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One of THE finest in all of England, the historic Arundel Castle
Updated: Oct 28, 2024
The grand castle of Arundel is home to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and is one of the most impressive castles you will see! Perched upon a hill in the quaint old town of Arundel, this castle is nearly 1000 years old and is beautiful in both its internal and external design. It is also surrounded by glorious gardens that are worth a visit all on their own!
We had such a wonderful experience here, especially amongst the fountains and roses of the castle gardens. Come and explore this wonderful realm with us!
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History, photos and facts about Arundel Castle
One of our first major trips in England, Arundel holds up as one of our most spectacular. We are starting to feel like we are saying that about EVERYWHERE we visit but this time we really do mean it! Arundel is a charming town which is rich in Georgian architecture and medieval influence. For a small town the castle is incredibly large and of elaborate design, understandable given its strategic importance and history of ownership.
After finding parking we followed a small creek at the foot of castle hill up to the main gate. We were already enamoured by the grandeur of the castle as it peeked through the trees up above and it is fair to say that it did not disappoint in the slightest. We purchased our tickets at the gatehouse which give you access to the castle and its wonderful grounds. We couldn’t help but take heaps of photos on the way up the hill!
The castle dates back to 1067 and many of the original features such as the Gatehouse and Keep are original. It was almost completely rebuilt in the 1870's and is regarded as one of the finest works of Victorian England. As a first time visitor even the grand gatehouse will not quite prepare you for the sheer scale and beauty of the main structure, blending in seamlessly with the brilliantly kept gardens.
The entrance fee at time of writing is £25 for adults and £10 for children if you want the full experience of the castle, bedrooms and gardens. It is slightly cheaper if you would prefer to exclude one or two of the options. We went for the castle and gardens, although in hindsight we wish we had taken all three! The bedrooms do look marvelous. Maybe next time! Visiting season is April to November and opening times are 10am to 5pm.
The castle overlooks the River Arun and was built by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel in the 11th century. The grounds sprawl over 40 acres and it is one of the great treasure houses of England, home not just to the splendid Collector Earl's Garden but also priceless works of art within its walls.
The town of Arundel, along with a third of the entire area of Sussex, was gifted to Roger de Montgomery by William the Conqueror. It was given in thanks for his help during the Norman Conquest of 1066 and on the proviso that he built a castle to defend the area. It was he that built the the large artificial mound that houses the keep and also the gatehouse and stone walls.
A brief period of ownership under Kind Henry 1st led to the castle being inherited by his wife after his death. Her subsequent marriage to William d'Albini brought it into its current lineage. Despite another brief exchange with the royals during the civil war it has been passed through the same family ever since.
The castle has since been renovated by many different owners over the years and is filled with history and personality from each of its custodians. It has held plenty of royal events and was even brought back to the defensive frontline again in World War 2 when it was used by the military with large guns being installed in the park areas near the coast.
The award winning Collector Earl's Gardens
The award winning gardens are an absolute must see in our opinion. They are so well groomed and there is a dazzling variety of plants on display, alongside the beautiful fountains and gold topped ornaments and obelisks. It felt so romantic and special to be here; we probably spent more time outside than we did inside the castle!
The Rose Garden
We were in our element wandering amongst the wonderful smells and sights of nature in all of its glory. The Rose Garden in particular was magnificent... Jenn didn't want to leave! It was aromatic and beautiful, fit for royalty! We had never been in a garden with such fragrant flowers; it totally reminded us of one of the very first poems Jenn wrote when we were falling in love titled 'botanical'
Fitzalan Chapel
The castle has suffered several sieges in its time with the most damaging during the mid 1600's in the civil war between Parliamentarians and Royalists. Both parties had control of the castle at one point with much damage done to the Fitzalan Chapel in the grounds and the external castle walls.
Fitzalan Chapel was a particular highlight for us. Dating back to 1380 after being commissioned by Richard Fitzalan, the 4th Earl of Arundel, it was constructed in the typical French Gothic style of the time and is a grade I listed building. It is also the private mausoleum of all of the Dukes of Norfolk and houses many tombs which are all beautifully engraved.
This charming chapel suffered significant damage during the siege of 1643 as mentioned earlier and after many years of neglect it was eventually restored by Bernard Howard (12th Duke of Norfolk). The restoration process must have been painstaking; the intricacy and detail on display everywhere we looked was mightily impressive. It is as beautiful as it is peaceful and serene.
Interestingly this is one of the very few church buildings in England that is divided into two worship areas, chancel is the Roman Catholic side and through the gate in the picture below you can see the Anglican side of the Church of St Nicholas (accessed outside of the castle grounds).
We would highly recommend a visit here. It is a great day out and you could easily spend a good few hours wandering around the castle and its grounds. The gardens are breath -taking and would be a lovely place to hang out and read a book or just relax in the sun! Then of course you have the epic sight of the Cathedral in the near distance… somewhere you should definitely check out afterwards!
Arundel Cathedral
Just a short walk from the spectacular Arundel Castle stands perhaps one of the best cathedrals in all of England. It is an impressive sight from the castle gardens and even more beautiful the closer you get to it. It is not one of the first names that roll off of the tongue when talking about the great cathedrals of England but in this blog we aim to show that it should be!
After spending time at the beautiful castle and gardens of Arundel we didn't anticipate how impactful the Cathedral would be. But it definitely holds its own! Tap the link to find out all about its history, and why we fell in love with this magnificent cathedral.
The town of Arundel
Aside from the two main attractions the town of Arundel also has plenty to offer in its own right. Beautiful cobbled streets, a museum, local independent stores and lovely cafes will greet you as you wander around. It has a lovely quaint ‘old style’ feel to it and is about as traditional British as you can get! It even has a Town Crier, a position which has been operating since 369AD no less!
How to get to Arundel Castle
To reach Arundel Castle, you have several options. If traveling by car, use GPS or online maps like Google Maps. Arundel has a train station, and you can take a train to Arundel Railway Station, followed by a 20-minute walk to the cathedral. Check for bus services connecting to Arundel or explore the town on foot if you're already there. Bicycling is also an option, with potential bike routes available.
Postcode for Sat Nav: BN18 9PA
Contact Information
Address: Arundel Castle, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9AB, United Kingdom
Email: visits@arundelcastle.org
Opening times: Tickets for 2024 will be available to purchase from February 2024.
The 2024 season will run from Thursday 28th March to Sunday 3rd November.
Contact no: +441903882173
Website: arundelcastle.org
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