Ludlow Castle
Ludlow Castle
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Ludlow Castle is an unusually complete range of medieval buildings with a varied history evident within its walls. It is host to a number of events year-round. Castle House was one of the last grand mansions built in Ludlow. Restored in 2006 it provides a range of Independent shops, Chapter 66 restaurant-café with an idyllic outside terrace during the summer months; function rooms that are available for weddings and events, and 3 self catering apartments which are available for 3, 4 and 7 night stays.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Houlihan2Melbourne, Australia778 contributionsA must-visit experience!Built between 1086 and 1094 and situated on the River Teme, this Castle is owned by the Earl of Powys. King Edward IV thought it would smooth his relationship with the Welsh, if the two young Princes, Prince Edward (aged 12) and Price Richard (aged 9), lived in Ludlow Castle. When he died in 1483, the two Princes, aged nine and twelve, were summoned to London, supposedly for the older Prince to be crowned Edward V. However, their uncle, Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, is believed to have been responsible for their mysterious disappearance from the Tower of London and later demise, because he was then crowned King Richard III in the place of Edward V. We explored the apartments where the two young Princes lived. The Castle is in a good state of repair. There is a dragon in attendance in one of the apartments. There was a central round tower in the inner courtyard, called Mortimer’s Tower, that was built in the 13th century that was set up for a wedding on the day of our visit. The inner courtyard was also set up with games and activities for the school holidays.Visited August 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 29 September 2023
- SpinksCambridge, United Kingdom103 contributionsAmazing - one of the best castles to look roundAmazing, fabulous - it was really great, much larger than other castles in the country and a reasonable price to get in. Lots to see and the history of it was great (although sad to see so much pigeon mess everywhere - get a hawk in). So much of it to explore and dog friendly which was great. Steep stairs gave us a good work out. It is sad to see such magnificent buildings like this but fascinating also as you image what it would have been once. I'd go back again and again as I sure each time you'd notice more.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 4 October 2023
- BobSt. Neots, United Kingdom244 contributionsNumber one attraction for Ludlow.We visited Ludlow castle which was the main purpose for visiting the town. We parked at the park and ride which is free for cars and £2 per person ( £1.80 with a concessionary bus pass ), return, on the 722 bus. This drops you almost outside the castle and runs every half an hour. Cheaper and more convenient than trying to find a parking space in the town, depending how many are in the car. A visit will normally take a good two hours to explore properly and the towers are "challenging" for the less mobile visitor. Only the lower grassed areas are accessible for wheelchair users and those who cannot manage stairs. There are also some precarious areas when it is, or has been , raining as there is only wet mud to walk on in a few places and wet grass in others. A few more gravel paths in some areas would make it more accessible and a good deal safer. Despite this the castle is very much worth a visit. There is also a good gift shop at the exit. There is also a nice little market in the square approaching the castle but visit before visiting the castle as they pack up early afternoon.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 12 October 2023
- jamespotter1982Woburn Sands, United Kingdom38 contributionsGreat value for money for familiesVisited with two young boys (7 & 10) both enjoyed climbing the castle and exploring the grounds. Felt it was good value for money and took a few hours. Ludlow is a nice little town also for shopping and foodVisited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 25 October 2023
- starfish1909Beddgelert, United Kingdom105 contributionsHighly recommendLoved Ludlow and will be returning! Please do the history tour of the castle, really interesting, the volunteer guide is very knowledgable. The town is pretty and clean with loads of places to eat and a great market.Visited August 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 30 October 2023
- michael cooperPlymouth, United Kingdom253 contributionsA must in LudlowCastle is very close to the old town and all attractions are self contained within its walls. Great views of Shropshire from the turrets. Lots of information boards around the main castle. Most of grounds within the walls are covered by grass so stout footwear requiredVisited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 November 2023
- clairemwritesWiltshire, United Kingdom13 contributionsVery atmospheric ruinsReally enjoyed walking around Ludlow Castle on Christmas Eve. The booking process was very efficient and the staff welcoming. The castle is great fun to explore and it's worth tackling the spiral staircase for amazing views over the town and surrounding countryside.Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 25 December 2023
- Kevin T7 contributionsAtmospheric - You can touch historyI liked the fact that the ruins were not restored excessively and only walkways and essential repairs were sympathetically done. The ruins were in great condition and the weathering of the stone added to the atmosphere. The staff were really helpful and the 50p guide us a must! Clear to follow and explains each part in detail.Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 28 January 2024
- AL_reviewer_2014Weymouth, United Kingdom173 contributionsI am pleased I visitedDefinitely worth a visit. We bought the information leaflet for 50p with our tickets. It was handy, but there are plenty of signs up with details. You can climb towers and get great views of the valley. A fascinating place. The café/restaurant looked good, but we had booked elsewhere.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 25 February 2024
- Tony MDoveridge, United Kingdom47 contributionsAbsorbing experienceIf, like me, you’re a Yorkist nut, you don’t need a reason to visit this amazing castle. But it’s taken me 57 years so maybe you also need a nudge. Immersed in history this castle really delivers. The town itself is worth visiting. In many ways we should be grateful to William the Conqueror for giving us these types of castles in strategic places. Here you get plenty of information boards, 50p visitor guides for those with casual interest and £3 guides which really get into the detail. Richard III and his mum were left here while his Dad legged it through the west door into Wales to eventually return and secure the throne for his son, Edward. Arthur, first son of Henry VII died here and his widow Catherine of Aragon was married off to Henry VIII who wouldn’t have been king if Arthur hadn’t died at Ludlow! You can stand in his bedroom! So much to see and feel. Brilliant place. Enjoy.Visited March 2024Travelled soloWritten 29 March 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
2,065 reviews
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197
Poor
34
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Eat Well
27 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
We decide to take advantage of an early start Sunday and arrived at Ludlow Castle at 10:15hrs. We were met with a closed doors and another couple who wanted to get was somewhat dismayed. I decided to ignore the signs and went round through the no entry, tap on the window and speak to the staff, to find that the castle was open but for some reason they forgot to open the door. We arrived and took a leisurely walk around the castle taking advantage of the minimal tourists to wait a short time to go up the tower. It was a delightful and pleasurable visit very informative, however felt there is so much that could be done to generate a revenue and to encourage other people into the castle.
