The best castles in Sussex (with kids)

As the place the Normans first landed in England nearly 1,000 years ago, it’s no surprise there are some fantastic castles in Sussex to discover for anyone who loves history.

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From historic ruins to lovely medieval moated castles, Roman forts and others which are part stately home, you can also find jousts, castles with magical links, even castles with museums inside.

With choices scattered across East Sussex and West Sussex, by the coast and in the countryside, here’s my pick of the best castles in Sussex with kids (and without!)

Stay in a Sussex castle with kids

You don’t have to limit yourself to days out at castles in Sussex with kids, you can even check into one for a stay.

Amberley Castle near Arundel dates back over 900 years. Mentioned in the Domesday Book, it has hosted Charles II and been owned by Dukes and bishops over the years.

There’s plenty for families too, with games in the gardens, a children’s menu in the restaurant, and 12 acres of grounds, not to mention the South Downs nearby.

Check the latest rates for a stay at Amberley Castle

Bodiam Castle

If you visualise a castle, the chances are it will look something like Bodiam Castle  – turrets, towers and solid stone walls, floating in the middle of a moat.

And inside the walls of the 14th century fortress, you can discover the remains of what was once among the most palatial buildings of its day.

There’s a chance to dress up while actors help bring the castle to life, not to mention some quirkily gruesome facts to delight kids, including disgusting jobs children in history would have had to do.

Add in murder holes and family-friendly activities, including archery (and a game of medieval life during our visit), plus a chance to spot bats and this National Trust site is among my favourites. You’re also in the heart of some of the loveliest Sussex countryside with the River Rother running nearby.

Read more about my visit to Bodiam Castle with kids

Arundel Castle

With a history stretching back over 950 years, you can still venture into the 11th century Keep at Arundel Castle, as well as climbing to the top for some fantastic views across the West Sussex countryside.

The privately owned castle is now part stately home as well. Inside, the state rooms have been preserved in the opulent splendour enjoyed by the Dukes of Norfolk who transformed the medieval fortress in the 18th and 19th centuries.

But it’s the events and activities which really set this Sussex castle apart from the others across the UK.

You can find living history with knights on horseback jousting and battles being replayed in the grounds (admittedly with less realistic results than in centuries past), as well as music and crafts from medieval times plus other family-friendly things to do during holidays.

For more of the best castles in the UK with kids, check out my top picks

Rye Castle Museum, Ypres Tower

Built in the 13th or 14th centuries, Rye Castle – also known as the Ypres Tower – has acted as line of defence and prison, before being converted into a little museum.

More of a little fortification than a sprawling castle, there’s a lot to discover inside Rye Castle Museum, with plenty of chances to get hands on for kids.

Head to the top to soak up some of the views out across the town and towards the water before working your way back down to the basement. Along the way, you’ll find displays on Rye’s history, including its smuggling past, the chance to listen to traditional seafaring songs, and its importance as one of the Cinque Ports.

You can step inside one of the old cells, and find a skeleton swinging inside another (or bypass it, if your kids prefer!), while there’s also a section on medieval life, knights and warfare, where you can handle a sword and see how hard it was to draw the bowstring on a crossbow.

Its size means you don’t need to set aside a big chunk of your day to explore – an hour is plenty – and as kids are free (£5 for adults), it’s easy to swing by for a quick visit.

For more things to do in Rye with kids, check out my top picks

Lewes Castle

Set on a hilltop in the town of Lewes, just a short distance from Brighton, Lewes Castle is one of the most unique castles in Sussex due to its two mottes (raised mounds)

The historic Norman fortress was constructed shortly after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 by supporters of William the Conqueror. 

While there’s not a huge amount left of the castle itself, you can still climb both of the two remaining towers for some spectacular views over the town. There’s also plenty of space to enjoy a picnic in the lovely grounds before you look for the cannon.

With your entrance ticket, you can also visit the on-site Barbican House Museum, which explores the archaeological history of Sussex. The small museum really brings the area’s history to life with a scale model of the town and interactive displays suitable for visitors of all ages.

There are also a range of family-friendly talks, workshops, and events taking place at the castle throughout the year, so keep an eye out for these. 

For more things to do in Sussex with kids, check out my top picks

Pevensey Castle

Pevensey Castle was built in the 4th century as one of the last Roman ‘Saxon Shore’ forts. But it’s most famous for being where William the Conqueror and his fleet of ships first landed in 1066. The Normans fortified the castle and used it as a strategic defence for hundreds of years.

The castle was later used as an emergency stronghold during the Second World War, with machine guns and anti-tank defences camouflaged into the ancient walls that you can still see today.

The impressive fortification is now run by English Heritage and is a fantastic place for visitors of all ages to explore. You can walk across the drawbridge, head down into the dungeon, climb what remains of the towers, and visit the museum showcasing weapons and other objects found at the site.

This large castle also has plenty of interactive displays and a kid’s audio guide to keep little ones entertained. There’s even a fun new immersive challenge for children in which they’ll need to crack the Pevensey Castle Code in a recreated 1940s commander’s office.

