Britain's favourite British Castles is National Sea Life Centre, West Midlands

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Though their military purpose is long redundant, Britain's Castles still stir the blood. They are history writ large: from Iron Age Maiden Castle through to more recent gems like Sir Walter Raleigh's fortified home in Sherborne, via Roman Burgh Castle and the many Norman survivals including the Tower of London and Edinburgh Castle. Many indeed are architectural histories in themselves, improved and altered through the generations. Now that so many come complete with requisite shop and activities - Alnwick is wonderful for its entertainment - kids love to visit them. But for romantics there are still out of the way wonders perched above rocks or on remote islands, far from any such commercial considerations: tell us about your favourite by voting in our poll.

Explore British Castles

Current favourite British Castles

1: Windsor Castle (1713 votes) Windsor

2: Alnwick Castle (871 votes) Alnwick

3: Beaumaris Castle (821 votes) Beaumaris

4: Bodiam Castle (813 votes) Robertsbridge

5: Arundel Castle & Gardens (772 votes) Arundel

6: Bamburgh Castle (751 votes) Bamburgh

7: Corfe Castle (718 votes) Corfe Castle

8: Cardiff Castle (717 votes) Cardiff

9: Fort Grey (717 votes) St Peters

10: Muncaster Castle, Gardens & Owl Centre (712 votes) Ravenglass

11: Berkeley Castle (695 votes) Berkeley

12: Balmoral Castle & Grounds (693 votes) Ballater

13: Braemar Castle (692 votes) Braemar

14: Carisbrooke Castle (661 votes) Newport

15: Leeds Castle and Gardens (595 votes) Maidstone

16: Caernarfon Castle (585 votes) Caernarfon

17: Sudeley Castle & Gardens (555 votes) Winchcombe

18: Glamis Castle (434 votes) Forfar

19: Kenilworth Castle (434 votes) Kenilworth

20: Cyfarthfa Castle, Museum & Art Gallery (415 votes) Merthyr Tydfil

21: Dunvegan Castle & Gardens (356 votes) Dunvegan

22: Ludlow Castle (347 votes) Ludlow

23: Cawdor Castle (344 votes) Nairn

24: Chirk Castle (343 votes) Wrexham

25: Eastnor Castle (320 votes) Ledbury

26: Framlingham Castle (316 votes) Woodbridge

27: Warwick Castle (291 votes) Warwick

28: Edinburgh Castle (290 votes) Edinburgh

29: Hertford Castle (266 votes) Hertford

30: Dirleton Castle and Gardens (263 votes) North Berwick

31: Knaresborough Castle & Courthouse Museum (229 votes) Knaresborough

32: Sherborne Castle & Lakeside Gardens (226 votes) Sherborne

33: Totnes Castle (224 votes) Totnes

34: Tonbridge Castle (224 votes) Tonbridge

35: Castle Cornet (167 votes) St Peter Port

36: Caerlaverock Castle (154 votes) Dumfries

37: Powderham Castle (135 votes) Exeter

38: Gardens & Grounds of Herstmonceux Castle (116 votes) Herstmonceux

39: Caerhays Castle & Gardens (94 votes) St Austell

40: Chiddingstone Castle (72 votes) Edenbridge

41: Castle Rushen (42 votes) Castletown

42: Chepstow Castle (32 votes) Chepstow

43: Mount Orgueil Castle (5 votes) Grouville

44: Lauriston Castle (4 votes) Edinburgh

45: Sandal Castle (4 votes) Wakefield

46: Deal Castle (4 votes) Deal

47: Craignethan Castle (4 votes) Lesmahagow

48: Upnor Castle (4 votes) Rochester

49: Kellie Castle & Garden (4 votes) Pittenweem

50: Dolwyddelan Castle (4 votes) Dolwyddelan

see full list

51: Bolsover Castle (3 votes) Bolsover

52: Flint Castle (3 votes) Flint

53: Torosay Castle (3 votes) Craignure

54: Kidwelly Castle (3 votes) Kidwelly

55: Bolton Castle (3 votes) Leyburn

56: Kirby Muxloe Castle (3 votes) Leicester

57: Caerphilly Castle (3 votes) Caerphilly

58: Dunrobin Castle & Gardens (3 votes) Golspie

59: Llawhaden Castle (3 votes) Narberth

60: Ayton Castle (3 votes) Eyemouth

61: Grimsthorpe Castle (3 votes) Bourne

62: Clitheroe Castle Museum (3 votes) Clitheroe

63: White Castle (3 votes) Abergavenny

64: Blairquhan Castle (3 votes) Maybole

65: Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle (3 votes) Ashby-de-la-Zouch

