Sherborne Castle & Gardens
Sherborne Castle & Gardens
4.5
About
Sherborne Castle & Gardens is a wonderful day out. Visit our historic Castle and walk through 400 years of history, explore 42 acres of “capability” Brown landscape gardens.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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- Ruth BLondon, United Kingdom13 contributionsLovely landscape, fascinating house.Lovely landscape, fascinating house. Our guide, Tony, was excellent, very well informed and very easy to listen to. It’s a house which will capture the imagination of anyone interested in the late Tudor period, right up to the modern day.Thank you very much indeed for taking the trouble to right such a lovely review. We have passed on your comments to Tony who is delighted. We are thrilled that you had a lovely time and we look forward to welcoming you back very soon.Written 11 May 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 May 2024
- xxValxxHopkinsVerwood, United Kingdom11 contributionsOne of Dorset’s best attractionsWent 19/5/2024. Excellent day out. Value for money. Had lovely weather which always helps. Had tour of house and our guide Ben was exceptional. The house is lived in but we had access to a lot of rooms. Ben was extremely knowledgeable so much so we had to ask if he was family! He had a true passion for the property and obviously a huge appreciation and love for the artifacts. Lovely to have daylight in the rooms even though such delicate objects. The gardens were lovely and although some is wilded that creates a beautiful setting. Lake and waterfall were gorgeous. Nothing not like and at £18 was great value. Although no cafe facilities access is easy to garden centre next door and you get 5% off food. Although we took a picnic. You can not be disappointed - truly wonderful Val and Pauline x🥰What a gorgeous review. I’m absolutely thrilled that you had a truly wonderful time. Thank you for visiting us and we look forward to welcoming you back very soon.Written 22 May 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 20 May 2024
- petewilliams202358 contributionsLovely walks and tour of the ‘new’ castle.Managed to do both walks (each one about an hour if going slowly) wonderful views of lake/castles (old and new). Tour of ‘new’ castle takes around an hour with lots of interest for those who find tours fun. Garden centre at from entrance has a great selection of plants and a good tea room.Thank you so much for taking the trouble to write such a lovely review. I hope you enjoyed walking around the garden and I’m glad he found the tour interesting. We look forward to welcome you back very soon.Written 22 May 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 May 2024
- nickswlonTeddington, United Kingdom470 contributionsLovely tour.I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the castle. Our guide was very knowledgeable and made sure we found out as much as possible about the history. It is well worth the visit and I also recommend eating in the restaurant which is next door.Thank you so much for taking the trouble to right such a lovely review. I’m absolutely delighted that you had an enjoyable visit. Please do return very soon.Written 4 July 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited June 2024Travelled soloWritten 28 June 2024
- CakeicingladyDorchester, United Kingdom19 contributionsA very pleasant way to while away an afternoon & learn about some local history.We visited Sherborne Castle on a beautiful sunny day which was ideal for a walk in the extensive grounds. Parking was very easy & is adjacent to an excellent garden centre & café. Note that the castle does not have its own cafe. There is a short walk to the castle where you are greeted by one of the castle guides for your tour. We were lucky to have Ben for our particular visit who was very knowledgeable about the history of the castle & kept everyone entertained with funny anecdotes about goings on over the years! The castle remains a family home with many of the cosy rooms open for tours. We were able to use our Historic Houses membership for our tickets although the usual £18 for castle & garden entry is very good value for money compared to other attractions.Thank you for taking the trouble to write a review and for visiting us. We’ve passed on your lovely comments onto Ben who is delighted. Really pleased you had a lovely afternoon and we look forward to working you back very soon..Written 16 July 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited July 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 July 2024
- Sally HPoole, United Kingdom35 contributionsDelightfulWhat a gem! Beautiful location with immaculate grounds. With expert commentary by our delightful guide, Ben, the interior of the castle was brought to life. It felt like a home, which of course it is, but the extra anecdotes made all the difference. Very interesting and enjoyable trip which we would recommend to anyone visiting Sherborne. The walled garden cafe was well worth the visit after the castle tour. Helpful staff and excellent tea!Thank you so much for visiting our house. Thank you also for recommending us to the wider Tripadvisor community. We really hope we’ll see you here again very soon. Thank you!Written 16 July 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited July 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 13 July 2024
