About
Officially the oldest castle in England which is still home to the family who built it, Berkeley Castle is steeped in history and has been a favourite of the royals since 1153 – most recently the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
It was gifted to the Berkeley family by King Henry II and this wonderful experience gives you the perfect opportunity to hear more of the castle’s rich history and incredible stories from your own private tour guide.
You’ll discover more about the colourful Berkeley family’s involvement in many major events in England’s history and be given plenty of time to soak up the historic past, exploring the keep with its dungeon and even the cell where Edward II is said to have been murdered!
Stroll through the stunning terraced gardens before returning to the castle for your exclusive dining experience – a delicious champagne afternoon tea in the opulent Drawing Room.
Schedule:
Arrive at Berkeley Castle
Meet with your tour guide and take guided tour of the Castle (approx. 1.5 hours)
View gardens (approx. 1 hour)
Champagne Afternoon Tea (approx. 1 hour) Please note: afternoon tea can only be taken in the Drawing Room after 4pm, however it can be served in our Tearoom at any time.
Booking
Price: £75 per person. Additional activities can be added to enhance your experience - please see list below.
Duration: Allow 4 hours.
Capacity: Minimum 10 people and maximum 20 people.
Opening: Castle open 2 April to 31 October 2023, Sunday to Wednesday. Consideration will be given to opening on Thursday/Friday for large groups.
Booking: To book please contact the trade contact below.
Facilities
Language: English only. Guests will need an intermediate level of English to fully appreciate the experience.
Parking: Large free car park and designated free coach parking bay, easy access from M5 – junctions 13 & 14 only 10 minutes away. Coach driver receives money off vouchers for the Tearoom and Gift Shop.
Accessibility: Access is limited to those with difficulty climbing steps and stairs. Those with an average level of fitness will be fine; we provide plenty of indoor and outdoor seating if intermittent resting is required.
Special requirements: This experience can be enjoyed in all weathers.
Trade Contact
Helen Berryman
info@berkeley-castle.com
01453 512991
Activities which can be added to enhance your visit
Please note that if you’d like to further enhance the visit all of the additional activities below can be quoted for:
Spending time with the Castle Archivist viewing incredible historic documents, spanning 900 years, which are rarely seen by the general public, followed by lunch in The Long Drawing Room
Q&A with Henry VIII and his six wives in the Great Hall
Private Tour with Charles Berkeley (subject to availability)
Archery
Falconry
Other options:
Opening the castle on days closed to the public to give a more exclusive feel
Private dining experiences within the castle