Rockingham Castle
BEST FOR
Ages 4-15
ENTRY
from £11.50
WHERE
Market Harborough
What it’s like
A 950 year old family home to explore on foot, with garden trails and free outdoor tours for the kids to tag along on.
This is a proper castle that's still lived in, so you won't get the run of every room, but what you do see comes with a guide who's clearly done this a few times. The complimentary outside tour takes you round the Gardens and Grounds with 950 years of history thrown in, and it runs on most open days through summer. Kids can also follow the Wentworth Explorer Trail through the Wild Garden, which is the bit worth saving for after lunch when they've got energy for the undulating ground and steep inclines the site warns you about.
It suits the 4 to 15 bracket best. Under-4s get in free, which softens the blow of £11.50 a child and £19.25 an adult, or £49.90 if you do the family ticket for two adults and up to three kids. There's a cheaper gardens-only ticket too if you'd rather skip the house and just do the grounds and trails.
Pushchairs are banned from the Castle itself, though there's somewhere to leave one at the entrance, and they're fine in the Gardens. No food or drink inside the Castle, but Walker's House Tea Room opens on summer open days, and picnics are allowed on the grass or at the benches by the car park if you'd rather bring your own. Parking is free and included in your ticket, though the car park is a five-minute walk from the Castle so factor that in with little legs or a picnic bag.
The catch is the calendar. It only opens Tuesdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays between May and September, and last entry to the Castle is 3pm even though the site stays open a bit later. Turn up on the wrong day and you've had a wasted trip.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 4 to 15, with trails and tours pitched at that age
- Last entry
- To the Castle at 3pm
- Parking
- Large onsite grass car park, five-minute walk from Castle
- Food
- Walker's House Tea Room open during summer open days and selected events
- Picnics
- Allowed. Picnic benches by visitor car park
- Pushchairs
- Not permitted in Castle. Can be left at Castle entrance
- Wheelchairs
- Accessible car parking spaces available
- Dogs
- Assistance animals only. Not permitted in the Castle itself
- Some rooms are cordoned off as it's still a family home, not everything is open to look round
- The Wild Garden trail has steep inclines and uneven ground, so not the easiest with a buggy
- Historic Houses memberships work on standard open days only, not special events
- Carers can get a complimentary ticket, arranged on arrival or in advance
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£19.25 for an adult and £11.50 for a child aged 4 to 15, covering the Castle, Gardens and Grounds. Under-4s go free, and a family ticket for two adults and up to three kids is £49.90.
Do we need to book ahead?
Not for normal open days, you can pay by cash or card on arrival. Event days get busier though, and pre-booked tickets get a fast-track lane, so that's the day to book ahead.
What days is it actually open?
Tuesdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from 3 May to 29 September. Grounds open at 11am, the Castle opens half an hour later at 11.30am.
What time do we need to arrive by?
Last entry to the Castle is 3pm, though the wider site stays open until 4pm. Don't leave it too late if you want to see inside.
Can we bring a pushchair?
Not into the Castle itself, but there's a spot to leave one at the entrance. Pushchairs are fine in the Gardens, though parts of the Wild Garden have steep, uneven ground.
Is there anywhere to eat?
Walker's House Tea Room opens on summer open days and selected events, though it's not always running on special event days. Picnics are welcome too, with benches by the car park or you can sit on the grass.
Do we have to pay for parking?
No, it's included in your admission. The car park is a large grass field about a five-minute walk from the Castle, with a small number of accessible spaces.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
Under-4s get in free and the Gardens are pushchair friendly, though the Castle itself doesn't allow pushchairs inside. The site is really pitched at the 4 to 15 age range with the trails and tours.
What's the outside tour?
A complimentary guided walk around the Gardens and Grounds run by a Castle guide on most open days in summer, covering the history of the place. It doesn't run at Halloween or Christmas events.
Are dogs allowed?
Assistance animals only, and they're not permitted inside the Castle itself.
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