- BeckieBath, United Kingdom8 contributionsStunning grounds. And thanks Jill!We didn't know you couldn't view the castle without a tour (as we didn't research anything), but considering it's a family home, we understand why. However when we heard tour, we were quietly skeptical, as we have been on one's in the past that are very long and dull. But honestly, a special mention to Jill. You can really tell she genuinely loves the history of the house. She is a witty and knowledgeable historian, and despite probably having given countless tours before, she spoke with fondness and enthusiasm for the place and the family (and having worked/lived in Bath historic hotels and tourism, I know is a skill in itself). Stunning grounds and wish we weren't ill prepared for rain but would love to return to fully enjoy and do the full walk one day.Thank you so much for visiting us. Next time we will do our very best to lay on the sunshine. We have passed on your gorgeous comments to Jill who is absolutely delighted. We look forward to seeing you back here very soon.Written 29 July 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited July 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 27 July 2024
- Rob SJGreat Shefford, United Kingdom190 contributionsGreat place to come toMy wife and I had a wonderful time walking around the grounds today. We didn't take the tour so spent around 2.5 hrs walking around the grounds which were fantastic. There were plenty of places to sit down and have a relaxing moment. The toilets on site were well maintained and easy to find. I am happy to recommend this place to people.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 3 August 2024
- Nick P1 contributionA lovely and entertaining time.What a lovely day out. The gardens are spectacular. Can easily spend a few hours walking round. So well kept and interesting with views to the old castle. We also took a tour of the castle. It was really interesting and in such great condition. Our tour guide Bill was fantastic. So knowledgeable and humorous and tailored the information for the interests of the party. He turned some potentially dry information into a very entertaining tour. There’s no on site restaurant but the garden centre adjacent to the castle and gardens offers discount if you have tickets. All the staff we encountered were really friendly and helpful. I think we could easily go again as the gardens are so big and full of places to picnic.Thank you very much indeed for recommending us. We are delighted that you had a lovely day out. Please do come again and explore our gardens properly. Thanks so much also for taking the time to write a review.Written 6 September 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 3 September 2024
- Beechnut66Alton, United Kingdom39 contributionsWell worth a visitA lovely place to spend an afternoon. We really enjoyed the tour of the castle with the young man who showed us around. He was very informative and brought the place to life. The gardens were beautiful and well kept.Thank you so much for recommending us. I’m so glad you enjoyed the tour of the castle and the gardens. Please do come back very soon.Written 2 October 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 29 September 2024
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4.5
627 reviews
Excellent
376
Very good
180
Average
42
Poor
15
Terrible
14
N D
Lincolnshire, UK1,509 contributions
Aug 2020
The castle is currently not open but we visited the gardens. You can walk from the centre of Sherborne; it takes just over 10 minutes.
The gardens cost £9 per adult to visit and we had done it all in just over an hour which didn’t feel like good value for money. They were lovely but expensive for what they were.
The gardens cost £9 per adult to visit and we had done it all in just over an hour which didn’t feel like good value for money. They were lovely but expensive for what they were.
Written 5 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We must congratulate you on creating a new personal best for touring the whole garden in just over an hour! Oh dear I fear you missed out huge sections of the garden. Please do come back soon and make sure you take the whole tour the short and long walks together.
Anyway thanks for taking the trouble to write a review.
Written 9 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mr B
17 contributions
Nov 2021 • Family
We arrived by 4.30 as the organisers advised to get there early. A few (and very expensive) fairground rides and food stalls around. Half an hour and £70 later we still had 2 hours to kill until fireworks. We went to see the light show (in place of a bonfire for environmental reasons) and while the lit up colourful trees across the lake were pretty the light show was boring and underwhelming. Still just under 2 hours to kill with young children, so thought we would grab us all a hot chocolate, got to the stall and now what seemed like a thousand people around with queues nearly 50 metres long, so forget that! Now getting knocked around by all the people so decide to go back to watch the light show, kids now bored so start play fighting on the grass. Still an hour to kill. Kids now completely bored and want to go home (as do I but want to see fireworks as I'd paid my entry fee). Now 30 minutes to kill, so we decide to wait by the car. Kids want to wait in the car as bored despite mew toys from the fairground and suggestions fron me. All this time with extremely loud dance music playing for hours - all you could hear was "DUM DUM DUM DUM" all night. Finally, the fireworks start, 15 minutes later than scheduled. Kids now so bored they just wanted to watch them in the car despite my efforts to get them out. Now it's time to go before the thousands of other cars. A few leaving through the maze of parked cars and all of us reaching dead ends so several cars having to do 3 point turns as guided by other visitors with no steward in sight to guide us. Won't be going back next year.
