Things to see and do inside Castle Drogo

Interior of stone building with old fashioned lights that look like medieval torches attached to wall — The Entrance hall at Castle Drogo | © James Dobson

Step inside the last castle to be built in England, overlooking the Teign Gorge on Dartmoor. Inside, you can discover its precious treasures, fascinating stories and unique history.

Open areas

Please note, certain rooms and areas of the house are open subject to volunteer availability and conservation work. While we try our best to have all areas open, occasionally we may have to close off certain spaces.

Must-sees at Castle Drogo

Whether you are on a whistlestop tour, or can dedicate a few hours to discover the incredible architecture and collection items we have in our care, the castle has plenty for you to explore. Our Collections and House manager has picked out some bits that you won't want to miss.

The kitchens at Castle Drogo dressed to look as though the servants have just stepped out. — The kitchen table at Castle Drogo | © National Trust Images/Dennis Gilbert

The Lutyens designed kitchen table

Designed by Edwin Lutyens and produced locally from oak and beech for the sum of £48, the table’s shape echoes the circular lantern above. The thin slivers of wood in the table top are a later repair, originally the larger pieces that make up the top would have fitted together perfectly. The table is accompanied by two chopping or pastry boards designed with a curved outer edge to mate the circumference of the table. The table has recently come back from conservation where the wood slivers have been refitted and the surface has been cleaned. You'll find it in the centre of the Kitchen.

The Char de Triumph tapestry on display in the Dining Room during the roof restoration project at Castle Drogo, Devon. | © national Trust/April Braund

The Char de Triomphe Tapestry

Designed in 1692, by Charles Le Brun, court painter to Louis XIV. This is part of a series of Armorial tapestries glorifying the power of King Louis XIV, known as the Sun King. Here he is shown as the sun with the royal crown above and on either side a pair of scales representing truth and justice. The triumphant chariot is crushing the snake, symbolising the crushing of the people’s rebellion against the King. As a portiere tapestry, it used to hang over a door in the French Royal Palaces, including Versailles. Woven at Les Gobelins Manufactory in Paris it took six weavers nearly four years to create. Today only a few Char de Triomphe tapestries are known to have survived and this is currently thought to be the only one on display. You can find it in the corridor to the Drawing Room.

You can learn more about the tapestry here.

Julius Drewe's teacup warmer on a white background — Electric teacup warmer owned by Julius Drewe at Castle Drogo, Devon. | © National Trust / Lynda Aiano

Julius Drewe's electric teacup warmer

Mr. Drewe’s interest in technology and use of clean modern hydroelectricity, generated down on the River Teign extended to warming his tea cup! This is one of many modern comforts enjoyed by Julius in his family home. Like many self-made men, Drewe loved gadgets and this wonderful brass warmer was designed to keep his cup of tea piping hot. Unlike earlier food warmers powered by fire or candle flame, this device was plugged into one of the 332 electrical plug sockets in the castle and powered by hydroelectricity generated in the valley below. Drewe was ahead of his time, as electric cup warmers are still marketed today as a novelty gadget.

If you fancy knowing more about the teacup warmer, you can click here.

Library and Billiards Room looking at the large bookshelves from the billiards table. — Looking at the large bookshelves in the library from the billiards table. | © National Trust Images/Dennis Gilbert

The Library and Billiards Room

The Library was one of the rooms most used by the family throughout the 20th Century. In combination with the Billiard Room it was used as a multi-purpose, social space. Tea was usually served here and it was also used for informal socialising in the evenings. The oak ceiling in the Library is mostly decorative and is intended to make you feel like you are in an ancient Norman castle. The wood is attached to the reinforced concrete ceiling. This ceiling was put up green - relatively unseasoned - and this has the effect of making the whole thing look older and more time-worn as the green oak has warped and twisted as it has dried.

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The pets of Castle Drogo trail

The Drewe family had plenty of pets, and we have some of them here at Drogo for you. They have run off around the castle and we can't seem to find them... can you spot them during your visit? There are six in total that need finding. There are two cats, two dogs, a rabbit and even a parrot. We need your help.

Find out more about things to do at Castle Drogo with your family here.

