Overview
Berkeley is a stunning mediaeval castle which has been the home of the Berkeley family since 1153.
Tall towers, deep dungeon, grand and gruesome: homely and horrid. Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I all stayed here and Edward II was murdered here.
Free castle tours reveal tapestries, paintings and fine silver. Our terraced gardens are filled with unusual plants, a tropical Butterfly House, picnic area and yurt restaurant.
Berkeley has been the location for the filming of The White Princess, Jonny English 3 and the BBC’s adaptation of Wolf Hall & Poldark.
Family activities include arts & crafts, archery, jester skills, Knight School, a wild play area, dressing-up and much more.
Today’s opening hours
Monday 1 April - Wednesday 30 October
Opening
2019
Monday 1 April - Wednesday 30 October
Sundays to Wednesdays, 11am to 5pm (last admisson 4pm).
Find us
Only 10 minutes from junctions 13 and 14 of the M5, well signposted from the A38.
You can take a bus from the centre of Bristol. The nearest train station is Cam & Dursley, which is about 4 miles away.
Parking
Car park on site
- Free
Taxi
CJ's Taxis 07840 338889
Accessibility
- Guide dogs welcome
- Accessible parking
- Accessible toilets
Things to See
Queen Elizabeth I's bedspread
Sir Francis Drake's chest
The Guard Room
The butterfly house
Upcoming events
All Hallows Week at Berkeley Castle
All Hallows Week at Berkeley Castle with some Ghastly Goings On!
• An audience with King Henry VIII and 2 beheaded wives
• The Grim executioner will prowl the castle with tales of gore
• Two of Henry’s less fortunate wives will mingle with visitors, telling their sorry tales of how they fell out of favour with the King and what became of them!
• Wise women tell of their latest cures for pesky persistent plagues or pestilent pustules ..... talk to them and maybe they could cure your ills but be warned, they may be healers ….or perhaps witches!
• Beware the gaolers, they are actively recruiting and will try to lure you into their less than salubrious accommodation ... so make sure you behave!
• Try your hand or rather feet at Tudor dancing
• Spooky stories
The Annual Christmas Concert
The Great Hall
Weddings
Berkeley Castle is a magical venue to host a wedding. With the beautiful gardens, the stunning Lily Pond, and the majestic Great Hall, each element of your wedding is covered.
Berkeley Castle is an incredible family home, full of history and romance and each bride & groom will be made to feel completely at home throughout their day. There is a dedicated wedding planner who will ensure the day runs smoothly and that all the guests have a wonderful time. Rain or shine, the Castle can cater for any weather, with our beautiful grounds in the summer, to our roaring fires in the winter.
Your ceremony
We are licensed for Civil Ceremonies, whether a large grand affair or a small intimate wedding. The magnificent 14th-century Great Hall is is wonderful for ceremonies of up to 150 guests, and the Long Drawing Room with its carved gilt mirrors and beautiful mantlepiece is ideal for a smaller ceremony of up to 60 guests.
After the ceremony
You may want to have a drinks reception on our grand Gun Terrace, play croquet on the lawns or sit by the fire listening to musicians. The Great Hall provides a very majestic backdrop for your wedding breakfast, seating up to 130 guests. While the Long Drawing Room can cater for up to 30 guests.
Accommodation
Should your guests wish to stay or even make a weekend of your wedding we can highly recommend many fabulous places for them to stay on the estate. There is also a beautiful bridal suite.
Church wedding
We are blessed to have St Mary's Church next to the Castle. This church dates back to 1225 and is breath-taking in both its history and beauty.
Accommodation
Having undergone a major renovation in early 2015, this beautiful, characterful town house sleeps 18-20 guests and is set on the Berkeley Estate, just a few minutes' walk from the Castle.
Steeped in history with bags of character throughout, this Grade II listed house has stunning, modern amenities and stylish furnishings. With lots of different spaces from the luxurious open plan kitchen/diner with dining table to seat 20, to the welcoming living space & cosy snug.
There are 9 gorgeous bedrooms sleeping 18-20 guests with 7 beautiful bathrooms. Outside is a big garden with patio area and BBQ, perfect for a get together the day after the wedding!
The grounds
Brook House lounge
Brook House bedroom
Corporate Hire
Corporate events
Berkeley Castle is an ideal venue for a corporate event. With two large functions room, along with fascinating guided tours for every guest, and the choice of a buffet or formal meal, we can cater for many different corporate function.
Our extensive grounds are perfect for team building activities from archery to falconry and even circus skill workshops. You will have a personal corporate event manager to organise your day and make sure everything runs smoothly.
We have 2 function rooms with a capacity from 40 to 130 and dining facilities from a buffet to formal 3 course meal.
Our gardens perfect for team building activities and we can offer guided tours of the Castle.
School Visits
We welcome visits from primary and secondary schools.