66: Coity Castle (2 votes) Bridgend

67: Carsluith Castle (2 votes) Creetown

68: York Castle Museum (2 votes) York

69: Dumbarton Castle (2 votes) Dumbarton

70: Kinnersley Castle (2 votes) Kinnersley

71: Fort Purbrook The Peter Ashley Activity Centre (2 votes) Portsmouth

72: Abernethy Round Tower (2 votes) Abernethy

73: Langley Castle (2 votes) Hexham

74: Blackness Castle (2 votes) Linlithgow

75: Fort Charlotte (2 votes) Lerwick

76: Enniskillen Castle (2 votes) Enniskillen

77: Goodrich Castle (2 votes) Ross-on-Wye

78: Cadzow Castle (2 votes) Hamilton

79: Bridgnorth Castle (ruin) (2 votes) Bridgnorth

80: Barnard Castle (2 votes) Barnard Castle

81: Castle Acre Castle (2 votes) Kings Lynn

82: Powis Castle and Garden (2 votes) Welshpool

83: Elizabeth Castle (2 votes) St Helier

84: Bolebroke Castle (2 votes) Hartfield

85: Balvenie Castle (2 votes) Keith

86: New Tavern Fort (2 votes) Gravesend

87: Ravenscraig Castle (2 votes) Kirkcaldy

88: Hedingham Castle (2 votes) Halstead

89: Mountfitchet Castle (2 votes) Stansted

90: Lindisfarne Castle (2 votes) Holy Island

91: Craigmillar Castle (2 votes) Edinburgh

92: Muness Castle (2 votes) Unst

93: Spynie Palace (2 votes) Elgin

94: Raglan Castle (2 votes) Usk

95: Nottingham Castle (2 votes) Nottingham

96: Keep Military Museum (2 votes) Dorchester

97: Coalhouse Fort (2 votes) Tilbury

98: Richmond Castle (EH) (2 votes) Richmond

99: Greenknowe Tower (2 votes) Gordon

100: Corgarff Castle (2 votes) Corgarff

101: Cholmondeley Castle Garden (2 votes) Malpas

102: Hadleigh Castle (2 votes) Hadleigh

103: Dartmouth Castle - English Heritage (2 votes) Dartmouth

104: Craigievar Castle (2 votes) Alford

105: Rayleigh Mount (2 votes) Rayleigh

106: Scalloway Castle (2 votes) Scalloway

107: St Andrews Castle and Visitor Centre (2 votes) St Andrews

108: Newhaven Fort (2 votes) Newhaven

109: Inveraray Castle (2 votes) Inveraray

110: Tolquhon Castle (2 votes) Ellon

111: Skenfrith Castle (2 votes) Abergavenny

112: Castle of St John (2 votes) Stranraer

113: Auchindoun Castle (2 votes) Dufftown

114: Scarborough Castle (EH) (2 votes) Scarborough

115: Mont Orgueil Castle (2 votes) Gorey

116: Conwy Castle (2 votes) Conwy

117: Orford Castle (2 votes) Woodbridge

118: Craigston Castle (2 votes) Turriff

119: Greenhalgh Castle (2 votes) Garstang

120: Crathes Castle, Garden and Estate (2 votes) Banchory

121: Chillingham Castle (2 votes) Chillingham

122: Broughton Castle (2 votes) Banbury

123: Newark Castle (2 votes) Newark

124: Portchester Castle (2 votes) Fareham

125: Drummond Castle Gardens (2 votes) Crieff

126: Wolvesey Castle (2 votes) Winchester

127: Brechin Castle Centre (2 votes) Brechin

128: Prudhoe Castle (2 votes) Prudhoe

129: Caldicot Castle and Country Park (2 votes) Caldicot

130: Stirling Castle (2 votes) Stirling

131: Pevensey Castle (2 votes) Pevensey

132: Penrhyn Castle (2 votes) Bangor

133: Fort Paull (2 votes) Hull

134: Christchurch Castle (2 votes) Christchurch

135: Belfast Castle (2 votes) Belfast

136: Usk Castle (2 votes) Usk

137: MacLellan's Castle (2 votes) Kirkcudbright

138: Calshot Castle (2 votes) Southampton

139: New Buckenham Castle (2 votes) Norwich

140: Rockingham Castle (2 votes) Market Harborough

141: Ardblair Castle (2 votes) Blairgowrie

142: Hever Castle and Gardens (2 votes) Edenbridge

143: Manorbier Castle (2 votes) Tenby

144: Lulworth Castle (2 votes) Wareham

145: Berwick Castle (2 votes) Berwick-upon-Tweed

146: Weeting Castle (2 votes) Brandon

147: Helmsley Castle (2 votes) Helmsley

148: Restormel Castle (2 votes) Lostwithiel

