Sherborne Castle Visiting Guide
COVID 19 GUIDANCE (VISITORS)
Opening to Members of the Public
As of 19th July 2021 The Government has lifted the last remaining restrictions as Stage 4.
The Health & Safety of our staff and visitors remains the utmost importance and we respectfully ask you to follow these guidelines to protect yourselves and those around you:-
- Keep a reasonable and safe distance from each other.
- Face masks are no longer a legal requirement for indoor spaces but you may feel more comfortable wearing one.
- Please sanitise your hands when entering the Castle and wash your hands regularly in the washrooms.
- When entering into a room, assess the number of people in the room ahead. Hold back if you feel you may get too close to other visitors or seek guidance from a member of staff.
- If you feel unwell, please do not enter the Castle.
Opening
Admission
Find Us
Disabled
Tearoom
Gift shop
Groups
Dogs
Information
Opening Times
1st April – 14th November 2021
| Gardens | Open | Last admission | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| April - September | 10am | 4pm | 5pm |
| October | 10am | 3.30pm | 4.30pm |
| November | 10am | 3pm | 4pm |
| Castle | Open | Last admission | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| April - September | 12 noon | 3pm | 4pm |
Admission Prices
| Adult | Child (0-15) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gardens Only | £9 | FREE* |
| Castle and Gardens | £13.50 | FREE* |
**maximum of 4 children per paying adult
| Historic Houses members | Adult |
|---|---|
| Castle and Gardens | FREE |
The Old Castle is administered and managed by English Heritage.
| English Heritage members | Adult |
|---|---|
| Gardens Only | £7.50 |
| Castle and Gardens | £12 |
| RHS | Adult |
|---|---|
| Every Wednesday from 7th April – 29th September 2021 | FREE |
| All week from Monday 25th – Friday 29th October (not Sat and Sun) | FREE |
Season Tickets
| Subscription | |
|---|---|
| 2021 Sherborne Castle Gardens Season Ticket | £55 |
A Season Ticket allows the holder the benefits of free parking; the opportunity to walk within the beautiful gardens; to be accompanied by up to 4 children free of charge (aged 0 to 15 years); and to receive a 10% discount on purchases made in the Tearoom and Gift Shop.
A Season Ticket permits the named holder to walk within the Gardens of Sherborne Castle during the days and hours during shown on the opening times above.
Please note that your electronic card will be scanned at the Ticket Box upon each visit.
Memberships are valid for the named card holder only. Terms and conditions apply. With the exception of certain Special Event days, when an additional entrance fee may be charged; this should be no more than 5 days per year.
Sherborne Castle Gardens Season Tickets will be available to purchase at the Ticket Box situated in the new car park from 1st April 2021.
For further information and queries, please call The Estate Office on 01935 813182 or email [email protected]
- Season Tickets permit the named holder only to visit within the specified times and is not transferrable to another person.
- If driving, please park your vehicle in the designated car park located at the Castle and Gardens entrance.
- Bicycles and push/stunt scooters are not permitted within the Gardens; please store these in the designated areas in the car park.
- Season Tickets cover admission to the Gardens only and you will be required to pay the additional entry fee to visit the Castle interior purchased from the Ticket Box.
- Your ticket does not extend to Special Events held within the Gardens. An additional fee will be required to gain entry to these events.
- Drones and Remote Control Vehicles are prohibited from use in or over the grounds.
- Paddling and swimming in the lake is strictly prohibited. No ball games.
- Access is permitted to the public areas of the Gardens only – please keep within the boundaries shown on the Garden maps; there is no access into the Deer Park.
- Please avoid and respect the privacy of any function or activity taking place in the Gardens, particularly around the Orangery, Ginkgo Lawn, and marquee site(s).
- Please observe and comply with any signs or directions given by Castle and Estates staff.
- Dogs are welcome but must always be kept on a short lead and any mess cleared up; please use a bag and place into one of the Garden bins.
- Replacement cards will be charged at £5.00 (unless faulty).
- Sherborne Castle Estates reserve the right to close the Gardens during adverse weather conditions.
