Gayle and I enjoyed a recent visit to Sudeley Castle as part of our Cotswolds walk. Our couple hours here included a walking tour of the Castle grounds (via a very informative map), a brief visit to the gift shop, and a decent albeit unmarkable Lunch at their Cafe. Sudeley Castle remains the only private castle in England to have a queen buried within the grounds - Queen Katherine Parr, the last and surviving wife of King Henry VIII - who lived and died in the castle. Henry himself, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, Queen Elizabeth I and Richard III have all played a part in Sudeley's story. King Charles I found refuge here during the Civil War, when his nephew Prince Rupert established headquarters at the Castle. Following its 'slighting' on Cromwell's orders at the end of the Civil War, Sudeley lay neglected and derelict for nearly 200 years. Then in 1837, Sudeley was rescued by the wealthy Worcester glove-makers, brothers John and William Dent, who began an ambitious restoration programme, which was continued by their nephew, John Coucher Dent, when he inherited the castle in 1855. His wife, Emma Brocklehurst, threw herself enthusiastically into Sudeley's restoration, at the same time forging strong links with the nearby town of Winchcombe. It is the results of Emma's dedication that are so evident in the gardens and exhibitions at Sudeley today. Gayle and I found a few things a little weird: 1. The Coexistence Sculpture Safari and all the associated African wildlife representations. 2. The interior living quarters (still used by guests) which seemed a bit more overblown than royal. Yet there were many more highlights, including the Church where Katherine Parr is buried, the historical exhibits that focused on the pre-Civil war period, and of course the outside stroll through the historical structures and well maintained gardens. And when we mentioned our visit to our Tower of London Tour Guide (James), he really perked up! read more

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An unexpectedly delightful surprise, Sudeley Castle proved worthy of the seemingly steep £19.50 per person entry fee. Windsor Castle grabs a larger portion of one's wallet but folks have heard of Windsor Castle and Sudeley Castle? I can barely get the name straight without repeatedly reading it. So yes, I entered with low expectations. Sudeley Castle has a weirdly compelling spot in history. I won't expound on that except to say it includes Henry VIII and some of his wives and other weird drama that reads like ancient headlines in the National Enquirer. The way this information is presented is somewhat hokey but when you have a compelling story that matters little. The beautiful gardens with their animal-themed "CoExistence" sculptures come with their own compelling back-story and are a nice complement to the other stories revealed here. The icing on the cake for Sudeley Castle is its Rare Breeds Pheasantry, a stunning collection of live, endangered and rare breeds from around the world. This place is castle, church, gardens, and zoo all in one and it's fascinating. I've usually found castles to be a collection of rooms decorated with stiff furnishings and possessions of the wealthy. Sudeley Castle isn't that at all. It's a unique treat and the most interesting castle I've ever visited. read more

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2000 years of history. Best castle in Cotswolds. Friendly and informative guides. Gardens stunning. Fun for kids. read more

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I just don't understand the low ratings for this castle and gardens. This one was one of the highlights of our trip. We arrived the day before at 4:30 pm and the people working there wisely turned us away. There was not enough time to see anything in 30 minutes. We returned the next day and spent a few hours. We were really glad we did. Although a number of families owned the castle over the years, its most famous occupant was Katherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII. Lady Jane Grey also lived here as part of her 'finishing school' experience. Rich people in the Middle Ages often paid to have their sons and daughters live with families of power in hopes of increasing their own family's fortunes. Lady Jane Grey became the Queen of England for nine days before Bloody Mary (soon to be Queen Mary I) had her beheaded at the age of seventeen so she could become queen. The castle has an extensive collection of historical artifacts that go far beyond those of the two queens. They had a Henry VIII display with all of his wives, the Bible that the Archbishop used to read passages to Charles I before he was beheaded, and Marie Antoinette's bed quilt. The gardens were nothing special after seeing all the incredible things inside the castle. read more

In the past it was possible to visit the castle, chapel and gardens at the same time but I wasn't aware that times had changed the last time I planned a visit with some friends. It was my own fault for not checking in advance so this is a cautionary tale! Rather than the castle itself, a visit to Sudeley now comprises the gardens, chapel and an 'exhibition' in a series of rooms beside the castle. The castle rooms are open on certain days of the week and cost more to visit. The exhibition was fine and really interesting, comprising such items as Elizabeth I's christening robe and so forth. It still felt a bit like we were short changed though. Worth a visit for Tudor history fans as Catherine Parr (who died there) is buried in the chapel. read more

Sudeley Castle - Castles Near Me

Gardens are very well kept and it was nice to visit this castle in a quaint little village. We wondered the gardens for a little picnic as the weather was good . Slightly over priced if you're not using the guided walks as the walk around the gardens / castle can be done within half an hour . Lovely adventure area for children to play around it... I say children but I also joined in in the obstacle course . read more

Unable to comment on the castle. When we arrived at the visitors center at 1500 we were told they were closed due to "inclement weather" and the time change of the night before. OKaaay... It was drizzling rain and posted was a closing time of 1600. Disappointed in the early closure and wish there were signs they were closed at the beginning of the long walk. Weird. read more

One of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. The gardens are truly breathtaking. Highly recommended. read more

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