The Castle & Gardens are now open everyday throughout July & August.
It is advisable to book a timed tour of the Castle in advance to avoid disappointment.
The Gardens are open, the Castle opens from the 2nd May.
Please check the calendar below when the castle is open, timed tour slots are available on the day although we advise to pre-book in advance.
Each tour lasts approximately 1 hour with our Tour Guides.
Opening
Admission
Find Us
Disabled
Food & Drink
Groups
Visitor Entrance
Dogs
Information
| Gardens | Open | Last admission | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| April - Nov | 10am | 4pm | 5pm |
| Castle | Open | Last admission | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| May - Sep | 12 noon | 3pm | 4pm |
Please check the calendar below when the castle is open, timed tour slots are available on the day although we advise to pre-book in advance.
Each tour lasts approximately 1 hour with our Tour Guides.
| Adult | Child (3-15) | Child (under 3) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardens Only | £14 | £5 | FREE* |
| Castle and Gardens | £19.50 | £5 | FREE* |
10% discount when purchasing tickets 48 hours in advance
| Historic Houses members | Adult | Junior to (3-15) |
|---|---|---|
| Castle and Gardens | FREE | FREE* |
* Only valid with a Junior HHA membership
* Under 3’s free of charge with a HHA Adult membership
The Old Castle is administered and managed by English Heritage.
| English Heritage members | Adult | Child (3-15) |
|---|---|---|
| Gardens Only | £12.50 | £3.50* |
| Castle and Gardens | £18 | £3.50* |
* Only valid with a family membership
| RHS | Adult |
|---|---|
| Every Wednesday from 9th April – 24th September 2025 | FREE |
| 1st October – 31st October 2025 (NB: closed on Mondays) | FREE |
| Subscription | |
|---|---|
| 2022 Sherborne Castle Gardens Season Ticket | £60 |
A Season Ticket allows the holder the benefits of free parking; the opportunity to walk within the beautiful gardens; to be accompanied by up 3 children aged 5-16yrs (under 5’s free of charge). To receive a 5% discount at Castle Gardens Walled Garden Restaurant next to our car park, valid from 1/04/2022 – 30/10/2022. To receive a 5% discount on retail/food/drink purchases made at the ticket box.
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 2022.
For further information and queries, please call The Estate Office on 01935 813182 or email [email protected]
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.
Visit South West Trains for time table and fare information
www.thetrainline.com
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.
The Walled Garden Restaurant is conveniently located just a short walk from our Visitor Car Park, you will be able to enjoy tasty food and refreshments and, with every entry ticket purchased, you will be able to enjoy a 5% discount by presenting your ticket to the cashier.
Cold drinks, ice creams, souvenirs and Sherborne Castle Wines & Spirits are available from the Visitor Entrance.
There are also plenty of places to eat and drink within our beautiful town just a ten minute walk away.
Castle Gardens Centre – Walled Garden Restaurant, next to our Car Park – Conveniently located just a short walk from our Visitor Car Park, you will be able to enjoy tasty food and refreshments and, with every entry ticket purchased, you will be able to enjoy a 5% discount by presenting your ticket to the cashier in the restaurant.
www.thegardensgroup.co.uk
The Walled Garden Restaurant
Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm
Sunday 10 am – 4pm
Tel: 01935 814345
Email: [email protected]
The Elms – Morning coffee, breakfast, and lunch (just outside Sherborne good parking A3030)
www.theelmssherborne.com/
North Wootton, Sherborne DT9 5JW
Tel: 01935 713372
Email: [email protected]
Tuesday – Saturday 9am – 4pm
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 (3-15) |
|---|---|---|
| Timed castle tour | £17.50 | £5 |
| Private Viewing of the Castle with a tour guide | £21 | £8 |
| Gardens Group | £13 | £4 |
| Guided Tour of Gardens | £19 | - |
If you would like to bring a group to Sherborne Castle please email [email protected] or call 01935 813182.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Timed tour is available at £5 per child or the private viewing £8 per child. To make your visit more interesting and fun we will provide each child with our Children’s pack which includes a pencil, Castle Quiz, and a Children’s Garden Trail for the Gardens.
Language information sheets are available for group leaders or individual students in French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and German.
Coach drivers receive a 5% discount at Castle Gardens Walled Garden Restaurant after Castle Gardens, enter next to our car park.
| The Walled Garden Restaurant | Opening Times |
|---|---|
| Monday – Saturday | 9am – 5pm |
| Sunday | 10am – 4pm |
The Walled Garden will be offering a breakfast and lunch menu, including sandwiches, salads and hearty options like sausages and mustard mash, as well as a selection of cakes and desserts. Roast dinners will be served on Sundays.
Tel: (01935) 814345 Email: [email protected]
For groups looking to book lunches and refreshments, please contact The Walled Garden Restaurant direct using the contact details above.
The Elms – Morning coffee, breakfast, and lunch (just outside Sherborne good parking A3030)
www.theelmssherborne.com/
North Wootton, Sherborne DT9 5JW
Tel: 01935 713372
Email: [email protected]
Tuesday – Saturday 9am – 4pm
The Visitor Entrance situated in the Visitor car park sells a selection of cold drinks and ice creams along with the Sherborne Castle Wines & Spirits and souvenirs.
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times whilst in the Castle, Gardens and Grounds.
A children’s quiz pack is included with entry cost for each child.
No ball games.
Bicycles and push/stunt scooters are not permitted within the Gardens; please store these in the designated areas in the car park.
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. Drones and Remote control vehicles are prohibited from use in or over the grounds.
There are two sets of toilets: one at the foot of the Castle in the Castle Court Yard, the other just outside the Castle Court 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.
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 Museum 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.
Opening
Admission
Find Us
Disabled
Food & Drink
Groups
Visitor Entrance
Dogs
Information
Gardens: 3rd April 2025
Castle: 2nd May 2025
* Castle and Gardens tickets need to be purchased 48 hours before entry to qualify for the 10% discount, after that normal price.
