Arundel Castle — Attraction in Arun

Arundel Castle, located in the picturesque town of Arundel in West Sussex, stands as one of England’s most captivating and well-preserved medieval castles.

Its dramatic presence is set high on a hill, it commands sweeping views of the River Arun and the surrounding Sussex countryside. Founded in the late 11th century by Roger de Montgomery shortly after the Norman Conquest, the castle has borne witness to nearly a thousand years of English history.

The approach to Arundel Castle is as impressive as the site itself, with its towering walls and robust medieval architecture making a powerful impression at first sight. Visitors enter through the gatehouse and are immediately greeted by the sense of grandeur and historical significance that permeates every stone and archway.

The castle’s Norman Keep, still standing proudly, provides a glimpse into its original defensive purpose, while the interiors reflect the lavish tastes and wealth of generations of its noble occupants, most notably the Howard family, the Dukes of Norfolk, who still reside here.

Inside, the castle boasts magnificently appointed state rooms, opulent bedrooms, and a stunning regency library. The grandeur of the Barons’ Hall and the intricate details captured in the art, sculptures, and antique furnishings transport guests into a bygone era.

The sense of continuity is palpable, blending medieval strength with Victorian refinement and royal connections, Queen Victoria herself was once a guest, inspiring further enhancements that remain today.

The extensive gardens are a highlight in their own right, encompassing 38 acres filled with formal rose beds, an organic kitchen garden, and the eye-catching Collector Earl's Garden with its water features and Baroque influences.

In spring and summer, these grounds come alive with vibrant displays, most notably during the spectacular Tulip Festival where over a million tulips bloom in a riot of color. Glasshouses nurture exotic plants, and the gardens offer serene pathways and striking vistas, set against the backdrop of the castle and the spires of nearby Arundel Cathedral.

The Fitzalan Chapel, founded in the 14th century, is both a spiritual and architectural treasure. Restored with care across the centuries, it offers a tranquil retreat within the castle grounds, renowned for its beautiful stained glass and medieval monuments.

Family-friendly by design, Arundel Castle regularly hosts historical reenactments, medieval festivals, and interactive tours that bring its rich past to life. Guides and staff are typically knowledgeable and approachable, able to unravel fascinating stories of royal intrigue, civil war sieges, and dynastic drama.

Facilities are generally excellent, with on-site cafes serving hot and cold meals, a well-stocked gift shop, and thoughtfully maintained amenities throughout. While the castle is accessible for most visitors, certain areas, particularly those involving the Keep’s steep, narrow staircases, may present challenges for those with reduced mobility. Care has been taken to offer assistance, such as golf buggies from the entrance, but some limitations remain inherent to the building’s medieval origins.

Arundel Castle is not just a journey through English history, but a vibrant and multifaceted experience. Whether exploring its regal rooms, marveling at its gardens, or simply soaking up the timeless atmosphere from a quiet corner, every visit reveals new stories and...

I visited this as a wheelchair user, and was so extremely disappointed. The gravel of the gardens made using a manual wheelchair near on impossible in parts and kept finding myself stuck where i would get to a part where there were stairs, but what we were able to see was beautiful and clearly extremely all well looked after, just wished the paths were slightly more accessible to use - it was quite the workout getting around those paths.

We had tickets to the castle- we were greeted on entrance by a helpful lady who walked us to the lift - if you can call it a lift - my wheelchair is an average size 18inch wheelchair and it didn't fit as the lift is so narrow - luckily I am able to stand for short peorids of time so we had to fold my wheelchair up and stand in the lift - with the space being so tight we were pushed up together so close that could physically feel the poor member of staff right up against each other. I fully understand that lifts are very difficult/impossible to be added into a building like arundel castle, but this lift was not fit for purpose, and when coming out on one floor from the lift the member of staff told us to be careful of the step down. I then used another lift to get down a section that had a few stairs- my only struggle here was the ramp coming out is almost in line with a glass cabinet that's displaying items - felt poorly thought out and I feared i would crash into it. We went to view the chapel area, and we got fully stuck and I caught my fingers trying to manaover myself round to come back out... members of the public offered to help, and sympathised with how awful this was that wasn't wheelchair accessible, but once got out of this bit a member of staff approached my mum and said "now you've got her out, why don't you come back i will show you the ladies chapel" my mum declined saying she wasn't going to just walk away and leave me, and this member of staff proceeded to tell my mum that she would be missing out if she didn't go and see it, and that I would be fine to be left parked up where I was - felt non existent or like because im in a wheelchair im not treated as a human, and both my mum and I said how insensitive this was. It was really busy when we went, which i don't think helped how i feel about my visit, as found alot of the time people were stood in the way and eager to look at things, that it made it difficult for me to see - and one member of staff enthusiastically talking to visitors stepped back into me almost landing on my lap. All-round I just felt as a wheelchair user that more awareness needed to be done to make this more accessible for all, and found myself feeling quite upset and humiliated during my visit at parts where my wheelchair was getting stuck and sad that i wasn't able to share the same experiance as those more able then myself, and im fortune that i can stand for short peorids of time or i don't know what I...

An absolute architectural masterpiece of a Castle and one of the best and greatest Castles in the UK and has a wonderful of Norman Architecture and Victorian Architecture. The Castle is a of a decent size and you can visit the two areas of the Castle which are The Keep where you can the Old Orginal Norman Architecture and the Castle Bedrooms which are in the Victorian area of the Castle and both areas are spectacular and some of the best features of any Castles in the UK. The visit to the Keep is amazing and there is a number of rooms to see including St Martin's Chapel, The Guard Room and Empress Matilda's Room which are laid out as they would have looked in Medieval times giving you a clear idea of what life was like and there are a number of features such as a Weaving Loom and Four Poster Bed, The Well, The Sally Port and The Portcullis which look spectacular on the eye and are in condition. When you visit the Keep you can walk around it and enjoy spectacular views into Arundel Town Centre and The Cathedral and also the South Downs National Park and whilst walking along the Keep you can see how a wonderfully imposing Castle itself was to the local area and difficult to penetrate. The Keep also allows you to see the spectacular original Norman Architecture and see the Victorian Architecture and the great transition between the two. The visit to the interiors of the Castle is spectacular including the Baron's Hall, The Victorian Bedroom, The Dining Room and the Canaletto Room and there a number of spectacular features to see such as The Dining Table, The Gold Cabinet and The Portrait of Cardinal John Henry Newman and all of these are spectacular on the eye and are in absolutely brilliantly displayed. The Gardens is another great asset to this place and there are a number of areas of the garden to see including the Wild Flower Garden, Stumpery Garden, Organic Kitchen Garden, Victorian Glasshouses & Cut Flower Garden, Herbaceous Gardens, Tropical Borders, Collectors Earl's Garden & Walled Gardens Entrance, Antler Temple and Tropical Glasshouse and all of these areas of the Garden have spectacular displays of Palm Trees, Roses, Dahlias and Apples and there are spectacular fountains with great Statues, which are further great addition to this place and blend in well with the flowers and plants on show and give a lovely exotic feel. There is a cafes on site selling a variety of refreshments at reasonable prices and the shop has a lovely range of souvenirs at reasonable prices. Overall this is a fabulous and a truly magnificent place to visit and makes for an inspiring and a wonderfully insightful day out. Definitely well worth a...