Written 8 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your review I just need to clarify a few points. We host the event which is run by a separate organisation called smart events UK. Please can I ask you to email them with your concerns and they will be more than happy to respond.
Please can you contact hello@smarteventsuk.co.uk
Thank you
Written 9 November 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Thomas D
4 contributions
Jul 2021
Tried to visit the Castle and grounds.
Our experience was very similar to the many negative reviews dating back to 2014. Not learning from feedback are you? Judging from the regular responses to feedback from Maria, the problems are always the fault of the visitor.
No one at the gate to help with directions. No/poor signs, especially to the car park, we learned later from a rude man in a 4x4 that it is at the main gate;
As a result we ended up at the castle, looking for parking close to the building. In the current heat wave it is impossible for us to walk the distance required from the main gate, or up the steep hill. Ever thought of a golf buggy or similar to help us?
No help offered to find a solution, just a miserable attitude to a request for some disabled facilities. The DDA has been in force for a long time now, time to catch up.
So we left, very disappointed and astounded at the lack of any concern for their 'customers'. From reading other reviews I'm not sure we missed much.
The Castle missed out, because we wanted to buy 2 boxes of wine and have something to eat. Although the parting shot from another, cheerier employee was "that you probably get it in the Estate Office (by the main gate).... but we probably haven't got any".
Says it all really.
Our experience was very similar to the many negative reviews dating back to 2014. Not learning from feedback are you? Judging from the regular responses to feedback from Maria, the problems are always the fault of the visitor.
No one at the gate to help with directions. No/poor signs, especially to the car park, we learned later from a rude man in a 4x4 that it is at the main gate;
As a result we ended up at the castle, looking for parking close to the building. In the current heat wave it is impossible for us to walk the distance required from the main gate, or up the steep hill. Ever thought of a golf buggy or similar to help us?
No help offered to find a solution, just a miserable attitude to a request for some disabled facilities. The DDA has been in force for a long time now, time to catch up.
So we left, very disappointed and astounded at the lack of any concern for their 'customers'. From reading other reviews I'm not sure we missed much.
The Castle missed out, because we wanted to buy 2 boxes of wine and have something to eat. Although the parting shot from another, cheerier employee was "that you probably get it in the Estate Office (by the main gate).... but we probably haven't got any".
Says it all really.
Written 26 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Disabled visitors are very welcome. We have disabled parking slots in the car park. I am not sure how you managed to drive up to the castle and by pass the CLEARLY signed car park. How did you get through electric gates?? Puzzling. We have wheel chair friendly paths around the garden and lots of seating. Sadly, there are areas of the castle interior which are inaccessible due to the fact that it’s a grade 1 listed building and is on many levels. However,
We do provide a film/slide show which details all the bits which you miss. Over the winter we have made our new museum disabled friendly, we have disabled toilets and our tea room and gift shop is wheelchair friendly. Mobility scooters are welcome in the gardens. Wine is available from the gift shop, by prearrangement from the estate office or can be delivered to the Ticket box for you to collect later. If there are any other things we can do to improve a disabled persons experience we would welcome positive suggestions.
