Wentworth Castle Gardens
YorkshireGlorious gardens, woodland and parkland, created for the privileged few and preserved for everyone to enjoy
Wentworth Castle Gardens, Park Drive, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S75 3EN
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 19 February 2026
Asset Opening time Gardens 10:00 - 15:30 Parkland 10:00 - 15:30 Café 10:00 - 15:00 Car Park 10:00 - 15:45 Last entry time - 3.45pm (summer hours), 2.45pm (winter hours).
Admission
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £7.20 £6.50 Child (5-17) under 5s free £3.60 £3.25 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £17.90 £16.25 Family (1 Adult and up to 3 children) £10.80 £9.75 Group (Adult 18+) £6.18 Group (Child 5-17) £3.09 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Adventure playground/play area
The popular play area is about 200m from the car park. It includes a large play fort, swings, a zip wire and an accessible seesaw.
- Bookshop
The second-hand bookshop is spread over two floors in the Long Barn building, which also houses the café.
- Café
The Long Barn Café serves hot and cold drinks, light snacks and refreshments.
- Car park
For all visitors, the car park is free of charge.
- Cycle parking
- Dogs allowed
Dogs very welcome, but please keep them on a short lead at all times. They're also welcome in the café, though only assistance dogs are allowed in the Play Area and Conservatory.
- Guided tour
Guided tours of the mansion house - which is now Northern College - are available monthly.
Guided tour - more information- Kiosk
Refreshment kiosk in the Play Area open on busy days. Check with the Welcome team for daily opening times.
- Picnic area
Designated picnic area between the Long Barn Café and the playground. Wheelchair accessible seating is available.
- Toilet
Toilets in the Long Barn Café and the Conservatory building.
See below for resources and information to support a more accessible visit to Wentworth Castle gardens. We also have a buggy shuttle service, which runs every day between 11am and 3pm. We can book a BSL interpreter for a guided walk or tour. If you'd like to discuss any arrangements we can make to meet your access needs, please email us on wentworthcastlegardens@nationaltrust.org.uk or call 01226323070 and we'll do our best to help.
- Accessible route and/or map
The map shows a recommended route around the gardens. There is a hard-standing path from the visitor car park up to the Conservatory. Other parts of the garden are a mixture of firm and grassy paths, often sloped. There are no hard-standing paths in the parkland.
Accessible route and/or map - more information- Accessible toilet
Accessible toilets are located in the Long Barn Café and the Conservatory building.
- Braille (guide or menu)
A braille guide to the property is available. Please ask at Visitor Reception or the Information Shed.
- Designated parking
Blue badge spaces are in the upper left corner of the visitor car park, near to Visitor Reception. If you do not have a blue badge but would benefit from using one of these designated spaces, please speak to the Welcome team.
- Drop-off point
We can arrange for you to drop off members of your party near the Visitor Reception. Please speak to the Welcome team.
- Induction loop
Induction loops are available at all till points. We also have a portable induction loop available for house tours or guided walks. Please email us in advance on wentworthcastlegardens@nationaltrust.org.uk to book this.
- Large print (guide or menu)
A large print guide to the property is available. Please ask at Visitor Reception or the Information Shed.
- Level access to food outlet
There's level access to the Long Barn Café from the terrace.
- Lift
There is a lift to the first floor of the Long Barn building and the Reading Room. Please ask the Café team for support in operating the lift.
- Powered mobility vehicle available
We have two powered mobility scooters & an all-terrain tramper available for hire, free of charge (tramper can access the parkland during the summer). Book by emailing wentworthcastlegardens@nationaltrust.org.uk. Pick up from the Reception Building on your arrival. The team will carry out a short assessment to ensure the scooter is suitable for your needs.
- Ramped access/slopes
There is ramped access to the Visitor Information Shed, located opposite the Play Area.
- Seating available
There is seating throughout the gardens and parkland.
- Steps/uneven terrain
There are steps down to the Conservatory terrace and up to the Azalea garden, but you will also find alternative step-free routes. Please be aware of uneven terrain around the estate. We recommend wearing sturdy shoes when you visit.
- Wheelchairs available
We have two manual wheelchairs available to hire in the Long Barn Café. However, the steep and uneven paths can make it a challenge to access the whole of the gardens via wheelchair.
- By road
- Exit M1 at junction 37 towards Barnsley.Parking: Turn into Park Drive at the cross roads in Stainborough village and follow the road. Free parking close to visitor reception and overflow on the adjacent field, weather permitting. Please note that there is no way to access the Wentworth Castle Gardens estate via public footpaths.Sat Nav: Use postcode S75 3EN to arrive at the visitor entrance. Some SatNavs will send you to the Northern College entrance if you type in 'Wentworth Castle'.
