Top England Castle Tours - page 2

The ancient stones reverberate with dark secrets, priceless jewels glint in fortified vaults, and ravens strut the grounds. The Tower of London was founded in 1066–1067 by William the Conqueror. You cannot miss the iconic White Tower towering over the modern city. Venture inside, and you will find the world’s longest-running visitor attraction, The Line of Kings. A line of wooden horses is the surviving remnant of one of the oldest collections at the Tower. You will also be able to marvel at the battle armor of England’s most notorious king, Henry VIII. Opposite the White Tower lies the world-famous collection of finery and regalia, the Crown Jewels. You will be able to see some of the most legendary and spectacular diamonds in the world and regalia still used regularly by the King in important national ceremonies such as the state opening of parliament.

Carisbrooke Castle is a great fortress which began life as an Anglo-Saxon earthwork defence against Viking raids. The Normans raised the shell keep on its towering mound, which you can climb up for amazing views. The castle’s most famous resident was Charles I, who was imprisoned here after his Civil War defeat. You’ll find Charles I memorabilia and changing exhibitions in the Carisbrooke Castle Museum. Later, Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s daughter, made Carisbrooke Castle her summer home. Admire the award-winning Edwardian-style Princess Beatrice Garden, inspired by the princess. The castle’s best-known modern residents are the much-loved Carisbrooke donkeys. They still demonstrate the treadwheel, which once raised water from the castle well. Meet them in their stables and hear their story in a film hosted by Jupiter the cartoon donkey.

Explore London’s top sights with flexibility aboard an open-top, double-decker bus. Get off only at the stops you're interested in and choose the ticket duration that works best for you. Travel between Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and more while enjoying panoramic city views from an open-top bus. Explore at your own pace, learn local history with onboard commentary, and upgrade your experience to include a River Thames cruise for a fresh perspective of the capital.

London’s top sights don’t come cheap. But you can save almost 50% on the cost of admission when you buy The London Pass®, a digital package that gives you free entry to more than 100 of London’s top attractions. Enjoy sights such as Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, the Tower of London, and the original Madame Tussauds, with a handy app (or PDF guide) to help you plan your trip.

Discover the sights and history of London at your own pace on this hop-on hop-off cruise of the River Thames. With your 24-hour pass, enjoy unobstructed views of the city’s main riverside attractions away from the crowds on land. Disembark at the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament—or whichever attraction catches your attention—from within an all-weather vessel, which lets you sail regardless of rain.

Trying to get from attraction to attraction in London can take hours and eat up valuable vacation time. Save your energy by traveling on board an air-conditioned coach, checking off top sights such as Big Ben, the Tower of London, and Westminster Abbey. Enjoy a guided tour of St. Paul's Cathedral, and see another angle of the city with an included ticket for a Thames sightseeing cruise.

Venture beyond London city limits, and visit one of the country’s top historical landmarks with ease—this round-trip, private transfer service makes exploring Windsor Castle stress-free. Meet your driver in the morning at your London accommodation, hop aboard your private Mercedes vehicle, and make your way to Windsor. Upon arrival, explore the historical city and Windsor Castle (entry own expense) independently. At the tour’s end, return to London in your comfortable, Wi-Fi-equipped vehicle.

The Royal Mews provides road transport for The King and members of the Royal Family by both horse-drawn carriage and motor car. It is also one of the finest working stables still in existence, responsible for the training of the Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays, the horses that pull the royal carriages. Among the historic coaches and carriages on display is the spectacular Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which conveyed Queen Elizabeth II on the State Opening of Parliament on 4 June 2014. What's more, cast your eye over the luxurious Australian State Coach, with central heating and electric windows, which carried Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace after the Royal Wedding in 2011. The most dazzling of all is the Gold State Coach, which has been used at every coronation since that of William IV. Queen Elizabeth II used it to travel on her Coronation Day in 1953, and most recently it was used at the Coronation of King Charles III in 2023.

Make the most of your time in London with a hassle-free visit to the Hard Rock Cafe. Skip the line and take your seat surrounded by iconic rock ’n’ roll memorabilia, then enjoy a 2- or 3-course American-style meal. Choose from Gold or Diamond set menus to match your budget and tastes, combining convenient dining with a fun, music-themed atmosphere in the heart of the city.

This private trip to Windsor Castle—the oldest and largest continually occupied castle in the world—offers the most convenient way of visiting from London. Priority access tickets save you a lot of time and you travel in the comfort of a private vehicle. Then explore the castle at your own pace with an audio guide. There may also be time to explore the surrounding town of Windsor.

Waddesdon Manor is a French Renaissance-style chateau, built in the 1870s by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild to entertain the fashionable world and house his impressive art collection. Waddesdon Manor was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1885 to display his collection of arts and to entertain the fashionable world. Opened to the public in 1959, Waddesdon Manor is managed by the Rothschild Foundation, a family charitable trust, on behalf of the National Trust, who took over ownership in 1957. It’s home to the Rothschild Collections of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. Make the most of your visit. Take a stroll in the Gardens, explore the paintings, furniture, porcelain and tapestries collected by generations of Rothschilds in the House. Meet the Aviary Keeper and see the colourful birds housed in the ornate Aviary. Explore the Cellars storing over 13,000 bottles of Rothschild wines, and hear about their history and so much more.

Enjoy great savings to top London attractions with the London Explorer Pass, a special sightseeing pass that gets you admission to anywhere from two to seven attractions (depending on the package you choose). Choose where to redeem your credits from a list of London’s most popular attractions.

Simplify your visit to one of London's most famous palaces, Hampton Court, on a private trip from London. The palace was once the seat of King Henry VIII and there’s a lot to see, inside and out. Enjoy a stress-free day with round-trip transport from London at a time that suits you. Skip-the-line entry tickets and audio guides are included so you can explore independently while still learning more.

Journey through the world of organized crime with a one-of-a-kind walking tour through London’s East End. Guided by Vas Blackwood, who has appeared in numerous gangster films, hear real histories and fictional recreations of London’s criminal underworld that you won't get in the guidebook. Visit filming locations, learn about the notorious Kray Twins, and discover landmarks and stories you're unlikely to find on your own.

Don’t waste time dockside when your cruise ship pulls into Southampton Port. Use the free time you have to visit the English attractions that interest you most. This day-long private excursion is completely flexible, with transportation from the port or a hotel, a driver, and an itinerary that you set in advance. The UNESCO-listed Stonehenge circle, Windsor Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, and Leeds Castle are among your day trip options.

Rather than grapple with London’s public transport after a long flight, take it easy with this cost-effective shared shuttle that drops you right to your door. Your driver greets you in the arrivals hall, then transfers you direct to your hotel, making no more than three stops along the way. Choose from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Southend, and Stansted Airports.