Castles, Palaces & Monasteries in the United Kingdom
Palaces, castles, residences and monasteries with museums, guided tours and historic rooms.
South East England (66)
Blenheim Palace
Windsor Castle
Dover Castle
Royal Pavilion
Leeds Castle
Osborne House
Hever Castle
Carisbrooke Castle
Highclere Castle
Chartwell
Waddesdon Manor
Knole
Cliveden
Frogmore House
Deal Castle
Upnor Castle
Hurst Castle
Walmer Castle and Gardens
Yarmouth Castle
Petworth House and Park
Southsea Castle
Broughton Castle
Greys Court
Penshurst Place and Gardens
Scotney Castle
Stowe House
West Wycombe Park
Farnham Castle
Guildford Castle
Ightham Mote
Basildon Park
Boarstall Tower
Goodwood House
Bateman's
Lullingstone Castle
Polesden Lacey
Rye Castle Museum (Ypres Tower)
The Vyne
Basing House
Chiddingstone Castle
Claydon House
Great Dixter
Hughenden Manor
Kelmscott Manor
Loseley Park
Parham House
Ashdown House
Breamore House
Buscot Park
Chastleton House
Clandon Park
Dorney Court
Goodnestone Park
Mapledurham House
Newhaven Fort
Stonor Park
Stratfield Saye House
Titsey Place
Alfriston Clergy House
Ascott House
Belmont House and Gardens
Chenies Manor House
Glynde Place
Godinton House
Hammerwood Park
Hatchlands Park
South West England (45)
Tintagel Castle
Dunster Castle and Watermill
Berkeley Castle
Pendennis Castle
Powderham Castle
Sudeley Castle and Gardens
Dartmouth Castle
Kingston Lacy
Farleigh Hungerford Castle
Lacock Abbey
Okehampton Castle
Berry Pomeroy Castle
Compton Castle
Old Wardour Castle
Portland Castle
Castle Drogo
Lulworth Castle
Sherborne Castle
Tiverton Castle
Cotehele
Barrington Court
Knightshayes Court
Saltram House
Antony House
Corsham Court
Mount Edgcumbe House
Pencarrow
Sezincote House
The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens
Trerice
Tyntesfield
A La Ronde
Clevedon Court
Highcliffe Castle
Killerton
Lanhydrock House
Prideaux Place
Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum
Chavenage House
Coleton Fishacre
Crownhill Fort
Godolphin
Great Chalfield Manor and Garden
Kelly House
Kirkham House
West Midlands (35)
Warwick Castle
Ludlow Castle
Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden
Aston Hall
Stafford Castle
Stokesay Castle
Hartlebury Castle
Tamworth Castle
Baddesley Clinton
Charlecote Park
Coughton Court
Croome
Eastnor Castle
Croft Castle
Weoley Castle
Weston Park
Berrington Hall
Boscobel House and The Royal Oak
Chillington Hall
Harvington Hall
Packwood House
Ragley Hall
Shugborough Estate
Upton House and Gardens
Wightwick Manor and Gardens
Arbury Hall
Attingham Park
Whitmore Hall
Benthall Hall
Blakesley Hall
Compton Verney
Farnborough Hall
Hanbury Hall
Hellens Manor
Little Malvern Court & Gardens
East Midlands (29)
Chatsworth House
Lincoln Castle
Althorp
Burghley House
Belvoir Castle
Tattershall Castle
Belton House
Woolsthorpe Manor
Hardwick Hall
Kedleston Hall
Bolsover Castle
Wollaton Hall
Rockingham Castle
Boughton House
Calke Abbey
Grimsthorpe Castle
Melbourne Hall
The Children's Country House at Sudbury
Kirby Hall
Gainsborough Old Hall
Renishaw Hall
The Old Manor at Norbury
Belgrave Hall
Deene Park
Doddington Hall
Holdenby House
Kelmarsh Hall
Lamport Hall
Lincoln Medieval Bishops' Palace
East of England (29)
Sandringham House
Hatfield House
Woburn Abbey
Colchester Castle
Framlingham Castle
Holkham Hall
Kimbolton Castle
Hedingham Castle
Orford Castle
Audley End House and Gardens
Blickling Estate
Knebworth House
Hylands House
Caister Castle
Oxburgh Estate
Euston Hall
Anglesey Abbey
Elton Hall
Ickworth Estate
Ingatestone Hall
Somerleyton Hall
Wimpole Estate
Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate
Cressing Temple Barns
Kentwell Hall
Layer Marney Tower
Tilbury Fort
Christchurch Mansion
Hill Hall
Scotland (26)
Balmoral Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Glamis Castle
Inveraray Castle
Craigievar Castle
Braemar Castle
Castle of Mey
Crathes Castle
Fort George
Broughty Castle Museum
Delgatie Castle
Corgarff Castle
Lauriston Castle
Pollok House
Thirlestane Castle
Duff House
Mount Stuart
Castle of St John
Bowhill House
Dean Castle
Dumfries House
Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum
Callendar House
Hackness Battery and Martello Tower
Paxton House
Culross Palace
London (25)
Buckingham Palace
Tower of London
Kensington Palace
Hampton Court Palace
Queen's House
Kew Palace
Eltham Palace and Gardens
Old Royal Naval College
Strawberry Hill House
Chiswick House & Gardens
Spencer House
Syon House
Bruce Castle Museum
Osterley Park and House
Ham House and Garden
The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace
Jewel Tower
Fulham Palace
Boston Manor House
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery
Sutton House and Breaker's Yard
Valentines Mansion
Eastbury Manor House
Forty Hall
Hall Place and Gardens
Yorkshire and the Humber (25)
Castle Howard
Conisbrough Castle
Bolton Castle
Skipton Castle
Pontefract Castle
Knaresborough Castle
Ripley Castle
York Castle Museum
Helmsley Castle
Temple Newsam
Brodsworth Hall
Burton Agnes Hall
Cusworth Hall and Park
Sewerby Hall and Gardens
Beningbrough Hall
Bramham Park
Cannon Hall
Fountains Hall
Lotherton Hall
Markenfield Hall
Newby Hall
Bolling Hall Museum
Burton Constable Hall
Hovingham Hall
Kiplin Hall
North West England (20)
Lyme Park
Muncaster Castle
Sizergh Castle
Bramall Hall
Little Moreton Hall
Hutton in the Forest
Gawthorpe Hall
Holker Hall
Levens Hall
Arley Hall and Gardens
Croxteth Hall and Country Park
Dalton Castle
Dunham Massey
Rufford Old Hall
Speke Hall
Turton Tower
Astley Hall
Capesthorne Hall
Hoghton Tower
Leighton Hall, Lancashire
North East England (16)
Wales (6)
Northern Ireland (4)
Castles, Palaces & Monasteries in the United Kingdom: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 326 castles, palaces and monasteries in the United Kingdom, spread across 12 regions and 256 towns and cities. Most of them are in South East England (66), South West England (45), and West Midlands (35).