- On foot
- The Wild Yorkshire Way and Trans Pennine Trail pass nearby. From Stainborough village, it is approximately 0.4 miles (0.6km) along the visitor driveway, which slopes up the hill to the gardens with glimpses through to the Palladian Bridge and the Serpentine within the parkland. Follow the signs for the pedestrian route to the visitor reception building. Plan your car-free visit at Good Journey
- By train
- Dodworth railway station is 1.5 miles (2.4km) from Wentworth Castle Gardens, while Barnsley Interchange railway station is around 3 miles (4.8km) away. Check the National Rail website for up to date timetable information. Plan your car-free visit at Good Journey
- By bus
Services from Barnsley Interchange to Penistone, Stocksbridge and Denby Dale run along Lowe Lane. The 23a, 24, 24a, 34 and 410 services will stop on Gilroyd Lane near the Strafford Arms pub on request. This is the bus stop at the bottom of the hill in Stainborough village. From here, it is approximately 0.4 miles (0.6km) along the visitor driveway, which slopes up the hill to the gardens. Follow the signs for the pedestrian route to the visitor reception building.
NOTE: There is no access to the site from the Northern College bus stop. In addition, the no 34 bus is not accessible for wheelchair users.
Plan your car-free visit at Good Journey- Cycling
- National Route 62, the Trans-Pennine trail is around 1/4 mile from Wentworth Castle's Stainborough gateway, between Silkstone and Worsborough. From Stainborough village, it is approximately 0.4 miles (0.6km) along the visitor driveway, which slopes up the hill to the visitor car park and reception building with glimpses through to the Palladian Bridge and the Serpentine within the parkland. Cycle parking is on the right hand side of the car park, near the Visitor Reception Building. Plan your car-free visit at Good Journey
- Car-free
- We hold the Good Journey Mark for welcoming car-free visitors. Travel a greener way and enjoy 25% off entry or a free hot drink for members. Plan your journey by train, bus, bike or foot at Good Journey
Wentworth Castle Gardens, Park Drive, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S75 3EN
Planning your visit
Family-friendly things to do at Wentworth Castle Gardens
Wentworth Castle Gardens is the perfect place for a family adventure. Explore the gardens - from the turrets of Stainborough Castle to the hiding places in the Union Jack Gardens. Try out our sensory or orienteering trails, and don't forget to call into the adventure play area before you leave.
Visiting Wentworth Castle Gardens with your dog
Wentworth Castle Gardens is a two pawprint rated place. Take a look at our top tips for bringing your dog to Wentworth Castle Gardens.
Accessibility at Wentworth Castle Gardens
We’ve been working hard to improve access and make Wentworth Castle Gardens a welcoming place for everyone. Discover key access information to help you plan and enjoy your visit.
WCG garden & parkland maps 2025
Download the property map ahead of your visit. This includes accessible routes.
Group visits to Wentworth Castle Gardens
We welcome groups of all types and sizes at Wentworth Castle Gardens, whether you’re a local community organisation, a school, a special interest group or part of a coach tour. Read on to discover how we can support your visit, then come and explore what makes this place so special.
Upcoming events at Wentworth Castle Gardens
Find out what's coming up soon in the gardens and parkland.
Highlights
Garden
Sixty acres of gardens to explore, including formal gardens, informal wilderness areas, historic monuments and areas to relax and play.
Conservatory
Restored in 2013, this Victorian conservatory was once at the height of cutting-edge design. Now it’s home to plants from all over the world.
Union Jack Garden
The only part of the original Baroque garden to have survived, this flag garden was recently redesigned and replanted to reflect the identity of local communities.
Lady Lucy's Walk
An avenue of towering lime trees planted around the time of the First World War. The perfect spot for a photo.
Stainborough Castle
Completed by Thomas Wentworth in 1731, this gothic folly is a great spot to enjoy a picnic beneath medieval-style turrets.
Parkland
Explore 500 acres of rolling parkland and discover landmarks like the Rotunda and Serpentine Bridge as well as ancient woodland where you can spot carpets of bluebells in May.
Play area
Conquer the castle, have a zoom on our zip-line and get your muscles moving on our kids’ adventure playground.
Long Barn Cafe and Second-hand Bookshop
Stop in for a warming hot drink and bite to eat in our café or have a browse through our second-hand bookshop.
Spotlight events
House Tours
Take a peek inside the grand house at the centre of the estate on a select number of volunteer-led tours through Wentworth Castle, now Northern College. Booking available for January and February.
Bird Search Trail
As the gardens start to wake up after winter join our bird search and get to know our feathered friends as they prepare for spring. Join us this half term to flap your wings and explore the gardens with a spotter trail that is fun for all the family.
Things to see and do
Explore the gardens at Wentworth Castle
There are sixty acres of gardens to explore, created over four centuries. Don’t miss the carefully designed views across the beautiful surrounding parkland.
