Castle Ward

Northern Ireland

Unique 18th-century mansion, famed for its mixture of architectural styles

Strangford, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 7BA

Opening times
Prices
See on map

Opening times for 1 September 2025
Asset Opening time
Mansion 11:00 - 16:00
Garden 10:00 - 16:00
Grounds 10:00 - 16:00
Second-hand bookshop 10:00 - 17:00
Shop 10:00 - 17:00
Stableyard tea-room 10:00 - 17:00
Please note the last tour is at 3pm on days the house is guided tours only.
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5

Open

Partially open

Closed

Opening times for 1 September 2025
Asset	Opening time
Mansion	11:00 - 16:00
Garden	10:00 - 16:00
Grounds	10:00 - 16:00
Second-hand bookshop	10:00 - 17:00
Shop	10:00 - 17:00
Stableyard tea-room	10:00 - 17:00

2025 Pricing (From 1 March)
Ticket type	With Gift Aid	Without Gift Aid
Adult (18+)	£15.40	£14.00
Child (5-17) under 5s free	£7.70	£7.00
Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children)	£38.50	£35.00
Family (one adult)	£23.10	£21.00
Group (Adult 18+)		£13.00
Group (Child 5-17)		£6.50

Become a member and discover more than 500 places

Join

Bookshop
Our Second-Hand bookshop is open from 10am - 4pm daily.
Car park
Dogs allowed
Dogs (on leads) welcome in wider estate and tea-room.
Guided tour
February to May: The house will be open for tours every hour on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11.00am. Last tour is at 3.00pm. Tickets can be collected from visitor reception. On Saturdays and Sundays, self-guided tours from 11.00-16.00. No tickets required.
Shop
Pop into the gift shop in the stableyard to find that perfect something to take home or to give a friend.
Tea-room
The tea-room is open and serving a range of hot and cold drinks and light snacks daily. take your coffee to go or take a seat in the courtyard. Dog friendly cafe.
Toilet
A variety of additional support available to help you enjoy your visit, including wheelchairs, mobility scooters, sensory backpacks and advice. For any specific access requirements, please email castleward@nationaltrust.org.uk or give us a call. For our accessibility overview, visit: https://www.accessable.co.uk/national-trust/castle-ward-national-trust
Castle Ward access statement
Castle Ward AccessAble
Accessible route and/or map
Accessible toilet
Level access/terrain
Powered mobility vehicle available
Steps/uneven terrain
Wheelchairs available
Map
Directions via Google Maps
By road
7 miles north-east of Downpatrick, 1 mile from Strangford on A25
Parking: Blue badge parking available.
Sat Nav: Please use BT30 7BA and follow signs for Castle Ward only. The property cannot be accessed via the Audleystown road.
On foot
Enter through main property gates. This is a short walk from the nearest bus stop.
By bus
Downpatrick to Strangford, bus stop at gates. Please check Translink for timetable.
Cycling
Cycling - more information
By ferry
from Portaferry

What's on at Castle Ward!

Find your next adventure here: discover all the events and activities happening at Castle Ward!

A young child dressed in a fancy dress witch costume for Halloween, holding an orange witches hat in her hand and smiling at another child also dressed in a fancy dress witch costume

The Portrait of Lady Ann Bligh: A Conservation Journey

The newly-acquired portrait of Lady Ann Bligh—the only known image of her—sheds light on her overlooked role in shaping Castle Ward in the 1760s and enriches the site’s understanding of women’s history. After expert conservation work, the painting is now on display, reuniting the house with one of its most significant yet marginalised figures.

Visiting Castle Ward with Family

From events and activities to inspiring your inner explorer, here's what you need to know about a family day out at Castle Ward.

Multi-use trails at Castle Ward

Whether you’re walking, in a wheelchair, cycling or horse riding, explore the 21 miles of trails on the Castle Ward estate and discover woodland, meadows and loughside views.

Visiting Castle Ward with your dog

Castle Ward is a three pawprint rated place. Discover Castle Ward with your dog. With miles of trails to explore there's plenty of space for them to bound, sniff, jump and splash.

Family walking with a pushchair and dogs with the shore behind and blue skies above

Christmas at Castle Ward

This festive season, we invited you to enjoy our wonderful market and step inside Castle Ward and experience the mansion dressed in tableau for an evocative 18th-century Christmas.

Father and Daughter at Castle Ward's Georgian Christmastide

Group visits to Castle Ward

Find out how to book a group visit to Castle Ward and learn about the guided tours and additional benefits available when visiting this unique 18th-century mansion as a group.

Staff and visitors looking at exhibits inside the house at Castle Ward, County Down, Northern Ireland.

Exploring the estate at Castle Ward

Explore miles of trails, soak up coastal views and stroll through atmospheric woodland scenes. Tune into the seasons and see where Game of Thrones was filmed.