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You are here: Things To Do > Sherborne Castle and Gardens

Sherborne Castle and Gardens

New Road
SHERBORNE
Dorset
DT9 5NR

Awards

  • Visit BritainWe're Good to Go We're Good to Go 2020

Check availability for Sherborne Castle and Gardens (opens in a new window)

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Sherborne Castle, Dorset
  • Sherborne Castle, Dorset
  • Capability Brown landscaped gardens at Sherborne Castle, Dorset
  • Sherborne Castle gardens
  • Sherborne Castle and Gardens
  • Sherborne Castle and Gardens

Website

Email

Telephone: +44 (0)1935 813182

About

Public open season from 1st April 2021

Built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and the stately home of the Digby family since 1617; a fascinating visit to the historic Sherborne Castle awaits you:

* Walk in the footsteps of SIR WALTER RALEIGH in the home he built more than 400 years ago

* Take a leisurely stroll around 42 acres of our beautiful ENGLISH LANDSCAPE GARDENS. Experience the peace and tranquility; marvel at the spectacular views

* Take lunch in our award winning Tea Room and then browse our Gift Shop for a souvenir of your visit

* Discover magnificent staterooms, a Tudor kitchen and the Family Museum in the Castle's cellars

* Uncover the Great Stories of Sherborne Castle telling the stories of key moments in history at the Castle

* Discover walks round the 50-acre lake to Garden features such as Raleigh's Seat, The Cascade and a new Fossil House

* Enjoy colour throughout the season in the Gardens from spectacular carpet arrays of spring bulbs, glorious herbaceous borders and the breathtaking colours of autumn reflected in the lake

* In the Family Museum you can see Raleigh’s Kitchen, fascinating family artefacts, Fossil & Archive displays. Our Sir Walter Raleigh display covers the great man's time here at the Castle while our ‘Capability’ Brown display drawn from the archives tells of his impact and legacy on the Gardens.

Combined with the Castle, the historic market town of Sherborne and its wonderful Abbey are close by for a memorable day out.  

Opening Times

2021 public open season from 1st April 2021 (1 April 2021)
DayTimes
Thursday10:00 - 17:00*
Season (1 April 2021)
DayTimes
ThursdayOpen

* General Opening Text

Dates and times marked with a '*' are provisional and may be subject to change

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Adult/Senior - Gardens Only£9.00 per ticket
Child under 15 years oldFree
English Heritage member£7.50 per ticket
Historic House memberFree

Children aged 0-15 years (maximum number of 4) are admitted for free. Season Tickets available on request.
Tickets are available at the gate and there is no need to book in advance.

Website

Email

Telephone: +44 (0)1935 813182

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherbornecastle

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
536 reviews
  • Travelers Choice 2020
  • Excellent
    314
  • Very Good
    165
  • Average
    38
  • Poor
    9
  • Terrible
    10

Recent Reviews:

  • iceman123EastSussex
    East Sussex
    Beautiful grounds
    5 of 5 stars
    Friday, 25th September 2020
    Lovely park like grounds and beautiful lake. A pity the actual castle was closed due to Covid19. Well worth a visit. Read full review
  • MERLION04
    Bristol, United Kingdom
    Wonderful, loved it here!
    5 of 5 stars
    Saturday, 17th October 2020
    Visited the gardens in mid October. Would say we were about a week too early to see the best autumn colours but still some lovely colours on show. Chose Sherborn Castle gardens to visit as we didn't... Read full review
  • bin45
    Bath, United Kingdom
    A wonderful experience ruined by security staff
    1 of 5 stars
    Friday, 13th November 2020
    Lovely day out ruined by aggressive security personnel - visited Sherborne castle today from Bath with neighbour who suffers with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s and needs to be kept busy as... Read full review
Write a review
© TripAdvisor 2021

Awards

  • Dorset TourismDorset Tourism Awards Silver 2018 Dorset Tourism Awards Silver 2018 2018

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Accessible to Wheelchair Users
  • Facilities for Visually Impaired Visitors - Braille guide.
  • Guide Dogs Permitted
  • Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
  • Ramp/Level Access
  • Toilets for Disabled Visitors

Attraction Facilities

  • Dogs on Lead Only
  • Shop
  • Tea Rooms

Catering

  • On-Site café/restaurant - Self-service tearoom. Morning Coffee, light lunches and afternoon teas.

