally worth it.”

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Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies Day Tour - Loch Lomond at Balloch: cruise or shoreline walk
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Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies Day Tour

10.Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,198 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $63

This 9.5-hour Timberbush tour links the Kelpies, Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, Stirling Castle, and South Queensferry by air-conditioned coach. Guides such as Ash, John, Adam, Morag, and Graham add Scottish history, music, humor, and local stories. The cruise and castle entry cost extra.

“Overall it was a good experience for our family, covered main attractions as mentioned in the itinerary on time. Our guide Alastair was good.”

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West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Day Tour Including Admission - The 16-seat coach and the long road west
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West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Day Tour Including Admission

11.West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Day Tour Including Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,122 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $68

Travel from Edinburgh in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach with an English-speaking driver-guide. Visit Doune Castle, pause at Loch Lomond, Luss, Kilchurn Castle, Rest and Be Thankful, and Inveraray. You’ll get scenery, Scottish stories, and free time for lunch.

“It was a great experience! We love it! Our driver Hannah was amazing. Our only complaint is that we did not have enough time in Inveraray. Either you visit the castle or walk around the town and eat. An additional hour in Inveraray would have been perfect. I would preferred to skip Loch Lomond and spend the extra time in Inveraray.”

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From London: Half-Day Trip to Windsor with Castle Tickets - What the coach ride adds
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From London: Half-Day Trip to Windsor with Castle Tickets

12.From London: Half-Day Trip to Windsor with Castle Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 840 reviews · 4 - 8 hours · from $120

Travel from Earl’s Court to Windsor by air-conditioned coach, hear stories from guides such as Nick, Ava, or Richard, then explore Windsor Castle at your own pace with admission included. Plan your time carefully: the 2.5-hour visit favors the castle over the town.

“our guide, Nick, was very informative and entertaining. He advised how best to use our time in Windsor. We had plenty of time to see what we wanted and had time for a pint at a pub. The skip the line tickets are worth it since it was very busy with tourists.”

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Canterbury Cathedral, Dover Castle & White Cliffs Guided Day Tour from London - The White Cliffs in 45 minutes
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Canterbury Cathedral, Dover Castle & White Cliffs Guided Day Tour from London

13.Canterbury Cathedral, Dover Castle & White Cliffs Guided Day Tour from London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 837 reviews · 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $152

Spend 10.5 hours touring Kent from London, with included entry to Dover Castle and Canterbury Cathedral, free time at each site, and a weather-dependent stop at the White Cliffs. Guides such as Nick, Steve, Kat, and Richard bring history to life, but expect a full day of walking.

“This was one of our favorite tours during our trip! Canterbury Cathedral was unbelievably amazing, the white cliffs were beautiful and we could have spent all day at Dover Castle! We appreciated that this tour spent a good amount of time in each location and our guide was kind, communicative and upbeat. This tour is well worth it!”

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Warwick Castle, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon & Cotswolds Day trip - Warwick Castle: medieval power in a compact visit
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Warwick Castle, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon & Cotswolds Day trip

14.Warwick Castle, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon & Cotswolds Day trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 828 reviews · 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $109

Travel from Victoria Coach Station by comfortable coach to Warwick Castle, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Oxford. Choose castle and Shakespeare’s Birthplace admission, hear commentary through Vox headsets, and enjoy a scenic Cotswolds drive without a village stop. Guides such as Phil, Cameron, and Pablo are known for lively storytelling.

“Warwick castle the best. Guides knowledge great. Been on many tours with Viator this one first bus ever made you wear your seatbelts the whole trip and no music just silence in between the guides info which made for boring for kids . Guide was great but catored to the adults for sure”

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Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Small-Group Day Tour from Inverness - Eilean Donan Castle on its tidal island
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Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Small-Group Day Tour from Inverness

15.Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Small-Group Day Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 796 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $69

Travel from Inverness in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach with a local driver-guide such as Claire, Kev, Helen, or Ryan. Visit Eilean Donan Castle, Portree, Kilt Rock, the Old Man of Storr, and the Quiraing, with regular photo and restroom stops.

“Who wouldn’t want to spend a day enroute to beautiful Skye and back with a knowledgeable guide who loves the country? Duncan (?) offered history and insights and introduced us to wonderful music and an interesting podcast. He even played pipes! A long journey as worthwhile as the destination! Thank you.”

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New in Castle Day Trips in the UK

★ 4.1Buckingham Palace & Windsor Castle: Full-Day TourFrom $168166 reviews
★ 4.51 Day Tour from Inverness – Isle of Skye, Fairy Pools, and Eilean Donan CastleFrom $137161 reviews
★ 4.8From Aberdeen: Dunnottar Castle and Cairngorms Day TripFrom $75329 reviews
★ 4.0Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon & Cotswolds Day Trip from LondonFrom $102373 reviews
★ 4.7From Glasgow: Oban, Glencoe & West Highland Castles Day TripFrom $75398 reviews
★ 5.0Harry Potter’s Alnwick Castle and Scottish Borders Day TripFrom $88431 reviews
★ 5.0Private Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, The City of Bath Day Tour468 reviews
★ 4.5Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and Cliffs of Dover Day TripFrom $145487 reviews
★ 4.5London: Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath Day TripFrom $120513 reviews

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