Must see English castles

Caernarfon Castle is in Wales and is Pronounced 'Canarven'. It is a medieval fortress found on the edge of the coast in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. The walls you will still see there today were built to defend the castle and the surrounding town. The original castle plans from the 11th century were never actually fully completed. Despite this, the castle walls are still extremely impressive and this World Heritage Site is well worth visiting if you get the chance to do so. The closest city is Llandudno and Liverpool is only 1 hr 40 mins drive away. 

Closest Train Station: Bangor 

Address: Castle Ditch, Caernarfon LL55 2AY

Bolsover Castle is in the county of Derbyshire and it often gets overlooked due to its location and there being so many others in the South. It is medieval and dates back to the 12th century when it was built by the Peveril family. It is a Royal Heritage-listed building and recently underwent restoration, back in 2014 so the Cavendish Walkway, the staterooms and the gardens are ready to now be fully explored. The closest major cities to it are Sheffield and Nottingham. Sheffield is around a 3 hr drive from London and Nottingham is around 2.5 hrs. 

Closest Train Station: Chesterfield Station 

Address - Castle St, Bolsover, Chesterfield, S44 6PR

Leeds Castle is not to be mistaken with the city called Leeds in the North - as 'Leeds Castle' is in the South East of England. It is known as one of the most beautiful castles in England because it perches on islands formed by the River Len and has daffodils on the surrounding banks. The insides are quite spectacular as well, with having a heavy Medieval and Tudor influence for the majority of the architecture. The Maze and Falconry shows are very popular with both locals and visitors of all ages. You can drive from London in just over an hour. You can also get the train from 'London Victoria Station' in 1 hr 15 mins. 

Closest Train Station: Harrietsham

Address: Broomfield, Maidstone ME17 1PL

Warwick Castle was originally built by William the Conqueror and this was in 1068 after the Norman Conquest of England. Its position in the county of Warwickshire, right in the middle of England, made it an excellent stronghold because of this. It is a motte-and-bailey castle and you can even take a picnic for the day and admire this picturesque castle from the banks of the famous River Avon. It is a 1 hr 45 min drive from London and only 35 mins from Birmingham by car. You can also get the train from London 'Marylebone Station' in 1 hr 15 mins. 

Closest Train Station: Warwick

Address: Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 6AH

Balmoral Castle could have been from an 18th-century storybook and is located within the Cairngorms National Park. The castle has been around since the 14th century. In 1852 it even became part of the British Royal Residences. The castle is only open from April to July, as the Queen takes up residency here for the rest of the year - so you can probably tell why it is so popular and well worth visiting. The closest cities are Edinburgh and Glasgow. Edinburgh is around a 2.5-hour drive and Glasgow is around the same duration. 

Address: Balmoral Estates, Ballater AB35 5TB