The Keys to the Castle project

Thanks to support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Trust is investing in Bodiam Castle to reveal more of its rich history and stories for visitors to enjoy all year round.

Our vision is to unlock Bodiam Castle’s potential and shine a light on its hidden histories, bringing the castle to life and creating a fun, memorable day out for families. Guided by community consultation and audience feedback, we’re introducing interactive experiences that will animate the castle every day. Through imaginative storytelling and playful, hands-on, multisensory activities, the castle will offer fresh opportunities for both new and returning visitors to explore and immerse themselves in its fascinating past.

Visitors will be able to explore castle tower rooms, admire Bodiam’s picturesque surroundings, and enjoy interactive activities that bring medieval people, food, and artefacts to life.

We’re working with Corvidae, a creative design team dedicated to crafting experiences that truly connect with our audiences. Over the next two years, this project will harness the fairytale magic of Bodiam Castle to inspire even more people to discover the wonder of historic places.

Project Aims

The Keys to the Castle project has three main objectives:

1) To create enriching experiences for a broad audience by bringing to life the history of the castle.

How? By making relevant and engaging information permanently available throughout the castle.

2) To open additional spaces and improve site flow to enhance the visit.

How? By opening additional historic spaces and new viewpoints to the public and enhancing the visitor experience with waypoints, family-friendly maps and interpretive panels.

3) To engage our community partners in the project and work to conserve the castle.

How? By working with community groups to research, design, test and refine content for visitor routes to deliver a varied hands-on visitor experience and by delivering a community events programme with archaeology digs, talks, tours and opportunities to get involved.

Did you know? In 2026, the National Trust will have been looking after Bodiam Castle for 100 years.

This project is part of our plans to build a sustainable future for Bodiam and inspire current and future generations for the next 100 years and beyond to enjoy and care for 'the most castle-y castle in England'.