Children & Infants

  • Facilities for children - Childrens quiz and Garden Trail.

Establishment Features

  • Available for wedding receptions
  • Coach drop-off point
  • Conference facilities
  • Dogs Accepted - On a lead.
  • Event venue - Public event programme; private event venue.
  • Licenced for civil marriages
  • On-site coach parking
  • Picnic Area
  • Shop
  • Toilets
  • Wedding Venue

Key Features

  • Approx length of visit - 3 to 4 hours for a visit to the Castle and Garden.
  • Families
  • Film or TV location
  • Groups
  • In countryside - Edge of countryside; extensive parkland, Deer park and Farmland.
  • Indoor Attraction
  • No Smoking Attraction - From 1st July 2007
  • Of historic, literary or architectural interest
  • Open by appointment outside normal opening times
  • Outdoor Attraction
  • Weddings

Parking & Transport

  • Coach Parking
  • On Bus Route
  • On site parking - for cars and coaches. Free.

Payment Methods

  • Accept Bank Transfers, Internet Payment or SWIFT/IBAN
  • Blue Badge Guides admitted free
  • Booking essential
  • Cash & Cheque accepted
  • JCB accepted
  • Maestro accepted
  • MasterCard accepted
  • Min group size - 15
  • Solo accepted
  • TIC Staff Admitted Free
  • Visa accepted

Printed Material in Foreign Languages

  • Dutch printed material
  • French printed material
  • German printed material
  • Italian printed material
  • Spanish printed material

Specialist Features

  • Family Fun
  • Marketed towards children
  • Marketed towards families
  • Marketed towards senior citizens
  • Marketed towards student/youth

Tours and Demonstrations

  • Educational Visits Accepted
  • Guided Tours Available for Groups

Travel & Trade

  • Group discounts available - 15 people minimum.
  • Min group size numeric qualifier - 15 people.

Venue Facilities

  • Groups Accepted - 15 people minimum.

Access Information

PARKING

Designated parking provided for guests with disabilities
Designated parking within about 50 metres of main entrance
Drop-off point for guests immediately outside the main entrance
Parking is provided for visitors
Parking on site
With designated parking for visitors with disabilities
Within about 50 metres of the attraction
Rmp on route from parking area to entrance
Route from the parking area to the nearest public entrance is:
Flat, ie. without steps
With a ramp
Steps but no ramp on route from parking area to entrance

ATTRACTION ENTRANCE

Drop-off point for guests immediately outside main entrance
Ramp to the main entrance
Steps to the main entrance
Handrail by the steps
There are 8 steps to the main entrance

TICKET / INFORMATION / GIFT SHOP [WHERE APPLICABLE]

Information available in alternative formats
Braille

ACCESS TO PUBLIC AREAS (Displays, exhibits, rides etc)

Level access (i.e. no steps or thresholds) or access by a ramp or lift to:
Gift shop
Information point
Public toilet
Public toilet suitable for visitors who use a wheelchair
Ticket issuing point

CAFETERIA / RESTAURANT

Level access (i.e. no steps or thresholds) or access by a ramp or lift to the:
Cafeteria
Meals for guests with special dietary requirements can be provided

GENERAL

Facilities for service dogsyes
Routes / pathways throughout the attraction suitable for visitors with limited mobility
Some routes
Routes / pathways throughout the attraction suitable for wheelchair users
Some routes
Seating available throughout the attraction at appropriate intervals, for visitors with limited mobility

This information is self-assessed; therefore we accept no liability for its accuracy. Please contact the venue for further information.

Map & Directions

View Map

Road Directions

Nearest major road is A30/A303. Castle situated on B3145, 0.5 miles east of Sherborne, follow brown signs from A30/A352.

Public Transport Directions

Nearest station is Sherborne station. Turn right over railway crossing to T-junction. Turn left, castle is 500 yards away. London Waterloo to Exeter mainline service, trains operated by South West Trains. Local buses/bus services to Sherborne from neighbouring/regional towns.

Website

Email

Telephone: +44 (0)1935 813182

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