Farleigh Hungerford Castle
Somerset, England
Photo: nicksarebi, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: aegidian, CC BY 2.0 ยท nicksarebi, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- English Heritage
- Condition
- Partial ruin
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Entry pass
- English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass
- Nearest station
- Avoncliff, 1.6 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- Ruins with intact chapel and crypt
Pinpoint
A366, Farleigh Hungerford, Bath BA2 7RS
Telephone 01225 754026
Opening Hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
Open daily, 10am - 5pm (last entry at 4.30pm)
Checked against the official page on 13 August 2026.
Visitor essentials
- Parking
- Parking for 30 cars, 100m from the ticket office, with overflow coach parking.
- Access
- Lots of steps on site; staff can arrange drop-off at the shop entrance for visitors with limited mobility.
- Facilities
- Toilets with baby-changing, vending machine, gift shop, and picnic areas in the Walled Garden, outer moat or lawn.
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leads in the grounds only.
A ruin built by a self-made Wiltshire lawyer, Thomas Hungerford, with an unusually intact family chapel that still holds some of its original wall paintings and a crypt beneath. You drive straight through the main arch to reach the car park, which means you get a preview of the site before you've even paid.
At a glance
Who to know
Thomas Hungerford · self-made Wiltshire lawyer who built it
Worth the trip
The chapel, with its surviving original painting - reviewers rate it as the highlight over the ruined domestic buildings around it.
Before you go
The entrance to the car park is a single-lane arch you drive straight through, so approach slowly - reviewers warn you may need to stop suddenly if something's coming the other way.
What visitors say
Farleigh Hungerford Castle reviews · 4.6 / 5 across 1,149 Google reviews
Reviewers consistently recommend the audio guide for getting the most from this ruin, which includes a chapel with surviving original wall paintings, and rate it good value for a visit of a couple of hours.
The novelty of driving through the original gatehouse arch to reach the free car park comes up more than once, though access is on a single shared lane.
“Interesting castle where you drive through the main arch to a free little car park so can see a lot before you even pay. We spent an hour as it was very hot but could have spent longer. Audio guide if you wanted one but…”- Susan Pepper, visitor review
Within reach of Bristol (16 miles) - see what else is nearby.
Getting in - what English Heritage says
Wheelchair access confined to top lawns only; no access to Chapel or Priest's House; compacted gravel, tarmac, paved and earth paths with cobbled areas; no disabled parking; accessible toilets available; handrails present; slippery grass when wet and sheer drops on two sides of ruins
Taken from English Heritage’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.
History
Sir Thomas Hungerford · 1377
Built between 1377 and 1383 by Sir Thomas Hungerford, a successful courtier and Speaker of Commons, this quadrangular castle replaced an existing manor overlooking the River Frome. His son Walter expanded it with an outer court and enriched it with murals and monuments. The family chapel with original wall paintings survives. Civil War damage was averted when Parliament recaptured it without destruction.
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
- “There is a small-ish car park on site too and incredibly you get all the fun of driving through the main gate to access it.” - Charlie Hicks
- Guided tours
- “There are some information boards around the site, but I'd recommend getting the audio guide as there is so much more information.” - Karl Thomas
- Facilities
- “There are loos behind the church, and a small gift shop near the gatehouse.” - Karl Thomas
Common questions about Farleigh Hungerford Castle
Where is Farleigh Hungerford Castle?
Farleigh Hungerford Castle is in Somerset, England, at A366, Farleigh Hungerford, Bath BA2 7RS.
Do you need a ticket to visit Farleigh Hungerford Castle?
Yes - Farleigh Hungerford Castle is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by English Heritage. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
What is the highlight of visiting Farleigh Hungerford Castle?
The chapel, with its surviving original painting - reviewers rate it as the highlight over the ruined domestic buildings around it.
Is Farleigh Hungerford Castle a ruin or still intact?
Farleigh Hungerford Castle is a partial ruin - Ruins with intact chapel and crypt.
