FROM picturesque ruins and imposing medieval fortresses to former bishops’ residences, there are plenty of historic castles within easy reach of Worcester.
Whether you are looking for a family day out, a history fix or simply somewhere new to explore, several are less than an hour’s drive from the city.
Here are 10 castles in and around Worcestershire worth putting on your list. The castles are managed by several different organisations from National Trust and English Heritage to charities or attractions companies like Merlin Entertainments which manages Warwick Castle.
Here we list some of the best with details on how far away they are and why you may want to visit. Some are connected to medieval warlords, others are ruins wrecked by siege canons.
But all are interesting in their own way.
POWER: Hartlebury Castle shows the power of the Bishops of Worcester (Image: Supplied)
Hartlebury Castle
Where: Hartlebury, Worcestershire
Distance from Worcester: Around 10 miles
One of the closest castles to Worcester is Hartlebury Castle, the former home of the Bishops of Worcester.
The site officially gained its castle title in 1268, when Bishop Godfrey Giffard was given permission to fortify it.
Today, visitors can explore the historic building and grounds as well as the museum, which houses collections covering Worcestershire’s social history.
Although Hartlebury Castle can legitimately be described as a castle, it is more accurately understood as a fortified episcopal manor house or palace rather than the type of purpose-built military fortress represented by Goodrich Castle or Warwick Castle.
Dunstall Castle
Where: Croome, near Earl’s Croome
Distance from Worcester: Around 10 to 12 miles
Dunstall Castle can be found in the grounds of the National Trust’s Croome estate.
Rather than a medieval fortress, it is an eye-catching folly designed by architect James Wyatt in 1801.
Visitors can head inside and climb the building’s spiral staircase for views across the surrounding landscape. Purists may say Dunstall Castle isn’t really a castle at all. They are right. It is an 18th-century folly deliberately designed to look like the romantic ruins of an old Norman castle.
SPECTACULAR: Eastnor Castle near Ledbury (Image: Nick Toogood)
Eastnor Castle
Where: Eastnor, near Ledbury
Distance from Worcester: Around 13 to 16 miles
Sitting at the foot of the Malvern Hills, Eastnor Castle is a striking 19th-century castle surrounded by parkland.
The castle and grounds are open to visitors on selected days and also host events throughout the year. Eastnor is particularly famous for its dramatic Gothic Revival architecture and long association with Land Rover, although medieval enthusiasts may prefer to see something more historic on their travels if they want a ‘real castle’ experience.
DRAMATIC: Sudeley Castle near Winchcombe, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, has a strong Tudor connection to Katherine Parr and Henry VIII (Image: Frank Fischbach (via Getty Images))
Sudeley Castle
Where: Winchcombe, Gloucestershire
Distance from Worcester: Around 25 miles
Sudeley Castle has an extraordinary Tudor connection. The castle is the final resting place of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth and final wife, making it particularly appealing for history lovers.
It is around a 40-minute drive from Worcester.
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Dudley Castle
Where: Dudley, West Midlands
Distance from Worcester: Around 23 miles
The ruins of Dudley Castle provide an unusual backdrop to another major attraction, with the historic site standing inside Dudley Zoo.
It is listed among the castle and palace attractions within easy reach of Worcester.
IMPRESSIVE: Ludlow Castle in Shropshire overlooking the River Teme (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
Ludlow Castle
Where: Ludlow, Shropshire
Distance from Worcester: Around 24 to 25 miles
Dominating the centre of one of the region’s most picturesque market towns, Ludlow Castle makes an interesting destination for a history-filled day trip.
The attraction is around 24 miles from Worcester and can be combined with a visit to Ludlow town centre.
Ludlow Castle is particularly famous for its royal connections, especially Prince Arthur and Catherine of Aragon, and its role as a centre of power in the Welsh Marches.
COUNTRYSIDE: Croft Castle in Herefordshire is surrounded by beautiful countryside (Image: Getty Images)
Croft Castle
Where: Near Leominster, Herefordshire
Distance from Worcester: Around 26 miles
Croft Castle offers visitors the combination of a historic property and extensive countryside.
The attraction, now cared for by the National Trust, is approximately 26 miles from Worcester. The castle contains nearly 1,000 years of Croft family history. Established by the Croft family in about 1085, the first recorded owner was Bernard de Croft who appeared in the Domesday Book. The family sold the estate in 1746 only to buy it back in 1923. The Battle of Mortimer’s Cross, a significant Yorkist victory in 1461, fought during the civil war known as the Wars of the Roses, took place on Croft land nearby.
MAJESTIC: Warwick Castle by the River Avon (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Warwick Castle
Where: Warwick
Distance from Worcester: Around 28 miles
Perhaps the best-known castle on the list, Warwick Castle traces its history back to 1068, when William the Conqueror established a wooden fort on the site. The medieval castle hosts a range of family entertainment and historical experiences. The castle has close to links to ‘The “Kingmaker’, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, one of the most powerful and controversial figures of the Wars of the Roses.
POWERFUL: The effigy of Richard Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, at the Beauchamp Chapel at St Mary’s Church (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
His involvement in putting Edward IV on the throne and later restoring Henry VI earned him the famous nickname.
As Warwick Castle may be out of some people’s price range with one-day admission from £22 per person when booked in advance or £39 on the day, it is worth visiting (for free) St Mary’s Church in Warwick nearby. The church has some spectacular medieval effigies which give a flavour of the power of the Earls of Warwick who controlled the castle in the Middle Ages, including that of Richard Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick (1382-1439). The Kingmaker (his son-in-law) looks out from the base of the tomb, wearing a hood.
GRAND: Medieval ruins of Goodrich Castle in the English countryside next to the River Wye. (Image: Getty Images)
Goodrich Castle
Where: Goodrich, Herefordshire
Distance from Worcester: Around 28 miles
The imposing ruins of Goodrich Castle offer another option for Worcestershire residents looking for a historic day out.
The castle, near Ross-on-Wye and the River Wye, is around 28 miles from Worcester.
Lovers of English Civil War history – which has close connections to Worcester – may well enjoy the story of Goodrich. It is famous for the 1646 siege. Royalist forces held the castle until it was subjected to a fierce two-month Parliamentary siege. Parliament’s forces used a huge locally made mortar nicknamed Roaring Meg to bombard the castle. Remarkably, the weapon survives and is displayed at the castle today.
RUINED: Kenilworth Castle still captures something of the grandeur and power of a bygone age (Image: Getty Images)
Kenilworth Castle
Where: Kenilworth, Warwickshire
Distance from Worcester: Around 29 miles
Completing the list is Kenilworth Castle, one of the country’s most impressive ruined castles.
At roughly 29 miles from Worcester, the historic attraction is another manageable day trip from the city.
Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire is particularly famous for its connection with Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, as well as for one of medieval England’s longest sieges