Written 28 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
bin45
Bath, UK4 contributions
Nov 2020
Lovely day out ruined by aggressive security personnel - visited Sherborne castle today from Bath with neighbour who suffers with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s and needs to be kept busy as lockdown has been very stressful and she lives on her own . We entered the castle as there were no barriers and the only sign I could see was one saying Sherborne castle was closed so we assumed that the castle was not open to the public but that because the gates were open and other cars were coming through that it was safe to drive around the grounds . Accordingly we parked up by the castle and ate our sandwiches whilst admiring the view along with other people socially distanced, before walking around the grounds with my dog. There were no signs anywhere saying that people without permits could not visit and no signs mentioning dogs should be on leads. On making our way back to our car suddenly a lady started shouting to us from a distance and enquiring as to why the dog was not on a lead and whether we had a permit to be on the grounds. Initially we kept on walking because of her aggression and then when we stopped and she approached I apologised and said we were not aware of the need for a pass and that we were leaving. Instead of accepting this the lady continued to come within the 2m social distancing requirement for Covid at which point I advised her to stop and be aware of the Covid restrictions re approaching people with dementia and other health concerns . I think she should have also been wearing a mask bearing in mind the age of my friend at 81 years.Because of her continued aggression I took a photo of her and said I would be speaking to the estate office about her behaviour. I also asked for her name and she refused. On speaking to a lovely young lady at the office she listened and apologised and we returned to our car to drive off. Suddenly a car drove up towards us and a second woman started gesticulating and when I explained I had spoken to the estate office she said she was the head of security at the estate. At this point my friends was on the verge of tears and I decided to drive to the estate office, passing the first warden who proceeded to take photos of my car when I explained I had made a complaint against her. I then spoke to the young woman at the estate office and she listened to me again and calmed me down after a dreadful experience. My mother who lives locally then rang the estate office when I reached her home because at this point my elderly neighbour was crying and a lovely day had been ruined by two aggressive members of your staff which served no purpose at all in these times. We will never ever again visit Sherborne castle and all I can say is that these two woman should not be working in front line jobs with the way they behaved today .
Written 13 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You knew full well that the castle gardens were closed as you say in your review that you passed a closed sign. When you were approached by our Warden who gently asked if you had a pass and please could you keep your dog on a lead you were exceptionally aggressive and rude. You were further abusive to 2 of our office staff and our security guard. We are prepared to draw under a line under this unfortunate incident. We are saddened that you felt it necessary to write this review. We accept the apology offered on your behalf by your mother who took the time to call the estate office after your visit. We have passed on your sincere apologies to the four people to whom you were aggressive & rude. We all understand that we are in particularly difficult circumstances during this lockdown. Caring for dementia/Alzheimer’s patients is very difficult and we we know that everybody has bad days on occasion. We just hope that you have had some time out and are in a better place now. Please stay safe and well and we will all get through this together with a cheery smile.
Written 15 November 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DaveBAmersham
Little Chalfont, UK1,338 contributions
Sept 2020
Went for a afternoon out on a very pleasant September day. The grounds and gardens are kept in very good order. Sadly the castle was not open as is the case with similar establishments throughout the country. The circular walk around the lake was a very tranquil and stress free task affording alternative views of the castle and grounds. Interesting foliage and trees on view throughout with a few statues. The cafe provided a excellent light lunch providing locally sourced food including cakes. Pricing very reasonable. Well worth a visit.
Written 20 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much indeed for recommending us. I’m thrilled you had a great afternoon. Please come and visit us again very soon and mega thanks for taking the time to write a review.
Written 21 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SweePug
London, UK104 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
Visited while on a short break in Sherborne. It was a shame, but because of Covid 19, Walter Raleigh’s house was closed. We did have a nice long walk through their idyllic gardens. We were there for 2 1/2 hours, so the £9 entry for the gardens is reasonable. The lake and the views it affords is a highlight. My only gripe would be that The Old Castle could easily be incorporated into this experience, rather than having to leave the Castle grounds, walk 15 minutes around the corner and pay again to see something you have already seen from the gardens. Had a nice, peaceful afternoon nevertheless.
Written 17 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are delighted that you had a peaceful afternoon. In answer to your gripe the Old Castle is in the custodianship of English Heritage and unfortunately we are too separate venues. However, if you look over the Claire-voire in our garden you can see most of the old castle ruins without paying.
Written 23 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
FamilyGuy-LFC
London, UK18 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Well worth a visit for all - if you like English history, it is a must!
The garden is a Capability Brown masterpiece, particularly in summer, admired by Kings and Poets across the centuries.
The rooms are beautifully furnished with some pictures and ornaments of such high quality that they could be in a National Museum, particularly the portrait of Elizabeth I. The Irish Elk antlers really should be returned to Dublin.
Built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1592 on the site of a Hunting Lodge. Sir Walter lost Sherborne on his arrest by Charles I in 1603 (his Native American style tobacco pipe can be seen in a glass case).
Charles I sold Sir Walter's home to Sir Digby in 1617, he then executed Sir Walter in 1618.
Through good luck and good judgement, Sir Digby's descendants still own and live at Sherborne some 400 years later - it is now a beautiful family home, complete with family pictures and cracked crockery.