- Sherborne Castle Estates reserve the right to withdraw Season Tickets from those who do not adhere to the rules and conditions without notice.
How to find Sherborne Castle
Sherborne Castle is located in the north of west Dorset – on the edge of the medieval town of Sherborne. Sherborne boasts two castles – the New, and the ruins of the Old; despite having over 400 years of history, we (Sherborne Castle) are the ‘New’ Castle. B3145, 3/4 mile from the town centre.
Sherborne Castle, New Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5NR Tel. 01935 813182
From The North: Leave the M5 at Junction 25 and follow signs for Yeovil and then Sherborne.
From The East: Via the A303 signposted Sherborne (via Wincanton) or A30.
From The West: Via the A30 from Exeter and Honiton and follow signs to Yeovil then Sherborne.
From the South: Via Blandford or Dorchester (A352).
IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE: There is only one entrance gate into Sherborne Castle. This is on New Road, Sherborne (B3145) – adjacent to Castle Gardens garden centre. Other routes shown by in-car SatNav or Google mapping systems etc, are physically NOT possible.
London Waterloo to Exeter St. Davids services call at Sherborne (approx 2 hours 15 minutes from London).
The Castle is a 10 minute walk from Sherborne Station, and a local taxi firm can be found just outside the station.
Bus stop outside the castle gates. Regional bus services to Sherborne from other regional towns can be found by contacting traveline – the public transport information service.
Disabled person admission/access
The Castle: Castle viewing takes place over three floors, with four sets of stairs to encounter between the floors. Only the ground floor is accessible to wheelchair/scooter users, however this floor does include some of our most notable rooms. There are resting chairs for visitors in most rooms.A photo slide show is running constantly on the ground floor to show portraits, furniture and porcelain on display in the inaccessible rooms.
Gardens and Grounds: The gardens cover a large area of some 42-acres round the lake, and whilst wheelchair/scooter users have full access to them, the individual physical circumstances of wheelchair/scooter users and their ‘helpers’ will determine the amount and areas of the Gardens they will actually be able to reach; wheelchair/scooter users or those who have difficulty walking can still enjoy the gardens together with the lake and parkland views from the more accessible areas closer to the Castle. Our garden paths all have a smooth gravel surface which has wheelchair/scooter users in mind; benches are located throughout the garden areas.
Tearoom & Giftshop
The Tea Room will be serving a slightly reduced take out menu serving all your favourite cakes, hand roasted coffee made on the Estate, hot and cold drinks, ice creams and snacks.
A free Wi-Fi connection is available.
Our friendly Gift Shop offers a wide variety of gifts, souvenirs and Sherborne Castle Wine to remind you of your visit to Sherborne Castle. The shop is located in the Gothic Dairy in the Tearoom Building.
| Open | Closes | |
|---|---|---|
| April - September | 10.30am | 4.30pm |
| October | 10.30am | 4pm |
| November | 10.30am | 3.30pm |
Group and School Visits to Sherborne Castle
We offer special discount rates for groups of 15 or more visitors, all our group tours include admission to the Castle and Gardens.
| INCLUDES ADMISSION TO THE CASTLE AND GARDENS | ADULT | CHILD (0-15) |
|---|---|---|
| Self-guided castle tour | £11 | £4 |
| Private Viewing of the Castle with a tour guide | £14 | £7 |
Castle is open 2021 23rd July to 31st August every day and Friday Saturday and Sunday first 3 weekends in September (3,4,5) (10,11,12) (17,18,19)
How to book your visit
If you would like to bring a group to Sherborne Castle please email [email protected] or call 01935 813182.
Welcome for groups
On arrival at Sherborne Castle you will receive a warm welcome; we will introduce you to the Castle, explain where everything is located in the gardens and run through the arrangements of your visit.
We are easy to find and accessible for coaches, being located only a few minutes from the historic town centre of Sherborne and the main A30 road to the West Country.
What to do when you get here?
