Ludlow Castle

About this activity

Come and visit Ludlow Castle, one of the most spectacular ruins in all of England! This beautiful Norman fortress has been the home of Kings, Queens and nobility for centuries so take a glimpse into the life of a medieval monarch!  

Set in the glorious Shropshire countryside at the heart of the bustling black & white market town of Ludlow, the castle became Crown property in 1461 and remained a royal castle for the next 350 years and was even lived in by King Henry VIII! If a castle is to house a king it has to be enormous and you’ll be shocked by how big Ludlow is, the castle is enormously tall and over 150m long giving it beautiful views over the countryside.

The castle was left to decay in 1689 and was considered the perfect ruin. It was considered to be so beautiful that famous writers travelled from all over the land to see it and for the beautiful old castle to give them inspiration. The famous writer Daniel Defore even described it as “the very perfection of decay”.

It’s no longer dark and scary however! The castle was bought by the Earl of Powis in the early 1800s to prevents its destruction. The castle is now an incredible day out and an absolute must-see in Shropshire.  As well hosting thousands of day visitors throughout the year it is now central to several annual festivals and events that have become famous all across the country! The castle holds its own family events during the school holidays with Guided Tours, Living History, Birds of Prey flying displays and a Medieval Christmas Fayre!

Ludlow Castle is an absolute must-see in the Shropshire countryside! A beautiful stone castle full of myths and legends, kings, queens and everything in between, the perfect day out for your family!