The 'below stairs' exhibits are engaging, everything from bread ovens to man traps. However, the voices of the people from Dorset and India who were essential to the Digby’s living such a privileged life are mainly silent.
Overall Sherborne Castle is is a must see in Dorset.
The garden is a Capability Brown masterpiece, particularly in summer, admired by Kings and Poets across the centuries.
The rooms are beautifully furnished with some pictures and ornaments of such high quality that they could be in a National Museum, particularly the portrait of Elizabeth I. The Irish Elk antlers really should be returned to Dublin.
Built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1592 on the site of a Hunting Lodge. Sir Walter lost Sherborne on his arrest by Charles I in 1603 (his Native American style tobacco pipe can be seen in a glass case).
Charles I sold Sir Walter's home to Sir Digby in 1617, he then executed Sir Walter in 1618.
Through good luck and good judgement, Sir Digby's descendants still own and live at Sherborne some 400 years later - it is now a beautiful family home, complete with family pictures and cracked crockery.
The 'below stairs' exhibits are engaging, everything from bread ovens to man traps. However, the voices of the people from Dorset and India who were essential to the Digby’s living such a privileged life are mainly silent.
Overall Sherborne Castle is is a must see in Dorset.
Written 17 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for writing such an extensive review. Thank you also for highly recommending us. The voices of people from India, you note our silent this is because the family has no connection to India. We are thrilled you enjoyed the history. And we look forward to seeing you here again very soon..
Written 18 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nigel C
London, UK5 contributions
Jul 2021
Met family there last week and our visit exceeded expectations in every way. Courteous efficient staff, beautifully maintained gardens and relaxing atmosphere. I think the National Trust management need to spend the day there to benchmark their own declining offering and making an improvement plan to match Sherborne Castle Gardens.
Written 19 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is the sort of review that really makes our day. Thank you so much for your kind words, they are really appreciated. Please do come back very soon!
Written 22 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rach13H
Bedfordshire, UK741 contributions
Aug 2020
The gardens were an ideal attraction for us as we wanted activities while on holiday where we could maintain social distancing in an open environment.
Not as floral as I imagined it might be, it was more greenery, but nonetheless, it was still a very beautiful walk, peaceful and well kempt with picturesque views of both the old and new castles. The grounds were massive! I enjoy country walks and being by water, so this was the perfect setting for me. I particularly enjoyed watching/listening to the waterfall and being amongst the wildlife.
Covid-19 guidelines had clearly been very well taken into consideration particularly in the cafe area and gift shop. The staff were all very friendly and helpful.
Not as floral as I imagined it might be, it was more greenery, but nonetheless, it was still a very beautiful walk, peaceful and well kempt with picturesque views of both the old and new castles. The grounds were massive! I enjoy country walks and being by water, so this was the perfect setting for me. I particularly enjoyed watching/listening to the waterfall and being amongst the wildlife.
Covid-19 guidelines had clearly been very well taken into consideration particularly in the cafe area and gift shop. The staff were all very friendly and helpful.
Written 12 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for such a lovely review. We’ve gone to great lengths to make the gardens, tea room & the shop coviid 19 safe. I’m really pleased you had a lovely visit please do come back again very soon. Many thanks for taking the trouble to write a review.
Written 15 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrew B
Lincoln, UK12,153 contributions
May 2021
We visited on a rather wet late morning and were very impressed with the absolutely immaculate new car park which others could learn from. The very nice and helpful lady at the entrance said her hut was new as well. Entrance was free to us as HHA members.
Quite a walk to the tea room and loos which we probably noticed more because it was scything it down with rain. However we enjoyed a nice coffee and cake in the tea room where mercifully you could now sit inside. We did note there were plenty of outside tables for good weather, with lovely views.
i would term it more grounds than gardens in the main and we enjoyed the walks round the huge lake. We particularly liked the side near the car park so to speak where there was Raleigh's seat and a walk to the old castle. All the paths were nicely gravelled and we were really grateful for Pope's seat which apart from giving spectacular views across the lake to the castle, kept us dry.
Adjacent to here were lovely views of the river? running through a wooded area with shrubs etc. Memories of some gardens tend to become difficult to separate after time but Sherborne has it's own distinct features which will linger long in the memory.
A really enjoyable visit.
