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11 Best Castles In Shropshire To Visit

Shropshire once had the honour of being called the “most castellated county in England” due to the number of castles in Shropshire, thanks mainly to Roger of Montgomery who was one of William The Conqueror’s most trusted allies and was gifted Shropshire as his lands in 1070.

Shropshire at that time was a remote place on the border with Wales and was wild, so building many castles was the best way to control the region. These early castles were made of timber and earthworks so none survive today, except as mounds of earth.

But in later centuries stone was eventually used to build the castles in Shropshire, and England in general, and that’s what is recommended here for the castles to visit.

The county itself is very scenic with the Shropshire hills and old market towns, with the added bonus of some good castles.

Note: In each castle section is a link to the official websites of the castles and it’s best to check there that the castle is open before visiting.

Tip: If you’re an overseas visitor you can get an English Heritage Pass that will get you into a lot of castles and many other historic buildings in the U.K.


Ludlow Castle

Ludlow Castle overlooks the River Teme and dates back to medieval times. The origins of the castle start in the late 11th-century after the Norman Conquest and it has the honour of being one of the first stone castles in England.

The Great Tower, as seen in the photo above, was built around the middle of the 12th-century, and is the most formidable structure to see.

Currently, it’s owned by the Earl of Powis. Ludlow Castle is definitely one of the best castles in Shropshire to visit.

It’s open for visitors.

Stokesay Castle

Stokesay Castle is absolutely gorgeous and was built by one of the richest men in England back in the late 13th-century.

It has the honour of being one of the best kept fortified manor houses from medieval times. The gatehouse is very picturesque and the great hall remains unchanged for several hundred years.

It’s located in the historic small market town of Craven Arms, which is worth a wander around while there. Ludlow Castle and Stokesay Castle are not far from each other so you could visit both on the same day.

Out of the castles in Shropshire, this would be the best second choice of ones to visit.

It’s open for visitors.

Shrewsbury Castle

Shrewsbury Castle dates to the late 11th-century although much of what you see now comes from the 17th-century after many repairs were done following the Civil War. It’s on top of a hill looking down to the River Severn.

These days it is now known as the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum as it is basically a museum to explore now about the Shropshire infantry and yeomanry.

It’s open for visitors.

Whittington Castle

Best castles in Shropshire, castle moat.

Whittington Castle was originally a motte and bailey castle from the late 11th-century before being repaired into a stone castle in the mid-13th-century after having been destroyed.

It’s changed hands numerous times in its history between the English and the Welsh.

There is an interesting legend about the castle where it is believed that the Marian Chalice that is there is in fact the famed Holy Grail.

It’s open for visitors.

Tip: The remains of an iron age hill fort can be seen not that far away called Old Oswestry that you may be interested in taking a look at as well.

Acton Burnell Castle

Acton Burnell Castle dates to the late 13th-century and started out as a fortified manor house.

The castle had a very short life of only around 120 years before it was left to go in a ruinous state due to a new building being built by it.

It’s open for visitors and is free to enter.

Moreton Corbet Castle

Moreton Corbet Castle goes back to the early 12th-century when there was a stone castle and gatehouse.

Over several hundred years since then, there have been additions added to it, particularly in the 16th-century.

It’s open for visitors and free to enter.

Tip: Check out the nearby historic Haughmond Abbey when in the area.

Clun Castle

Clun Castle is right on the Welsh border and is in a very ruined state of affairs. Like many of the castles, it was built shortly after the Norman conquest in the late 11th-century.

It sits high on a hill in a strategic position overlooking the Clun Valley. The main tower that you see was most likely built in the 14th-century.

By the 16th-century the castle was mostly left in ruin.

It’s open for visitors to look around outside.

Bridgnorth Castle

Bridgnorth Castle is a castle that is barely even recognisable anymore as a castle as it’s in such a ruined state of affairs.

However, if you love your castle’s history then it could be worth a visit and the lovely gardens in the area make up for the state of the castle.

Out of all the castles in Shropshire recommended here this is the one in the most ruinous state.

The area is open for visitors.

Hopton Castle

Hopton Castle stands alone in a field and is in ruins. It’s a very old medieval castle whose origins date to the 12th-century as a motte and bailey castle made of earth and timber.

The stone part of the castle came around the 13th-century and much of what you see left today is from the 14th-century.

It’s open for visitors to wander around the area.

Broncroft Castle

Broncroft Castle is technically a fortified manor house dating to the 14th-century but a lot was added to it in the late 19th-century. It’s now a private residence.

It’s currently not open for visits.


And one extra if you’re interested:

Hen Domen

Ok, Hen Domen is really, really, pushing it as far as castles in Shropshire to visit go and I would only recommend seeing this area if you have a big interest in castle history.

Hen Domen is just a mound of the earth today as it was one of Roger of Montgomery’s first castles in Shropshire and has since rotted away over time. But, Hen Domen has the privilege of being one of the most talked-about castles in all of Europe thanks to 40 years of excavations that took place there.

Stop by to have a walk around if you are really fascinated by castle history, otherwise, definitely give it a miss. There’s nothing really to see.


The Best Castles In Shropshire

Shropshire is a county that has a lot of history going for it. Go and visit some of the castles in Shropshire when there.

If you had to choose only one or two castles to visit then combine Ludlow Castle with Stokesay Castle for a great castle day out.

For more castles take a look at 25 of the best castles in England to visit.

If you plan to spend the night, or a few days, in Shropshire exploring the area, the Shrewsbury makes an excellent place to base yourself. You can check for hotels in Shrewsbury here.

The books I mention below are on Amazon and are affiliate links and I get a small commission if you purchase through the link at no extra cost to you.

For a great book on the history of castles in Britain take a look at this book from one of my favourite historians, Marc Morris: Castle: A History of the Buildings that Shaped Medieval Britain.

For a view of what life was like in a medieval castle, you will find the classic book Life in a Medieval Castle interesting.

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