Eastnor Castle

Over het museum

Eastnor Castle was built between 1810 and 1824 for the 2nd Baron Somers, later the 1st Earl Somers. The architect Robert Smirke chose a Norman Revival style, and the large castle was meant to look like a medieval fortress guarding the Welsh border. About 250 men worked on it day and night in the first years.

The interiors show three phases of 19th-century taste. Smirke's simple rooms were followed by a Gothic Revival drawing room that A. W. N. Pugin decorated for the 2nd Earl in 1849, and by Italian-style decoration under the 3rd Earl in the 1860s and 1870s. The family fortunes declined after the agricultural depression of the 1870s, and much land and many works of art were sold in the 20th century.

The castle was revived from 1949 by the parents of the present owner, and it is still lived in by the Hervey-Bathurst family. Today it is open on selected days from Easter to the end of September, and it also earns income from weddings, corporate events and filming.

Hoogtepunten

• State rooms including the Great Hall, State Dining Room and Gothic Drawing Room designed with A. W. N. Pugin
• Medieval armour, fine art and tapestries
• Arboretum and lake in the grounds
• Adventure playground, Knight's Maze and junior obstacle course
• Dog-friendly: dogs may enter the castle

Vaste collectie

• Eastnor Castle state rooms – The Great Hall, State Dining Room, Gothic Drawing Room, Octagon Saloon and bedrooms, with medieval armour, fine art and tapestries.

Opgericht

1811

Beheerder

Hervey-Bathurst family

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

The prices are for 2026; the main prices are for adult (16+) castle and grounds. The ticket includes admission to the grounds, any event or activity that day and a self-guided tour of the castle. Online tickets can be booked until 14:30 on the day; gate tickets may not be available on busy days. The site is cashless. Members of the Eastnor Castle Privilege Card scheme and Historic Houses members are admitted free of charge with a valid card, and Blue Peter badge holders are admitted free of charge with proof. Discounted entry for English Heritage members is no longer available. Tickets are non-refundable.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Blue Badge holders can park in the accessible bays in the main visitor car park, which, like some paths, is laid to gravel. There are 14 steps up to the ground-floor state rooms, and an electric stair climber carries visitors who can transfer into its wheelchair. A vertical platform lift reaches the first-floor bedrooms, but it is not operated on Bank Holidays because of fire safety assessments, so wheelchair users may not be able to see the upstairs rooms on those days. The grounds are hilly: the terraces above the lake can be reached, but the arboretum and lakeside involve steep inclines. The tea room is reached by a path signposted off the back drive, and covered seating outside is available. Dogs are welcome throughout.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Doe- en voelstations
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

Families can use the adventure playground, the Knight's Maze, a junior obstacle course and the Little Land Rovers; events on most open days are included in the admission price. Pushchairs cannot be taken inside the castle.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The castle is 2.5 miles east of Ledbury on the A438 Tewkesbury road. From the M50, leave at junction 2 and follow the brown tourist signs to Eastnor Castle; the website warns that sat nav may lead through a very narrow lane.

Service & horeca

• Café

The Castle Tea Room serves hot and cold food and drinks, there is an ice cream parlour in the tea room courtyard, and picnic benches are on the Valley Lawn. A guide book is sold at the Visitor Entrance.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

The castle and estate are available for weddings (civil, church, outdoor and humanist ceremonies), parties, corporate meetings, conferences, team building, outdoor events and filming. Holiday cottages and castle bedrooms offer accommodation.

Je bezoek plannen