Key facts
- Operator
- Duchy of Lancaster
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
Pinpoint
Possible Opening hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
A former prison as well as a medieval castle, owned by the Duchy of Lancaster and only accessible via guided tour - there's no wandering the interior independently. Reviewers consistently rate the guides themselves as the reason the visit works, with tours running around 90 minutes and covering everything from the medieval hall to the building's more recent use as a working prison.
Worth the trip
The guided tour itself - reviewers name their guides individually and repeatedly call the storytelling the best part of the visit, more than the architecture.
Before you go
Book the guided tour in advance, as it's the only way in; one reviewer flags that some of the later content covers difficult prison-related history, worth knowing if bringing children.
Every review here centres on the guided tour, with visitors consistently praising the guides as knowledgeable and engaging and the roughly 90-minute tour as excellent value. Several also mention the on-site cafe and the free police museum as worthwhile additions. One reviewer flags that some of the stories told near the end of the tour are sensitive and may not suit young children.
Courtyard free; interior by guided tour
“Best experience ever. First of all the price is very good 👍 9£ and that includes the guide. And actually it is a prison and not a castle. My daughter really enjoyed this experience. 💯 recommend to everybody.”— Lazar Damiean, visitor review
Further reading
Gibsons - Castle Cutaway (1000pc)
Detailed cutaway illustration of a medieval castle's rooms, dungeon to battlements.
Find it on AmazonCubicFun - Neuschwanstein Castle 3D Puzzle (121pc)
Architectural 3D puzzle model, stocked by UK and US retailers.
Find it on Amazon
