United Kingdom Castles Road Trip + Map 🚗
I came to the UK thinking I’d pop into a castle or two and somehow ended up timing my mornings around moat reflections and cannon selfies. Dover’s cliffs woke me up better than any espresso. Warwick taught me that kids with foam swords have more stamina than adults. In North Wales I walked Conwy’s town walls, ate chips in the wind, and pretended I understood medieval engineering. By the time I reached Edinburgh, I was the person who says things like “nice machicolations” without irony. This ten day route stitches the big hitters with a few wild cards, keeps the drives sane, and leaves room for pub pies and muddy footpaths. Bring patience for roundabouts, shoes you don’t mind getting wet, and a soft spot for gloomy skies that make the photos sing. If you want a trip that mixes history, sea spray, and a lot of “did people really live like this,” start here. 🏰🚗
United Kingdom Castles Road Trip 🇬🇧
🚗 Quick Trip Facts
- Total Distance: ~1,250 miles / 2,010 km
- Recommended Time: 10 days, add 2–3 buffer days if you prefer easier pacing
- Start/End: London → Edinburgh or Inverness (open-jaw works best)
- Driving Style: Mix of motorways, A-roads, and rural lanes. Left-side driving, lots of roundabouts, occasional single-track in Wales and Scotland
- Best Time: May–September for long daylight, gardens in bloom, and more open sites. April and October are shoulder-season sweet spots 🌷🍂
- Budget Save: Consider regional passes for England, Scotland, and Wales to cut admission costs on multi-castle days. See “Save on tickets” below.
🗺️ The Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — London Arrival, Tower of London 👑
Ease in with a heavyweight. Explore the Crown Jewels, the old fortress walls, and riverside views.
- Drive: Minimal, stay central
- Highlights: White Tower, Yeoman Warder stories, sunset on Tower Bridge
- Stay: London
💡 Good to know: Pre-book opening slots in peak months to avoid queues.
🔥 Recommended Tour: Tower of London Tours
Day 2 — Kent Trio: Hever 🌹 → Leeds 🌳 → Dover 🏰
A lush, garden-filled day with a dramatic finish over the cliffs.
- Drive: London → Hever ~1.5 hrs, Hever → Leeds ~45 min, Leeds → Dover ~1.5 hrs
- Hever Castle: Anne Boleyn’s childhood home, moats, maze, roses
- Leeds Castle: Lakeside stunner dubbed “the loveliest castle in the world”
- Dover Castle: Secret wartime tunnels, big views over the Channel
- Stay: Canterbury or Dover
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Arrive early at Hever, linger for Dover’s golden-hour photos.
Day 3 — Windsor Castle → Highclere Castle 🎩
Royal pomp in the morning, “Downton Abbey” country house vibes after lunch.
- Drive: Dover/Canterbury → Windsor ~2–2.5 hrs, Windsor → Highclere ~1 hr
- Highlights: St George’s Chapel at Windsor, Highclere’s formal rooms and grounds
- Stay: Newbury, Bath, or Thornbury (for tomorrow’s castle-stay treat)
💡 Fact: Windsor is the world’s oldest and largest occupied castle.
Day 4 — Thornbury Castle 🏡 → Warwick Castle ⚔️
Sleep or sip tea where Tudor royals once wandered, then on to medieval showmanship.
- Drive: Newbury/Bath → Thornbury ~1–1.5 hrs, Thornbury → Warwick ~1 hr
- Thornbury: Atmospheric fortress turned country-house hotel
- Warwick: Ramparts, trebuchet demos, family-friendly exhibits
- Stay: Warwick or Stratford-upon-Avon
💡 Good to know: If you fancy a splurge, book a night at Thornbury Castle for the full “my room has arrow slits” experience.
Day 5 — Into Wales: Caerphilly 🛡️ → Powis 🌺
Mighty walls then terraced gardens and priceless collections.
- Drive: Warwick → Caerphilly ~1.5–2 hrs, Caerphilly → Powis ~2–2.5 hrs
- Caerphilly Castle: Giant concentric defences, dramatic leaning tower
- Powis Castle: Italianate terraces, peacocks, and a standout museum collection
- Stay: Welshpool or nearby
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Wales has bilingual signage. “ARAF” means slow, useful on those winding roads.
Recommended Tours and Tickets From Get Your Guide
Day 6 — North Wales Duo: Conwy 🌉 → Caernarfon 🏞️
UNESCO-listed medieval might on a jaw-dropping coastline.
- Drive: Powis → Conwy ~1.5–2 hrs, Conwy → Caernarfon ~40 min
- Conwy Castle: Storybook towers, town walls you can walk
- Caernarfon Castle: Polygonal towers and royal investiture history
- Stay: Conwy or Caernarfon
💡 Good to know: Sunset at Conwy Quay is pure magic for photos.
