If you are planning a trip to London, you are almost certainly considering visiting some castles and palaces during your stay. But, what are the top castles in London and which ones should you consider? London's location and importance means there's a lot castles and palaces to choose from, and your list will vary depending on your interests. If you enjoy learning about Henry VIII and his wives, Hampton Court Palace should be at the top of your list. If you keep up with all the news about the modern royal family, book tickets to see Buckingham Palace and Windsor Palace. World War II history buff? You should head to Blenheim Palace, birthplace of the Sir Winston Churchill, and Dover Castle. And of course, if pop culture is more your speed, Highclere Castle, aka Downton Abbey, is a must-see.
Keep reading to learn about the best castles to visit while staying in London. Some of these will be day trips. Most can be visited either on your own or on a bus tour, so you can customize your vacation to fit your needs and travel preferences. You can even book a vacation to see castles in Europe. So why wait; dive into some royal history and start planning your London trip!
1. Blenheim Palace
Location: Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Tickets: Tickets must be purchased online ahead of your visit. Basic tickets allow access to the State Rooms and grounds, and upgraded tickets to see parts of the palace like private living quarters also are available.
Suggested activity: Blenheim Palace Tour and The Cotswolds Day Trip from London
Queen Anne gave Blenheim Palace to John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, in the 18th century, and in the next century, the 7th Duke of Marlborough and his wife welcomed their son, Winston Churchill, into the world. On a tour of the castle, you can visit an exhibit about Sir Winston Churchill detailing his life at the palace and legacy.
You’ll also have the opportunity to see the elaborate State Rooms that feature a large mural on the ceiling and are decorated with columns, statues and tapestries. You can see the formal gardens, and for an extra fee, you can take a buggy ride through them. If you are visiting with kids, don’t miss the playground on-site, and try your hand at solving the Marlborough Maze, a two-mile-long hedge maze.
If you are interested in TV show and movie sites, follow the “Lights! Camera! Action! Trail” map to see filming locations for shows like “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” and movies, including “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and “Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation.” The audio guide included with your ticket also provides additional information about the palace and the grounds.
2. Buckingham Palace
Location: London
Tickets: Purchase your tickets ahead of time to ensure entry. Regular tours are offered during the summer months.
If Buckingham Palace is one of your must-see landmarks in London, book your tickets in advance to ensure entry. Tours of the palace occur in the summer. (Occasionally some guided tours are offered at other times of year, but slots are limited.) If you want to snag one of these tours, you'll have to keep a watch on the Royal Collections Trust's announcements for tours and events.
George IV became king in 1820 and had Buckingham House demolished and spent a fortune to build Buckingham Palace. The elaborate royal residence was not completed in his lifetime, and no monarch lived here until Queen Victoria opted to make it her residence. She had the East Wing constructed including the now iconic balcony where the royal family greets the public on special occasions.
On a tour of this top castle in London, you'll get to see the state rooms where the King Charles III entertains during ceremonial and official occasions. You can also opt for tours that include admission to the Royal Mews, the royal stables and where the Royal Carriages are kept, as well as the King's Gallery with changing exhibits featuring paintings, photographs and decorative arts from the king's collection. Guided tours of the palace gardens are also available.
3. Dover Castle
Location: Dover, Kent
Tickets: If visiting the castle on your own or part of a tour that doesn't include admission, purchase your ticket ahead of time to save compared to the ticket prices at the door.
Suggested activity: Rochester, Dover Castle and the White Cliffs
Dover Castle is one of the top castles to visit while in London and a must-see for World War II history buffs. About 2 hours outside of London on the coast in County Kent, you can tour the castle and see the White Cliffs of Dover. Dover Castle’s history dates back to the 11th century and William the Conqueror, though the castle has since been renovated, expanded and fortified. The castle has seen wars and sieges, and in World War II, the tunnels under the castle were used as headquarters for the armed services. It's where military leaders planned the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940 that took place on the other side of the Strait of Dover in France.
Dover Castle is made of gray stone brick that forms a square castle with square towers and is surrounded by defensive walls of the same color. It overlooks the White Cliffs of Dover and onto the strait. From the top of the castle, you get views of the surrounding area and on clear days, it’s possible to see across the Strait of Dover all the way to the shores of France. On your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to tour and learn more about the lighthouse built by the Romans, and see the Great Tower that has been restored to look like it may have in the 12th century during the reign of Henry II. You can also go into the tunnels to see exhibits about how they were used by the British military during World War II.
4. Hampton Court Palace
Location: East Molesey, Surry
Tickets: Book your tickets ahead of time to save money. If you are traveling on your own and plan to visit several castles, consider purchasing an annual membership to save on ticket prices. Membership to Historic Royal Palaces includes entry to the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace and Hillsborough Castle.
Suggested activity: Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace Tour
Hampton Court Palace was built in the 16th century and quickly became a favorite locale for Henry VIII; he lived here with all six of his wives. Another notable monarch who resided here was King William III (aka William of Orange). He wanted a baroque palace, and his architects and builders made Fountain Court and created an updated palace for the new king, while much of the Tudor style portion of the palace was left alone.
Hampton Court Palace is large and lavish. On a tour of the top castle, you’ll get to see both the Tudor and baroque portions of the palace from the grand staircases, ornate paintings on the walls and ceilings, and detailed tapestries. You can see the King’s apartments and the Chapel Royal, an ornate chapel where Henry VIII attended religious services.
