Arundel Castle: All You Need To Know In 5 Minutes

Owned by the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk and dating back to 1067, Arundel Castle sits on a hill in the quaint town of Arundel in West Sussex. The castle has a fascinating history and has resided within, the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors for over 850 years. It underwent a full restoration in the late 1800s after being damaged in the English Civil War and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert once stayed at the castle for 3 days in 1846!

Today, it is a Grade I listed building and a popular tourist destination as well as being home to the Howard Family.

Arundel Castle Main Attractions

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The Norman Motte and Keep are the oldest parts of Arundel Castle, dating back to the 11^th century, and offer magnificent views across the River Arun and the South Downs once you have climbed the narrow steps up to the Keep. Step inside the main castle building to be greeted by the Victorian architecture of Baron’s Hall, completed between 1890 and 1903, and head next door to take in the beautiful castle chapel. Arguably, one of the most beautiful rooms within the main castle is the library which has been warmly decorated and embodies a cosy feel compared to the usual grandeur of such a building.

Arundel Castle is nestled amongst some 40 acres of land, some of which comprises some stunning walled gardens. Here you can find the quirky and tropical design of ‘The Stumpery’, or the peaceful and pretty rose garden. Outside, you can also find the famous Fitzalan chapel which is uniquely divided into each a Catholic and Anglican worship area by a glass wall.

Getting To Arundel Castle

Arundel Castle is easily reachable from London by taking a direct train from London Victoria. Journey time is just under 2 hours and the station is approximately a 15-minute walk from the castle. Conveniently, Gatwick airport sits on the London Victoria to Arundel train line.

If you are arriving by car, there is a pay & display car park located directly opposite Arundel Castle’s main entrance.

Arundel Castle Opening Hours

Arundel Castle is open Tuesdays to Sundays inclusive from 10am – 5pm. A detailed breakdown of opening hours is given below:

In addition, Arundel Castle opens on all UK Bank Holiday Mondays as well as every Monday throughout the month of August. Last admission is 4pm.

Arundel Castle Tickets & Guided Tours

There are various ticket options for your visit to Arundel Castle dependent on which areas you wish to access. A breakdown of the differing ticketing options are given below. The Gold Plus ticket allows access to all areas of the Castle whilst the Bronze option allows access to only the Fitzalan Chapel, The Collector Earl’s Garden and the Garden and Grounds.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online for all tickets except Silver tickets, which are only available at the ticket office on the day of your visit. Tickets can be pre-purchased up until 10am on the day and purchasing online saves £1 off standard admission prices! 

Guided tours of Arundel Castle are also available (if booked in advance) for groups of a minimum of 20 people, prior to the state rooms opening to visitors, for £22.00 per person. Tours last 1 hour 15 minutes. Alternatively, exclusive guided tours can also be arranged for corporate/conference groups between 5.30pm and 8pm for £50.00 per person. These tours last 1 hour 30 minutes. 

Dining Options At Arundel Castle

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Arundel Castle offers its visitors a variety of hot food and light lunches within the original Castle Servant’s Hall at the counter service restaurant. Sandwich and cake options are also available at the Coffee Shop in the old kitchen.

Located just a stone throw away from Arundel Castle lies the town’s top-rated restaurant; ‘The Parsons Table‘, offering a changing weekly menu of fine dining options with a great selection of specials.

Alternatively, for a quirky pub grub experience, try ‘The Knights Table‘ – an atmospheric, themed restaurant, great for families and groups.

And for those with a sweet tooth, don’t miss ‘The Parlour’, offering up a great variety of ice creams, waffles, sundaes and pancakes.

Accommodation Near Arundel Castle

Located just under a mile from Arundel Castle, the Premier Inn Arundel is a great budget hotel choice with on-site dining and free parking.

For a more opulent countryside escape, book a room at Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa, which sits in 30 acres of private parkland leading to Climping Beach. Lunch, afternoon tea, and evening dinners are available at the onsite ‘Tapestry Restaurant’ or treat yourself to the facilities on offer at the spa, including the outdoor heated infinity swimming pool.

For a self-catering or B&B option, The Old Chapel offers beautiful apartment accommodation with free parking and is located just over 1km away from Arundel Castle.

Other Popular Tourist Destinations Near Arundel Castle

Arundel Cathedral

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You cannot visit Arundel Castle without also visiting Arundel Cathedral which was founded by Henry 15^th Duke of Norfolk and completed in 1873. However, the cathedral today is dedicated to Our Lady and St Philip Howard. It is noted as one of the best examples of Gothic Revival architecture in England and like the castle, boasts Grade I listed status. The Cathedral is open daily from 9am-6pm.

Arundel Museum

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On the other side of Arundel Castle sits the award-winning Arundel Museum, founded and run by local volunteers. Here you can learn more about the fascinating history of Arundel Castle and the Dukes of Norfolk, and how the market town of Arundel evolved. The museum is open daily from 10am-4pm.

Final Thoughts 

You can easily spend half a day exploring the many rooms and artifacts of Arundel Castle, chapel and gardens so make sure you plan enough time to thoroughly enjoy what the picturesque town of Arundel has to offer.

Tip: Don’t miss the International Medieval Jousting Tournament held in July each year. For further events information keep an eye on the official website of Arundel Castle.