Eating and shopping at Bodiam Castle

A table full of different types of sponge cake sliced and presented on cake stands ready to eat — Treat yourself to a slice of something nice | © National Trust Images/Oskar Proctor

The tea-room and café at Bodiam Castle serve a range of hot and cold drinks, seasonal meals and sweet treats. Whether you’re popping by for a takeaway coffee, staying for lunch or collecting supplies for a picnic, you’ll find something that hits the spot. From gifts and treats featuring the castle’s silhouette to second-hand books, shopping at Bodiam Castle has a lot to offer.

The Wharf tea-room

The Wharf tea-room and patio overlooks the river and wherever you sit, there's a great view across the Rother valley towards Bodiam station. Pop in to enjoy a freshly brewed coffee and slice of home-made cake or stop for a light lunch, freshly prepared on site. Throughout the winter, warm up with a full English breakfast served daily from 10am-11.30am (vegetarian option also available).

The Castle View café

Castle View café is a popular place for visitors to admire the view, with plenty of outdoor seating and space for your dog too. The café opens seasonally and serves cakes, scones and sandwiches for a quick lunch stop alongside hot and cold drinks.

Eating with little ones

You can pick up a children’s lunch box in the tea-room or café, and we also offer half portions of main meals from the menu in the tea-room. Highchairs are available if needed.

Sunny days and bank holidays can be busy but you’re always welcome to bring a picnic. Benches are available and you can also set up with a rug in the grounds while the children play.

Allergen information

Most of the food and drink served is prepared on site in our kitchen, using a wide range of ingredients. As a result, we can’t guarantee that any of our food and drink products are completely allergen free.

If you have an allergy or intolerance and would like ingredient information about the food and drink served, please ask the staff, who will be happy to help.

Always check when you visit

Visited before? We sometimes change our recipes to improve quality and flavour, including the ingredients. When you visit, please speak to one of our team to check the current allergen information for your favourite dish.

Thank you

Every cuppa or tasty treat you buy helps us to continue looking after places for everyone to enjoy.

A person in a National Trust shop reaching out and picking up a jar of jam from a shelf of similar looking jars — Pick up a treat for yourself or someone special | © National Trust Images/Rob Stothard

Shopping at Bodiam Castle

The shop is always well-stocked with homewares, accessories, gifts, books and edible treats. Look out for souvenirs showing Bodiam Castle as a reminder of your visit. There is also a wide range of castle related merchandise, from archery sets, swords and shields to soft toy dragons.

Second-hand bookshop

The shelves here are regularly refreshed so have a browse and discover that out-of-print novel you’ve been searching for, a much-loved classic or a new author to enjoy.

All funds raised in the second-hand bookshop support conservation work at Bodiam Castle, so come and see what gems you can find.

Donate your old books

We’re always grateful for donations of preloved books for the shop, and are particularly interested in modern children’s books, fiction paperbacks in good condition and books on castles and medieval life.

If you'd like to donate some books, please give the main office a call on 01580 830196 to arrange to drop them off or you can bring them in between 10am to 3.30pm.