Come and explore Dorset’s “hidden gem” and see magnificent state rooms, a Tudor kitchen; relics from the Civil War and archaeological treasures in the Castle’s cellars. Enjoy easy short and long walks set within the beautiful Dorset countryside in one of the finest examples of ‘Capability’ Brown’s landscape you will see anywhere, not forgetting to leave time to browse our souvenir gift shop and take refreshment, a light lunch or snacks in our tea rooms.
We recommend you plan for a minimum time here of 4 to 5 hours, which includes the average time taken to complete a castle tour with sufficient time to see the gardens and grounds, the gift shop and a visit to the tea rooms.
If you are looking for a full day out why not combine the Castle and Gardens with the historic market town of Sherborne and its wonderful Abbey or the ‘old’ Castle ruins?
Find out more about Sherborne town at discoversherborne.co.uk
School & Language Student Groups
Self Guided is available at £4 per child or the private viewing £7 per child. To make your visit more interesting and fun why not purchase our Children’s pack which includes a pencil, Castle Quiz and a Children’s Nature Trail for the Gardens. £1 per pack.
Language information sheets are available for group leaders or individual students in French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and German.
Coach Drivers
Coach drivers have free entry to the Castle and Gardens and are entitled to receive a free voucher for drinks and food in the Tea Room.
Dogs
General Visitor Information
Visitors are welcome to picnic in all areas of the gardens and grounds. Picnic tables are provided where indicated on the gardens map between the walled garden and the lake near the Tea Room and in the ‘Donkey Paddock’. Please avoid any function or private event taking place at the time. Bar-b-ques or any other naked flames are not permitted anywhere in the gardens and grounds.
Regretably, we do not admit baby back pack carriers to the Castle, due to the dangers of low doorways, steps and arches plus the high risk of damage to Castle contents; front sling carriers are admitted. Pushchairs are admitted at the discretion of the Castle staff.
We welcome amateur photography within the gardens and grounds. We regret, however, that photography in the Castle is not permitted, this includes video cameras and mobile phone cameras. No commercial use of photographs is permitted in any part of the estate without written permission.
There are two sets of toilets: one at the foot of the Castle in the Castle Yard, the other just outside the Castle Yard which has wider cubicles for wheelchair use and baby changing facilities.
Mobile phones and their cameras must not be used inside the Castle.
We endeavour to provide a safe and healthy environment for visitors within the constraints of an historic property and as far as is reasonable and practicable. Please observe all notices during your visit, and follow any instructions given by staff. Occasionally, parts of the Castle, Gardens and Grounds require to be closed for essential maintenance; please do not enter cordoned off areas and observe any directions and signs accordingly.
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times whilst in the Castle, Gardens or Grounds.
The Gardens have a well maintained collection of trees, however, visitors are advised not to shelter under trees during an electrical storm (due to the danger of lightning) and to exercise caution when walking under trees in high winds. The estate will close the Gardens if adverse conditions threaten visitors safety; please leave promptly if requested to do so.
Please be aware that there are staircases, steps and slopes to negotiate where care should be taken by all visitors. There is a large lake within the grounds, in which paddling or swimming is forbidden; children should be supervised at all times. Under no circumstances should anything be picked or eaten from the gardens. Some plants have sharp thorns and/or are poisonous. Visitors with back packs are asked to carry these by hand whilst in the Castle, or leave them at the Castle Reception.
For viewing inside the Castle we regret that sharp-heeled shoes are not permitted due to the damage that they cause. We would also like to remind visitors that ridged soles trap grit and gravel, which scratch fine floors. Please wipe your feet thoroughly on the entrance mats.
Warning: Whilst in the Gardens and Grounds, some surfaces may become slippery and/or soft during inclement weather. The courtyard by the Shop and Tearoom has an uneven cobbled surface; please take extra care when walking across any uneven surface.
Smoking is not permitted inside any building within the Castle grounds.
Visitors are not permitted to fish in the lake.
For details on Angling Rights, please click here.
Dogs are welcome in the Gardens provided they are kept on a short lead at all times. Please clear up any mess and place in a litter bin. Dogs (except for guide or assistance dogs) are not permitted inside the Castle, Shop or Tearoom.
Opening
Admission
Find Us
Disabled
Tearoom
Gift shop
Groups
Dogs
Information
