Last updated: 09/03/2022
Discover the beautiful Arundel Castle, an impressive structure almost a thousand years old, located in the English countryside.
ARUNDEL CASTLE
Arundel Castle is a castle with almost 1000 years of history! It was founded at Christmas 1067 by Roger de Montgomery, who became the first Earl of Arundel, after being appointed by William the Conqueror (famous for the Norman Conquest of England – Read more: Battle: City of the Norman Conquest of England). It is located in the city of Arundel in West Sussex, England, close to the River Arun and is an incredible day trip for anyone in London.
The castle was seriously damaged during the English Civil War (1642-1651), when it was besieged twice. Nothing was done to correct the damage until 1718, when Thomas, 8th Duke of Norfolk carried out some repairs. Charles Howard, the 11th Duke, known as the "Drunk Duke" and a friend of the Prince Regent, subsequently carried out a further restoration. Thus, for 400 years the castle has been owned by the Duke of Norfolk's family.
Arundel Castle was one of the first out-of-town structures in England to be equipped with electric lighting, integral fire-fighting equipment, service lifts and central heating. The domestic water supply by gravity also supplied the city. The castle that can be seen in the present day is the result of a field restoration project that was completed in 1900.
VISIT OF QUEEN VICTORIA
Queen Victoria visited the castle with her husband Prince Albert in 1846 and spent 3 days there. As a result of the visit, many areas were renovated and the Duke created a new block of flats for the new Queen and Prince Albert to stay in, commissioning a portrait of the Queen and decorating the block with the finest Victorian furniture and art. Both the bedroom and library furniture were specially commissioned and manufactured by a leading London furniture designer.
On her visit, she walked the newly designed grounds and visited areas of the nearby county. Nearly every part of the castle that the queen would visit has been remodeled and exquisitely decorated to meet royal standards. At the end of her visit, she wrote to the Duke and commented on how pleasant her visit had been. The suite of bedrooms that Victoria stayed in is now part of the family's private apartments, but the suite of furniture made for her is on display. Among other things to see are the queen's bed, her and Prince Albert's signature guest book, and her bathroom. Unfortunately, it's forbidden to take pictures of the Castle's interior, but below are two official photos of the Castle so you can get an idea of what to find there.
Read more: England: What to do in Arundel – 1 day itinerary
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ARUNDEL CASTLE
Arundel Castle is a grandiose structure with many interesting areas to discover. To visit the site, you can purchase various types of tickets, which give limited access to the site, or a complete ticket, which includes all the attractions of the castle. It was this ticket that I purchased and which I recommend.
The Castle is not only grand and beautiful on the inside, but it also has an outdoor area full of gardens that are a sight to behold. The State Rooms and Rooms can be visited, but it is forbidden to photograph and film any of their areas. Check out some of its highlights:
1. HONOR TOWER
The oldest feature is the Mota Castle (a type of medieval fortification prior to stone castles), which was built in 1068, over 30 meters high from a dry moat. A few years later, a layer of stone was placed covering the structure. The Keep is this amazing stone structure that we see today. It can be accessed by going up a series of steps made of stone. Furthermore, it is possible walk the walls circling the area, past the Bevis Tower. Up there, the effort is rewarded with views of the sea, the River Arun and the city of Arundel.
2. FITZALAN CHAPEL
Built in 1380, the chapel has had a very interesting history, including damage during the English Civil War in 1643 when, during the siege of Arundel Castle, cannon fire hit it. It is located in the gardens of the Castle and was restored during the 19th century, after a long period of neglect.
The chapel is used as a private mausoleum for the Dukes of Norfolk. Richard Fitzalan, 10th Earl of Arundel, was responsible for the construction of the Chapel posthumously, according to his will. It was built with perpendicular Gothic architecture and several members of the Fitzalan family are buried in this chapel in tombs adorned with carved effigies. In the same way, most of the recently deceased Dukes of Norfolk are buried at the site.
3. GARDENS
The gardens of Arundel Castle are spectacular. I believe they were the most beautiful gardens I have visited at an attraction in England to date. Perhaps, because I had no expectations of what I would find there, an extremely well-kept garden, with several interesting areas to visit, lots of colorful flowers, fountains and impeccable infrastructure. From the architectural splendor of Earl's Garden to the bountiful vegetable garden and wonderful Stumpery, the gardens are a delight for every visitor. I swear I tried to reduce the number of photos, but there are so many beautiful things to see there, that I thought it was important to record the beauties of the place.
O Roses garden (Rose Garden) which is next to the castle is a sight for sore eyes. There is a sundial and beautiful flowers, which make the look even more stunning!
GIFT SHOP
Inside the castle is Castle Shop, a gift shop that offers a wide variety of items. There are items made by artisans and local products such as delicious handmade chocolates, cookies, honey, jams and pickles.
RESTAURANT AND COFFEE
If you get hungry during the visit, a good request is taste the local delights in the place where, in the past, the servants of the castle ate their meals. The restaurant has a variety of dishes, with healthy and light options. The Café is located in the old kitchen and serves a variety of sandwiches, cakes, cookies, ice cream and hot and cold drinks.
HOW TO REACH ARUNDEL CASTLE
trains depart daily from the station London Victoria with meaning to Arundel. The trip takes approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes. Arriving at the station, it is necessary to walk about 15 to 20 minutes to the city center. Be careful as the beginning of the route is a busy road. You will have to alternate between one side of the track and the other because in some stretches there is only sidewalk on one side. To cross the lane for the first time, use the pedestrian traffic light. Getting closer to the city, you have to cross the street, but there are no traffic lights. Look carefully to both sides before crossing, remembering the English hand. Getting to the castle, there's no mistake. You'll see him all the way. I bought the tickets through the website TrainLine. see more Tips for traveling by train in England.
BOOK NOW your hotel and save up to 50%. Travelers readers are with a SUPER DISCOUNT! And the best, with FREE CANCELLATION*!
Booking.com
*check the hotels with free cancellation on the website
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Arundel Castle
- Address: Arundel BN18 9AB, UK
- Schedules: open from april to october from tuesday to sunday
- Gardens, Fitzalan Chapel, Gift Shop: 10am to 5pm
- Restaurant, Café, Keep: from 10 am to 4:30 pm
- Castle Rooms and Rooms: from 12pm to 5pm
- Entrance: ticket valid for 1 year
- Access to Shop, Cafe, Restaurant, Fitzalan Chapel and Gardens: £13
- All previous accesses + Keep: £15
- All previous accesses + Castle Main Rooms: £21
- All previous accesses + Castle Rooms: £23
- Tickets for special events: prices vary
- Guided Tours: For groups of at least 20 people, guided tours can be booked in the morning before the State Rooms open (10:30am to 11:45am) or other times. You need to send an email to visits@arundelcastle.org. Check more information in this link.
Save this tip on Pinterest!
Read more about day trips from London:
- London: Amazing Harry Potter Studios Tour
- England: Hampton Court Palace – the palace of Henry VIII
- England: Stonehenge Prehistoric Monument
- Leeds Castle: castle and beautiful gardens near London
