Visiting Sudeley Castle and Gardens

It’s been ages since I actually visited Sudeley Castle and gardens, but because I didn’t write it up straight away, I’ve kept putting it off. Now I’ve got round to sorting out the photos, and write about what my visit was like. Finally! Just in time for Spring season. 

Sudeley Castle is one of the Historic Houses group, so if you have membership of that you get free entry. I booked in advance but as it was a weekday and I arrived early, I’d have been fine not booking. Opening is usually from sometime in March to November so do check before leaving home that it’s open.

You can also book guided tours, but I just wanted to look round by myself. It was nice and quiet the day I visited both in the castle and in the gardens. And it was a beautiful sunny day as well.

With the castle, church, ruins, play area, restaurant, and multiple gardens, there’s so much to explore. The castle was built in the 15th century, but at one point largely abandoned for 200 years after the Civil War. In the Victorian era, 2 generations of the castle’s new owners, The Dents, restored both the castle and gardens. 

On arrival and as you walk through towards the Tithe Barn, you meet several elephant sculptures. These represent Mark Shand’s work he did about the endangered Asian elephant. An interesting but unexpected sight on a visit to see a stately home or castle.

The Tithe Bar and garden with the pond behind was beautiful on such a glorious day. I love ruins, and could have spent more time there taking photos, but it was a bottleneck for others arriving, so hard to get the pictures I wanted without people in the way.

As well as the main cafe by the entrance, there’s also one as you walk towards the castle entrance. 

Sudeley Castle exhibitions

I thought the way the exhibitions in the castle were set up were really good. It’s a family home, so there are areas you can’t take photos. There’s so much history to see and find out about that I knew very little about before visiting. Much of the exhibitions feature more modern history from family photos. It’s fun to spot those you’ve heard about right through to the current owner Lady Ashcombe and the Dent Brocklehursts. 

The downstairs exhibition was the 50th anniversary exhibition of Lady Ashcombe’s milestone. This is very relaxed with random stuffed toys amongst paintings, photography, and random sofas to sit and watch the film of Sudeley Castle’s history on. I found the timeline really interesting – all about this modern era of the castle and family who live there.

Once you move upstairs, the history moves to earlier times, with the focus on Henry VIII who inherited Sudeley. And most importantly Katherine Parr who moved to Sudeley with her next husband Sir Thomas Seymour.. The displays show mannequins of Henry and his wives, and their story before moving onto different eras, families and artefacts.

If you’re into crafts, then there’s some beautiful lace and embroidery work displayed, with different eras of clothing and textiles in the different rooms.

You also get to see some of the family rooms, the artwork, rare tapestries, the library, the Chandos Bedroom and the Major’s Dressing Room. 

Sudeley Castle gardens

There are several gardens which include the Queens’ garden, the Knot Garden, and the White Garden which surrounds the church. There’s also the Ruins Garden which is where you can see the remains of the 15th century banqueting hall, since partial destruction during the Civil War. 

As you leave the castle it’s a choice to which gardens to see first. First is the ruins and the Queen Elizabeth I living sculpture of the queen and her bedchamber. I’m sure once the flowers had bloomed it would be even more something to see. 

The Knot Garden was immaculate and very peaceful.

Around the ruins garden there were signs up about the history – from Ralph Boteler, a royal soldier who inherited it and built the castle under patronage of Henry VI, to the War of the Roses when Sudeley was seized by the crown.

The sculpted Yew Trees provide a bit of shade and fun for children to play around, before you head into the Queens’ Garden for a more formal style.

The white garden included lady sculptures which I really loved. They were something you don’t really see and it was nice to see women celebrated and on show.

There were living sculptures in quiet garden areas too, along with more animal sculptures.

St Mary’s Church

You could also go into St Mary’s Church, a pretty chapel in the grounds. This was larger than I expected and just as grand as some other village churches I’ve seen. This is where Katharine Parr is buried, after her tomb was rediscovered on the grounds. There’s also a Becket stained glass window showing the murder of Thomas Becket. It’s believed one of those responsible for his death was William de Tracy, Ralph de Sudeley’s brother.

Finishing off through the other parts of the gardens, you’re then taken through the Ruins to Revival exhibition. This is outdoors and shows you in paintings and illustrations how Sudeley changed over the years up to its restoration. 

While there’s a lot of history that adults might be more interested in, there’s also lots for children. In school holidays they have different activities. But even outside of those times there are the various animal sculptures to spot, and the adventure playground.

I really enjoyed my wander around Sudeley Castle and Gardens, despite how hot I ended up on a very sunny August day. It’s not cheap to visit. But I easily spent a few hours there and it was worth the money and trip over to Gloucestershire. Plus Katherine Parr has always been my favourite of Henry VIII’s wives. So a little bit of her history makes me happy.

Definitely one to visit if you’re in the area and enjoy a bit of Royal history.

Find other places to visit in Gloucestershire nearby.