Berkeley Castle
Gloucestershire, England
Photo: Andrew Hackney, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: HARTLEPOOLMARINA2014, CC BY-SA 3.0 · HARTLEPOOLMARINA2014, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Berkeley Castle Charitable Trust (Berkeley family)
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Nearest station
- Lydney, 3.6 miles (straight-line)
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
- Note
- Occupied by Berkeleys for ~900 years
Pinpoint
Berkeley GL13 9PJ
Telephone 01453 810303
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Home to the Berkeley family for around 900 years, making it one of the longest continuously occupied castles in England - and it shows in the depth of detail on the guided tour, which reviewers say regularly overruns its scheduled time because the guides know so much. The gardens are extensive and well kept.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The guided tour - reviewers consistently say it runs well past its advertised length because there's simply too much history to compress into the slot.
Before you go
Gift Aid your ticket and you get a free return visit within the year, which reviewers rate as excellent value; the £2.50 guided tour add-on is repeatedly recommended over the self-guided option.
What visitors say
Berkeley Castle reviews · 4.7 / 5 across 1,752 Google reviews
Reviewers are highly enthusiastic about Berkeley's history, beautifully kept gardens, and especially the guided tours, several praising knowledgeable, engaging guides who extended tours well beyond the scheduled time.
One reviewer described a notably poor experience with two guides who seemed unwelcoming toward children in their group, though she also praised other guides as kind and attentive - an isolated but specific complaint amid otherwise glowing feedback.
“Free parking, entry via giftshop/ cafe, with accessible route to the Castle and Formal Gardens. Lots to see with interesting stories and history. Used for filming, including Wolf Hall. Worth a visit.”- James Pearson-Jenkins, visitor review
Within reach of Bristol (17 miles), Cardiff (34 miles) - see what else is nearby.
Getting in - what Berkeley Castle Charitable Trust (Berkeley family) says
Free disabled parking near entrance. Disabled facilities in two toilet blocks. Keep Steps are uneven; ramp to Armoury and Great Hall. First-floor rooms inaccessible for wheelchairs. Mobility scooters cannot enter. Some garden areas wheelchair accessible but terraces accessible only via steps. Grade 1 listed building with limited alteration capabilities.
Taken from Berkeley Castle Charitable Trust (Berkeley family)’s own website and read 28 July 2026 - check the current version. Access can change with building work, weather and staffing - if the visit depends on it, ring ahead.
Weddings at Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle is on our wedding roll because Berkeley Castle Charitable Trust (Berkeley family) mentions weddings on their own site. Visit their site.
Comparing options? See every castle wedding venue in England, or the full UK wedding roll.
Dates, capacity, licensing and exclusivity change constantly and we hold none of it - treat this as a starting point and speak to the venue before you plan anything around it.
History
William FitzOsbern (original); Robert Fitzharding (rebuilt stone keep) · c.1067 (motte-and-bailey); 1153-1156 (stone keep)
Founded around 1067 by William FitzOsbern as a motte-and-bailey, Berkeley Castle was rebuilt in stone by Robert Fitzharding from 1153. The castle remained the Berkeley family seat for nine centuries and is traditionally associated with the controversial death of King Edward II in 1327, though historical accounts remain contested.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Parking
- “Free parking, entry via giftshop/ cafe, with accessible route to the Castle and Formal Gardens.” - James Pearson-Jenkins
- Guided tours
- “The website says allow 1 hr 15 mins for the guided tour, ours lasted 1 hrs 45 mins as the guide was so knowledgeable about the castle.” - John Watts
- Facilities
- “We had tea and cake in the cafe which was lovely and reasonably priced.” - Tara Sanders
Common questions about Berkeley Castle
Where is Berkeley Castle?
Berkeley Castle is in Gloucestershire, England, at Berkeley GL13 9PJ.
Do you need a ticket to visit Berkeley Castle?
Yes - Berkeley Castle is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by Berkeley Castle Charitable Trust (Berkeley family). Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
Can you stay overnight at Berkeley Castle?
Yes - Berkeley Castle offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the castle itself or within its grounds. See the Castles You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
What is the highlight of visiting Berkeley Castle?
The guided tour - reviewers consistently say it runs well past its advertised length because there's simply too much history to compress into the slot.
Is Berkeley Castle a ruin or still intact?
Berkeley Castle is largely intact - Occupied by Berkeleys for ~900 years.
