Bodiam Castle

A springtime view of the postern gate or back door of Bodiam Castle in East Sussex — Bodiam Castle

View overlooking the interior of Bodiam Castle, East Sussex, built between 1385 and 1388 — View overlooking the interior of Bodiam Castle built between 1385 and 1388

Important notice -

The grounds, castle courtyard, some towers, café, tea-room, shop, and Second Hand Bookshop are open. On weekdays no need to pre-book. At busier times (weekends, bank holidays and holidays) booking is recommended. Dogs in the grounds, not castle.

Archetypal 14th century moated castle with ruined interior - a glimpse of medieval splendour

Please book ahead before visiting Check availability

Overview
Opening times
Prices
How to get here
Facilities and access
Contact us

Visitors walking through a garden in spring

Visiting this spring

Our gardens, parks, cafés, shops and countryside locations are open to visit. Many houses in England and Wales have reopened, with houses in Northern Ireland expected to reopen from 24 May. Advance booking for visits helps us keep everyone safe and socially distanced. At quieter times such as weekdays, booking shouldn't be necessary, but to guarantee entry we recommend booking in advance, especially at weekends and bank holidays.

Bodiam Castle

What's on

Please book ahead before visiting

The grounds, castle courtyard, some of the towers, shop, second hand bookshop, Castle View café (takeaway only) and Wharf tea-room are open. On weekdays you don’t need to pre-book your visit. At busier times, like weekends, bank holidays and school holidays, booking is recommended to guarantee entry.

Book now

Timed entry to Bodiam Castle (17 May - 23 May)

Tue 18 May 2021

+ 5 other dates

10:00-16:00

Book your timed entry to visit Bodiam Castle.

Bodiam Castle

Things to see and do

Bodiam Castle Guide

Download our new Bodiam Castle guide before your next visit. The guide shows the walking route around the exterior of the castle and the grounds, with points of interest along the way.

Visitor walking their dog in the parkland

Visiting Bodiam Castle with your dog

Planning a day out with the dog? Dogs on short leads are welcome in the grounds around Bodiam Castle and in the Castle-view café. Find out more about where you can and can't take your dog here.

Bodiam Castle

Eating and shopping

Wharf tea-room and Castle View café at Bodiam Castle

Planning on staying for lunch? Want to know where you can grab a quick drink or treat yourself to some homemade cake? At Bodiam Castle you can enjoy seasonal food, freshly prepared in the Wharf tea-room or the Castle View café.

Shopping at Bodiam Castle

Visit the Castle gift shop and discover our great range of National Trust gifts, books and souvenirs. We also have some great local artisan produce and gifts.

Bodiam Castle

Our work

Wildflower meadows at Bodiam Castle

We're about to start on a long term project, working with the existing grassland areas at Bodiam Castle, to create lowland grassland and wildflower meadows. Encouraging nature and wildflowers back to the castle grounds.

Bodiam Castle

Learning

School visits to Bodiam Castle

Set in the heart of an historic landscape, with spiral staircases, battlements and a portcullis, 14th century Bodiam Castle is one of Britain's most picturesque and romantic ancient monuments.

Bodiam Castle

Wildlife

Wildlife at Bodiam Castle

Bodiam is a great place to find a wide range of wildlife, with different habitats for animals, insects and birds. Discover some of the species living here today.

Bats at Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle hosts one of the largest bat roosts in south-east England, and is home to five species of bats. Our team works hard to monitor and protect them and at certain times of the year you can see them roosting in the castle gatehouse.

Bodiam Castle

History

Play Video

Video

An introduction to Bodiam Castle

This video plays every 15 minutes inside Bodiam Castle to give you an introduction to the history of the castle. It is also available for you to enjoy here, before or after you visit.

A view across the moat to Bodiam Castle in the early morning sunshine

Bodiam Castle a brief history

Bodiam is the quintessential English castle, an echo from distant and very different times. Discover Bodiam's past and how it came to be owned by the National Trust.

