Looking for the most effective free castles to go to in England and the UK? You’re in the correct place. Here are a few of our favourites.
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Best Free Castles within the UK
There’s one thing about castles.
Maybe it’s the best way their stone partitions appear to achieve towards the sky, or how they all the time appear to be constructed on excessive floor.
Maybe it’s the best way they take you again in time, or possibly it’s simply that they’re simply so darn imposing – you may’t assist however really feel such as you’re entering into a unique period if you’re inside one.
Whatever it’s, there’s no denying that the UK is fortunate sufficient to have a LOT of those unimaginable buildings, and they’re all an enormous a part of British historical past.
They might have been round for hundreds of years, and lots of have been destroyed over time, however even wandering via citadel ruins could make a enjoyable day out- particularly if it’s free!
The Best Free castles in England
The historical past of England is chock stuffed with unimaginable battles and the constructing of castles. Like the remainder of the UK, they’re in every single place.
What’s fascinating about them is how the structure changes- and the course of the defences, relying on the enemy. There are PLENTY of castles to take pleasure in on an England highway journey, however listed below are a number of the greatest free to go to ones.
Alnwick Castle
Location: Alnwick NE66 1NQ
Alnwick Castle is among the largest inhabited castles in England. Its development was ordered by William II (Rufus), who was King of England from 1087-1100 and his descendants (the Percy’s) nonetheless stay there in the present day.
The citadel has been the setting of many movies, together with Harry Potter and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Parking for individuals with restricted mobility is out there on Castle Square and in the primary automobile park at The Alnwick Garden. The Castle has been open to the general public since 1938 and is among the most visited points of interest in Northumberland. It is a Grade I listed constructing, as are its gardens, that are additionally open to guests from March to October.
Liverpool Castle
Location: Rivington, Bolton BL6 7SB
Liverpool Castle is a medieval fortification within the village of Rivington, Chorley, Lancashire, England. (NO- it’s not in Liverpool!)
The citadel was based by King John and was constructed to guard in opposition to Scottish raids from throughout the river Ribble. It was constructed someday between 1207 and 1210 and was designed to be defended by solely a small variety of troopers as a result of it was additionally a royal residence for the king.
Rivington Reservoir Car Park is positioned simply off Rivington Lane and offers entry to a tree-lined avenue that may take you on to the citadel.
During its lengthy historical past, the citadel has undergone many adjustments, together with being captured by the Scots in 1319 and retaken by the English military solely six years later.
Liverpool Castle remained in use till 1536 when it was deserted as a consequence of structural issues brought on by flooding. It’s simply ruins now, but it surely’s a stunning stroll and an amazing place for legs (massive & little) to stretch themselves.
Peveril Castle
Location: Market Pl, Castleton, Hope Valley S33 8WQ
The stays of Peveril Castle sit in an imposing location, overlooking the favored village of Castleton within the Peak District. It dates again to 1153 and was constructed by William Peveril, a Norman knight who fought beneath William the Conqueror on the Battle of Hastings.
William acquired land from Henry II to construct the fortress however was imprisoned at Nottingham Castle after becoming a member of a rise up led by Thomas Becket.
The citadel was besieged by King John in 1216 however managed to carry out till the king’s demise, after which it was captured by his successor Henry III.
The website is free to enter and the customer centre is positioned on the backside of a hill, with ample parking areas. There are additionally a number of cafes to take pleasure in if you want.
Eye Castle
Location: 35 Castle St, Eye IP23 7AW
Eye Castle is a medieval hilltop wreck, constructed by William Malet. The Castle website has not too long ago been restored and revamped, opening new areas to discover and offering a viewing platform providing fantastic views of the church,
You can see for miles over the encircling countryside. Parking is out there close to the cross road automobile park and there are additionally bogs near this parking zone.
There are additionally stays of a medieval fishpond that may be seen, together with the unique drawbridge.
The citadel is an efficient place to go to if you wish to be taught extra concerning the historical past of Eye and its surrounding space. There are additionally some nice walks across the village, together with a stroll up the hill to see the city’s windmill.
Best free citadel in Scotland
I defy you to take pleasure in a Scotland highway journey with out passing a citadel. They are EVERYWHERE.
Indeed, a number of the most scenic drives in Scotland embrace lots of them on their itinerary. But right here is among the greatest free to go to castles in Scotland.
Kilchurn Castle
Location: Lochawe, Dalmally PA33 1AF
Kilchurn Castle is the oldest citadel in Scotland. It was in-built about 1450 and has been handed down via 4 generations of the Campbell household.
There’s a free parking space on the entrance to Loch Awe off A85, and there’s room for vans in case you’re motorhoming in Scotland. It will take you lower than quarter-hour to stroll from the freeway via the wooded space and over a small creek, up in direction of Kilchurn Castle.
During its lengthy historical past, Kilchurn Castle has served numerous capabilities: first as an administrative centre for the Romans; then as a clan fortress throughout Scotland’s Wars of Independence (1250-1300); and later as a state jail within the seventeenth century.
Since the early 1900s, this magnificent citadel has been open to the general public and is now a well-liked vacationer attraction. Visitors can step again in time and get a glimpse of what life was like for royalty throughout Scotland’s medieval interval.
Best Free Castle in Wales
Wales additionally has loads of unimaginable castles and historic buildings to take pleasure in. If you’re motorhoming in Wales, you may even keep in a few of their automobile parks. But right here is certainly one of our favorite free to go to castles.
Harlech Castle
Location: Harlech Castle, Harlech LL46 2YH
Harlech Castle was constructed by English kings within the early fifteenth century, as a stronghold to manage Wales. It is among the most essential castles in Wales and has been described as Britain’s best instance of medieval navy structure.
The citadel is perched on a rocky outcrop, with dramatic views over Tremadog Bay. There’s ample parking close by, though you do have to pay. You can stroll from the automobile park to the citadel itself, however if you wish to see extra of the grounds, there’s a narrow-gauge railway that runs round them.
The views are spectacular and effectively value taking a while out of your Wales highway journey to discover this space.
Today, Harlech Castle is a vacationer attraction and a well-liked filming location for motion pictures and TV reveals together with A Knight’s Tale, Doctor Who, Merlin and Braveheart. There are guided excursions via the citadel, which is open to the general public.
It can be potential to wander across the grounds at your leisure. There is a small museum contained in the preserve, which offers an perception into life at Harlech Castle throughout medieval occasions.
Best Free Castle in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has numerous unimaginable historical past and locations to go to. But in case you’re searching for a free citadel, head to the Grand Belfast resort.
Belfast Castle
Location: 9-15 Bedford St, Belfast BT2 7FF
Belfast Castle stands proud on the grounds of Cave Hill Country Park, overlooking the town. It enjoys breathtaking views of Belfast and the encircling countryside as a consequence of its elevated place.
In 1806, the citadel was destroyed by fireplace. In the nineteenth century, it turned half of a big property that included a deer park and golf course.
During WWI wounded troopers have been delivered to the citadel to get better and it served as a base for the navy throughout WWII, then later turned a youth hostel.
During the Nineteen Seventies it was deserted however restored in 1980 to serve as soon as once more as an attraction with guided excursions supplied every day via summer season months (April-October).
You can park your automobile on the Great Northern multi-storey automobile park to make the most of a particular charge. If you do, the resort will validate your parking ticket for £10 per 24-hour. If you’re in a motorhome, you’ll want to search out various parking as they’ll’t match within the multi-storey.
We hope you discovered that record of the most effective free castles in England and the UK helpful. Here are some extra UK posts you may discover useful:
