Castles in England

The term "castle" needs a little defining. Some fortified manors of the late Middle Ages are graced with the name “castle”, when in fact they are largely domestic structures. For the purposes of this list I’ll define a castle as a structure built with defense in mind. Many castles were adapted by later generations to more domestic purposes, so if you can’t find a favorite castle here, try looking under Historic Houses.

Nunney Castle
Nunney, Somerset

A picture-perfect moated medieval castle begun by Sir John de la Mare in 1373. Four corner turrets punctuate rectangular walls topped with machicolations. Beseiged in the Civil War and slighted …

Many visitors come to England just to see these medieval gems:

• Windsor Castle   
• Tower of London
• Warwick Castle  
• Alnwick Castle   
• Hever Castle      

Our picks as the 5 most scenic castles in England:

1. Framlingham Castle
2. Bamburgh Castle
3. Lindisfarne Castle
4. Bodiam Castle
5. Corfe Castle