Top 20 most beautiful castles and palaces in United Kingdom2026 ranking

The Houses of Parliament, in the heart of London, are essential for understanding British history and politics. With roots reaching back to the Middle Ages, this site remains a focal point of the United Kingdom. Admire the iconic Big Ben clock tower and tour the chambers of the House of Lords and House of Commons.

Windsor Castle is a popular site and a home to the British royal family. It is the largest occupied castle in the world, spanning 13 acres of buildings and 32 acres of grounds. Explore over 1,000 rooms, including State Apartments decorated with French art, historic portraits, and items used for official state ceremonies and investitures.

Edinburgh Castle packs everything travelers love into one site, from deep history and legends to incredible views. Explore this unique landmark and its surprises, including the 1 p.m. gun salute, St. Margaret's Chapel, the Honours of Scotland, the Scottish National War Memorial, Mons Meg, and the military prison cells.

More than a tower, this is a fortress and a massive prison. The Tower of London served as a royal residence and, notably, a state prison through the Second World War. Explore with the Yeomen Warders, the ceremonial guards of the British monarchy. Visit the White Tower, Salt Tower, and Tower Green, where famous figures were once held and executed. See the Medieval Palace for its period furnishings and the Crown Jewels housed in the Waterloo Barracks.

Perched on a cliff overlooking the River Ness since 1057, Inverness Castle embodies nearly a millennium of turbulent Scottish history. The current pink sandstone Victorian building, designed by William Burn in 1836, replaced a medieval fortress destroyed by the Jacobites in 1746. Reopening in late 2025 as an immersive cultural site, it features interactive exhibits, Gaelic gardens, and panoramic terraces.

Built in the 18th century, Fort George has never been conquered, though it never faced a major siege. This military masterpiece near Inverness guards the Moray Firth. Today, it serves as an active base and a site for history lovers or dolphin spotting. Explore three centuries of Scottish military tradition at the Highlanders' Regimental Museum.

Home to the Campbell family since the 14th century, Cawdor Castle draws visitors with its ancient holy hawthorn inside the medieval tower and its literary connection to Shakespeare. This storybook fortress near Inverness features refined, lived-in interiors, three distinct gardens, and the Cawdor Big Wood, one of Europe's finest oak forests with 8 km of trails.

As the official residence of the British Royal Family and the primary home of Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace hosts state visits and royal ceremonies. In summer, when the Queen is in Scotland, the public can tour rooms like The Grand Staircase, The State Dining Room, The Picture Gallery, The Green Drawing Room, and the Throne Room.
Catch the Changing of the Guard at 11:00 am, held daily in summer and every other day during winter.

Culzean Castle sits perched high above the cliffs of Ayrshire near Maybole on the west coast of Scotland. Owned by the National Trust for Scotland, this estate belonged to the influential David Kennedy in the late 18th century. It even appears on the five-pound note issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland.