There are some incredible castles across the UK, and Carisbrooke Castle is one of them.
This is a historic motte-and-bailey castle, which is situated in Carisbrooke Castle, a village close to Newport on the Isle of Wight in England.
One of the most historic events that happened at Carisbrooke Castle was that Charles I was imprisoned here in the months leading up to his trial.
Where Is Carisbrooke Castle?
Carisbrooke Castle sits high and proud in the heart of the Isle of Wight, the island off the south coast of England.
History Of Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke Castle was first built during the 12th century. It was used all of the way through to 1944, so it has a long history. It is believed that Carisbrooke Castle could have been occupied in pre-Roman times. This is due to a ruined wall, which used to be a building there during the late Roman era.
It is mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle that Wihtgar, a cousin of King Cynric of Wessex, died in AD 544 and was buried there. By the late 7th century, the Jutes may have taken over the fort. During the 8th century, an Anglo-Saxon stronghold occupied the site. A wall was constructed around the hill around the year 1000 to defend against Viking raids.
The Richard de Redvers’ family possessed the castle from 1100 and over the next couple of centuries. The castle has improved during this period. The castle was later sold to Edward I.
The castle was attacked by the French in 1377, but this failed, as Peter de Heyno, a local hero, shot the French commander.
Over the years, there were significant improvements and additions to the castle. For example, during the reign of Henry I, a keep was added.
In 1597, a modern trace Italienne fortification was constructed by Giambelli, as well as a ditch and squat rampart, which was supported by powerful bastions, which fully surrounded the bailey and old castle. This cost £4,000, with the new fortification mostly completed by 1600.
Prior to his execution in 1649, Charles I was imprisoned here for 14 months. His two youngest children were confined in the castle after this.
Between the years 1896 and 1944, Princess Beatrice called Carisbrooke Castle her home.
Carisbrooke Castle Today
Carisbrooke Castle is currently under the control of English Heritage. No one has lived in Carisbrooke Castle since Princess Beatrice in 1944.
In 2007, a holiday flat was opened inside of the castle by English Heritage. This holiday flat was converted from previous staff quarters.
Visitor info:
While you are not required to book your tickets for Carisbrooke Castle in advance, it makes sense to do so because you will always get better rates online and you are guaranteed entry. You can book an advanced ticket online via the website up to 8.45 am on the day that you wish to visit the castle.
Opening times
Carisbrooke Castle is currently open seven days per week, from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm. You can arrive at any time from the slot you have booked, and you can stay for as long as you like. Late admission is one hour prior to closing time.
Opening and closing hours are subject to change throughout the year, so it makes sense to check the official Carisbrooke Castle website before planning your trip.
Admissions fees
If you are a member of English Heritage, you won’t need to pay for admission to Carisbrooke Castle. However, if you are not a member, there are two price points; one with a donation and one without a donation.
- An adult ticket with a donation costs £12.50. An adult ticket without a donation costs £11.30.
- A child ticket (5 to 17-years-old) with a donation costs £7.50. A child ticket without a donation costs £6.80.
- A concession ticket with a donation costs £11.30. A concession ticket without a donation costs £10.20.
- A family ticket (two adults and up to three children) with a donation costs £32.50. A family ticket without a donation costs £29.40.
- A family ticket (one adult and up to three children) with a donation costs £20. A family ticket without a donation costs £18.10.
So there you have it: everything that you need to know about Carisbrooke Castle.
We hope that you enjoy your visit here. It is certainly an incredible place to visit, with a vast and exciting history to learn about.
