County guide · The Castle Rolls
Best castles in Hampshire
8 castles in Hampshire, spanning Norman Winchester to Henry VIII's Tudor gun forts guarding the Solent.
Map
Every castle on this list - 8 in total, 2 free to enter
Portchester Castle
Hampshire
Grounds free; keep within Roman fort walls
Photo: Matthew Folley from UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Winchester Castle (Great Hall)
Hampshire
Great Hall with Round Table
Photo: Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Hurst Castle
Hampshire
Reached by ferry or shingle spit walk
Photo: Ian Stannard from Southsea, England, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Southsea Castle
Hampshire
Henrician fort; free entry, seasonal
Photo: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Wolvesey Castle (Old Bishop's Palace)
Hampshire Free entry
Photo: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Odiham Castle
Hampshire Free entry
King John's octagonal keep, free access
Photo: BabelStone, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Calshot Castle
Hampshire
Managed by Hampshire County Council
Photo: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Common questions
How many castles are there in Hampshire?
This roll lists 8 visitable castles, fortresses and tower houses in Hampshire. Of those, 2 are free to enter and 5 charge admission. The other one has restricted access.
Which castles in Hampshire are free to visit?
2 of the 8 castles in Hampshire are open-access sites with no admission charge, namely Wolvesey Castle (Old Bishop's Palace) and Odiham Castle.
What is the best-rated castle in Hampshire?
Portchester Castle is among the highest-rated castles in Hampshire on this roll - 4.6/5 from 5,228 Google reviews.
Can you reach any castle in Hampshire by train?
6 of the 8 sit within 1.5 miles of a railway station, the closest being Winchester Castle (Great Hall) (Winchester, 0.3 miles), Southampton Castle Vault (Southampton Central, 0.6 miles), Wolvesey Castle (Old Bishop's Palace) (Winchester, 0.7 miles) and Southsea Castle (Southsea Hoverport, 0.7 miles). Those are straight-line distances from the station to the castle, so the walk on the ground is longer than the figure.
Can you go inside every castle in Hampshire?
Not all of them on the same terms. 1 of the 8 restricts what a visitor can see. At Southampton Castle Vault you get the grounds or a booked tour rather than free run of the building.