Castles, with their mix of history, glamour and culture, can be a highlight of any European vacation.
But take heed, young families! Trips to castles might sound inherently kid-friendly, especially for little people in the Disney Princesses stage, but they can easily break a cardinal rule of travelling with children: Thou shalt maximise the time kids can spend rambunctiously doing things, and minimise the time they must spend quietly looking at things.
As a mother of two, I have learned the hard way that visits to castles can easily descend into just “looking at things”: Spectacular historic architecture and long hallways of priceless objects to be viewed quietly, from a respectful distance.
Even my older daughter, who has a long-standing fascination with the Tudors, has limited patience for exploring their residences.
Luckily, a number of castles offer children’s activities that are exciting enough to be attractions all on their own – and to serve as a bribe for bearing with the tapestries and throne rooms.
Here are five castles in Britain and France that offer delights for boisterous children and history-loving parents alike.
The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace in Richmond includes a play structure with towers designed to look like castle battlements. — Historic Royal Palaces
Dragons and ice cream
Hampton Court Palace in England was the home of Henry VIII, and today it runs family-friendly events including arts and food festivals and demonstrations of historic cookery in the palace kitchens. Older visitors may recognise its extensive gardens as a filming location for shows such as Bridgerton.
“We want to ensure everyone has a brilliant and memorable experience at our site, no matter what their age is,” said Rachel Mackay, head of Hampton Court Palace.
Children will be particularly delighted by the Magic Garden, an enormous playground with palace-themed equipment including a climbable dragon, a water-play area where kids can cool off, a sandpit and a play structure with crenelated towers.
During weekends and school vacations, a kiosk sells ice cream and snacks. The cafeteria-style Tiltyard Cafe offers more substantial kids’ meals at good prices and options for adults.
> Hampton Court is in the borough of Richmond, 19km southwest of central London in England. Trains from Waterloo to Hampton Court Station take about 35 minutes.
Adventure first
In Kent, just south of London, is Hever Castle, a childhood home of Anne Boleyn and later a country residence of William Waldorf Astor.
The piece de resistance of its massive playground is a castle-shaped structure complete with a drawbridge. It’s the size of a four-bedroom house, and full of ladders and tunnels that adventure-minded kids can clamber over, under and through.
When temperatures rise, Hever’s selling point is its water maze, a series of steppingstone paths on a pond. The goal is to reach the central tower while avoiding stones that are booby-trapped to spray water.
But observant children soon learn that a well-timed stomp can squirt an unsuspecting parent, which is often a more compelling goal than getting to the tower.
Wise adults will bring spare clothes for the entire family.
> Hever Castle is 48km south of London. Trains from London Bridge station to Hever take about 45 minutes.
Princesses and knights
On the other side of the English Channel lies Chateau de Bridoire, in France’s Dordogne region. The 900-year-old castle had fallen into disrepair before it was bought by its current owners in 2011. After a renovation, it is now known as the Castle of Games, offering youth activities throughout July and August.
Children can try on dresses in a session hosted by a “princess”, take sword-fighting lessons with a “knight”, and play roughly 100 different games inside the castle and throughout its grounds, including board games, lawn games and more esoteric offerings like a “tower of riddles” and duelling in the cellars.
The whole family can enjoy the labyrinth, a puzzle-filled route through a wood. There is an “enchanted forest” course for those three years old and up, while the more challenging “forgotten citadel” course is for ages eight and up.
> The castle is approximately 15 minutes by car from Bergerac airport, which has connections to cities including London; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Brussels, Belgium. Trains from Bergerac to Paris take about four-and-a-half hours.
The castle-shaped play structure at Hever Castle in Kent is packed with obstacles for young adventurers to negotiate. — Hever Castle & Gardens
Inspiring wizards
Harry Potter fans will recognise Alnwick castle in Northumberland, in the north of England, from movie scenes showing parts of Hogwarts and its quidditch pitch. The castle and its surrounding gardens are the home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, who have invested heavily in family activities and entertainment.
Costumed guides offer “broomstick training” sessions in the same spot where Harry learned to ride his Firebolt.
In the Alnwick garden stands Lilidorei, billed as the world’s largest play structure. The 26m-high maze features towers, passageways, slides and swings, and costumed attendants work to make the experience seem magical.
Families with younger children may want to exercise caution, however: The slides are high and the walls block sightlines, making it difficult to see kids from the ground. If children become scared or stuck, it can take a while for grown-ups to climb up to them.
Next to Lilidorei is the Treehouse restaurant, a midair establishment nestled in the treetops. Its kids’ menu has main courses for cheap, but adult fare can be pricey. The coffee shop outside the restaurant offers a similar treetop experience with less waiting and lower prices.
> Alnwick castle is six hours by car from London, and two hours from Edinburgh. The nearest train station is Alnmouth, with connections available via local buses as well as taxis.
The former Chateau de Bridoire, in the Dordogne region of France, is now known as the Castle of Games. — Chateau de Bridoire
Crafts and history
France’s Loire Valley is stuffed with castles, but few of them offer much for children. One exception: Montbazon Fortress, a fortified structure that was once a home to Catherine de Medici and other historical figures.
During summer the castle offers an experience that lies somewhere between a Renaissance fair and a museum. Costumed characters introduce the fortress’ history through demonstrations of medieval occupations, including an herbalist, a stonemason and a master-at-arms who outfits knights for battle.
Kids (and parents) can try many of the activities, including several where they can create a handcrafted souvenir.
(Those with long flights ahead may find it more practical to make a leather purse with the “saddler” than a clay creation with the “potter.”)
> Montbazon train station near the fortress. Trains to Tours, the nearest city, take 24 minutes. Tours has regular trains to Paris, which take approximately two hours. – By AMANDA TAUB/©2025 The New York Times Company
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.