Lulworth Castle — Attraction in Great Britain

I visited Lulworth Castle on Sunday 14 July, a weekend during term time. The weather was very good; sunny, some cloud, quite warm. I was with one other person. This was my first visit to Lulworth Castle. I used Google Maps to find the site, which was easy and led me straight to the right place. If it was a wet day you would need a coat as there is some walking between buildings but poorer weather shouldn't ruin your day.

I parked in the main car park, which had plenty of space. There was a £3 car parking charge. The car park was only a short walk from the main site. The route from the car park to the site was easy to walk.

Upon arrival I was greeted by a member of staff at reception who was very friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable about the history of the site. As an English Heritage member there was no charge for entry. Whilst the site is not managed by English Heritage they were involved in the restoration of the Castle following the serious fire which devastated the building in 1929.

Lulworth Castle is set in considerable grounds. We entered via an entrance building, then looked around St Andrew's Church, then Lulworth Castle then St Mary's Chapel before heading to the Castle Tearoom.

Lulworth Castle is easy to navigate and easy to get around. I spent a couple of hours visiting and found it to be very interesting with lots to see, a good explanation of the history of the Castle and a number of photo opportunities.

There are toilets on site, which were clean and tidy, and a cafe, which served light refreshments; cream teas, cake and drinks. I had a lovely cream tea and a big slice of carrot cake, which was reasonably priced for this type of attraction, and was very enjoyable.

I enjoyed my visit to Lulworth Castle and would come again. I think children would also enjoy visiting because Lulworth Castle has an interesting history, there's lots to see and plenty of space to run around. There were outdoor games set up on the lawn outside which were free to use.

For ease of access I give Lulworth Castle 5 out of 5. It was easy to find the site using Google Maps and parking, getting to the right place and getting around was simple.

For customer care I give Lulworth Castle 5 out of 5. The gentlemen who welcomed us on arrival was very welcoming, enthusiastic and clearly had a good knowledge of the history of the Castle, which adds to the experience.

For visitor experience I give Lulworth Castle 5 out of 5. This was a unique experience, a very pleasant visit and I would recommend it to anyone who likes castles, has any interest in our history, likes taking photographs or anyone who likes an interesting day out.

For their on-site facilities I give Lulworth Castle 5 out of 5. Toilets were in a good condition and there was a selection of refreshments available at standard tourist attraction prices.

For value for money I give Lulworth Castle 5 out of 5. Whilst I didn't pay to get in, because I have my English Heritage membership, the entry fee was reasonable. I have visited a number of English Heritage sites this year and feel that my membership represents good value for money. I purchased my English Heritage membership using Tesco Clubcard points, which gave me even more value for money - just £33 worth of Tesco Clubcard points for a two-person membership for the year.

Overall I give Lulworth Castle 5 out of 5 - I really enjoyed my visit and would come and...

It is over 40 years since I last visited the grounds of Lulworth Castle and during that period the Castle has been transformed from a ruin to a building which is secure against the weather and an attractive location for special events. The cost of admission is relatively modest compared with the prices being demanded by the National Trust and as we went on a Monday after the school holidays were over we able to see the castle in a relaxed atmosphere on a wonderful sunny day. The upper floors of the castle are interesting but concentrate on showing what it used to be like before it was gutted by fire. There is a wonderful view to be had from the top of one of the towers. The real surprise is the wealth of interest which is contained in the cellars which are full of items from the past together with details about the Weld family. The tea rooms are excellent value with a slice of cake and a pot of tea for just £3.95 each. When I was in the tea room I was stung by a bumble bee which was hiding under a cushion and the girl behind the counter was able to produce a tube of Anthisan to counteract the pain - an impressive addition to normal service for which I was extremely grateful! The real gem is the Roman Catholic Chapel - it is sad that we were not permitted to take pictures inside the chapel as the post cards on sale fail to do justice to the beauty of the artifacts...

Overpriced for what you get, which frankly, is very little. They even charge £3 for the car park. The place looks stupendous from outside. Sadly,that is where the pleasure ends. The place is a ruin that has turned its fortune on renting out for weddings. Firstly, there is no audio. Instead, boards are placed at several locations, with scant details written upon them. Where are all the photos on how it used to look? Answer - none. You have to wait for the basement, to find one, totally out of place, four poster bed. One can only surmise that no-one would want it in any wedding photos! The cafe - down at heel. Zero imagination, and nothing to inspire one to stop for a drink or a bite to eat. This in my view is a totally missed opportunity. The little church that sits neatly in the grounds is very quaint. It has some history on Thomas Hardy which is interesting to read. There are more pictures of Thomas than there are of the interior of the castle! Donations are requested for the upkeep of the church. Why don’t they use the proceeds from the car park, as there is zero upkeep costs of that! All in all, very disappointing. If you visit, definitely take your own picnic. I would describe Lulworth Castle as soulless, monetising and disappointing. Remember, never judge a book...