Learning about history can be a great way to spark your child’s imagination. If you’ve ever spent the day at a castle or fort, you’ll know that there’s a real magic to wandering the walls of these buildings and pondering what life was like for the people that lived there hundreds of years ago! This sense of mystery makes castles and forts excellent places to explore creative play with the family. We’ve put together a great directory of UK castles and forts for you to visit, as well as some awesome play ideas for the family to get stuck into on your historical day out!
Our guide to imaginative play at UK forts and castles!
Time Travel…
Create your own tissue paper torches, dress up and knights and princesses and take a medieval tour. Every castle we’ve included on this list has either a guided or self-led tour available at reception. If you call ahead to confirm, you’ll have plenty of time to make your fancy dress and props to bring along on your medieval role-playing adventure!
Write your own fairytale…
Do some research into the history of the castle you’ll be visiting beforehand. This will provide an excellent opportunity for you to guide a storytelling adventure with the kids. Brush up on your fortification terminology so that as you walk from the banquet to the bastion, you’ll be able to explain what the room was used for and add to the story as you progress through the castle.
Engage the kids by asking them to tell a story of the castle. Prompt them with questions like, “Who used to live in this room?”, “Were there any battles fought in this castle?”, or “What mythical creatures used to live in the gardens here?”. Once your tour has come to an end, find a quiet place to sit and encourage the children to either draw out or write their story down on paper! It’s a great way to wind down from an awesome day out.
Have A Royal Picnic….
Pack a royal picnic to bring along for the day and have your own outdoor banquet in the surrounding fields. Check our recent guide on how to host the ultimate summer picnic for ideas!
Our top 10 UK castles and fortresses to visit year round...
Deal Castle, Kent
Known for its memorable Tudor rose shape and famous king appeal, Deal was constructed by King Henry VIII as one of the finest Tudor artillery forts in the 1530s. Kids will enjoy exploring the dark passages beneath the bastions and listening to voices of the past, as well as designing their own graffiti. Look out for Minecraft workshops in August, and spooky ghost tours for Halloween. If you want to make a day of it, Deal Castle is only a short cycle ride away from the nearby Walmer Castle - so do pop round!
Adults £8.70, Children £5.20, Families from £22.60, Under 5’s (free) Guidebook: Deal Castle
Warwick Castle, Warwickshire
As one of the UK’s most popular castles and a major family attraction (it’s owned by Merlin Group), Warwick Castle was once home to William the Conqueror. The castle is host to a plethora of great family activities, including medieval glamping, the Horrible Histories Maze, daily falconry displays and an immersive dungeon experience.
Adults £26.40, children £23.40, family of four £89. Discounts for online booking: from £18.40 five days in advance, warwick-castle.com
Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh
The royal fortress in Edinburgh has been there since the 11th century, and towering on its rock above the city, the castle is still one of the first things you see as you enter the town. You’ll find a myriad of routes and tours on the castle’s website with various different highlights, as well as suggestions depending how long you’ve got to explore so you can stroll at your own pace.
Adults £15.50, Children (Ages 5-15) free when accompanied by and adult, family packages from £31.50. Admission Tickets
Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland
Once the capital of the kings of Northumbria, you can trace Bamburgh castle’s history back to Anglo-Saxon times. Since then, it has survived Viking raids, the Norman conquest, and has played host to kings. There are events throughout the year which are perfect for family days out. You can join an Anglo-Saxon camp and test your skills as a warrior, listen to Viking tales on a guided tour, or gaze out to sea and role play that you rule over the islands on the horizon.
Adults £12.50, Child £6.15, Little Adventurers (Ages 0-4) free. https://www.bamburghcastle.com/
Beaumaris Castle, Anglesey
As the last fortress designed for Edward I, Beaumaris Castle looks out towards the Menai Strait, with four concentric defensive rings and its own moat on the dock. It’s truly a sight to see! The Castle Quest trail helps bring the existing castle and its even grander original plans to life and there are regular family activities, including living history events.
Adults £6.90, children £4.85, family £22.60. Beaumaris Castle | Cadw
Leeds Castle, Kent
Leeds Castle has something for everyone: an impressive maze and grotto, falconry displays, punting on the moat and adventure playgrounds to burn off any remaining energy! Over the summer, the castle hosts a wide range of events: open-air opera, theatre and cinema for adults and a Mystery Quest for the kids.
Adults £24.90, children £16.90, under 4s free. Online discounts available. Tickets to shows and performances sold separately. Leeds-castle.com
Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex
A 15th-century moated castle surrounded by a 300-acre estate, Herstmonceux is a tranquil site with a range of themed gardens to explore, including an Elizabethan, a magic and a butterfly garden. Built originally as a country home in the mid- 15th - century, Herstmonceux Castle embodies the history of Medieval England and the romance of Renaissance Europe.
Adults £6, children £3, under 5s free, family (two adults three children) £14. Herstmonceux-castle.com
Arundel Castle, West Sussex
With a history stretching back over 950 years, Arundel Castle is like a portal allowing us to venture back to the 11th century. The castle's events and activities are what set it apart from the other castles and fortresses in the UK. You’ll find living history with knights on horseback jousting and battles being replayed in the grounds as well as music and crafts from medieval times plus other family-friendly things to do!
Adults £23, Children £10, Family £56. https://www.arundelcastle.org/
Lancaster Castle, Lancashire
This 1000 year old fortress has some unusual history that sets it apart from the usual family day out. Home to the Dukes of Lancaster, including the sons of kings, it has played host to much royalty over the centuries, as well as being famous for the trials of the ‘Lancashire Witches’. As one of the spookier castles to visit on this list, there are special tours aimed at under 12s to bring the castle’s dark history to life, complete with costumes and the chance to join a mock trial. It’s free to enter the castle, but the only way to explore inside is on an official tour (not suitable for buggies and pushchairs).
Guided Tours - School & Group Bookings Available here.
Tintagel Castle, Cornwall
Set on a dramatic Cornish cliff top, this 12th-century ruin is a place of legend and myth, and possibly the place where King Arthur was conceived. The castle has a new outdoor exhibition that tells Tintagel’s 1,500-year-old history, while regular shows by a troupe of performers bring the story of Arthur to life. With a picture-perfect beach and rock pools just below the castle, the surrounding landscape is perfect for a day of exploring.
Adults £8.40, children £5, family (two adults, three children), £21.80. english-heritage.org.uk
Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire
A turreted castle that evokes a fairytale feeling, Crathes is surrounded by beautiful gardens and is a great space for family days out. As well as turrets and towers to explore in the 16th-century house, there is plenty of wildlife to spot in the grounds, from roe deer to woodpeckers. The castle is also home to the most northerly branch of Go Ape – an adventure park featuring ziplines, Tarzan swings and other treetop fun.
Adults £12.50, children £9, family £29.50 (Go Ape priced separately), nts.org.uk
COVER IMAGE: Castle Howard, Yorkshire by Nick Garrod