Explore the wider estate at Wentworth Castle Gardens
Designed on a grand scale to rival any country-house estate in the country, the 500 acres of parkland at Wentworth Castle Gardens are well worth exploring during your visit.
Family-friendly things to do at Wentworth Castle Gardens
Wentworth Castle Gardens is the perfect place for a family adventure. Explore the gardens - from the turrets of Stainborough Castle to the hiding places in the Union Jack Gardens. Try out our sensory or orienteering trails, and don't forget to call into the adventure play area before you leave.
Eating and shopping
Eating and shopping at Wentworth Castle Gardens
Choose from a delicious range of seasonal and locally sourced bites in the Long Barn Café. Don't miss our second-hand bookshop and new Reading Room.
Top trails
Parkland explorer walk (pink route)
Put on your walking boots and discover historic monuments, woodland and a herd of deer in Stainborough park. With 500 acres of parkland, you can have your own corner to yourself. Please note: you can complete this walk in either direction, following the waymarkers, but these directions relate to the clockwise loop.
Upcoming events
Bird search trail
As the gardens start to wake up after winter join our bird search and get to know our feathered friends as they prepare for spring. Flap your wings and explore the gardens with this spotter trail that is fun for all the family.
The Great Garden Nest
Something BIG is nesting at Wentworth Castle Gardens. Explore our giant bird’s nest and uncover bird-themed surprises hidden around the gardens.
Orienteering at Wentworth Castle Gardens
We've teamed up with South Yorkshire Orienteers so you can give orienteering a go any day of the year at Wentworth Castle Gardens.
Birdy drop-in crafts
Join us for some bird themed fun this February half term and get to know our feathered friends. In these family friendly craft drop-in sessions make and take home your bird themed creations.
The Little Story Nook
Join Hannah from The Little Story Nook for a pop-up book shop, family friendly activities and bird themed storytelling this February half term.
Social running group
Meet like-minded people, make new friends, and build up your fitness in the beautiful surroundings of Wentworth Castle Gardens.
Ranger Rambles at Wentworth Castle Gardens
Join the Rangers for a monthly ramble in the extensive parkland and woodlands of Wentworth Castle Gardens.
Spring Bulbs Photography Walk
Celebrate Spring emerging with a photography walk to capture what is sprouting at Wentworth Castle Gardens.
About Wentworth Castle Gardens
Working in partnership with Barnsley Council and Northern College, this estate, rooted in rivalry, will now provide a space to bring people together. Royal diplomat Thomas Wentworth was outraged when a cousin inherited his family home, Wentworth Woodhouse, in 1695. Known for his ferocious ambition, Wentworth was determined to outdo his rival, creating this spectacular place once known as ‘the finest garden in England’.
Wentworth’s wealth was deeply entwined with empire and the slave trade. He was one of the principal negotiators of the Treaty of Utrecht, which secured Britain as supplier of enslaved Africans to Spanish colonies in the New World.
Despite its turbulent past, this breath-taking landscape now provides space for relaxation, reflection and opportunities for people to enjoy nature and beauty. Today it is South Yorkshire’s only Grade I registered landscape. There are surprises along every avenue, including a castle that is not what it seems.
Note: house closed to visitors as it houses Northern College, which offers residential adult education courses.
History
The history of Wentworth Castle Gardens
Wentworth Castle Gardens, near Barnsley, was shaped in the early 18th century by Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford. His vision was refined by later generations who added to the grand house, gardens and parkland. After the Second World War, the house found a new purpose as an adult education college. The gardens and parkland were left to decay until the start of the 21st century, when a new heritage trust restored and opened the parkland.
Who was Lady Mary Wortley Montagu?
Discover the story of the woman commemorated by Wentworth Castle Gardens’ obelisk, which is among the oldest monuments in the UK dedicated to a woman based on personal achievements.
Changing the legacy of Wentworth Castle Gardens
Discover how the property went from a power symbol built on the proceeds of slavery to an educational centre offering life-changing education to thousands of people.
Our work
Partnership in Practice
Find out about Wentworth Castle Garden's unique partnership work with Barnsley Council, Northern College, and local community groups.
Our work at Wentworth Castle Gardens
Your support helps us to look after Wentworth Castle Gardens for generations to come. Over the five years that the National Trust have cared for this Grade-1 listed landscape, we have worked to restore the formal gardens, create new habitats in the parkland, and conserve important buildings and monuments.
Restoring the Union Jack Garden project
Explore how local communities have actively helped to shape the restoration and future of the Union Jack Garden, bringing contemporary identities to this historic space.
Support us
Volunteering at Wentworth Castle Gardens
Help Wentworth Castle Gardens come to life. Explore current volunteering opportunities on site.
