Best of · CASTLE ENTRY TICKETS IN THE UK
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 castle entry tickets in the UK worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Walk from the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle with guides such as Joe, Jen, Valeria, Nick, or Sonia. Hear stories of Mary Queen of Scots, sieges, and St. Margaret’s Chapel, then explore the castle buildings on your own after the 90-minute outdoor tour.
“it was wonderful to have Joe as a tour guide. He has a wonderful knowledge on the Royal mile and Edinburgh castle.”
Spend 2.5 to 3 hours exploring Windsor Castle at your own pace. See the State Apartments, royal paintings and furniture, George IV’s Semi-State Rooms in winter, and St. George’s Chapel, closed Sundays. A multilingual multimedia guide is included.
“it was very interesting and we spent over 2 hrs visiting the Castle, St George's Chapel and the apartments. it was awesome.”
Enter Edinburgh Castle with a guide such as Joe, Raj, Sonia, or Valeria, and hear sharp stories about Mary Queen of Scots, royal feasts, and Scotland’s battles. The guided walk lasts about 90 minutes, mostly outdoors, followed by free time to explore the castle buildings on your own.
“Its great to start your stay in Edinburgh , short but but very informative. Started and ended on time.”
Spend about six hours exploring Warwick Castle, its towers, ramparts, gardens, rooms, and family attractions. Watch falconry, archery, jousting, or the Trebuchet Fireball Spectacular when scheduled. The ticket includes castle admission but not parking or the Castle Dungeons.
“Excellent no hassle great day at the castle. Great day and the experience was absolutely first class”
Use your paper ticket to enter Windsor Castle, then tour the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel at your own pace with a free multimedia guide. Allow 2.5 to 3 hours, wear comfortable shoes for the steep hill, and note that the chapel is closed on Sundays.
“Not to trust Viator. 2 hrs 30 min before the slot time to enter the Windsor Castle I got an email informing us that my tix are cancelled without explaining that the castle is closed. When the email reached me, we were on the motorway in Uber because before hiring it, we were in an area without a signal and therefore I was not able to read it. Who is going to reimburse me for the fare, tix for a train, and a waste of precious time?”
Spend a full day at Dover Castle, climbing Henry II’s Great Tower, touring medieval and wartime tunnels, and watching the Dunkirk story unfold through film and sound. The castle is wheelchair accessible, but steep slopes, rough ground, and many stairs make good planning essential.
“Be prepared for a lot of walking up and down hills. Queue for the tunnel was long and we ended up missing out but the underground hospital tour was fab and so was the guide. The original castle was fascinating and we want to go back as the medieval part of the tour was closed for renovation. Was a fabulous day out and odd shout out to the cafe opposite the tower, the staff were so nice and I had the best cup of tea I’ve ever had in an establishment. Highly recommend a visit here… very pleasantly surprised.”
Exchange your voucher at Kenilworth Castle and explore a 900-year-old fortress, the restored Elizabethan garden, Tudor rooms, and hands-on displays in the stables. See the marble fountain, aviary, alabaster fireplace, trebuchet balls, and castle keep. Allow two hours, or longer if you stop for lunch.
“The preservation of the buildings and the accessibility of the rooms was amazing with fantastic views of the whole site and surrounding countryside wonderful.”
Spend a full day exploring Carisbrooke Castle with an English Heritage entry ticket. Walk the battlements, climb the Norman keep, see Charles I’s escape room, visit Princess Beatrice’s garden, and watch the famous donkeys turn the medieval water wheel.
“I really enjoyed my visit at Carisbrooke Castle. The place is beautiful, there is a lot to see, there is an amazing lawn to relax and I learnt new things about English history”
Spend a full day at Tintagel Castle with entry to the ruins, footbridge, beach, and Merlin’s Cave. Meet Gallos, a bronze ancient king, cross above the Atlantic, and explore at your own pace without a live guide. Bring ID and allow 30 minutes to walk from village parking.
“Avec le soleil comme compagnon sans chaleur excessive, heureusement car unique ombre sur site, on fait une vraie balade en bord de mer en fond d histoire. Choisir une entrée le matin il y a vite du monde c est un site très visité. Tout le monde est charmant et serviable”
Meet a Vox City guide near St. Giles Cathedral for a 45-minute outdoor tour of Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. Guides such as Linda and Jay explain royal dramas, prison tales, and castle landmarks, then you explore the interiors independently with your entry ticket.
“Very informative and interesting. Jay is a fantastic guide”
Spend a full day exploring Hillsborough Castle’s 100 acres of gardens, including the restored four-acre Walled Garden, Lime Tree Walk, woodland, waterways, Lost Garden, and ornamental grounds. The ticket covers the gardens only, not the castle tour. A Peter Rabbit family trail ran until 1 September 2024.
“We had a lovely day out at Hillsborough castle. We took our daughter to the Peter Rabbit trail and she absolutely loved it! The Staff are all really friendly and helpful on the grounds too, we couldn't recommend going for a visit up to Hillsborough Castle any more as it is a beautiful place with stunning grounds to explore.”
Use your pre-booked ticket to explore Housesteads Roman Fort, where about 800 Roman soldiers once lived. See the barracks, hospital, commander’s house, granaries, communal toilets, museum, and Felix’s mini-cinema film, then follow the Housesteads Trail.
“Very helpful staff. Lots of other people walking too.”
Walk Edinburgh with an English-speaking Potter-head guide such as Paul or Jackson, tracing Hogwarts links, Tom Riddle’s Grave, the Elephant Café, and Victoria Street. Your two-hour small-group walk ends with a self-guided two-hour visit to Edinburgh Castle.
“This was a fun tour! Paul our guide was amazing with the tidbits and quizzes about HP world and the history of Edinburgh. Recommended for HP enthusiasts. Ended with the beautiful castle of Edinburgh that held a lot of the city’s marvelous history.”
Spend a full day at Birdoswald Roman Fort, one of Hadrian’s Wall’s best-preserved sites. See three Roman gates, a turret, milecastle, and a long stretch of Wall, then follow the Roman Trail and visit the exhibition with artifacts, building details, and a periscope view.
“the site is set up really well. lots of educational stops for children. loved it”
At Chesters Roman Fort, you explore a remarkably complete Roman cavalry base beside the North Tyne. Use the e-reader and trail sheet to understand the Clayton Museum, bathhouse, headquarters, barracks, shrine, and commandant's house at your own pace.
“Really enjoyed walking around Chesters Roman Fort. It was a good launching place for going to a few other sites on Hadrian's Wall.”
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