Here you will find a listing of castle museums in Great Britain. Be sure to visit these museums when nearby, as much can be learned about the history of the castles , villages, and towns.
Wales
Cyfarthfa Castle
Brecon Road, Merthyr Tydfil
Mid Glamorgan CF47 8RE
NE side of the A470 to Brecon, 1/2 mile NW of town center.
Houses a general museum and school.
Tel: 01685 723112
Open 1 Apr.-1 Oct., Mon -Sun, 10am-5:30pm. Winter Tues-Fri, 10am-4pm, Sat & Sun, 12noon-4pm.
Penrhyn Castle
Bangor
Gwynedd LL57 4HN
1 mile east of Bangor, at Llandegai on the A5122.
A industrial railway museum.
Tel: 01248 353084
Open 22 Mar.-5 Nov., daily except Tues. Castle: 12 noon-5pm (Jul. & Aug, 11am-5pm). Grounds & exhibitions, 11am-5pm (Jul. & Aug., 10am-5:30pm).
England
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick
Northumberland NE66 1NQ
In Alnwick 1 1/2 miles west of the A1. 6 hours from London.
The Regimental Museum of Northumberland Fusiliers is housed in the Abbot's Tower.
Tel:: 01665 510777 Fax: 01665 510876
Open 20 Apr.-Oct.31, daily, 11am-5pm. Oct-easter pre-booked parties only.
Bickleigh Castle
Newport
Isle of Wight PO30 1XY
Off the A396 Exeter-Tiverton Road. Follow the signs SW of Bickleigh Bridge 1 mile.
Houses a general museum.
Tel:: 01983 522107 Fax: 01983 528632
Open Easter Sun-Fri, then Weds, Suns, & bank holidays until late May Bank Holiday, then daily (except Sats) until 1st Sun in Oct., 2-5pm. Pe-booked groups welcome anytime.
Carisbrooke Castle
Newport
Isle of Wight PO30 1XY
Off the B3401, 1 1/4 mile SW of Newport.
Houses a general museum in the great hall.
Tel:: 01983 522107 Fax: 01983 528632
Open 1 Apr.-30 Sept., daily, 10am-6pm. 1-31 Oct., 10am-5pm. 1 Nov.-31 Mar., daily, 10am-4pm. Closed 24-26 Dec.
Carlisle Castle
Carlisle
Cumbria PO30 1XY
In Carlisle, at the North end of the city center.
Museum of the King's Own Border Regiment.
Tel:: 01228 591922
Open 1 Apr.-30 Sept., daily, 10am-6pm. 1-31 Oct., 10am-5pm. 1 Nov.-31 Mar., daily, 10am-4pm. Closed 24-26 Dec.
Colchester Castle
14 Ryegate Road
Colchester, Essex CO1 1YG
In Colchester town center, off the A12.
The museum has a fine archaeology collection.
Tel:: 01206 282931 Fax: 01206 282925
Open all year, Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm, also Suns, 1-5pm during Mar.-Nov.
Norwich Castle
Norwich
Norfolk NR1 3JU
Norwich city center.
The keep houses displays of art, archaeology and natural history.
Tel:: 01603 493624 Fax: 01603 765651
The castle is closed until April 2001 due to refurbishment.
Shrewsbury Castle
Castle Street, Shrewsbury
Shropshire SY1 2AT
Town center, adjacent BR and bus station.
The hall houses the Shropshire Regimental Museum.
Tel:: 01743 358516 Fax: 01743 358411
Open Easter 31 Oct., 9:30am-5:30pm. Nov.-Easter, 10:30am-3pm.
Scotland
Armadale Castle
Armadale
Isle of Skye IV45 8RS
1 mile north of the Mallaig, Armadale ferry terminal.
The Museum of the Isles.
Tel:: 01471 844305 Fax: 01471 844275
Open Apr.-Oct., daily, 9:30am-5:50pm.
Balhousie Castle
Hay Street
North Inch Park, Perth PH1 5HR
1/2 mile north of town center, east of the A9 road to Dunkeld.
The castle houses the Black Watch Regimental Museum.
Tel:: 01313 108530
Open May-Sept., Mon-Sat, 10am-4:30pm. Oct.-Apr., Mon-Fri, 10am-3:30pm.
Castle Menzies
Weem
Aberfldy, Perth PH15 2JD
1 1/2 mile from Aberfeldy on the B846.
Houses a small Menzies clan museum.
Tel:: 01887 820982
Open 1 Apr.-14 Oct., Mon-Sat, 10:30am-5pm, Suns, 2-5pm.
Dunrobin Castle
Golspie
Sutherland KW10 6SF
50 miles north of Inverness on the A9. 1 mile NE of Golspie.
A Victorian museum is located on the castle grounds.
Tel:: 01408 633177 Fax: 01408 634081
Open 1 Apr.-31 May & 1-15 Oct., Mon-Sat, 10:30am-4:30pm. Suns, 12noon-4:30pm. 1 Jun.-30 Sept., Mon-Sat, 10:30am-5:30pm. Suns, 12 noon-5:30pm (Jul. & Aug., Suns, opens at 10:30am).
Edinburgh Castle
Castle Hill
Edinburgh EH1 2NG
At the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
Home of the crown jewels and Stone of Destiny.
Tel:: 01312 259846 Fax: 01312 204733
Open Apr.-Sept., daily, 9:30am-6pm. Oct.-Mar., daily, 9:30am-5pm.
Stranraer Castle
Stranaer
Galloway
In Stranaer, a short distance SW of the junction between the A77 & B737, 1/4 mile short of the harbor.
A museum that depicts the history of the castle.
Tel:: 01776 705088 Fax: 01776 705835
