Tamworth Castle is a true hidden gem located in the heart of England in the county of Staffordshire. The castle dates back to Norman times and survives in remarkable condition as it was used as a family home for hundreds of years.
The oldest parts of the structure are the stone exterior wall and tower which were built between 1170 and 1190. These parts replaced the original motte and bailey wooden structure from Norman times. The castle continued to be added to by each family that called it home. As such, there are buildings inside the wall from the Tudor period, The Stuart Period, plus Georgian & Victorian times.
All these buildings inside the walls are linked together. In fact one linking room is also the most memorable – the Great Hall (pictured above). This links the Tudor parts of the castle and the newer South Wing. Your tour around the castle starts in the courtyard on the ground floor. Make sure you look up to see the different architecture of the buildings you are about to explore. The first room you enter is the dungeon in the base of the tower, followed by the Armoury. Our 8 year-old had great fun here with the dressing up clothes where you can wear a knight’s chainmail, helmet and breastplate. You then follow a one way route around.
You will see the dining room, servant’s quarters and the Lady’s Chamber with its incredible bed (pictured above). Also in this section of the castle are some small parts of the Staffordshire Hoard. The was found alongside the busy A5 road and consists of gold jewellery which is thought to have adorned swords and other weapons. The exhibits on display are intricately decorated and the guide in this room really brought them to life. You’ll get to climb to the top of the tower at this point for nice views over Tamworth (pictured below). You then walk across an exterior walkway to the more modern Stuart wing which is laid out as it would have been when it was a family home in Georgian times.
So many English castles stand in ruin, so to see one in this condition was a real treat. We loved our visit to the castle and we were impressed with the efforts to bring it to life for children in particular. There was a ‘mythical beasts’ tour when we visited with actors dotted around and a trail to complete with a prize at the end. Tamworth Castle is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30am to 4.30pm and on Sundays and Bank Holidays from 10am until 4pm. Adult admission is £11.95 (2025 prices).
LOCATION & CONTACT
Address: Tamworth Castle, Holloway, Tamworth B79 7NA
Tel: +44 1827 709618
MORE ON TAMWORTH CASTLE
Tamworth Castle – Official Website
Tamworth Castle – Wikipedia
More Things To Do In Staffordshire