County guide · The Castle Rolls
Best castles in Somerset
5 castles in Somerset, led by Dunster - six hundred years of one family above the village, remodelled in the 19th century into something closer to a country house than a fortress. Inland, the compact moated tower at Nunney still carries the damage from its Parliamentarian siege of 1645, and Taunton's surviving core now holds the Museum of Somerset.
Map
Every castle on this list - 5 in total, 1 free to enter
Dunster Castle
Somerset
Luttrell family castle remodelled as country home
Photo: Hchc2009, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Farleigh Hungerford Castle
Somerset
Ruins with intact chapel and crypt
Photo: nicksarebi, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Nunney Castle
Somerset
Interior closed; exterior viewing from outer moat
Photo: Ian Alexander, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Daw's Castle
Somerset Free entry
Alfred the Great's clifftop burh above Watchet; almost nothing survives above ground
Taunton Castle
Somerset
Houses Museum of Somerset; free entry
Common questions
How many castles are there in Somerset?
This roll lists 5 visitable castles, fortresses and tower houses in Somerset. Of those, 1 is free to enter and 3 charge admission. The other one has restricted access.
Which castles in Somerset are free to visit?
Daw's Castle is the one open-access castle in Somerset with no admission charge. Nunney Castle is grounds-only, so the building can't be entered; check the operator for grounds entry and parking charges.
What is the best-rated castle in Somerset?
Dunster Castle is among the highest-rated castles in Somerset on this roll - 4.7/5 from 8,645 Google reviews.
Can you reach any castle in Somerset by train?
One of the 5, Taunton Castle, sits within 1.5 miles of a railway station (Taunton, 0.6 miles). That's a straight-line distance from the station to the castle, so the walk on the ground is longer than the figure.
Can you go inside every castle in Somerset?
Not all of them on the same terms. 1 of the 5 restricts what a visitor can see. At Nunney Castle the building itself isn't open to visitors, so you see it from the grounds or from outside.