Arundel Castle in West Sussex is a Must Visit for Lovers of History, Photographers, and for Little Ones Who Want to Be Knights

When someone from abroad visits England, at the top of their list of must-see places are medieval castles. Especially for someone from the United States. We don’t have majestic castles scattered around the country. Whenever I travel to the UK, I always visit a new castle. Stepping a foot inside Arundel Castle in West Sussex met all my castle-craving needs.

I was visiting England to see where Jane Austen was born, lived, wrote, died, and was buried. My 10-year-old daughter accompanied me on my trip. We started out in London and headed south to visit Ms. Austen. Along the way, we made a stop at Arundel Castle.

Arundel Castle is one of England’s most majestic castles, which has stood the test of time and wars. After we parked the car on the street, amidst antique shops and cozy cafes, we walked towards the castle. As we walked the path leading up to the castle, it revealed itself among the hills and trees with magical beauty. It was our first of many awe-inspiring moments of the day.

Roger de Montgomery, who was an ally of William the Conqueror built the castle in 1067. Arundel’s story is long, including the civil war and visits from kings and queens. The castle is more than a fortress, but also a seat of power, a home, and a symbol of English determination.

Shortly after the Norman conquest of England, William the Conqueror granted land to one of his supporters, de Montgomery, who became the Earl of Arundel. The new owner built a motte-and-bailey castle, which was the luxurious way to build at the time. He added a wooden keep to the top of a wooden mound, which part of it can still be seen to this day.

The castle passed on to the FitzAlan family through marriage in the 12th century. The FitzAlan family were among the most influential families in medieval England and took on the Earl of Arundel title. The powerful family expanded and fortified the castle, adding stone keeps, towers, and lined the walls with luxurious curtains.

The castle became a battleground during the English Civil War. It was taken over by Royalists, but was later retaken by Parliamentarians. During the battles, the castle was partially damaged and was not repaired until 1718.

The 19th century brought significant change to the castle. Henry Charles Howard, the 15th Duke of Norfolk, restored the castle and transformed Arundel into a beautiful Gothic Victorian home. Rooms were altered to reveal the top luxury of its day, which is what visitors marvel at today.

We could have spent several hours exploring the castle and the grounds, but unfortunately we were on a limited time. The rooms do not open until 12:00 PM, and we were too early to visit those. As I toured Southeastern England, I made a note of all the places I want to visit again on my next visit. Arundel is at the top of the list.

The castle is also a great place to visit with kids. There were several places in the castle where kids could dress up as knights, nobles, and religious clergy. My daughter dutifully defended the castle even though she wasn’t sure who the Royalists and the Parliamentarians were. I don’t think she picked a side.

Arundel is a great place to visit for history lovers, families, and photographers. Every step offers a great opportunity to capture a perfect image, with a story to tell.

A basic timeline of Arundel Castle:

1067: The castle was founded by Roger de Montgomery.
1138-1580s: Seat of the FitzAlan family, Earls of Arundel.
1643-1644: Besieged and damaged during the English Civil War.
Late 1600s: Inherited by the Howard family, Dukes of Norfolk.
1800s: Victorian restorations and enhancements added to the castle.
Present Day: Home of the current Duke of Norfolk.

I was assisted on this tour of England by Visit Southeast England. To learn more about what to see, where to stay, and do in Southeast England, click here.