149: Kelburn Castle and Country Centre (2 votes) Fairlie

150: Southsea Castle (2 votes) Portsmouth

151: Elcho Castle (2 votes) Rhynd

152: Carreg Cennen Castle (2 votes) Llandeilo

153: Rhuddlan Castle (2 votes) Rhyl

154: Lunt Roman Fort (2 votes) Coventry

155: Nunney Castle (2 votes) Frome

156: Dover Castle and Secret Wartime Tunnels (2 votes) Dover

157: Neidpath Castle (2 votes) Peebles

158: Urquhart Castle (2 votes) Inverness

159: Tynemouth Castle and Priory (2 votes) Tynemouth

160: Rowallan Castle (2 votes) Kilmarnock

161: Dunnottar Castle (2 votes) Stonehaven

162: Pembroke Castle (2 votes) Pembroke

163: Farleigh Hungerford Castle (2 votes) Bath

164: Lincoln Castle (2 votes) Lincoln

165: Dunstaffnage Castle and Chapel (2 votes) Oban

166: St Catherine's Castle (2 votes) Fowey

167: Castell Henllys Iron Age Fort (2 votes) Crymych

168: Linlithgow Palace (2 votes) Linlithgow

169: Bayards Cove Fort (2 votes) Dartmouth

170: Stormont (2 votes) Belfast

171: Croft Castle (2 votes) Leominster

172: Deddington Castle (2 votes) Banbury

173: Eye Castle (2 votes) Eye

174: Harwich Redoubt Fort (2 votes) Harwich

175: Eynsford Castle (2 votes) Dartford

176: Thirlestane Castle (2 votes) Lauder

177: Dunster Castle (2 votes) Dunster

178: Huntly Castle (2 votes) Huntly

179: Shrewsbury Castle and Shropshire Regimental Museum (2 votes) Shrewsbury

180: Acton Burnell Castle (2 votes) Shrewsbury

181: Picton Castle (2 votes) Haverfordwest

182: Noltland Castle (2 votes) Westray

183: Ogmore Castle (2 votes) Bridgend

184: Tutbury Castle (2 votes) Burton upon Trent

185: St Briavel's Castle (2 votes) Lydney

186: Rothesay Castle (2 votes) Rothesay

187: Middleham Castle (2 votes) Leyburn

188: St Mawes Castle (2 votes) Truro

189: Ludgershall Castle and Cross (2 votes) Ludgershall

190: Lochleven Castle (2 votes) Kinross

191: Cilgerran Castle (1 vote) Cardigan

192: Tantallon Castle (1 vote) North Berwick

193: Hailes Castle (1 vote) East Linton

194: Lullingstone Castle (1 vote) Dartford

195: Colchester Castle (1 vote) Colchester

196: Crownhill Fort (1 vote) Plymouth

197: Brodie Castle (1 vote) Forres

198: Highcliffe Castle (1 vote) Highcliffe

199: Lancaster Castle (1 vote) Lancaster

200: Huntingtower Castle (1 vote) Perth

201: Kildrummy Castle (1 vote) Alford

202: Oxwich Castle (1 vote) Swansea

203: Royal Citadel (1 vote) Plymouth

204: Chipchase Castle (1 vote) Hexham

205: Pickering Castle (1 vote) Pickering

206: Castle Keep (1 vote) Newcastle upon Tyne

207: Old Wardour Castle (1 vote) Salisbury

208: Druchtag Motte (1 vote) Mochrum

209: Dundonald Castle (1 vote) Kilmarnock

210: Castle Fraser (1 vote) Inverurie

211: Portland Castle - English Heritage (1 vote) Portland

212: Hurst Castle (1 vote) Lymington

213: Balvaird Castle (1 vote) Glen Farg

214: Lewes Castle, Barbican House Museum (1 vote) Lewes

215: Harlech Castle (1 vote) Harlech

216: Duart Castle (1 vote) Craignure

217: Loch Leven Castle (1 vote) Kinross

218: Cardoness Castle (1 vote) Castle Douglas

219: Clackmannan Tower (1 vote) Clackmannan

220: Castle Rising Castle (1 vote) Kings Lynn

221: Dunstanburgh Castle (1 vote) Alnwick

222: Tretower Court and Castle (1 vote) Crickhowell

223: Camber Castle (1 vote) Rye

224: Raby Castle (1 vote) Darlington

225: Laugharne Castle (1 vote) Carmarthen

226: Richborough Roman Fort (1 vote) Sandwich

227: Drumcoltran Tower (1 vote) Dalbeattie

228: Carlisle Castle (1 vote) Carlisle

229: Castle of Old Wick (1 vote) Wick

230: Aydon Castle (1 vote) Corbridge

231: Newark Castle (1 vote) Port Glasgow

