UK · BRITISH CASTLES & PALACES

The 15 Best Castle & Palace Tours in Britain

105 tours  Â·  ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.6 average  Â·  from $20

From a Norman keep on the Thames to a Highland castle on its own causeway, these 15 pair the great strongholds with guides worth hearing. Each is priced and timed, with a note on which run as full days from a city and which need a car.

Windsor Castle Admission Ticket - Getting Into Windsor Castle Smoothly and Using Your Time Well
British Castles & Palaces, Castle Tours in London, London Tours & Experiences, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Windsor Castle Day Tours

Windsor Castle Admission Ticket

1.Windsor Castle Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7,032 reviews · 1 day · from $43Our pick

Visit Windsor Castle with a free multimedia guide, see the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel, and get a flexible self-paced royal day out.

“Fantastic. Whole ticket process very simple. Windsor Castle tour was excellent.”

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Inverness: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Trip - Price and Value: What $55 Covers, What Costs Extra
1-Day Tours, British Castles & Palaces, Isle of Skye & Highlands Tours, Isle of Skye Tours & Experiences, Tour Reviews

Inverness: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Trip

2.Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,136 reviews · 12 hours · from $56

Inverness to Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan in one day, with Loch Ness views, Portree lunch time, Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, and Lealt Falls.

“Spectacular day. Our driver Alex was the best and very kind and considerate. The stops were the perfect amount of time. So many stunning sites. I highly recommend this tour. I’d also say you get to see enough of Loch Ness on the way so no need to book a separate tour to it on another day.”

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London: Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath Full-Day Tour - Windsor Castle: Royal Rooms, St George’s Chapel, and That Crown-Air Feeling
British Castles & Palaces, Castle Tours in London, Full-Day, London Tours & Experiences, Stonehenge & Salisbury Day Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours, Windsor Castle Day Tours

London: Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath Full-Day Tour

3.Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,112 reviews · 11.5 hours - 1 day · from $108

London day trip covering Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath with coach Wi-Fi, audio headsets, and timed free time.

“I had the pleasure of having Saul as my guide for the day, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. We visited Windsor Castle, Bath, and Stonehenge. He shared fascinating historical insights not just about the main sites, but also about the towns and landmarks we passed along the way. What really stood out was how seamlessly Saul managed a group with both English and Spanish speakers, switching between the two languages effortlessly and making sure everyone felt included and informed. His professionalism, warmth, and organization made the day run smoothly from start to finish. Overall, Saul’s enthusiasm and depth of knowledge truly enhanced the experience. Highly recommend!”

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Loch Ness: Urquhart Castle Round-Trip Cruise - 50 Minutes on the Clock, and Why That’s a Plus
British Castles & Palaces, Cruises & Boat Tours, Loch Ness & Glencoe Day Tours, Tour Reviews

Loch Ness: Urquhart Castle Round-Trip Cruise

4.Loch Ness: Urquhart Castle Round-Trip Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,070 reviews · 50 min · from $30

A 50-minute Loch Ness cruise from Clansman Harbour to Urquhart Castle with onboard sonar, audio facts, Wi-Fi, and photo views.

“It’s was a lovely day with snow when we visited. It’s worthy. Just a suggestion, would you please include transportation (yes, you can incorporate additional fees for that) from Inverness city centre to the cruise point and retune as well. People without private transport, specially travelling by bus, is really challenging. Other than that it’s was fantastic.”

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From Belfast: Giant's Causeway Guided Day Tour With Castles - Carrickfergus Castle: Norman stone and Belfast Lough views
Belfast Tours & Experiences, British Castles & Palaces, Giant's Causeway Day Tours, Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Belfast: Giant’s Causeway Guided Day Tour With Castles

5.Giant’s Causeway Guided Day Tour With Castles

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,312 reviews · 8.5 hours · from $28

Belfast to Giant's Causeway in one day, with Carrickfergus, Dark Hedges, Dunluce and live myths on the Causeway Coastal Route.

“Dave is a fantastic guide and kept us entertained through the entire 8-hour trip along the Antrim coast. Make sure to get a seat on the coach's right-hand side for the best sea views!”

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From Inverness: Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle - Loch Ness cruise: sonar guesses, a bar on board, and cold-deck reality
British Castles & Palaces, Castle Tours in Inverness, Cruises & Boat Tours, Inverness Tours & Experiences, Loch Ness & Glencoe Day Tours, Tour Reviews

From Inverness: Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle

6.Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,241 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $76

Coach from Inverness to Loch Ness for a scenic cruise and Urquhart Castle ruins, with the Loch Ness Centre in winter dates.

“The guide was top-notch. Very knowledgeable, but not too much kitsch, which I appreciate. The boat trip to Loch Ness and Urquart Castle site visit were well organized. The longer trip back was beautiful, picturesque, and packed with great historical information. I would have loved enough time to stop in at some of the smaller towns and sites, but I would book again. Thanks! Great value. book again. Thank”

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From Glasgow: Oban, Glencoe, Highland Lochs & Castles Tour - Loch Lomond and the Ben Lomond frame: why you start here
British Castles & Palaces, Castle Tours in Glasgow, Glasgow Tours & Experiences, Isle of Skye & Highlands Tours, Loch Ness & Glencoe Day Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Glasgow: Oban, Glencoe, Highland Lochs & Castles Tour

From Inverness: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Tour - The Great Glen Fault Line and Loch Ness, where the views do the talking
British Castles & Palaces, Castle Tours in Inverness, Inverness Tours & Experiences, Isle of Skye & Highlands Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Inverness: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Tour

8.Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,440 reviews · 12 hours · from $57

12-hour Skye day trip from Inverness: Loch Ness pass, Eilean Donan Castle, Old Man of Storr, Quiraing, Portree lunch time.

