The Daily Telegraph Castles & Ancient Monuments of England

Author: Damien Noonan
Publisher: Aurum Press

A county-by-county guide to more than 350 historic sites in England. A great book with a description and colour photograph for most of the major castles in England. The author offers his own personal opinion about whether a particular castle is worth visiting. We don't always agree with his views, but overall it is the best book we have found if you want to get out and explore castles in England.

English Castles

Author: Adrian Pettifer
Publisher: The Boydell Press

A comprehensive guide to all the medieval English castles of which something can still be seen today. The book contains over five hundred main entries, grouped in tradtional county order. The index could be better with castles only refered to by their county rather than the page they are on, but this doesn't stop me from highly recommending this book. If you want detailed information about every castle in England then this book can't be beaten.

The Daily Telegraph Castles & Ancient Monuments of Scotland

Author: Damien Noonan
Publisher: Aurum Press

A regional guide to more than 200 historic sites in Scotland. A great book with a description and colour photograph for most of the major castles in Scotland. The author offers his own personal opinion about whether a particular castle is worth visiting. We don't always agree with his views, but overall it is the best book we have found if you want to get out and explore castles in Scotland.

The Castles of Scotland - Third Edition

Author: Martin Coventry
Publisher: GOBLINSHEAD

A comprehensive reference and gazetteer to more than 2700 castles and fortified sites in Scotland. There are black & white photos and illustrations throughout the book and maps showing the location of every castle. It would take many years to visit all the properties featured in this book.

Welsh Castles

Author: Adrian Pettifer
Publisher: The Boydell Press

A companion book to the author's English Castles, provides a brief account of every surviving Welsh Castle. As with his book on English Castles I would prefer a better index, but this book still comes highly recommended for the wealth of information it provides about so many castles.

Wales Castles & Historic Places

Written & edited by: David M Robinson & Roger S. Thomas
Publisher: Welsh Tourist Board & Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments

This book includes a history of Wales, a gazeteer of castles and historic places and location maps. Each place featured has a good description and most have a colour photograph. An indispensable book if you are exploring the castles of Wales.

A Company of Forts

Author: Paul Davis
Publisher: Gomer Press

A well written and informative guide to the medieval castles of west Wales. The author is an archaeological illustrator and the book is full of his excellent illustrations and photographs.

AA Explore Britain's Castles

Authors: Elizabeth Cruwys & Beau Riffenburgh
Publisher: AA Publishing

A regional guide to 119 castles in Britain. There is a good description and historical summary for each castle featured as well as a good colour photograph. The book includes a history of castle development as well as features on some of the major castle building periods. Another good guide for exploring castles, with a basic location map that covers all of Britain.

Castles of England, Scotland and Wales

Author: Paul Johnson
Publisher: Seven Dials

A detailed history of the development of castles in England, Scotland and Wales from the time of the Norman invasion. The text is supported by a variety of colour and black and white photographs and other diagrams.

Castles of Britain and Ireland

Author: Plantagenet Somerset Fry
Publisher: BCA by arrangement with David & Charles

This book is divided into two main sections. The first section is an account of the construction, weaponry, maintenance and social life of castles. The second section is a gazetteer of over 1350 castles in Britain and Ireland. A great reference book with plenty of photographs.