Carisbrooke Castle

Carisbrooke Castle is best known as the place where King Charles I was imprisoned.

One of the main tourist attractions in the Isle of Wight, Carisbrooke Castle is best known as the place where King Charles I was imprisoned. You can still play bowls on the very green Charles used. For a castle that has lived through more than 800 years of service, including resisting a siege by the French and seeing off the Spanish Armada, it's also wonderfully well preserved.

There are all the ingredients here for a great value family day out in the Isle of Wight. Children will love dressing up as Norman soldiers or Civil War troopers, and meeting the castle's famous donkeys. For the grown-ups, the Edwardian style Princess Beatrice Garden is a joy to explore, laid out in memory of her son who was killed in action in 1914. There are fascinating artefacts on display in Carisbrooke Castle Museum housed in the great hall, St Peter's Chapel and Constable's Lodging. The latter was used as Princess Beatrice's summer residence until 1938 whilst she was the governor of the island.