Quite a walk to the tea room and loos which we probably noticed more because it was scything it down with rain. However we enjoyed a nice coffee and cake in the tea room where mercifully you could now sit inside. We did note there were plenty of outside tables for good weather, with lovely views.
i would term it more grounds than gardens in the main and we enjoyed the walks round the huge lake. We particularly liked the side near the car park so to speak where there was Raleigh's seat and a walk to the old castle. All the paths were nicely gravelled and we were really grateful for Pope's seat which apart from giving spectacular views across the lake to the castle, kept us dry.
Adjacent to here were lovely views of the river? running through a wooded area with shrubs etc. Memories of some gardens tend to become difficult to separate after time but Sherborne has it's own distinct features which will linger long in the memory.
A really enjoyable visit.
Written 26 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for visiting. Huge apologies for the unseasonal inclement weather. Phew! The weather is now looking up and is more seasonal. We were tickled that you thought the garden had distinctive features. This is what we have been striving to achieve especially with our planting. Our aim is to make this a true plantsmans garden- we are nearly there! Thanks for visiting, please return very soon.
Written 28 May 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi
thank you for your enquiry. This weekend we have a special autumn colours event offer. Entry to the gardens is £4 per adult and Castle and Gardens is £8. Up to 4 children go free with every paying adult. We look forward to welcoming you here very soon. Please note that our normal admission prices will apply for the rest of our season. Please refer to our website for all additional information. Thanks Maria
Written 18 October 2019
Проводятся ли в окрестностях замка рыцарские турниры? Если "да", то в какие дни?
Written 23 July 2019
Please could you submit your question in English please.
Written 13 April 2021
Dogs are very welcome on the estate but must stay on the lead.
Written 17 December 2018
Hi there
There is a very large parking area a and even when very busy you'll find a spot.
Written 17 December 2018
Go into the castle drive, pay admission at the ticket box, you are then directed to the castle and parking. It is a large area close to the castle
Written 31 May 2018
Thank you. Just checking access for scooter users. I have read the helpful comments above and looking forward to the gardens later today. Staying at our friends hotel The Grange in Oborne which is a 3 star hotel with 5 star service. They have recommended today at Sherborne Castle.
Regards
Christopher Fox-Walker
Written 14 August 2016
Sorry for the late reply - you've probably found the answer out already!
It's a while since we went but I'm pretty sure there is access for scooter and wheelchairs but I'll be honest I'm not 100% sure.
Written 15 September 2016
harv122016
Oak Lawn, Illinois
I am doing a paper on the home of Sir Walter. I am in the states and need more info about the castle. I am looking for how many rooms and floors it has. I also do not see anywhere, pics except for the exterior of the building. I have been at it for three weeks and have almost nothing to show for hours of searching. Any assistance you can guide me to or give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much, Harvey Vail
Written 7 May 2016
Renzo1889
Paris, France
You can read “ The creature in the map, a journey to Eldorado”, Charles Nicholl, Morrow. 1995
A good description a the castle during S.W.R stay in 1593.
Cordially,
Written 7 May 2018
Hello, I am looking to visit the castle, abbey, and gardens this summer with my father, who uses a lightweight wheelchair. Can someone please tell me if these places are wheelchair accessible and to what extent? Thanks in advance!
Written 19 March 2016
Thank you for your enquiry. We can answer in relation to the Castle and Garden. The Castle can be accessed by wheelchair on the ground floor only. The areas which are inaccessible can be viewed on a slideshow. Most of the gardens are wheelchair friendly, however there are some steep slopes which are best avoided. The limit of wheelchair access can be seen on our map on the website on the gardens page. The tearoom and gift shop are wheelchair friendly and we have 2 sets of disabled toilets. If you need any further information we would be more than happy to answer your questions, please call 01935 812072. We look forward to welcoming you soon. Thanks for your enquiry.
Written 19 March 2016
Jim G
Bournemouth, United Kingdom
when is the castle open and what are the prices of entry to the gardens & house? also, are dogs allowed in the grounds
Written 15 June 2015
We are open from the 1st April to 31st October 2015
Castle, Gardens, Gift Shop and Tea Room open from 11am
Castle, last admission 4.30pm, closes at 5pm. Tea Rooms and Shop close at 5pm. Gardens close at 6pm.
Closed Mondays & Fridays but open Bank Holiday Mondays
For all our admission prices please go to our website. Dogs are welcome on leads in the grounds.
We look forward to welcoming you very soon.
Written 16 June 2015
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