More English Castles
Discover The Charm Of Belvoir Castle: A Faux Historical Castle In Eastern England
Belvoir Castle is a ‘faux historical’ castle in England’s East Midlands, overlooking several English counties in the picturesque Vale of…
Fotheringhay Castle: Richard III & Mary Queen Of Scots
Fotheringhay Castle may not be much to look at now, but it was the locations of several important historical events,…
Hever Castle | Anne Boleyn’s Childhood Home
Hever Castle is a beautiful medieval castle located in England and has been called one of the most romantic and picturesque buildings in…
Tamworth Castle: A Norman Castle With A Saxon History
A little over 900 years ago, the first Tamworth castle was built overlooking the River Anker where it flows into…
Highclere Castle | Downton Abbey Meets Ancient Egypt
Highclere Castle is home to Crawleys on Downton Abbey & the Earls of Canarvon (one of whom funded finding Tutankhamun’s…
Bolsover Castle | Peak District Fairytale Castle
Hidden away in the Peak District of Derbyshire, Bolsover Castle is a fairytale castle perfect for exploring, or combining a…
Arundel Castle | Ancestral Home of The Dukes Of Norfolk
(This post was originally published at https://british-castles.com/arundel-castle) Arundel Castle, which was built in the 11th century, is the historic home…
Durham Castle | Norman Castle Now Part Of Durham University
Durham Castle is a wonderful Norman castle in the centre of the North East England city of Durham, itself a…
The Secrets of Pontefract Castle, England
Pontefract Castle is a castle located in the town of Pontefract, in the West Yorkshire county of England. The castle…
Norwich Castle | East Anglian Norman Castle & Museum
If you’re looking for a fascinating day trip from London, Norwich Castle in England is the perfect place to explore.…
Lincoln Castle | Home To The Magna Carta
Lincoln Castle in England is one of the best preserved Norman castles in existence. It was built by William the…
Ludlow Castle – The Shrophire Home Of The Kingmaker
Ludlow Castle is a ruined medieval fortification in the town of Ludlow in the English county of Shropshire. It was…
Totnes Castle: An Architectural Gem In The Heart Of Devon
Totnes Castle is the only castle in Devon (a county in the south west of England) that still has its…
Scarborough Castle | Stronghold Overlooking North Sea
Scarborough Castle is a medieval castle located in the town of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. The castle sits high above…
Bodiam Castle | 14th Century Moated Castle
Bodiam Castle, a beautiful and historic castle located in the South East of England, was built in 1385 by Sir…
Raby Castle: A Fine Royal Day Out in England
Raby Castle is one of the most beautiful and historic castles in England. Situated in County Durham, Raby Castle has…
Skipton Castle | Well Preserved Yorkshire Castle
There are some incredible castles across England, each with its own story to tell, and Skipton Castle in Yorkshire is…
Yorkshire Castles | Great Castles In The Northern County Of Yorkshire
Yorkshire Castles: Yorkshire in northern England is a rugged county known for its warm non-nonsense people and gorgeous countryside. It has lots…
Windsor Castle | The Queen’s Favourite Home
Windsor Castle spans hundreds of years, starting with the original structure from the 11th century. From royal weddings to christenings,…
Corfe Castle | Wild Dorset Ruin
Corfe Castle sits of one of the steepest hills in Dorset, England, overlooking the village of Corfe on the Isle…
Tintagel: King Arthur’s Cornwall Castle?
Tintagel in Cornwall is mainly a ruin now – but many years ago it may have been the home of…
Bamburgh Castle | Magnificent Northumberland fortress
Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland is one of its largest inhabited castles, spanning over nine acres of land on its rocky…
Alnwick Castle | The Real Hogwarts In Northumberland
(NB This post was originally published at https://british-castles.com/alnwick-castle/) Alnwick Castle – or the exterior of Hogwarts to Harry Potter fans…
Maiden Castle
Maiden Castle in Dorset is one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe – the size…
Dover Castle: Its History From William The Conqueror To The Modern Day
Dover Castle is one of the most iconic castles in England. It also has the distinction of being among the…
Leeds Castle, Kent
Claiming to be the “loveliest castle in the world”, Leeds Castle in Kent (and, confusingly, nowhere near the city of…
Warwick Castle – Its History & Owners. Plus How To Stay There
Warwick Castle has been through a lot over the years. A few notable moments include when it was attacked in…
Fotheringhay Castle may not be much to look at now, but it was the locations of several important historical events, especially the birthplace of Richard III and where Mary Queen Of Scots was executed. Here is our guide. Where Is…
Belvoir Castle is a ‘faux historical’ castle in England’s East Midlands, overlooking several English counties in the picturesque Vale of Belvoir. The current fairytale castle was built in the 1830s, but there has been a castle on the site since…
Hever Castle is a beautiful medieval castle located in England and has been called one of the most romantic and picturesque buildings in Europe. Almost everybody who loves castles and English history should visit Hever Castle. In particular it was the childhood home…
A little over 900 years ago, the first Tamworth castle was built overlooking the River Anker where it flows into the River Tame, in what is now Tamworth, England. Unlike many castles on this site which have Norman origins – castles…
Highclere Castle is home to Crawleys on Downton Abbey & the Earls of Canarvon (one of whom funded finding Tutankhamun’s tomb) in real life. Here’s our guide. Highclere Castle is more of a stately home than many castles on this…
