Carisbrooke Castle
WHERE
Newport
What it’s like
A hilltop castle where you climb to a Norman shell keep and watch donkeys turn a working water wheel.
The walk up to the shell keep is the bit that sticks: you climb the mound and get views out over the whole site before you've even had a snack. From there it's a case of following the wall walk and letting the kids loose on the World Builder trail, which has them building their own version of the castle rather than just looking at someone else's.
The donkeys are the other reason people come. They tread the water wheel daily, which is one of those odd bits of history that actually makes sense once you see it working. It's a proper way to fill the middle of a visit, and most people are in and out in around two hours, so it's not a full day unless you linger over lunch.
There's a self-service café on site doing hot and cold food, seating both inside and out, though it shuts an hour before the castle does, so don't leave lunch too late. You don't have to book ahead. Turn up and buy on the day if that's easier, though booking online by midnight the night before saves you 15 percent, which is worth doing if you already know when you're going. Under-fives go in free.
Wheelchair users can get around the well house and the ground floor of the museum, but the steep stairs and the wall walk itself are not accessible, which is worth knowing if that's the part you were most looking forward to.
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- 4pm
- Booking
- Book online by midnight the day before to save 15%
- How long to allow
- 2 hours
- Food
- Self-service café with hot and cold food
- Wheelchairs
- Well house and ground floor of museum accessible
- Worth knowing
- Up to six children go free with every adult member
- Booking online by midnight the night before saves 15 percent off the ticket price
- Up to six children go free with every adult member
- The café shuts an hour before the castle, so plan lunch around that
- The wall walk and steep stairs are not wheelchair accessible
Plan your visit
Do we need to book in advance?
No, you can just turn up and buy tickets on the day. Booking online by midnight the night before gets you a 15 percent discount though.
How much does it cost?
Under-fives go in free with an infant ticket. Children aged 5 to 17 need a child ticket.
How long should we plan to stay?
Most visits last around two hours, enough time for the shell keep, the trail and the water wheel without rushing.
Is there food on site?
There's a self-service café with hot and cold food, with seating for 35 inside and 30 outside. It closes an hour before the castle does, so aim to eat before then.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs?
The well house and the ground floor of the museum are accessible. The steep stairs and the wall walk are not.
What time is last entry?
Last entry is 4pm, with the castle open daily from 10am to 5pm.
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