Sudeley Castle Gardens — Attraction in Tewkesbury

Of the 4 historic houses we visited during our short break to the area, this is the one we enjoyed the most. There is a lovely walk up to the castle and lots of interesting information about why there is a 'herd of elephants' and other animals in the grounds. The staff were all friendly and informative and love being asked questions about the rooms they are in or the history of the castle. Be aware that the church is used for weddings and can be closed at times. We were able to visit before it was closed for 2 hours, and it was nice to see the bridal party enjoying their drinks in the rose garden after their ceremony while having photos taken in the grounds. A visit to the private rooms was excellent and again, the guides were very helpful and informative. There is also an exhibition called 'The animal ark' which is worth walking around to glean information about how family members have/are helping animals around the world fight the ever growing risk of extinction. We had been to see 'Six' the musical the evening before our visit here, so it was great to visit Kateryns house and final resting place after such a 'wild' history lesson in the theatre. The church is lovely and Kateryns tomb is beautiful, the story of how here tomb was found is facinating, interesting also that this is the only private house to have a monarch buried within the grounds. We were all surprised that we had not heard of England's historically secret queen and will now be investigating her story in more depth. There is a children's play and picnic area near the entrance. We are finding during our historic houses visits, we set out to spend a few hours but once again we spent the best part of the day at this wonderful...

Sudeley Castle & Gardens might be better named Sudeley Gardens & Castle, since the gardens are the true highlight and the castle itself feels like a supporting act. Most of the castle is closed to the public, which was a letdown - but thankfully, the exhibition was a saving grace: it was rich in detail and beautifully curated, especially the section on Henry VIII’s wives. We genuinely enjoyed the information and were wowed by the stunning representations of each queen in their period dressess. The gardens, though, are genuinely stunning. There’s a lovely variety of spaces, each with its own character and planting style, making it a great outdoor experience - ust be sure to visit on a dry day, or you might miss out on their full charm. The gift shop was underwhelming, especially for visitors from abroad hoping to take home something memorable. The selection of fridge magnets and postcards was sparse, and nothing really showcased the place. The baby changing toilet was locked, so we had to queue at the till for a key - less than ideal with a crying baby in tow. The café was also very busy, which made grabbing food or coffee a bit...

We hosted our wedding at Sudeley Castle & Gardens, and it was so lovely. From our first venue tour, to picking up leftover dessert the day after, everyone we interacted with at Sudeley was a delight. The castle and gardens left our guests speechless, and the professionalism from the events team made planning a breeze. This is a very special place, and I'm so glad to have a great excuse to visit over...