At Henry VIII’s Kitchens, you’ll get a glimpse into the day-to-day life of workers at the palace and how many people were required to keep the palace functioning. Some 200 people were employed in the kitchens, made of several buildings, and they made 800 meals per day to feed the royal family, servants, staff and guards.
Don’t skip the Hampton Court Gardens. The formal gardens are well-manicured and perfect for a stroll. For a bit of whimsy, try your hand at the hedge maze, said to be the oldest in the United Kingdom.
5. Highclere Castle (aka Downton Abbey)
Location: Newbury, Berkshire
Tickets: Purchase tickets ahead of your visit to save money compared to the price at the door and to ensure entry.
Suggested activity: Downton Abbey and Oxford Tour from London Including Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle is on the bucket list of many a "Downton Abbey" fan and a top castle to visit on a London vacation. The popular show and movie of the same name put Highclere on the map for many tourists. The grand castle, as we see it today, was built in 1679 and was greatly transformed by Sir Charles Barry, the man who designed the Houses of Parliament, adding many elements to the castle that adhered to Victorian ideals of architecture and design.
Today visitors of the castle can tour rooms like the library that are so familiar to Downtown Abbey fans and see the beautiful wallpaper that shimmers in the sunlight, the paintings and photographs, and get an up-close look at detailed architectural elements. Tours of Highclere are self-guided; however, guides are stationed in the rooms to answer questions and provide information. You can learn about the filming of "Downton Abbey" as well as the history of the real-life castle. If you happen to be visiting London in December and celebrating Christmas, a tour of the castle would be a special treat with elaborate decorations and festively decorated trees throughout the castle.
6. Kensington Palace
Location: London
Tickets: Book your tickets ahead of time to save money. If you are traveling on your own and plan to visit several castles, consider purchasing an annual membership to save on ticket prices. A membership to Historic Royal Palaces includes entry to the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace and Hillsborough Castle.
In the 17th century, William III and Mary II chose to make Nottingham House their home, and subsequent monarchs expanded what became Kensington Palace. It served as the residence of English monarchs until 1837 when Victoria was crowned queen and opted to leave her childhood home in favor of Buckingham Palace.
Today, the house is the residence of William and Catherine, Prince and Princess of Wales, but historic areas of the palace remain open to the public for tours. On a visit to the house, you can expect to see the King's State Apartments, which despite its name was not where the king and the family spent their daily lives, but rather a place where monarchs held meetings and conducted official duties. Part of this area is the King's Staircase, where a mural by William Kent adorns the walls and ceilings. Even the banisters feature lavish details with metal formed into a curving and swirling pattern.
7. Tower of London
Location: London
Tickets: Book your tickets ahead of time to save money. If you are traveling on your own and plan to visit several castles, consider purchasing an annual membership to save on ticket prices. Membership to Historic Royal Palaces includes entry to the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace and Hillsborough Castle.
Suggested activity: Tower of London: Entry Ticket, Crown Jewels and Beefeater Tour
The Tower of London is a top thing to do in London not least of all because it is where the crown jewels are on display. If you want to see the exhibit, be sure to allot enough time during your day. Unless you visit in the off-season, wait times to get into the exhibit can be a half hour or longer. Crowds also tend to be smaller during shoulder season. Once inside, you can view displays of crowns, rings, robes and other official garb. For the best chance to avoid wait times, arrive early in the day near opening time.
Don't skip the rest of the castle though. It's been a part of London for hundreds of years and is full of history. Your entry ticket includes a guided tour by a Yeoman Warder, aka a Beefeater. You can also opt to purchase an audio guide. When I visited, it was December, so it wasn't very busy, and I loved the tour. The Yeoman Warder told us some of the history of the castle, interesting details about the fortifications, and stories of people who lived there, visited and were imprisoned there. He also shared a little about himself and his military career, and I very much enjoyed how he enhanced the experience and brought the history of the Tower of London to life.
The Tower of London is like a microcity with buildings that have served as living quarters, a church and royal residences. It's been there since the Middle Ages and has seen the likes of Geoffrey Chaucer, been a prison to many famous figures like Princess Elizabeth before she became Queen Elizabeth I, as well as more notorious figures like Guy Fawkes. And the Tower Green has served as the execution site of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's second and fifth wives respectively.
8. Windsor Castle
Location: Windsor, Berkshire
Tickets: Book tickets ahead of time to save money compared to the in-person price and to ensure entry on the day of your visit.
Suggested activity: Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace Tour
One of the official residences of the king, the Royal Collection Trust says this castle is the "oldest and largest castle in the world." Windsor Castle's construction began in 1070 at the behest of William the Conqueror, and during its hundreds of years, British Monarchs have added to the castle, modifying many elements to suit the styles of the times. While the castle's original intent was more fortification than luxurious palace, that too has changed. The castle has seen gothic, baroque, regency and neoclassical updates throughout the years.
Though the castle remains one of the official residences of the king, it is open to the public. During your visit, you can see the State Apartments and Semi-State Rooms. These areas are used to host heads of state, important ceremonies and official entertainment. These rooms are opulent with glistening gilded elements and luxuriously crimson furnishings. Rooms are decorated with painted portraits, dark woods, chandeliers and other lavish features. You'll also see rooms with elaborate murals on the ceiling and detailed carvings.
Tours of Windsor Castle are self-guided. Grab an audio guide for information and historical context for the many sights on your tour.