Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex
A 15th-century moated castle surrounded by a 300-acre estate, Herstmonceux is a tranquil site with a range of themed gardens to explore, including an Elizabethan, a magic and a butterfly garden. From May to October, Herstmonceux also offers horse and carriage rides around the estate (from £3 adult, £2 children, under 5s free). The castle hosts England’s Medieval Festival 2017(26-28 August), which is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a weekend-long bonanza of battles, jousting, archery, banquets and all the other elements and ephemera of medieval life.
• Adults £6, children £3, under 5s free, family (two adults three children) £14. herstmonceux-castle.com
Warwick Castle, Warwickshire
Now one of the UK’s most popular castles and a major family attraction (it’s owned by the Merlin group), this was once home to William the Conqueror and still has a working trebuchet (siege engine/giant catapult). This summer the castle has fantastic offerings for families, starting in the May half-term with an epic battle re-enactment, War of the Roses Live, which runs until late summer. “Medieval glamping” is available, from £40pp, for families who want to make a weekend of it. Other fun activities include the Horrible Histories Maze, daily falconry displays and an immersive dungeon experience. And, of course, there’s the actual castle, which is pretty spectacular.
• Adults £26.40, children £23.40, family of four £89. Discounts for online booking: from £18.40 five days in advance, warwick-castle.com
Framlingham Castle, Suffolk
Immortalised in local hero Ed Sheeran’s hit song Castle on the Hill, Framlingham is distinctive for its 13 towers dotted with ornamental chimneys. A walk around the 10-metre high castle walls is a great way to take in the views of the surrounding countryside. This summer the castle will open a new exhibition and cafe area and hold plenty of events, from outdoor cinema screenings, performances of Shakespeare plays and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, as well as jousting displays, knight battles and siege activity days.
• Adults £8.90, children (5-15) £5.30, family (two adults three children) £23.10, english-heritage.org
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
A “fairytale” mansion built under the Stuarts, Bolsover Castle has a busy programme of family events this summer, including weekend displays of horsemanship where visitors can see horses and their riders in training, donned in flamboyant, 17th-century attire. As well as jousting displays and medieval battle activity days for kids, on 16 August there is an outdoor performance of The Wind in the Willows in the castle’s grounds, featuring a woodland parade during the interval.
• Adults £10.80, children £6.50, family (two adults three children), £28.10. english-heritage.org.uk
Leeds Castle, Kent
Leeds Castle has something for everyone: an impressive maze and grotto, falconry displays, punting on the moat and adventure playgrounds to burn off any remaining energy the kids have left after all that. Throughout the summer there is a wide range of shows: open-air opera, theatre and cinema for adults, while families will be drawn to performances such as the Junk Orchestra and a Mystery Quest which kids across the Estate.
• Adults £24.90, children £16.90, under 4s free. Online discounts available. Tickets to shows and performances sold separately. leeds-castle.com
Tintagel Castle, Cornwall
Set on a dramatic Cornish clifftop, this 12th-century ruin is a place of legend and myth, and possibly the place where King Arthur was conceived. Just getting to the castle via a steep staircase and a wooden footbridge is an adventure. Now the castle has a new outdoor exhibition that tells Tintagel’s 1,500-year-old history, while regular shows by a troupe of performers bring the story of Arthur to life. With a picture-perfect beach and rock pools just below the castle, the surrounding landscape is perfect for a day of exploring.
• Adults £8.40, children £5, family (two adults, three children), £21.80. english-heritage.org.uk
Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
A castle that will be familiar to fans of the Harry Potter films (it features as Hogwarts), Alnwick is a majestic stately home with a cultural programme ranging from theatre to live concerts. Of course, it hasn’t failed to capitalise on that Potter magic: broomstick training takes place every day, while there are also HP character days. Throughout the summer season there are interactive events and performances, from medieval crafts and dressing up to ancient alchemy displays.
• Adults £15.50, children £7.20, family (two adults and up to four children) £37.80. Save 10% when booking online, alnwickcastle.com
Kelburn Castle, Ayrshire
A colourful and eccentric stately home, perhaps the most distinguishing feature of Kelburn is the vast mural by a Brazilian graffiti artist that covers the tower and a wing. The castle is home to a riding club and forest school, and its imaginative activities programme includes a mountain bike park and a wide range of camping and glamping options. Some of this summer’s highlights include the wizard school of medieval magic and a chance to stomp through the castle grounds with the Gruffalo.
• Adults £9, children £7, family of four £30. Outside of school and bank holidays tickets are cheaper. kelburnestate.com
Conwy Castle, Conwy
The whole of Conwy is great for a family break – the town is a Unesco world heritage site and is within reach of both beautiful seaside and the majestic landscape of Snowdonia. The castle itself – accessed via a bridge – is quite a sight, with looming walls and towers. There are plenty of events for families, too: on 1 June there is a celebration of Wales’ oral traditions with storytelling based on its myths and legends, on 24-25 June the castle plays host to “The Tournament”, a living history event with plenty of sword clashing; August bank holiday will also see the castle taken over for a celebration of medieval skills, crafts and characters. Every Thursday and Friday from 27 July-27August there are family fun days, with the opportunity to try archery and sword fighting and get up close to birds of prey.
• Adults £8.95, children £5.80, family (two adults and up to three children) £26.60, cadw.gov.wales
Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire
A turreted castle that evokes a fairytale feeling, Crathes is surrounded by beautiful gardens and is a great space for family days out. As well as turrets and towers to explore in the 16th-century house, there is plenty of wildlife to spot in the grounds, from roe deer to woodpeckers, while children are also invited to join the rangers as they check their humane traps for rodents. The castle is home to the most northerly branch of Go Ape – an adventure park featuring ziplines, Tarzan swings and other treetop fun.
• Adults £12.50, children £9, family £29.50 (Go Ape priced separately), nts.org.uk
Article amended on Thursday 25 May: the picture accompanying the entry for Alnwick Castle has been updated to show the castle itself, not Alnwick Garden, a separate attraction
