Hedingham Castle
Norman keep and Georgian mansion on the edge of a picturesque English village.
Castle Hedingham, near Halstead, Essex, CO9 3DJ
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Cafe / restaurant
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Facilities for children
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Free parking
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Parkland / open spaces
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Pet friendly
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Picnic area
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Shop
Most of the grounds are accessible for wheelchair users and pushchairs, with accessible access up to the lawns in front of the Castle. The path within the woodland is unmade and uneven in places but mostly suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs – please note this is dependent on the weather as the woodland paths can get muddy when wet.
The Castle has steps at the entrance up to the first floor and to access all floors within so is not suitable for wheelchairs and prams. Lifting services can be booked for weddings and private events in the Castle in advance if required, please contact us for more information about this service.
The Georgian House has a few shallow steps on the ground floor however ramps can be provided to make this level fully accessible.
The 900 year old Norman keep of Hedingham Castle stands in 160 acres of spectacularly beautiful landscaped gardens and woodland where the Lindsay family, descendants of the original owners, the De Veres, still live.
The Norman keep forms the centrepiece of the estate. With woodland, lakes and formal gardens surrounding the Georgian Mansion House, it is an enchanting place to visit.
All five floors of the Castle can be reached via a steep staircase, and contain some of the finest decorated stonework in Western Europe.
Hedingham Castle is split into two main properties, the Norman keep, which is open to the public, and the Georgian House which is only open for private tours and weddings.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
Hedingham Castle is currently closed to the public for the winter season and will reopen in February 2026 with the Snowdrop Walks event. The castle and gardens are open on selected dates during the year, and visitors are encouraged to check specific dates for availability.
General Admission
General admission includes access to the gardens and the Norman Keep. The tearooms are located on the first floor of the Keep and serve hot and cold drinks, cakes, and light snacks. Dogs are welcome in the grounds but not inside the Keep. The venue is cashless, and tickets can be purchased online or at the gate (card payment only).
- Opening Hours: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on selected dates.
- Admission Prices:
- Adults (17+): £12
- Seniors (65+): £11
- Juniors (4-16): £9
- Under 4s: Free
- 1-Adult Family: £28
- 2-Adult Family: £38
Events
Hedingham Castle hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including medieval jousts, outdoor cinema, classic car shows, and seasonal activities. Upcoming events include:
- New Year Wedding Show: January 11, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
- Snowdrop Walks: February 8 to March 1, 2026, on selected dates.
- Brightworth's School of Magic: February 16 to 22, 2026, with sessions at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM daily.
Special Notes
- Dogs are not allowed on event days.
- Access to the Keep involves steep stairs and is not suitable for prams or wheelchairs.
- Season tickets are available for residents of Castle Hedingham and Sible Hedingham.
For more details on events, admission, and accessibility, visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and book tickets in advance.
Adults: £11
OAPs: £10
Child: £9
If you have a Historic Houses membership, we still require you to book your ticket for the day you would like to visit, to allow us to monitor numbers. For Historic Houses members, please select the Historic Houses ticket option using the booking form above, click through to choose your preferred date and process your tickets – we will then need to see your Historic Houses membership card on arrival to admit free entry.
Groups are welcome to visit Hedingham.
School groups are welcome and speakers can be arranged.
History really comes alive at Hedingham Castle. It’s an extraordinary, exciting and most importantly memorable place for students at any level of study, and for younger scholars visits can be linked to Stages 1 to 4 of the National Curriculum.
We welcome visits from schools on Wednesdays during our open season, broadly speaking from April to October.
Please contact to arrange a visit:
01787 460261
Most of the grounds are accessible for wheelchair users and pushchairs, with accessible access up to the lawns in front of the Castle. The path within the woodland is unmade and uneven in places but mostly suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs – please note this is dependent on the weather as the woodland paths can get muddy when wet.
The Castle has steps at the entrance up to the first floor and to access all floors within so is not suitable for wheelchairs and prams. Lifting services can be booked for weddings and private events in the Castle in advance if required, please contact us for more information about this service.
The Georgian House has a few shallow steps on the ground floor however ramps can be provided to make this level fully accessible.
Getting here
Castle Hedingham, near Halstead, Essex, CO9 3DJ
1 mile off the A604 between Cambridge and Colchester, in the village of Castle Hedingham.
It is very difficult to visit Hedingham Castle via public transport. The nearest railway stations are at Sudbury and Braintree, with very irregular bus services.
Hear the story of Hedingham Castle
Listen to a podcast about the history of Hedingham Castle. Hear a beautiful love story that challenged the social norms of it’s day. Demetra speaks of some ghostly residents who continue to walk the halls, and take a tour down...
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