Sudeley Castle and Gardens

Om museet

A fortified manor house stood at Sudeley by the 12th century, and in 1442 Ralph Boteler built the castle on its present site, surrounded by a moat. It later passed through the hands of Edward IV and Richard III, who built the Banqueting Hall, and then Jasper Tudor under Henry VII. In 1548 Katherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII, died at Sudeley and was buried in St Mary's Chapel in the grounds. Elizabeth I visited the castle three times, the last visit being in 1592.

During the Civil War Sudeley was a Royalist stronghold. Parliamentary forces took it, and it was ordered to be slighted in 1649, after which the ruins were neglected for nearly two centuries. In 1837 the glove-makers John and William Dent bought the castle and began its restoration, which John Coucher Dent's wife Emma continued from 1856, together with work on the gardens and the local community.

The Dent-Brocklehurst family have held the castle without a break since 1900, and in 1969 Mark and Elizabeth Dent-Brocklehurst opened it to the public. It remains a family home. Visitors can see parts of the castle, exhibitions such as the Six Wives display with Katherine Parr's books and prayer book, St Mary's Chapel and a set of gardens that includes the Queen's Garden of 1989 and the Knot Garden of 1995.

Højdepunkter

• St Mary's Chapel and the tomb of Katherine Parr
• Six Wives exhibition with Katherine Parr's books and prayer book
• Queen's Garden and Knot Garden
• Castle rooms that are still a family home (guided Behind-the-Scenes tour)
• Adventure playground and fun fort for children

Permanente udstillinger

• Six Wives exhibition – An exhibition on the wives of Henry VIII, including Katherine Parr's books and prayer book.
• Gardens – Gardens shaped by Emma Dent's work and later redesigns, including the Queen's Garden of 1989 and the Knot Garden of 1995.

Grundlagt

1969

Ejer

Dent-Brocklehurst family (Sudeley Castle estate)

Entrépriser & rabatter

Infants under 3, carers, Blue Peter badge holders and members of Historic Houses enter free by booking a complimentary ticket. Reduced entry is offered to home educators from Monday to Friday in term time, and annual pass holders have unlimited access.

Tilgængelighed

• Delvis kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator: ingen oplysninger
• Handicaptoilet
• Handicapparkering
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

Most of the castle and its exhibition areas are not suitable for wheelchair users: the ground-floor rooms are reached by three steps and the first floor by a stone spiral staircase. A circular route through the gardens is wheelchair accessible, although some visitors may need help from a companion; the paths are gravel and the grounds have steep terraces. Two manual off-road wheelchairs can be reserved on 01242 604244. Accessible toilets with baby changing are at the Visitor Centre and in the castle by the Terrace Café. The Pavilion, Terrace Café, Pantry, Orangery (with a portable ramp), St Mary's Church and the adventure playground are accessible. Disabled parking spaces are free, with a few more bays at the Castle Terrace. Assistance dogs are admitted to all facilities.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Puslerum
• Legeplads / legehjørne

The gardens have an adventure playground and a fun fort for younger visitors, with a picnic area beside it. Children aged 3–15 pay a reduced price, infants under 3 are free, and there is a family ticket. Baby changing is available in the larger accessible toilets.

Transport & parkering

The castle is near Winchcombe, 8 miles north-east of Cheltenham on the B4632 (A46) and about 10 miles from junction 9 of the M5. Use sat nav postcode GL54 5LP and enter 'Sudeley Castle'. Coaches and other large vehicles should use the exit gate in Rushley Lane because the main entrance has height and weight limits.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumsbutik

The Pavilion Café at the entry point, the Terrace Café and the Pantry, plus a restaurant, are on site, and there is a gift shop. Picnics are welcome in the picnic area beside the adventure playground, and there are benches in the gardens.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Private fester
• Bryllupper / vielser

Op til 150 personer.

Wedding ceremonies take place in St Mary's Chapel (up to 130 guests) or outdoors, and the Orangery seats up to 150 for a wedding breakfast. The castle and grounds can be hired exclusively for up to two days. The estate also offers 19 holiday cottages.

Planlæg dit besøg