Hidden away in the Peak District of Derbyshire, Bolsover Castle is a fairytale castle perfect for exploring, or combining a visit with nearby Chatsworth House, 30 minutes drive away. (This post was originally published at https://british-castles.com/bolsover-castle) History of Bolsover Castle…
(This post was originally published at https://british-castles.com/arundel-castle) Arundel Castle, which was built in the 11th century, is the historic home of the Dukes of Norfolk and has been continuously occupied and renovated over the centuries. This vast castle, located in…
Durham Castle is a wonderful Norman castle in the centre of the North East England city of Durham, itself a wonderful old city dominated by the castle, cathedral and the university. Indeed the castle is now part of one of…
Pontefract Castle is a castle located in the town of Pontefract, in the West Yorkshire county of England. The castle was founded by William the Conqueror in 1068 and has been described as “one of the key castles” of medieval…
If you’re looking for a fascinating day trip from London, Norwich Castle in England is the perfect place to explore. This historic castle has a rich history dating back to the Norman Conquest, and today it houses an impressive museum…
Lincoln Castle in England is one of the best preserved Norman castles in existence. It was built by William the Conqueror following his victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The castle has been used as a prison, a…
Ludlow Castle is a ruined medieval fortification in the town of Ludlow in the English county of Shropshire. It was first constructed as a wooden structure by the Norman baron Roger de Montgomery around 1085 and was rebuilt several times,…
Totnes Castle is the only castle in Devon (a county in the south west of England) that still has its original medieval walls. It is a small and unusual fortification, with origins dating back to before the Norman conquest of…
Scarborough Castle is a medieval castle located in the town of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. The castle sits high above the town on a rocky promontory overlooking the North Sea and was once an important strategic stronghold used by both…
Bodiam Castle, a beautiful and historic castle located in the South East of England, was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a knight of Edward III, on the site of an earlier motte and bailey. The castle has been…
Raby Castle is one of the most beautiful and historic castles in England. Situated in County Durham, Raby Castle has a fascinating history dating back to the Norman Conquest. Today, visitors can explore the castle’s stunning architecture and art, lovely…
There are some incredible castles across England, each with its own story to tell, and Skipton Castle in Yorkshire is certainly one of these. Based in Skipton, this is a medieval Grade I listed Yorkshire castle built by Robert de…
Yorkshire Castles: Yorkshire in northern England is a rugged county known for its warm non-nonsense people and gorgeous countryside. It has lots of treasures, from York and its Minster, the Yorkshire Dales National Park and acres of moorland which inspired the Brontes.…
Windsor Castle spans hundreds of years, starting with the original structure from the 11th century. From royal weddings to christenings, deaths (sadly including Prince Philip who died at Windsor Castle in April 2021) and, recently, the pandemic-era ‘HMS Bubble’ quarantine…
There are some incredible castles across the UK, and Carisbrooke Castle is one of them. This is a historic motte-and-bailey castle, which is situated in Carisbrooke Castle, a village close to Newport on the Isle of Wight in England. One…
Corfe Castle sits of one of the steepest hills in Dorset, England, overlooking the village of Corfe on the Isle of Purbeck peninsula. It nestles within a decisive gap cutting through an extended row of chalk hills, bounded by the…
Tintagel in Cornwall is mainly a ruin now – but many years ago it may have been the home of one of English history’s most famous figures: King Arthur. Who Was King Arthur? As you may remember Arthur was the…
Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland is one of its largest inhabited castles, spanning over nine acres of land on its rocky plateau. Here’s our guide to this magnificent, ancient fortress… Bamburgh Castle Where Is The Castle? For almost 1,400 years, Bamburgh…
(NB This post was originally published at https://british-castles.com/alnwick-castle/) Alnwick Castle – or the exterior of Hogwarts to Harry Potter fans – is a medieval castle in Northumberland. It is a big-time tourist attraction – especially now with wizard fans -…
Maiden Castle in Dorset is one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe – the size of 50 football pitches. Its huge multiple ramparts, mostly built in the 1st century BC, once protected hundreds of residents.…
Dover Castle is one of the most iconic castles in England. It also has the distinction of being among the oldest; it was originally fortified by William the Conqueror following the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Before it was turned…
Claiming to be the “loveliest castle in the world”, Leeds Castle in Kent (and, confusingly, nowhere near the city of Leeds in Yorkshire) is one of the most famous castles in England. Appearing in the Domesday Book, Leeds Castle has…
Warwick Castle has been through a lot over the years. A few notable moments include when it was attacked in 1264, the siege of Warwick Castle in 1642, and the fire that tore through the castle in 1871. Despite all…
Take our London Quiz: How Well Do You Really Know London?
Click Here For More Castles > British Castles