Arundel Castle & Gardens

There are many things to do at Arundel Castle, you can visit the gift shop, explore the castle keep, or walk around the luxurious flower gardens. When you enter the castle grounds, you will be given a map guide book of the castle which shows you where all the different parts of the castle are located, from the dungeon, the bedrooms, and more.

From my experience visiting the castle as a family, it is a very expensive day out and my children didn’t find it very interesting mainly because they were not allowed to touch anything due to the items being too expensive. We paid extra to visit the bedrooms and were only allowed to look behind a piece of rope and it wasn’t much different from looking at an image online. There was staff on every corner making sure that no one was stealing and the interior in places was modernised making it not the best experience. My favourite part about the visit was trying on the medieval clothing!

Cafe

In the cafe, you will be able to enjoy sandwiches, jacket potato, pasties, sausage rolls, side salads, quiche, soup, biscuits, cakes, beer and afternoon tea. There are many different foods to choose from and the scones are freshly prepared in the castle kitchen which originally was the servants' hall. If you don’t fancy eating here you could always enjoy a picnic in the castle gardens.

Address

Arundel Castle, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9AB - To get to the location by train, there are regular trains every 10 minutes to Arundel station, for a train timetable refer to Southern Railway.

Contact

Phone number: 01903 882173 / (+44 1903 882173)

Accommodation

There is nearby accommodation to Arundel Castle, popular choices include Amberley Castle, The Norfolk arms hotel, the swan hotel and house Arundel B&B.

Car park

There is pay and display car coach parking directly opposite the castle entrance on Mill Road. The charges are subject to change but at the time of writing this blog, they are as follows.

  • £0.70 – Up to 1 hour
  • £1.40 – Up to 2 hours
  • £2.10 – Up to 3 hours
  • £3.50 – Up to 4 hours
  • £7.00 – Over 4 hours

Events 

On specific days they run events, for example, on the 13th-14th of august they are having a history weekend and from the 27th-29th of August, there will be a history festival. Other special events include the international medieval jousting tournament where knights will use lances to shatter their opponents' shields. 

Another event is the midsummers nights dream. A reviewer said that they enjoyed the Norman and Crusaders special event for an Easter weekend. Come on a special day like Good Friday and there will likely be a great event waiting for you. 

Boat hire

Arundel river boat hire - the riverside South Downs is located 5 miles from the town centre. You can hire a 6 or 10-person boat for up to 3 hours. With admission, you will be given a lifejacket and guidance on navigating the river. Afterwards, you can go for lunch at the riverside restaurant. 

Disabled access

They are accommodating for those with disabilities, disabled access is available. The ticket box has a hearing system, carers receive free entry if booking online and request a carers ticket, if under 16 with a disability the child has free entry. Accessible toilets on the ground floor of the castle, there is a sloped entry into the castle building, the main lift can be used for entry and departure of the castle, and there is a level entry and exit route on the ground floor for the gift shop, the gardens have footpaths wide enough for wheelchairs, and wheelchairs are available to loan on a first-come-first-served basis. 

Prices

The admission entrance fee varies depending on how many adults, or children or if you choose a family ticket of two adults and up to 3 children. The price for the gardens is £13 per adult and £6 per child. The prices for the castle and gardens are £23 for an adult, £10 per child, and a family ticket is £56. If you want to explore the castle, gardens and bedrooms it will cost £25 per adult, £10 per child or £60 for a family ticket. 

You may be able to find discount codes, or deals online, however, we could not find any. There are currently no Groupon deals at this time.

Frequently asked questions

When was Arundel Castle built?

Arundel Castle was built in the 11th century, its age is nearly 1,000 years old.

Who lives there?

Arundel Castle is home to the duke and duchess of Norfolk and their children. The current duke is Edward Fitzalan Howard.

Is it national trust?

No, the castle is not part of the national trust, it was agreed that Edward Howard would give the castle to the national trust after his demise but this plan was called off. It is not an English heritage property. 

How long to visit?

To see the castle and gardens you will want to allow at least 2 hours. As the gardens open up at 10 am, and the castle opens at midday, you may want to visit the gardens first. 

Are dogs allowed?

No, Arundel Castle is not dog friendly. Only registered assistance dogs are permitted into the castle grounds.

Is Arundel Castle open for school visits?

Arundel Castle is open to school visits where children will learn interesting facts about the castle and its rich history. It is best suited to older children who are keen to learn about the historic castle and the uses of each part.

What was filmed at Arundel Castle?

Wonder Woman (2017), The Young Victoria (2009), The Madness of King George (1994), Henry VIII (2003), Bargain Hunt (2000), Victoria & Albert (2000), Leonardo's Dream Machines (2003), Doctor Who series (1988) and more.

How many acres is Arundel castle?

The medieval castle of Arundel is approximately 40 Acres of grounds and garden. 

Was Arundel Castle burgled?

On Friday 21st May, a man stole a collection of valuable items of irreplaceable historical value, the following five items were valued at over one million pounds and the robbery is still an open investigation: 

  1. Mary Queen of Scots Rosary Beads
  2. Seven gold / silver-gilt coronation cups (George II, George III, George IV, William IV, George V, George VI and Elizabeth II)
  3. Gold Earl Marshal’s baton
  4. Gold and enamel baton
  5. Other miscellaneous items include 10 silver-gilt Apostle Spoons, a silver-gilt casket with hunting and fishing scenes, and a silver-gilt mug.
What are the opening times?

Tuesday

10am–5pm

Wednesday

10am–5pm

Thursday

10am–5pm

Friday

10am–5pm

Saturday

10am–5pm

Sunday

10am–5pm

Monday

Closed

 

Arundel Castle video

Up next: 18 Awesome activities for the family

Ethics

Featured products

handcrafted antares panpipes from Peru
Antares Bamboo Pan Pipes
Sale price£15.00
quena andean flute with colourful case
Quena Andean Flute
Sale price£60.00
coconut thumb piano kalimba
Kuta Thumb Piano Kalimba (7 note)
Sale priceFrom £15.00