Castle Tours in England & Scotland

Edinburgh Castle

• Visitors to Edinburgh Castle can tour David's Tower, erected for King David II, the great hall, opened in 1511 by King James IV and the 1566 birthplace of King James VI, son of Mary Queen of Scots. Guests can view the crown jewels of Scotland, explore the castle vaults, also known as the "Prisons of War," where prisoners were held in the eighteen century and tour Edinburgh's oldest building, St. Margaret's Chapel, completed during the reign of King David I in the twelfth century. Castle visitors can enjoy a guided tour or a self-guided audio tour. Edinburgh Castle is open 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, April 1 to September 30 and 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, October 1 to March 31.

  Edinburgh Castle
  Castlehill
  Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
  EH1 2NG
  +44-0-131-225-9846
  edinburghcastle.gov.uk

Balmoral Castle

• Purchased in 1852 by Prince Albert, Balmoral Castle remains in the Royal Family today. Guests of Balmoral Castle can enjoy an audio tour through the exhibitions and gardens, available in Italian, English, German and French. The castle's Carriage Hall Courtyard features a Christmas card display, representing cards sent to the Royal Family since 1950. The courtyard also includes a model, representing the castle gardens and grounds, along with a collection of royal china. The ballroom at the castle features a nineteenth-century collection of paintings by Carl Haag and Edwin Henry Landseer, along with Minton China and statues created by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm. Guests visiting Balmoral Castle in 2010 can enjoy an exhibition of apparel worn by Her Majesty The Queen. The castle is open to the public daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

  Balmoral Castle
  The Estates Office, Balmoral
  Ballater
  Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK
  AB35 5TB
  +44-0133-974-2534
  balmoralcastle.com

Windsor Castle

• An official residence of the Royal Family, Windsor Castle has been part of English history for 900 years. Situated on 26 acres, the castle features a royal palace, homes and St. George's Chapel. The castle's State Apartments feature artworks by Gainsborough, Rembrandt, Canaletto and Rubens. Guests can visit St. George's Chapel, where they can view the graves of King Henry VII, his wife Jane Seymour and King Charles I. Visitors can also view the doll house of Queen Mary, along with the Drawings Gallery, which features exhibitions of drawings and official photographs of the royal family. The castle features changing of the guard ceremonies at 11:00 am daily, April through July, and every other day during the remainder of the year. Windsor Castle is open from 9:45 am to 5:15 pm, March through October and 9:45 am to 4:15 pm, November through February. Self-guided tours of the grounds and exhibitions are available, along with guided tours of the Great Kitchen, where visitors can get a glimpse of the daily life of the castle.

  Windsor Castle
  Ticket Sales and Information Office
  The Official Residences of The Queen
  London, UK
  SW1A 1AA
  +44-020-7766-7304
  royalcollection.org.uk