“Considering how long the day was, everything was well spaced out and given enough time to enjoy everything!! The guide (Dave) was very knowledgeable able passionate about it every sight, stop, and tale! We had an absolute blast and we’re blessed with great weather on our trip!!! Perfect weather in every aspect! Gloom, shine, rain, and snow!!! We would definitely recommend going in this tour to anyone and go again ourselves!!! Definitely a must if coming to the highland capital!!!”

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From Glasgow: Loch Lomond, Trossachs & Stirling Castle Tour - Where you meet the Timberbush coach outside Glasgow
British Castles & Palaces, Castle Tours in Glasgow, Glasgow Tours & Experiences, Loch Lomond & Trossachs Day Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Glasgow: Loch Lomond, Trossachs & Stirling Castle Tour

9.Loch Lomond, Trossachs & Stirling Castle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,397 reviews · 8.5 hours · from $71

Guided bus tour from Glasgow to Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and Stirling Castle, with live commentary and optional 1-hour cruise.

“Our guide Michelle was amazing and so caring, providing us with water and raincoats. All the stops felt like we had enough time and not rushed.”

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From Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria - Holy Island and Lindisfarne, where the causeway is the clock
British Castles & Palaces, Castle & Palace Tours in Edinburgh, Edinburgh Tours & Experiences, Tour Reviews

From Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria

10.Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,313 reviews · 9 hours · from $85

A guided Edinburgh day trip to Holy Island and Alnwick Castle, with Lindisfarne mead, poison gardens, and Downton and Harry Potter film spots.

“Thoroughly enjoyed this day trip in the English countryside (in case you missed it like we did, this isn't a Highlands tour) 😊 Adam was a generous, knowledgeable and entertaining guide. The drive to Alnwick castle is so beautiful- rolling hillsides, lots of sheep and wonderful vistas! Definitely a trip that relies on good weather due to the stop at Lindisfarne where the sights are all uncovered and outside. But the castle would be great regardless, definitely worth doing both the castle and gardens!”

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From Edinburgh: Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond - Price and What Is Included for $61
British Castles & Palaces, Castle & Palace Tours in Edinburgh, Edinburgh Tours & Experiences, Loch Lomond & Trossachs Day Tours, Tour Reviews

From Edinburgh: Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond

11.Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,051 reviews · 10 hours · from $61

Scottish Highlands day trip from Edinburgh: Stirling Castle history, 30-foot Kelpies, Loch Lomond scenery and optional boat cruise, hairy coos.

“We were so lucky to have Louise as our driver-guide. Such an amazing and funny woman. She made the experience unique with her explanations, the driving was perfect and all the stops very precise. All the places we visited (Kelpies, Hairy Coo, Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond) were of extraordinary beauty. The true Scottish experience. We highly recommend this tour”

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From Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour - Getting rolling: the Kelpies stop from Edinburgh’s bus station
British Castles & Palaces, Castle & Palace Tours in Edinburgh, Edinburgh Tours & Experiences, Loch Lomond & Trossachs Day Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour

London: Canterbury Cathedral, Dover Castle, and White Cliffs - How the 10.5-hour schedule actually feels from London
British Castles & Palaces, Castle Tours in London, Dover & White Cliffs Trips, London Tours & Experiences, Tour Reviews

London: Canterbury Cathedral, Dover Castle, and White Cliffs

13.Canterbury Cathedral, Dover Castle, and White Cliffs

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 973 reviews · 10.5 hours · from $148

See Canterbury, the White Cliffs of Dover, and Dover Castle in one guided day trip from London, with entry fees included.

“The day was amazing!!!! We had such a great time. We just wish we had more time in each place. Two hours there, two hours back, and we only had two hours in both Canterbury and Dover with maybe an hour or so at the cliffs. Not anyone’s fault as it is a drive that takes up your day, but for what we were able to do we got a nice sample.”

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From London: Half-Day Trip to Windsor with Castle Tickets - The bus guide sets the context, then lets you explore
1-Day Tours, British Castles & Palaces, Half-Day, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Windsor Castle Day Tours

From London: Half-Day Trip to Windsor with Castle Tickets

14.Half-Day Trip to Windsor with Castle Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 840 reviews · 4 - 8 hours · from $120

Half-day coach trip from London to Windsor. Skip-the-line Windsor Castle tickets, royal sights, guided history on the bus, and time to wander.

“Great tour. Guide very I formatve giving us heaps of Windsor history on the way there and on return trip. Highly recommend this 1/2 day trip.”

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From London: Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace & Downton Abbey - Victoria Coach Station start, coach comfort, and the ride rhythm
British Castles & Palaces, Castle Tours in London, Cotswolds Countryside Trips, London Tours & Experiences, Tour Reviews

From London: Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace & Downton Abbey

15.Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace & Downton Abbey

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 800 reviews · 1 day · from $106

One day from London to Blenheim Palace, Cotswolds villages, and the Downton Abbey set in Bampton, with a guided coach tour.

“Our tour guide was Angela and our driver was Patrick. Nice combo, Angela had a lot of history stories to tell us and info about the places we visited and more so the whole trip felt like a nice learning opportunity. Patrick s drive was smooth even on the narrow Cotswolds roads.”

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