County guide · The Castle Rolls
Best castles in Essex
5 castles in Essex, including Colchester Castle - built on the podium of a Roman temple, and the largest Norman keep in Europe by ground area.
Map
Every castle on this list - 5 in total, 2 free to enter, 1 you can stay overnight in
Colchester Castle
Essex
Largest Norman keep in Europe
Photo: George Gastin, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Mountfitchet Castle
Essex
Reconstructed Norman village on original earthworks
Photo: Acabashi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Hadleigh Castle
Essex Free entry
Photo: Chris Beach from London, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Hedingham Castle
Essex
Intact Norman keep; seasonal events
Photo: Derek Voller, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Rayleigh Mount
Essex Free entry
Norman motte-and-bailey earthworks of Rayleigh Castle
Photo: Luke Cops, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Common questions
How many castles are there in Essex?
This roll lists 5 visitable castles, fortresses and tower houses in Essex. Of those, 2 are free to enter and 3 charge admission.
Which castles in Essex are free to visit?
2 of the 5 castles in Essex are open-access sites with no admission charge, namely Hadleigh Castle and Rayleigh Mount.
What is the best-rated castle in Essex?
Mountfitchet Castle is among the highest-rated castles in Essex on this roll - 4.6/5 from 1,761 Google reviews.
Can you stay overnight in a castle in Essex?
Yes - Hedingham Castle offers overnight stays: Holiday Cottages, The Royal Chamber, Castle Bothy on estate.
Can you reach any castle in Essex by train?
4 of the 5 sit within 1.5 miles of a railway station, namely Mountfitchet Castle (Stansted Mountfitchet, 0.1 miles), Rayleigh Mount (Rayleigh, 0.2 miles), Colchester Castle (Colchester Town, 0.3 miles) and Hadleigh Castle (Leigh-on-Sea, 1.4 miles). Those are straight-line distances from the station to the castle, so the walk on the ground is longer than the figure.