232: Launceston Castle (1 vote) Launceston

233: Pontefract Castle (1 vote) Pontefract

234: Scotstarvit Tower (1 vote) Cupar

235: Peel Castle (1 vote) Peel

236: Burleigh Castle (1 vote) Milnathort

237: Norham Castle (1 vote) Berwick-upon-Tweed

238: Crichton Castle (1 vote) Pathhead

239: Stafford Castle & Visitor Centre (1 vote) Stafford

240: Castle Campbell and Garden (1 vote) Dollar

241: Wigmore Castle (ruin) (1 vote) Leominster

242: Bowes Castle (1 vote) Barnard Castle

243: Edlingham Castle (1 vote) Alnwick

244: Loch Doon Castle (1 vote) Dalmellington

245: Rochester Castle (1 vote) Rochester

246: Hemyock Castle (1 vote) Cullompton

247: Eilean Donan Castle (1 vote) Kyle of Lochalsh

248: Brougham Castle (1 vote) Penrith

249: Royal Dundonald Castle (1 vote) Kilmarnock

250: Skipton Castle (1 vote) Skipton

251: Tilbury Fort (1 vote) Tilbury

252: Carew Castle & Tidal Mill (1 vote) Carew

253: Balgonie Castle Enterprises (1 vote) Glenrothes

254: Ripley Castle & Gardens (1 vote) Harrogate

255: Moreton Corbet Castle (1 vote) Newport

256: Etal Castle (1 vote) Cornhill-on-Tweed

257: Beeston Castle (1 vote) Tarporley

258: Spofforth Castle (EH) (1 vote) Harrogate

259: Fort George (1 vote) Inverness

260: Criccieth Castle (1 vote) Criccieth

261: Tattershall Castle (1 vote) Lincoln

262: Delgatie Castle (1 vote) Turriff

263: Fonmon Castle (1 vote) Barry

264: Lochmaben Castle (1 vote) Lochmaben

265: Sorn Castle and Garden (1 vote) Mauchline

266: Inverlochy Castle (1 vote) Fort William

267: Drum Castle (1 vote) Banchory

268: Conisbrough Castle (1 vote) Doncaster

269: Edzell Castle and Garden (1 vote) Forfar

270: Pendennis Castle - English Heritage (1 vote) Falmouth

271: Guildford Castle (1 vote) Guildford

272: Colchester Castle Museum (1 vote) Colchester

273: Upton Castle Gardens (1 vote) Cosheston

274: Broughty Castle Museum (1 vote) Broughty Ferry

275: Warkworth Castle (1 vote) Morpeth

276: Needles Old Battery (1 vote) Alum Bay

277: Strome Castle (1 vote) Lochcarron

278: Stokesay Castle (1 vote) Craven Arms

279: Threave Castle (1 vote) Castle Douglas

280: Duffus Castle (1 vote) Elgin

281: Wallingford Castle Gardens (1 vote) Wallingford

282: Dolbadarn Castle (1 vote) Caernarfon

283: Doune Castle (1 vote) Doune

284: Cromwell's Castle (1 vote) Tresco

285: New Castle (1 vote) Bridgend

286: Lydford Castle, Banks and Fort (1 vote) Okehampton

287: Morton Castle (1 vote) Morton

288: Fyvie Castle (1 vote) Turriff

289: Berwick-upon-Tweed Ramparts (1 vote) Berwick-upon-Tweed

290: Peveril Castle (1 vote) Hope Valley

291: Castell Coch (1 vote) Cardiff

292: Yarmouth Castle (1 vote) Yarmouth

293: Skipsea Castle (EH) (1 vote) Driffield

294: Bothwell Castle (1 vote) Uddingston

295: Clifford's Tower (1 vote) York

296: Fort Brockhurst (1 vote) Gosport

297: Old Sarum Castle - English Heritage (1 vote) Salisbury

298: Housesteads Roman Fort (1 vote) Hexham

299: Hastings Castle and 1066 Story (1 vote) Hastings

300: Elcho Castle (1 vote) Perth

301: King Charles Castle (1 vote) Tresco

302: Walmer Castle and Gardens (1 vote) Deal

303: Okehampton Castle (1 vote) Okehampton

304: Orchardton Tower (1 vote) Castle Douglas

305: Hermitage Castle (1 vote) Hawick

306: Auckland Castle (1 vote) Bishop Auckland

307: Kilchurn Castle (1 vote) Dalmally

308: Chesters Roman Fort (Cilurnum) Hadrian's Wall (1 vote) Hexham

309: Kisimul Castle (1 vote) Isle of Barra

310: Bryn Bras Castle (1 vote) Caernarfon

311: Lochranza Castle (1 vote) Lochranza

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