At the city level, London (18), Guildford (4), and Northampton (4) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several castles, palaces and monasteries in a single day.
27 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs £15 at the median, and the middle half charge between £10.50 and £18.
24 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 230 offer dedicated programs for families, and 244 have a café or restaurant. These figures come from our ongoing research – museums whose details we haven’t verified yet aren’t included in the counts.
Top 10 castles, palaces and monasteries in the United Kingdom
The best-known castles, palaces and monasteries in the United Kingdom
Buckingham PalaceCastles & Palaces · London
Tower of LondonCastles & Palaces · London
Blenheim PalaceCastles & Palaces · Woodstock
Windsor CastleCastles & Palaces · Windsor
Dover CastleCastles & Palaces · Dover
Royal PavilionCastles & Palaces · Brighton
Leeds CastleCastles & Palaces · Maidstone
Osborne HouseCastles & Palaces · East Cowes
Balmoral CastleCastles & Palaces · Ballater
Edinburgh CastleCastles & Palaces · Edinburgh
Castles, palaces and monasteries in the United Kingdom with free admission
Queen's HouseCastles & Palaces · London
Bruce Castle MuseumRegional · London
Pontefract CastleCastles & Palaces · Pontefract
Broughty Castle MuseumCastles & Palaces · Dundee
Okehampton CastleCastles & Palaces · Okehampton
Hylands HouseCastles & Palaces · Chelmsford
Southsea CastleCastles & Palaces · Portsmouth
Stafford CastleCastles & Palaces · Stafford
Castle and Regimental Museum, MonmouthHistory · Monmouth
Castle of St JohnCastles & Palaces · Stranraer
Castles, palaces and monasteries in the United Kingdom with programs for families
- Buckingham PalaceCastles & Palaces · London
- Tower of LondonCastles & Palaces · London
- Blenheim PalaceCastles & Palaces · Woodstock
- Windsor CastleCastles & Palaces · Windsor
- Dover CastleCastles & Palaces · Dover
- Royal PavilionCastles & Palaces · Brighton
- Leeds CastleCastles & Palaces · Maidstone
- Osborne HouseCastles & Palaces · East Cowes
- Edinburgh CastleCastles & Palaces · Edinburgh
Kensington PalaceCastles & Palaces · London
Wheelchair-accessible castles, palaces and monasteries in the United Kingdom
- Balmoral CastleCastles & Palaces · Ballater
- Kensington PalaceCastles & Palaces · London
Sandringham HouseCastles & Palaces · Sandringham
Chatsworth HouseCastles & Palaces · Bakewell
Waddesdon ManorCastles & Palaces · Aylesbury
Colchester CastleCastles & Palaces · Colchester
The King's Gallery, Buckingham PalaceArt · London
Auckland PalaceCastles & Palaces · Bishop Auckland- Hylands HouseCastles & Palaces · Chelmsford
Stowe HouseCastles & Palaces · Buckingham
Castles, palaces and monasteries in the United Kingdom with the highest published visitor numbers
By region
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many castles, palaces and monasteries are there in the United Kingdom?
Our directory currently lists 326 castles, palaces and monasteries in the United Kingdom across 256 towns and cities.
What are the best-known castles, palaces and monasteries in the United Kingdom?
Some of the best known are Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Blenheim Palace, Windsor Castle, and Dover Castle.
Which castles, palaces and monasteries in the United Kingdom offer free admission?
27 museums are free to visit – for example Queen's House, Bruce Castle Museum, Pontefract Castle, and Broughty Castle Museum.
Which castles, palaces and monasteries in the United Kingdom are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 168 are open, such as Tower of London, Blenheim Palace, and Windsor Castle.
Which castles, palaces and monasteries in the United Kingdom are wheelchair accessible?
24 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Balmoral Castle, Kensington Palace, and Sandringham House. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit castles, palaces and monasteries in the United Kingdom?
A regular adult ticket costs £15 at the median, with prices ranging from £4.40 to £41. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums