Southern counties
Also includes Caister, Castle Rising, Hedingham and Colchester.
Heritage index
British castles, region by region.
A practical starting point for following fortified landscapes across Britain and Ireland, from coastal strongholds to royal seats and enduring ruins.
A changing landscape
Read the castle in its setting.
Castles are more than isolated landmarks. Their walls, approaches and surrounding towns reveal long histories of defence, authority, domestic life and adaptation.
This index gathers the places in the resource by broad region, helping you build a route around the landscapes and stories that interest you most.
Browse heritage indexCastle directory
Choose a region to begin.
A selected regional guide to castles, fortified houses and related historic sites from the original resource.
Northern strongholds
Explore Pickering, Middleham, Warkworth and Dunstanburgh.
Heartland histories
- Berkeley Castle, Berkeley
- Sudeley Castle, near Winchcombe
- Goodrich Castle
- Warwick Castle, Warwick
- Ludlow Castle
The section also includes Thornbury, Eastnor and Castle Ashby.
Eastern approaches
Find further entries for Richborough, Amberley and Portchester.
Welsh castles
A broad selection also covers Cilgerran, Kidwelly and many more.
Across the sea
- Tintagel
- Lancaster Castle, Lancaster
- Blair Castle
- Culzean Castle, Ayrshire
- Blarney Castle
- Dublin Castle, Dublin
Additional entries include Glamis, Bunratty, Enniskillen and Malahide.
A good route leaves time for the approach, the view and the wider landscape.
Using this index
Build a route around a question.
Choose a region, then let a particular interest lead the way: Norman foundations, coastal defence, medieval domestic life, royal associations or the later reinvention of historic estates.
- Regional groups for easier route planning
- Castles alongside related historic places
- Names retained from the original resource index
- An independent editorial starting point for further research
How to explore
Follow the evidence on the ground.
Use the directory as a framework, then check current visitor information directly with each site before travelling.
01
Pick a region
Begin with the part of Britain or Ireland that fits your wider journey.
02
Choose a theme
Compare military sites, royal residences, ruins and later country-house settings.
03
Allow for context
Pair a castle with nearby towns, landscapes and collections whenever possible.
Practical notes
Before visiting a castle.
A few useful points for turning an resource index into a considered day out.
Does this page cover every castle in Britain and Ireland?
No. It is a curated resource index of named sites, organised to provide useful regional starting points rather than a complete national register.
Are all of these places open to visitors?
Access changes over time. Always check a site's official visitor information for opening arrangements, tickets, seasonal restrictions and accessibility details before travelling.
Why are some entries castles and others historic houses or Roman sites?
The original directory connected fortified places with related heritage sites. Those links remain useful for travellers exploring the wider history of a region.
Can I plan a longer heritage route from this page?
Yes. Start with one regional group, choose several nearby places, and leave space for the surrounding landscape, local collections and historic towns.
Is Camelot Journey an official visitor service?
No. Camelot Journey is an independent editorial guide and does not manage access, tickets or accommodation reservations.
Where can I find more general heritage ideas?
The wider heritage section offers a starting point for historic periods, places and themes beyond this castle directory.