Key facts
- Operator
- English Heritage
- Condition
- Partial ruin
- Access
- Grounds only
Pinpoint
Castle St, Farnham GU9 0AG
Telephone 0370 333 1181
The keep, built for the Bishops of Winchester as a stopover on their journeys to London, is currently closed to the public - what's open is the free exhibition room and the ruins around it, which reviewers rate as well preserved and genuinely informative given there's no charge at all.
Worth the trip
The free exhibition centre - reviewers repeatedly call it out as exceptional for something with no admission fee.
Before you go
The keep itself is shut, and the wider historic buildings on site are only open Wednesdays 2-4pm, so a casual visit any other day means grounds and exhibition only; it's also used as a wedding venue, so check nothing's booked if you're planning around a quiet visit.
Reviewers generally find the free, well-preserved ruins worthwhile, with the small exhibition centre praised as a highlight. Several note that access to parts of the site, such as the Bishop's rooms, is limited to specific days and times, so it's worth checking opening hours before visiting; it also functions as a popular wedding venue.
Keep currently closed to the public
“Nice history. Bishops safe 'Motel' on journey to London. Ruins better than expected. Sadly most part of surrounding buildings is open only on Wednesday's 2pm-4pm. Still recommend to visit”— TiC, visitor review