A banker's (or craftsman's) mark in the stonework at Bodiam Castle in East Sussex

Bodiam Castle's graffiti uncovered

Discover what the many marks in the stonework at Bodiam Castle mean and who by and when they were put there.

Exploring Bodiam Castle

Discover some key features of the castle and how and what they might have been used for.

Bodiam Castle

Art and collections

Our collections

Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Bodiam Castle on the National Trust Collections website

Search the collections

General

On weekdays you don’t need to pre-book your visit. At busier times, like weekends, bank holidays and school holidays, booking is recommended to guarantee entry. Please go to What’s on to book your visit.

The Wharf tea-room is open, with indoor and outdoor seating available. Our Castle View café serves a limited range of takeaway hot and cold drinks and some light snacks, open when the weather is dry.

In line with government guidelines you'll be required to wear a face covering in indoor areas. Please bring one with you.

Toilets are situated next to the Wharf tea-room in the main car park.

The castle courtyard capacity is limited. Please be aware that you may need to queue to enter the castle at busier times.

Please note: there is no wet-weather cover on site.

Dogs (on short leads) are welcome in the castle grounds. There is a dog tethering point and dog water bowl outside the Castle-view café (opposite the castle entrance).

Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas.

Please note: the unauthorised flying of drones at our places isn't permitted. You can find our drone policy here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/visitor-faqs

Please note: it is illegal to fish on private NT land without prior permission.

Family

Baby-changing facilities are available in the toilets at the main car park. There are no facilities near to the castle

Can you find the unicorn above the castle gates?

Find the wooden sculpture of Sir Edward Dallingridge in the grounds

See the ducks and fish in the moat

Access

Five designated mobility parking spaces in the main car park next to the tea-room and gift shop

Gravel paths throughout the site with some slopes and undulating terrain. Paths can be muddy in wet weather

Accessible toilet in the main car park next to the tea-room

To facilitate social distancing it may be necessary to wait on the grass or queue for access to the castle at times.

Our mobility buggy will be available from June 2021.

Gift Aid

Standard

Adult

N/A

£10.00

Child

N/A

£5.00

Family

N/A

£25.00

Family, one adult

N/A

£15.00

Group Adult

Minimum group size 15

N/A

£9.50

Group Child

Minimum group size 15

N/A

£4.75

Gift Aid

Standard

Amount paid by visitor

£11.00

£10.00

Tax refund from Government*

£2.75

£0.00

Total received by the National Trust

£13.75

£10.00

Tuesday 18 May

Wednesday 19 May

Thursday 20 May

Friday 21 May

Saturday 22 May

Sunday 23 May

Monday 24 May

Bodiam Castle

Important notice -

More about this place

Visiting this spring

What's on

Please book ahead before visiting

Upcoming events

Timed entry to Bodiam Castle (17 May - 23 May)

Things to see and do

Bodiam Castle Guide

Visiting Bodiam Castle with your dog

Eating and shopping

Wharf tea-room and Castle View café at Bodiam Castle

Shopping at Bodiam Castle

Our work

Wildflower meadows at Bodiam Castle

Learning

School visits to Bodiam Castle

Wildlife

Wildlife at Bodiam Castle

Bats at Bodiam Castle

History

An introduction to Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle a brief history

Bodiam Castle's graffiti uncovered

Exploring Bodiam Castle

Art and collections

Our collections

Smallhythe Place

Bateman's

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Scotney Castle

Lamb House

Stoneacre

Bodiam Castle

Important notice -

Upcoming events

Things to see and do

Eating and shopping

Our work

Learning

Wildlife

History

An introduction to Bodiam Castle

Art and collections

Our collections

Facilities and access

General

Family

Access

Overview

Archetypal 14th century moated castle with ruined interior - a glimpse of medieval splendour

How to get here

Prices

What is Gift Aid?

Please note...

Opening times

Important notice -

Please note...

Tuesday 18 May

Wednesday 19 May

Thursday 20 May

Friday 21 May

Saturday 22 May

Sunday 23 May

Monday 24 May

Contact us

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