Group Tours

We offer a discount on admission charges for groups of 15 people or more if payment is made in one transaction.

Group Admission Charges

Castle and Gardens

Adults: £14.00

Concessions (O.A.P, students and children aged 4-18): £11.50

Gardens Only

(includes Boar Park, Falconry flying display, birds on weather,  bee observation hive children’s trail, local rare breed sheep including Wensleydales.)

Adults: £5.00

Concessions £4.00

Guide Books

For group members preferring to take their own tour of the castle we have an excellent guide book available to enhance your visit. Guide books are available for £3.50 each and provide much greater insight to the Castles’ fascinating past.

Group visits

Larger groups might like to explore the extensive surviving rooms by themselves, or have a private tour by one of the enthusiastic and expert guides, focusing on Mary, Queen of Scots’ imprisonment or the Civil War, or castle life from 1399 through to the 20th century, for example.

Guided Tours

Private tours, led by our enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides, are also available. The tour can be ‘themed’, such as focusing on Mary Queen of Scots
time here; or just a general view of the extensive history of the castle, from its completion in 1399 up to the present day.

Your group will be greeted at our working portcullis by your guide, who will be dressed in the period clothing to suit your chosen theme; Medieval, Tudor or
Civil War.
The guides stories of the lives of the previous incumbents will help to bring the castle’s rich history to life. Artefacts, not usually on view to the public, will be
available for you to handle, and if time and the weather permit, there is also the possibility of ‘have a go’ archery.

Tours are available for groups of 15 or more at a fee of £10 per person, in addition to the admission charge, and last for approximately an hour and a half.
Please be aware that the floor surfaces of the castle are very uneven in places, and that there are 5 sets of spiral staircases to reach the battlements. We do,
however, work on a more ‘Medieval’ time frame to suit the castle, so there is no rush, and seats and a ‘catch your breath’ period are available on each level.