London is a wonderful city, but I always encourage my family and friends to include travel outside London in their plans to see more of the UK’s beauty. An easy way to accomplish this is to visit one of these beautiful castles or palaces.
From central London, I’ve shared three English castle destinations that are reachable in 90 minutes or less with zero driving required! Each makes for a lovely day trip and are a great escape from the bustle of city life.
If visiting with a guide or heading out on a UK road trip is more your style, you’ll also find seven more castles to add to your bucket list. These include famous film locations and some off-the-beaten path options.
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Know Before You Go: Day Trip Castles From London
🏰 Best castle tour from London: Windsor Castle + Stonehenge
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🚘 Car rentals: Prefer to drive? Use Discover Cars to find the best UK car rental prices.
Castles Near London by Train
The first three castles on my list are the easiest to reach, even if you go on your own. All can be reached by train from a major London train station that will also have connections to the London Tube.
1. Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is the best choice for fans of the royal family. This castle was originally founded in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, and today it remains an active home for royals.
Keep an eye out for the Royal Standard flying. It is flown only when the sovereign is in residence.
Unsurprisingly, you won’t get to join the royal family for tea on your visit, but there is still a lot to see here.
Highlights of the castle tour include the State Apartments where heads of state are still welcomed today, and Queen Mary’s fascinating dolls’ house. The dolls’ house was not intended as a child’s toy, but rather is an example of incredible craftsmanship in miniature. It even includes electricity, running water, and working lifts!
In addition to the regular castle tour, there are often rotating events held near the castle in the town of Windsor.
How To Get to Windsor Castle
To avoid train transfers, catch the direct train from London Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside station. This route takes approximately 55 minutes. You will have an uphill walk from the station to the castle from here.
If you’re comfortable changing trains, instead buy a ticket from London Paddington with a simple change at Slough before arriving at Windsor & Eton Central. The walk from here is a bit shorter and less of a climb. Despite changing trains, you can make this trip in only 25-35 minutes.
2. Hampton Court Palace
While it’s technically a former royal palace rather than a castle, Hampton Court Palace is an absolute must visit that every member of your family will enjoy.
Built by Cardinal Wolsey in the 16th Century, Hampton Court Palace is most famous as the favoured home of King Henry VIII. All six of his wives spent time here and it is rumoured that Catherine Howard still haunts one of the galleries.
Parts of the palace have been updated since King Henry’s time. It is fascinating to see the changes in architecture and style as you move through the palace.
This palace is also excellent for children. The palace grounds are expansive and good for letting off steam. There is also a dedicated play area called the Magic Garden and a hedge maze for young and old adventurers.
Fans of the tv show Bridgerton may also enjoy spotting several areas of the palace that served as film locations for the show.
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How To Get to Hampton Court Palace
Catch a direct train from London Waterloo to Hampton Court station. You’ll arrive 30-35 minutes after departure and it’s just a short walk across the Thames to the palace entrance.
If you’d like to spend the evening outside of London, this is a great area for it. The King’s Arms Hotel is a gorgeous hotel just outside the walls of Hampton Court Palace that provides a lovely stay. Most rooms are perfect for couples, or book their 2-bedroom suite for a family stay. We stayed here with friends who traveled in from the US and all enjoyed having a pretty and quiet place to rest before our palace visit.
More to see nearby include Bushy Park, Kingston Upon Thames and Richmond Park. You can also take a river cruise up the Thames to Richmond Upon Thames for a relaxing and scenic way to travel.
3. Arundel Castle
Arundel Castle is perched on a hill in West Sussex. Surviving for centuries, it is still home to the Duke of Norfolk’s family. Originally built in the late 11thcentury, you can visit a medieval keep, 14th century chapel, expansive gardens, state rooms, and luxury bedrooms still used by guests of the family today.
Arundel Castle also runs many events in the spring and summer that are fun for the whole family. Think history days, jousts, and open-air theatre.
