Join English HeritageHours & Facilities
Opening Hours
| ☀ Summer | Daily | 10:am—6:pm |
| Winter | Daily | 10:am—4:pm |
| Christmas Day & New Years Day | Closed |
There is no charge to visit Berkhamsted Castle. It's free for everyone!
Berkhamsted Castle Trust works in partnership with English Heritage to manage and maintain the site under a Local Management Agreement. The Castle site is staffed entirely by local volunteers. We rely on generosity of visitors to help us to look after the Castle.
Please consider making a donation online, or donate using your mobile phone – simply text CASTLE 3 to 70085 to give £3 (or any amount up to £20)
Castle Facilities
| Toilets: Unfortunately we do not have toilets on-site. The nearest toilets are in Berkhamsted railway station, just across the road. | |
| 🐕 | Dogs: You are welcome to bring your dog. Please keep your dog on a lead and bring waste bags. |
| Food & drink: We don't have any refreshment facilities in the castle. There is a small coffee bar in the railway station across the road, and the castle is very close to Berkhamsted town centre, which has a wide selection of family-friendly cafes and restaurants | |
| Visitors' room: on some bank holidays and weekends in the summer, our visitors' room is open in the Keeper's Lodge in the outer ward. There's an interesting display of castle history and volunteers are on hand to answer any questions you may have. | |
| Rubbish: there is a litter bin right outside the Castle gate on the corner. You are welcome to enjoy a picnic in the Castle, but please take your bottles, cans, food wrappers etc away and do not leave them in the Castle grounds, as our unpaid volunteers have to pick it all up. | |
| Recycling: the nearest recycling facility is in the Waitrose car park, 5 minute's walk away, where you can drop glass, plastic and paper items. |
Parking near the Castle
There is no parking available on-site. There is very limited on-street parking on White Hill and on nearby streets, but please be mindful of neighbours and local access when you park.
Car Parks
There several pay & display car parks near to the castle (not managed by the Castle Trust):
500 ft (150m) away
0.3 miles (550m) away
NB: the car park inside the barriers is for Waitrose customers only
CLOSED
0.4 miles (640m) away
0.4 miles (640m) away
Disabled Parking
Blue badge holders can park free of charge and without time limit in all council-run car parks and they all have disabled parking spaces with extra room.
- Canal Fields: 3 spaces (the closest)
- Lower Kings Road: 6 spaces
- St Johns Well: 3 spaces
- Water Lane: 8 spaces
On-street parking
There are also disabled bays on Berkhamsted High Street.
Terrain
The main path into and through the Castle is surfaced with gravel but is suitable for buggies and wheelchairs. If you want to access the outer earthworks there are some steps.
Enjoy a Safe Visit
| Explore this site with care and closely supervise your children | |
| Intentionally damaging this monument is a crime | |
| Smoking, climbing, commercial photography and metal detecting are prohibited | |
| Drone flying is prohibited, except by contractors or partners who have permission from English Heritage and the CAA and are operating under controlled conditions. English Heritage drone filming guidelines | |
| Beware of deep water in the moats | |
| Beware of slip hazards | |
| Beware of trip hazards | |
| Beware of steep slopes |
External Links