Day 7 — England Again: Lancaster Castle ⚖️ → Northumberland
Courtrooms, prison history, then up to windswept beaches.
- Drive: Caernarfon → Lancaster ~2.5–3 hrs, Lancaster → Alnwick ~2.5 hrs
- Lancaster Castle: Law and order through the ages, guided tours are excellent
- Stay: Alnwick or Bamburgh
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Break the drive with a late lunch around the Lake District service areas or Keswick detour if you have time.
Day 8 — Alnwick 🧙 → Bamburgh 🌊
Two Northumberland icons, one inland, one ocean-sprayed.
- Drive: Short local hops
- Alnwick Castle: “Harry Potter” filming location, broomstick courtyard fun
- Bamburgh Castle: Cliff-top fortress with huge North Sea views
- Stay: Alnwick, Bamburgh, or push to Edinburgh ~2 hrs
💡 Fact: On a clear day, you can spot the Farne Islands from Bamburgh’s ramparts.
Day 9 — Edinburgh Castle 🏴 → Stirling Castle 🦁
Scotland’s big hitters, packed with history and panoramas.
- Drive: Bamburgh/Edinburgh → Edinburgh Castle varies, Edinburgh → Stirling ~1 hr
- Edinburgh: Crown Room, Mons Meg cannon, views over the city
- Stirling: Royal Palace interiors, tales of Wallace and Bruce
- Stay: Stirling or Perthshire
💡 Good to know: Book timed tickets in summer for both castles to dodge queues.
🔥 Recommended Tour: Edinburgh Castle Tour
Day 10 — East Coast & Aberdeenshire: Dunnottar 🌄 → Craigievar 🏚️ → Dunrobin 🎩
A grand finale of coastal drama, pink-hued turrets, and Highland elegance.
- Drive: Stirling → Dunnottar ~2 hrs, Dunnottar → Craigievar ~1–1.5 hrs, Craigievar → Dunrobin ~2.5–3 hrs
- Dunnottar Castle: Ruined clifftop fortress above crashing waves
- Craigievar Castle: Fairytale pink harled tower among wooded hills
- Dunrobin Castle: French-style chateau frontage, formal gardens, sea views
- Finish: Overnight near Inverness or loop back to Edinburgh next day
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: This is a big mileage day. Start early, keep snack stops short, and save your longest linger for whichever castle sparks joy the most.
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
Map will be located under "YOU" and then under "MAPS".
ℹ️ Add the map to your Google Maps app.
After opening Google maps, click YOU and then scroll down to MAPS. It should be located there. Any issues, just get it touch, it’s no problem!
🎟️ Save on Tickets
If you’re visiting several sites in each nation, passes can save serious money:
England: English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass, 9-day or 16-day options for 1–2 adults or families, valid at 100+ sites.
Scotland: Historic Scotland Explorer Pass, covers key sites like Edinburgh and Stirling Castles, typically valid for 14 consecutive days.
Wales: Cadw Explorer Pass, 3-day or 7-day versions usable over a 7- or 14-day window.
💡 Good to know: Some special events carry an extra charge even if you hold a pass. Check each site’s page before you go.
🛑 Pit Stops & Side Detours
- White Cliffs of Dover – Cliff-top footpaths and lighthouse views
- Canterbury Cathedral – Towering Gothic beauty near your Kent castles
- Sissinghurst Castle Garden – Romantic English garden perfection near Hever/Leeds
- Rye & Camber Sands – Cobbled lanes and wide, dune-backed beach
- The Long Walk, Windsor – Iconic tree-lined stroll to the castle gates
- Stonehenge or Avebury – Ancient stones on the Windsor–Thornbury leg
- Cotswolds villages (Castle Combe, Bibury) – Honey-stone prettiness en route to Warwick
- Tintern Abbey – Atmospheric ruins as you swing into South Wales
- Llandudno’s Great Orme – Tramway rides and big coastal views near Conwy
- Holy Island of Lindisfarne – Tidal causeway, priory ruins, serenity by Bamburgh
- Hadrian’s Wall (Housesteads) – Roman frontier between Lancaster and Alnwick
- Cairngorms National Park – Forests, lochs, and scenic byways toward Craigievar
🍽️ Local Eats Worth Chasing
- Whitstable oysters (Kent) – Briny freshness near your Dover/Leeds run
- Eton Mess (Windsor) – Strawberries, cream, meringue, pure joy
- Welsh cakes & bara brith (North Wales) – Griddle-baked treats near Conwy/Caernarfon
- Lancashire hotpot (Lancaster) – Slow-cooked comfort after a long drive
- Craster kippers (Northumberland) – Smoky, savoury breakfast by the sea
- Haggis, neeps & tatties (Scotland) – Classic plate in Edinburgh or Stirling
- Cullen skink (Aberdeenshire) – Creamy smoked haddock soup near Dunnottar
- National favourites: Sunday roast, fish & chips, sticky toffee pudding
🎒 Road Trip Essentials Checklist
✅ Vehicle check: oil, tyres, coolant, screenwash
🆘 Bonus: power bank, torch, spare £1/£2 coins for parking, contactless card
🗺 Offline maps and a day-by-day pin list for castles
🥤 Snack kit: sausage rolls, Percy Pigs, shortbread (trust me)
🧥 Waterproof jacket and layers, weather flips fast
🧼 Reusable water bottle, tap water is safe and tasty
🦟 Scotland in summer: midge repellent and long sleeves
🎟 Passes in one pouch: English Heritage, Cadw, Historic Scotland (if using)
🛂 Entry Requirements
- British or Irish citizens: No ETA or visa for visits. Bring a valid passport if flying.
- EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and most visa-exempt nationalities (USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, etc.): You’ll usually need a UK ETA for short visits up to 6 months. Cost £16, valid for 2 years or until your passport expires. Each traveller needs their own ETA, including children. More info can be found on the UK Travel Page.
- Visa nationals: You must apply for a Standard Visitor visa before travel. Current fee for up to 6 months is £127.
- Passport validity: Your passport should be valid for the whole stay.
- Other nationalities: Check via the Entry Requirement Checker
💡 Good to know: Travel between England, Wales and Scotland is domestic. No routine border checks, but carry photo ID for hotels and any domestic flights.
🎶 Playlist & Podcast Picks
🎵 The Beatles, Queen, Florence + The Machine, Arctic Monkeys, Sam Fender, David Bowie
🎙️ The Rest Is History, You’re Dead To Me, Dan Snow’s History Hit, Stories of Scotland, National Trust Podcast
💡 Download everything—signal disappears faster than rain in Ireland
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
What to know How to Plan or Save for a Trip? Here are our best:
FAQs
Is 10 days enough for all these castles?
Yes, but it’s brisk. You’ll average 2 castles on several days. If you prefer long visits and museum time, add 2–3 days or trim a couple of stops.
Can I stay overnight in a castle?
Yes. Thornbury Castle is a popular, atmospheric splurge, and some sites like Hever Castle have on-site rooms. Book early in summer.
How do I access the free Google Maps route for the trip?
The free map is available via Google Maps with no signup required. After clicking the “View Map” link, go to “Your Places” > “Maps” in the Google Maps app to find the route. Save it for offline use, especially in areas with spotty signal.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
For peak months and major sites like the Tower of London, Edinburgh, and Stirling, advance tickets help you skip queues and lock in times.
Are passes really worth it?
If you’re hitting multiple sites in each region, the English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass, Historic Scotland Explorer Pass, and Cadw Explorer Pass can pay for themselves quickly. Check current prices and what’s included.
Travel Planning Resources
Ready to book your next trip? These trusted resources have been personally vetted to ensure a smooth travel experience.
Book Your Flights: Kick off your travel planning by finding the best flight deals on Trip.com. Our years of experience with them confirm they offer the most competitive prices.
Book Your Hotel: For the best hotel rates, use Booking.com . For the best and safest hostels, HostelWorld.com is your go-to resource. Best for overall Hotel ratings and bargains, use TripAdvisor.com!
Find Apartment Rentals: For affordable apartment rentals, check out VRBO. They consistently offer the best prices.
Car Rentals: For affordable car rentals, check out RentalCars.com. They offer the best cars, mostly brand new.
Travel Insurance: Never travel without insurance. Here are our top recommendations:
- EKTA for Travel Insurance for all areas!
- Use AirHelp for compensation claims against flight delays etc.
Book Your Activities: Discover walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more on Get Your Guide. They have a vast selection of activities to enhance your trip. There is also Tiqets.com for instant mobile tickets.
Book The Best Trains: Use Trainline to find the most affordable trains or Rail Europe for rail passes!
Travel E-SIMS: Airalo Worldwide! Use your mobile phone anywhere!
Need More Help Planning Your Trip? Visit our Resources Page to see all the companies we trust and use for our travels.
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Author
Claire Taylor
I am a storyteller, podcaster, and global explorer deeply intrigued by the nuances of unconventional living. I transitioned from conforming to conventional norms to embracing a life that defies the ordinary
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