Top Things to do in North West England
Top Hotels in North West England
10 Castles in North West England That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in North West England, United Kingdom including Castle Crag, Muncaster Castle, Sizergh Castle, Lancaster Castle, Clitheroe Castle, Brougham Castle, Lowther Castle and Gardens, Bewcastle Cross & Museum, Beeston Castle, Penrith Castle.
Restaurants in North West England
1. Castle Crag
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 92 reviews
Reviewed By edm1887 - Birmingham, United Kingdom
An hours walk from our hotel and even in the rain, well worth the effort. Stunning views over Derwent Water - easy to see why AW loved it. Don’t miss the slate quarry with its countless statues. Very eerie!
2. Muncaster Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,581 reviews
The historic and reputedly haunted Castle dating from the medieval age has been home to the Pennington family for over 800 years. It is a treasury of beautiful art and antiques, collected through the ages by the family who still live there. The Castle sits majestically in over 70 acres of wild, woodland gardens famous for collections of rhododendrons and azaleas set against the stunning backdrop of the Lakeland fells including Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain. The Hawk & Owl Centre is well worth a visit with daily displays at 2pm and watch the wild herons come in to feed at 4pm. The indoor MeadowVole Maze is an entertaining ecological attraction to entertain the young at heart. Playground, cafe, gift shops and an ancient church are all within the gardens. Regular events programme, including festivals, outdoor theatre, historical re-enactors and Halloween Week.
Reviewed By JimM453 - Kilmarnock, United Kingdom
My wife and i visited Muncaster Castle which was lovely set in lovely gardens and surrounded by beautiful scenery ,we also took in the hawk and owl displays which were great .
3. Sizergh Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,404 reviews
Reviewed By Y7972VAmichaelh
Sizergh Castle, the home of the Strickland family since 1239, turned out to be a most memorable day and of tremendous interest. The Hall didn’t open until midday so we spent a good hour wandering through the stunning gardens, thankfully in brilliant warm sunshine. The limestone rock garden was made in 1926 and contained beautiful Japanese maples and ferns of spectacular golden colours (mid-September). The mid-14th-century Solar Tower dominates the south-east front effectively landscaped with stone terraces and steps leading down to the lily pond. The interior contained some wonderful pieces of furniture and stunning bronze figurines. Cecilia Strickland transformed the Hall from 1773 onwards but was stricken with chronic arthritis forcing her to resort to using a wooden chair which had been fitted with wheels in quite a homespun but nonetheless ingenious fashion. This National Trust owned property really was a highlight on our week-long holiday and the restaurant is geared up in a very professional way to serve good meals which was attracting a significant number of visitors. The staff throughout the whole complex were engaging, polite and extremely knowledgeable without being over intrusive. A really great find which could have easily been missed due to the high charges for car parking .... something that seriously needs looking at National Trust! Visitors WILL spend in so many other ways and be quite generous with their giving too, but hitting them hard from the outset is not the way to do it. A property that totally justifies a 5-star rating.
4. Lancaster Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,268 reviews
Owned by the serving monarch, HM Queen Elizabeth II, through the Duchy of Lancaster, Lancaster Castle is a wealth of English history. Since being established by the Romans the castle has been a home to monarchs, a place of trial and execution, and a working prison right up until 2012. Still a crown court, the majority of the castle is now open to the public for the first time in over 1,000 years. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and ongoing restoration work in the Shire Hall guided tours have been suspended until January 2021. The courtyards are open and free to visit but there is no access to any of the buildings at the moment. The cafe is open between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm daily.
Reviewed By stephencS5031NF
Highly reccommend the guided tour as although I'm a bit of a history fan theres always loads more to learn especially here as it was and still is an active crown court within a castle and has a prison too. What's not to like
5. Clitheroe Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 560 reviews
The museum stands high on Castle Hill, in the shadow of the Castle Keep, an image which has dominated Clitheroe's skyline for over 800 years. The historic landmark of Clitheroe, in the heart of the Ribble Valley offers a day of exploration for all the family. Our intriguing galleries will take you on a journey through 350 million years of history, heritage and geology of the local area. We have lots of activities for children in the museum - a competition hunt, dressing-up costumes, explorer back-packs (with hat and magnifying glass), craft activities and various interactive displays. Come and enjoy a fun-filled day of exploration and learning.
Reviewed By gazm135
A lovely place my son loves to go there would recommend a visit there very nice place lovely view from the top you can see Clitheroe from a excellent view
6. Brougham Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 221 reviews
Reviewed By Vikings691
Beautiful riverside location - great Norman Keep and Roman fort nearby - I used to play in nearby river as a kid which was also site of a sadly closed swimming club
7. Lowther Castle and Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,220 reviews
Lowther Castle sits on a majestic elevated spot a few miles south of Penrith. Surrounded by acres of woodland and ancient gardens, the ruined castle is a stunning place to visit for families of all sizes and ages. An adventure playground in the woods is amazing for the younger visitor; the gardens are a feast for the imagination; the café offers food for all palates; and the shop sells a range of delightful Lowther and other goodies. Dogs on leads very welcome.
Reviewed By P5649OCemilyd
Lovely gardens, different sections, e.g rose garden (still being developed), Japanese garden etc., gorgeous views from the edge and lots of little interesting things scattered around There is a HUGE children’s play castle at the back which me and my 26 year old boyfriend enjoyed playing on so it’s for the big kids as well :P We ate at the cafe, very nice tasty food, a little bit pricey but typical for similar places. Would visit again
8. Bewcastle Cross & Museum
9. Beeston Castle
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 541 reviews
Reviewed By IRS43-64 - Kingston-upon-Hull, United Kingdom
The castle is worth visiting just for the amazing 360-degree views from the top. The ruins are picturesque and there are pleasant walks through the wooded area leading to the Bronze Age round house, which is definitely worth a look. The picnic area is spacious and well located and the staff are very approachable and knowledgeable.
10. Penrith Castle
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 274 reviews
Reviewed By deanoooo1982 - Manchester, United Kingdom
I think if I’d visited this *just* for the castle, I might be a tad disappointed. But as part of a trip into Penrith, it’s a nice addition. The park next to it is also a great place for kids with open fields and a play park