The town of Arundel just outside the castle is lovely and well worth a stroll before or after your castle visit. There are several vintage shops, cafes, and sweet treat sellers scattered along the historic high street.
Note that Arundel Castle is only open to visitors from 1 April to 30 October each year.
How To Get to Arundel Castle
Take a direct train from London Victoria to Arundel in just under 90 minutes. From the station, it’s a short 10-minute walk to the castle entrance.
Approaching Arundel Castle by train is a delight. Just before you reach Arundel station, you’ll see the castle on the hill out the right side of the train. It looks like it was plucked right out of a fairytale.
Once you walk out of the station take a left on the main road and follow it into town. You can’t miss the giant castle on the hill!
Castles Near London by Car or Tour
If these three weren’t enough castle time for you, there are many more castles near London. These can all be reached with a rental car or on a guided tour.
If you aren’t familiar with driving in the UK, take a look at my Guide to Driving in the UK for Americans before you head out.
4. Hever Castle
Hever Castle is best known for being the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. You can even step inside Anne’s childhood bedroom when you visit today. The pretty castle is small, but excellent for photos near the double moat. There are also extensive gardens to explore around the castle and a small military museum.
It is hard to find group tours heading to Hever Castle, so you should consider renting a car if this is on your bucket list and you don’t have the budget for a private tour.
5. Leeds Castle
Look for the iconic black swans in the waters around Leeds Castle. This historic castle was last privately owned by an American heiress. Leeds Castle regularly hosts seasonal events like outdoor concerts and movies in the summer and fireworks in the autumn for Bonfire Night.
There are many kid-friendly activities at Leeds Castle year round, and the extensive hedge maze will keep kids of all ages busy for longer than you might guess.
6. Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle also serves as the stately home in Downton Abbey. Because of the tv fame, this one can be harder to visit unless you book tickets in advance.
Travel Tip: If you miss booking tickets in time, consider going with a guided tour. Guided tours will usually provide transportation, entrance tickets, and a tour guide for your visit from London.
7. Dover Castle
If military history is your draw, don’t miss Dover Castle in East Sussex. Situated right on the English Channel, this fortress has been keeping a protective watch over the famous chalk cliffs since 1066.
8. Blenheim Palace
This beautiful palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, and has been the set for several films. Blenheim Palace is also easy to combine with a trip from London to the Cotswolds.
9. Warwick Castle
If a UK castle were to be run by Disney, this is basically what I’d expect. They have a ton of entertainment layered atop the centuries old Warwick Castle.
Several of the castle rooms are staged with wax figures decked out in historic clothing to show how the spaces would have been used at the time. Meanwhile, you don’t want to miss the trebuchet launch on the green outside.
It’s less convenient to head to Warwick Castle by train, but still doable if you’re dedicated. Warwick Railway Station can be reached from London in about 1 hour 45 minutes. It’s one mile walk from there to the castle.
10. Bodiam Castle
If atmospheric ruins are more your thing, then Bodiam Castle is for you. It has the castle look from outside complete with moat, but the interior is a ruin.
Bodiam Castle is too far off the tourist track for tours, but can be reached by car in about 90 minutes from south London. This castle is a great choice if you prefer a hidden gem that is more of a local experience.
Don’t miss my guide to renting a car in the UK to help you find the best price and learn what you should know before you hit the road!
More Day Trips From London + Planning Resources
Round out your travels with these guides to more day trips from London.
- Oxford. See the famous Oxford University spires and Harry Potter film locations.
- Bath. Ancient Roman baths are a big draw to this fascinating city that was once also home to Jane Austen and has been a popular film site for Bridgerton.
- Brighton. Don’t miss this quirky British beach town to experience artsy shops and the whimsical Royal Pavilion.
- 7 Day London itinerary. Make your planning easy with this ready to book perfect week in London.
- Where to Stay in London. Guide to London neighborhoods and where to find the best places to stay.
