Best car free castles by train
Kids love castles. Adults love castles. Go to a castle…
Castles are great car-free destinations. They tend to be near stations and nothing saps the romance of arriving at a medieval castle like wrestling with a pay-and-display machine.
All prices to nearest fiver. Journey times approximate.
* Anyone can get a railcard valid for off-peak travel in the area round London. More details here.
** Based on family of four
*** Right now, you can’t. Basically, the Kent & East Sussex Railway is being extended to Robertsbridge station. When this is finished, you’ll be able to jump onto a steam train to chug to Bodiam station, right next to the castle. But when that happens is anyone’s guess…
*** Not every carriage, for some reason. If not yours, always check others in the same train
Unless stated, name of station is always same as name of Castle. E.g. for Hever castle book ticket to Hever station.
Have a great day out! We loved these castles, though memories of Colchester slightly jaded by the fact our 3 year old daughter was attempting to learn to ride her scooter. It took about an hour to walk from the station. Veeeeerrry slowly…..
LIST OF CASTLES 👇
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| So, what’s the Castle? | What’s it like? | Expensive to get in for an adult? | Expensive to get in for a family of four? | National Trust or English Heritage? | From which London station? | Train fare per person with railcard, booking in advance*? | Train fare per family with railcard, unplanned**? | Journey time? | Tables on the train for kids to eat tea on the way home? | How to get from the station to the Castle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodiam | Gorgeous with moat | INSERT | NT | CX, WE, LB | £15 | £45 | 1hr20 | Yes!**** | OK, this is tricky… *** | |
| Hastings | Historical ruin | £5 | £15 | No | CX, WE, LB | £15 | £50 | 1hr40 | Yes!**** | Stroll through town then vintage cliff railway |
| Rochester | Neat norman keep | £10 | £20 | EH | Vic, StP, Strat | £10 | £25 | 45m | Yes!**** | Easy stroll |
| Colchester | Blocky Norman keep | £10 | £30 | No | LIV, Strat | £15 | £50 | 1hr | Yes! | Sometimes, change at Colchester station for local train to Colchester Town |
| Arundel | Picture postcard | No | Vic | £10 | £50 | 1hr30 | Yes!**** | Easy stroll | ||
| Dover | Castle and tunnels | £10 | £50 | EH | CX, WE, LB, STP, Strat | £15 | £40 | 1hr | Yes!**** | Walk up the hill |
| Warwick | Theme park in Castle form | £15 | £60 | No | MYB | £10 | £30 | 1hr30 | Yes! | Easy stroll |
| Hever | Kid-friendly spectacular | £20 | £50 | No | Vic | £15 | £35 | 45mins | Yes**** | 1 mile stomp through lovely but muddy fields. Signposted. |
| Windsor | More of a palace, really | £25 | £75 | No | Wat, Pad, Ealing, Vaux | £14 | £20 | 45mins | No | Easy stroll |