Do you still dream of stepping into the magical castles of fairytales you read about as a child? Then England is just the place for you.
The country is well-known for its royal legacy. The palaces, castles, and royalist architecture would leave you spellbound. So, let’s tour England and experience the real yet enchanting world of fairy castles in this country.
A Trip to the 7 Enchanting Fairytale Castles in England
1. Bodiam Castle, East Sussex
This beautiful castle in England is located in Robertsbridge in East Sussex and was built by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge. Its creation can be dated back to the 14th century in 1385.
The outer defensive wall of the castle makes it divine and adds to its splendour, though the interior is no longer the same. The castle had withstood everything, starting from the age of Chaucer, wars with France, the black death, and royal disputes.
Don’t miss the opportunity to shop here. Books, local gifts, and crafts are all available at the store. It also serves a wide range of sweets and delicious jams and chutneys from the National Trust.
Scented candles and exclusive homeware are also available at the store, along with fragrant toiletries, beautiful scarves, and printed fabric bags with imprints of the castle to remind you about your enchanting visit to the castle.
2. Warwick Castle, Warwickshire
This 11th-century castle was built on William the Conqueror’s actual structure. It was built in the year 1068 along the edges of the River Avon. This castle in England has many old stories associated with it. The visitors may take advantage of the guided tours inside the castle and the grounds after paying the marked price for entry. The views and the landscape around this castle in England are breathtaking.
Inside the castle, you would experience a fantastic 50-minute live-performance walk-through that reveals the history the castle withstands.
Around 6 million pounds were spent on this castle to restore its beauty and make it available to tourists as one of the most visited places.
3. Dover Castle, Kent
Dover Castle in England is located on the southernmost coastline. Its significance lies in its long defensive history. It’s popularly known as ‘The Key to England‘ and is labelled as the iconic English Fortified manor house of the 11th century that had to withstand the history of war and bloodshed. Since then, it has stood proudly, bearing all that time inflicted on it.
Today, it’s open to its visitors. The visitors may climb to its grand tower. There’s an underground hospital inside Dover Castle. Its history is fascinating and is no less than a fairy tale.
You can experience the secret tunnel, which showcases the period of the British Army from the beaches of Dunkirk. Also of utmost importance is the castle’s underground hospital, which survived the Second World War and is equipped with a dressing station, operating theatre, wards, and corridors.
4. Windsor Castle, Berkshire
Windsor Castle is the most splendid one inhabited by some 39 monarchs. It still serves as a royal residence of kings and queens. It was created in the 11th century by William the Conqueror. It’s the original wooden castle of its time.
Today, it is open to tourists to explore its nooks and corners. The tourists may opt for a 30-minute guided tour by the wardens, who would take them around the castle courtyard. Queen Victoria Spent many of her days in the Castle of Windsor.
5. Tower Of London
It’s located on the North end of the River Thames. The Tower of London is very famous. It was founded as a part of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It took about 20 years to build this wonder.
The constructors were from Normandy, and the stones and other building materials were brought from Caen to France. Most of the labour was provided by the Englishmen. In 1240, Henry III painted the Tower’s Great Keep white, called the White Tower.
The tower was constructed concentrically, providing the castle with the most challenging possible. The royal lodgings were erected inside. The kings and the queens used the castle as their protective cells. All the ammunition, tools and weapons were made and stored here.
It also acted as the watchdog for the Nation’s revenue collection. It’s in the Tower Mint that all the coins of the realm were made. This practice started during the reign of Edward I and continued till 1810. It’s in the tower that the jewels and crowns of the kings and queens were protected, and even today, the Crown jewels are guarded by the garrison of soldiers.
Apart from its history of the reign, the tower had withstood times of death and bloodshed. During the Wars of the Roses, Henry VI was murdered here, and the princes vanished in the walls of the tower later. Two skeletons were even unearthed at the building.
Its royal legacy and history can be dated back centuries. Many deeply hidden secrets are buried in the tower’s walls and are haunted by the dramatic horror story of Anne Boleyn.
6. Arundel Castle, West Sussex
This castle in England was founded on the auspicious Christmas day in 1067. It’s one of the most beautiful castles in England. Many more ways head across the castle. Arundel Cathedral and Amberley Castle are all worth visiting. The English Vineyard is half an hour from the castle. It’s worth seeing and tasting some of the unique creations of the vineyards.
It did withstand the attacks during the English Civil War from both sides, the royalists and the Parliamentarians.
The castle has a unique kitchen garden with tropicals and the fantastic gardening of chillies, lemons, and grapes. The castle in England highly welcomes the Annual Tulip festival during the Spring. April is dedicated to flowers, with thousands of blooms staged in the festival.
You must be curious about knowing the past that hovers around the building of the castle in England. The castle museum would serve your curiosity in the best possible way. The museum also offers a guided tour to glimpse the story behind the castle in one go.
7. Lindisfarne Castle In England
It’s the 16th-century fortified castle on the Holy Island in England. It served as a border between England and Scotland. It was built to protect the natural harbour during the Elizabeth Era. However, it was freed from its military responsibilities after the unification of England and Scotland under James I. The Parliamentary forces occupied it during the devastating Civil War.
In 1901, Edward Hudson, the founder of the magazine Country Life, went there on vacation and eventually fell in love with the beauty of this castle in England. He decided to own it and eventually got it in January 1902. After acquiring it, he renovated the castle, the most remarkable being creating a walled garden in England.
The Last Chapter
There’s no doubt that England can be designated as a royal country with so many beautiful palaces and castles on different country terrains. We can only imagine the castles confined to our thoughts while reading fairy tales. And visiting these beautiful castles in England makes the magical myths a true and beautiful reality.
Last Updated on March 5, 2024 by Joshita