This bettered Northumberland, which is known to be home to the most castles in the UK, but our research shows that this north-east coastal haven actually comes in second with 81 castles! Aberdeenshire takes third place with 78 castles followed closely by Cumbria (77) and the Highlands (70).

The English county of Northumberland holds the title for the most castles, boasting over 70 individual castle sites. Often referred to as "Castle Country," this northernmost county’s landscape is defined by its turbulent history as a frontier territory. Because it sits on the border with Scotland, it was a primary battleground for centuries of cross-border raids and the Wars of Scottish Independence. This necessitated the construction of massive coastal fortresses like Bamburgh Castle and Dunstanburgh Castle, as well as numerous "Pele Towers"—small, fortified residences built by local landowners to protect against "Border Reiver" clan raids. Today, Northumberland offers a stunning mix of perfectly preserved, inhabited castles like Alnwick Castle (famous as a filming location for Harry Potter) and hauntingly beautiful ruins overlooking the North Sea. This high concentration of fortifications serves as a physical timeline of England's medieval military architecture and its long, defensive history against northern invasion.