Highcliffe Castle

About the museum

Highcliffe Castle was built between 1831 and 1835 for Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay, on the cliffs at Highcliffe. The architect William Donthorne designed it in the Gothic Revival style, and it reuses carved medieval stonework from buildings in Normandy, including Jumièges Abbey. It is regarded as one of the finest examples of the Romantic and Picturesque style.

The castle passed through inheritance to the Stuart Wortley family, who owned it until 1949. The German emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II stayed here in 1907, and the retailer Harry Gordon Selfridge rented it from 1916 to 1922. After the Second World War it served as a children's convalescent home and later as a seminary for the Claretian Missionaries until 1966.

Fires in 1967 and 1968 left the building a ruin. Christchurch Council bought it compulsorily in 1977, and restoration began in 1994 with support from the council, English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Further phases of work have since reopened more of the castle to visitors, and it is now a visitor attraction and event venue with exhibitions, tea rooms and grounds.

Highlights

• Grade I listed Gothic Revival castle of the 1830s
• Medieval carved stonework from Normandy built into the walls
• Restored from a fire-damaged ruin
• Grounds above the sea with a coastal path to Mudeford
• Interactive displays and dressing-up items for children

Permanent exhibition

• Highcliffe Castle – The restored rooms of the castle, including the Great Hall, with interactive displays on its history and dressing-up items for children.

Admission & discounts

Members of the Historic Houses association enter free. Payment is by card only.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The castle has level access through the castle shop, and platform lifts serve all levels of the visitor route. Wheelchairs can be borrowed on request but only for use indoors. The car park has 6 spaces for Blue Badge holders. Only assistance dogs are allowed inside the castle. Accessibility questions can be sent to the castle by phone or email.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Interactive displays, dressing-up items and children's activities around the castle, with extra activities every half term.

Getting there & parking

Coaches can drop passengers at the front entrance. From Steamer Point car park it is about a 10 minute walk along the Coastal Path. The what3words location is bells.region.card.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Castle Pantry tea rooms and a gift shop. Beryl hire bikes can be picked up on site through an app.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Rooms can be hired for weddings and functions, and the site is also offered for filming and photo shoots.

Plan your visit