Highlights in the house

Download a copy of the house guide here
(Braille and a BSL guides available on request from the visitor centre and Entrance hall)

Library and Billiard Room

This impressive Library contains a collection of unique decorated ceramic dishes in addition to its many bookshelves. It also has a short, informative video on the history of the castle that we’d recommend to any first time visitor. Whilst you’re here, why not check out the Char de Triomphe tapestry, dating back to the court of King Louis XIV of France, just outside?

The Drawing Room

The Drawing Room contains two Venetian chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, purchased by Julius and Frances Drewe during their honeymoon in 1891. It also includes an old 1840’s writing desk that belonged to Frances Drewe, and before her, King Louis Phillipe I of France. We can tell this because of the royal Fleur De Lis stamp on it, meaning it was part of his royal household.

Drawing room with floral chairs and table set around a large fire place. The walls are green and there are two chandeliers hanging from the ceiling — The Drawing room | © James Dobson

The Dining Room

Come and see what would have been an actual menu given to the Drewe’s dinner guests on display, written in French as was the fashion at the time. The table is lit up by electric candlesticks, a product of Julius Drewe’s love for modern gadgets, and adorned with Venetian glasses bought during his and Frances’ honeymoon. The velvet curtains that protected the cosy atmsophere are very delicate, but you can feel how luxurious they were with the sample in the picture frame.

door opening onto a long dining table with the table laid and candles lighting the room. The room is a dark wood panelling — The Dining Room at Castle Drogo | © James Dobson

The Kitchen

The Drewe family owned a staggering 374 copper jelly moulds that were all kept in their state of the art kitchen (and still are now). The real moulds tarnish from oils on your hand, but we have replicas so you can feel what they would have been like to work with. The room itself was designed by Lutyens and its modern design was the envy of many other manor houses at the time. A dumb waiter was included for the servants to send food directly up to the Drewe’s rooms.

Frances Drewe’s Boudoir

Frances Drewe’s Boudoir was her own private sitting room to relax in, and currently holds some possessions related to her two daughters, Mary and Frances. One of which is Mary Drewe’s teddy bear from when she was a child, which is currently over 120 years old.

The Memorial Room

The Memorial Room was originally set up by Frances Drewe when her oldest son, Adrian Drewe, was killed fighting in the First World War in 1917. She displayed many of his personal possessions, school photos and college trophies alongside a large portrait showing him in military uniform.

Large half circle window in a granite room with tables and a wooden sink. There are stone pillars around the room — Scullery at Castle Drogo | © Chris Davies

The Chapel

The Chapel was the last part of the castle to be built, with construction finishing in 1930, and is a good place to stop and reflect during a visit. The ceiling is quite low and rounded, and it holds a model replica of the Thiepval Memorial designed by Lutyens to commemorate British and South African soldiers lost in the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

The Nursery Exhibition

To celebrate our 50 year anniversary of being open to the public, the Nursery Exhibition in the Night Nursery has been updated to explore how things have changed from the 1920s to the 2020s. From Castle Drogo specifics, to aspects of the wider world - explore the displays that discuss the evolution of life at Drogo.

The Day Nursery has displays on toys that the Drewe family had for their children. The display includes a rocker that has recently come back from conservation, a precursor top the modern table football game, and — star of the show Mary Drewe's dollhouse (complete with running water and working electricity).

Please note the Nursery is not open everyday.

The Disco Room

To help celebrate our 50 year anniversary, we are going all out 70s in the undercroft. Strobe lights, disco balls, and classic tunes are what the disco room is all about. Don't miss it on your trip around the castle. It's the perfect place for a break and a boogie.

A wood panelled room with a large wooden dolls house in the centre there are rugs on the floor and a green sofa behind the dolls house — Mary Drew's doll house | © James Dobson

Behind the scenes tours up to the roof

Join this behind the scenes tour to visit the south roof of Castle Drogo. Discover more about the castle's design, its story and its place in the Dartmoor landscape.

This guided tour will take you up through the top corridors of the castle and onto the southern roof. You will see the design of this area up close and (Dartmoor weather depending) see the breathtaking views across the landscape.

You have to be over 1.2 metres tall to join the tour as well as be physically fit, have a head for heights and be wearing sturdy footwear. Tickets can only be purchased on the day from the visitor centre, first come first served. The tours are subject to weather conditions on the day so may have to be cancelled at the last minute.

Learn more about behind the scenes tours here.