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Overview
Carisbrooke Castle is a great fortress which began life as an Anglo-Saxon earthwork defence against Viking raids. The Normans raised the shell keep on its towering mound, which you can climb up for amazing views.
The castle’s most famous resident was Charles I, who was imprisoned here after his Civil War defeat. You’ll find Charles I memorabilia and changing exhibitions in the Carisbrooke Castle Museum.
Later, Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s daughter, made Carisbrooke Castle her summer home. Admire the award-winning Edwardian-style Princess Beatrice Garden, inspired by the princess.
The castle’s best-known modern residents are the much-loved Carisbrooke donkeys. They still demonstrate the treadwheel, which once raised water from the castle well. Meet them in their stables and hear their story in a film hosted by Jupiter the cartoon donkey.
What's included
Admission ticket to Carisbrooke Castle
Meals
What to expect
Carisbrooke Castle
Admission ticket included
Revel in history as you explore the well-preserved grounds of Carisbrooke Castle, a fortress with more than 800 years of history. Over the centuries, it withstood a French siege, played a role in defending against the Spanish Armada, and later served as the prison of the deposed Charles I.
Begin your visit in the 16th-century guardhouse, where exhibitions bring the castle’s fascinating past to life. Meet the resident Carisbrooke Castle donkeys, famous for drawing water from the historic well-house for hundreds of years. Stroll through Princess Beatrice’s charming gardens, then enjoy the peaceful beauty of St Nicholas’ Chapel, built in 1904 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Charles I’s execution.
