Castle Rising Castle

Castle Rising Castle is a large Norman keep set inside a wide ring of earthworks, a short drive from King's Lynn in west Norfolk. Children can climb the steps by the gatehouse to see the scale of the defences, then wander through the Great Hall and the surviving rooms linked to Queen Isabella, who lived here in the 14th century. Within the inner bailey stand the remains of an early Norman church that pre-dates the castle itself. The grounds are open and suit a relaxed walk around the banks, though the keep has steep, narrow spiral stairs and is not reachable by wheelchair or pushchair. Cared for by English Heritage, it works well as a history-led half day for families who enjoy exploring old buildings and earthworks outdoors.