Less than 10 miles away at Battle is the battlefield site when the Normans took on the Saxons in 1066, as well as the remains of Battle Abbey – while there’s no castle, it’s still a fantastic place to visit with kids who love history, including the chance to see re-enactments of decisive battle

Hastings Castle

Perched on a cliff overlooking the old town of Hastings and the English Channel, Hastings Castle started life as a wooden tower, before being rebuilt as a large stone castle after William the Conqueror was victorious at the Battle of Hastings. It was the very first Norman motte and bailey castle built in England.

Today it sits largely in ruins, with much of the walls having been lost to the sea, but if you’re looking for historic castles in Sussex, this is easily one of the most important.

If you are interested in visiting, you can pay a small fee to wander around the picturesque ruins. Within the site, you can enjoy the panoramic seaside views and watch an audio-visual exhibition called “The 1066 Story”. The castle grounds are also a great spot to enjoy a picnic overlooking the sea.

Reaching the hilltop fortress does require a slight climb. If this is too much for little legs, you can use the West Cliff Lift, a funicular that takes you up the cliff from the seafront. 

For a fun day out in Hastings with kids, you can sometimes find combination tickets that include Hastings Castle, Smugglers Adventure, and Hastings Aquarium at a discounted price (not currently available online).

Camber Castle

Camber Castle is a 16th-century artillery fort built by Henry VIII, nestled in the marshlands between Rye and Winchelsea. 

The castle is uniquely located within a coastal nature reserve, which means there are no roads leading to it. It can be only reached after a scenic one-mile walk from the town of Rye. 

On the walk to the castle, you can enjoy the views across the marshes while watching out for the resident sheep and spotting the many birds that call the area home. There are even a few other military structures in the nature reserve, such as Second World War pillboxes.

Once you arrive at the castle, you can wander around its impressive circular exterior and take a peek through the gates. The interior is currently closed for conservation – previously you needed to book a guided tour through English Heritage or Sussex Wildlife Trust, rather than just turning up.

Even if you can’t go inside, the walk to Camber Castle is a great opportunity for little ones to stretch their legs and a lovely family activity for a sunny day on the Sussex coast.

For more things to do in Camber Sands with kids, check out my top picks

Herstmonceux Castle

Herstmonceux Castle is a magnificent 15th-century castle close to the village of Herstmonceux in East Sussex. With its red-brick battlements and surrounding moat, the castle looks like something straight from the pages of a children’s fairytale book.

Originally built as a private family home, the castle is now used as a private venue for weddings and conferences and is only occasionally open to the public. 

But this shouldn’t stop you from visiting – the castle looks fantastic from the outside anyway! Plus you can still visit the estate’s 300 acres of woodland, which is home to many beautiful themed gardens and a lovely tearoom.

Around the gardens, there are plenty of signs and boards that tell you about the plants and wildlife you might come across. There’s even a kid’s activity sheet to keep younger visitors engaged.

There are even some links to magic and wizarding if you’re exploring this part of the UK with Harry Potter fans at Bothwell’s School of Witchcraft inside the castle

Cowdray Castle

Cowdray Castle is actually a Tudor Manor House rather than a castle, but its fortress-like exterior could easily have you fooled. 

Located within peaceful Cowdray Park, the castle has had many royal visitors over its history, including the likes of Henry VIII, a young Edward VI, and Queen Elizabeth I.

Unfortunately, a portion of the castle was destroyed in a large fire in the late 1700s. Now what you’ll find is the magnificent ruins of one of the country’s most important Tudor Houses. Despite its hollowed-out frame, it’s still an impressive sight to see.

You can walk around the perimeter of the castle and admire the picturesque ruins for free on a visit to the surrounding park. But to head inside the ruins, you’ll need to book a Heritage Event or guided tour.

Newhaven Fort, Newhaven

Visiting this 150-year-old fort is huge fun for the whole family – including well-behaved dogs! One of the string of forts built during the Napoleonic wars to guard against invasion, it was still used right up until the 1950s.

Inside Newhaven Fort, you can experience what a (simulated) World War Two air raid was like from inside an air raid shelter.

And the fort, built into the cliff itself, also has an adventure playground for kids and an impressive 10 acres for kids to run around in.

Knepp Castle

Once a mighty mediaeval fortress built by William de Braose, 12th-century Knepp Castle now sits in ruins with nothing left but a 10-meter-high tower wall. 

But while there’s not much left of the ancient castle itself, you can combine the ruins with a visit to the wider Knepp Castle Estate, in which the ruins are located.

Knepp Castle Estate consists of a privately owned 19th-century manor house among 3,500 acres of nature reserve, with plenty of public footpaths to explore. 

You can take a walk around the scenic countryside, which is filled with ponds, woodland, and wildflowers. The estate is great for spotting wildlife too, with ​long-horn cattle, wild horses, deer, wild pigs, and storks all roaming freely.

For more things to do in Sussex with kids, check out my top picks

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Main image of Bodiam Castle/Rye Castle Museum copyright MummyTravels, all other images courtesy of Depositphotos/Picfair

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