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.
Was4cats
2 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Having visited many times I was looking forward to the views over the river. There was a queue of an hour to get into the main tower and as it was raining, we missed this out. There was no access to the curtain walls at all or most upper structures. None of these limitations were stated in the written information. I’ve paid £15 for 20 minutes of very limited views of the castle. Not thrilled.
Written 25 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.
fortybefore40
United Kingdom357 contributions
Jan 2020
We visited on a cold and misty day, there's not much shelter to be had as all the roof have gone so just bear that in mind. Despite this we had a great time at the castle, there's lots of spiral staircases, and rooms to explore on different levels. The views from the 2 towers are great, you can see why the castle was built in the location it was.Enemies could be seen from far and wide. I especially like the round chapel in the middle it was beautiful and unusual.There are some information boards dotted around but its probably worth buying a guide book if you want to learn more about the place as the boards are quite basic and not in every area of the castle. There are picnic benches if you want to bring your own food and a gift shop. Its a great place for children and adults alike. Well worth the £7 adult entry fee.
Written 27 January 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.
Clare C
Salford, UK403 contributions
Oct 2020
We really enjoyed visiting this castle. 2 of the towers were open and the views from the top of these are amazing. We were here for about an hour and paid £8 each for entry to the castle and 50p for a booklet on the history of the castle. There is a cafe, gift shop, toilets and picnic benches in the grounds too.
Written 16 October 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.
Roxy
Birmingham, UK99 contributions
Jul 2020
We paid £8 per adult to visit the castle grounds. I felt this was very expensive for what you get. It’s very small, all of the stairs were closed so we couldn’t go up the towers ( we weren’t told this when we paid). We also noticed bits of litter all over the floor- which was very disappointing. One part of the grounds there were 5 carcasses of dead animals ( looked like ferrets?) they were totally rotten, so shows that no one is monitoring the grounds for rubbish etc- it was unpleasant to see.
Written 13 July 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.
twh2017
Manchester, UK46 contributions
Sept 2020
Very interesting castle. A visit takes about 2 hours and its worth its entrance fee. The cafe is a real treat with homemade type cakes and scones that are delicious. The pastry chef has a very light touch excellent.
Written 13 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.
Pete W
5 contributions
Jul 2021
Worth a visit. We paid £8 each (2 Adults) which was reasonable value for money. There are some great views and it's a nice place to wander around for an hour or so. It's mostly ruins though, so not good on a rainy day. There are plenty of tables for having a picnic or rest in the grounds. Could probably be improved with more information signs, detailing each room and it's original purpose. But, to be fair, that information may be in the optional guide book, that we decided not to purchase. Peter
Written 20 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.
hannah l
Crowthorne, UK31 contributions
Aug 2020
One of the best castles we've seen, Ludlow doesn't disappoint. Friendly staff took care to ensure social distancing at entry, exit and queuing for the Tower. There was so much more to see than we expected. We thought there could have been a bit more information on panels around the site but we could use our imaginations to fill in some of the gaps.
Just a quick note to comment that shop staff weren't wearing their masks correctly and didn't seem to understand contact-less payment means they don't touch my card! Otherwise, a great visit and highly recommended.
Just a quick note to comment that shop staff weren't wearing their masks correctly and didn't seem to understand contact-less payment means they don't touch my card! Otherwise, a great visit and highly recommended.
Written 15 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.
Andy S
Leicestershire, UK66 contributions
Aug 2020
Worth a visit if you're in the area and interested in English History. It's mostly ruins although many of the ramparts and walls remain, especially the inner bailey. So if you use your imagination a little, you can imagine how things used to be. Having the guide book for an extra 50p was well worth it, but they could set up some of the same information on boards around the place. It would help. Also the guide book has some parts of the castle missing and isn't all set out in a logical order. However, overall it is a good experience, if not the best designed user experience.
Written 11 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.
SalisburyTourist
Salisbury, UK245 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
We stayed in a castle for our summer holiday and it was truly magical! The castle apartment was in the roof so lots of slopey ceilings to consider and the kitchen was a bit small but the bedrooms and terrace all had an amazing view of the old castle and it really felt like we were living like royalty.
It was also great to be able to see the castle at night and all the rabbits that do a sterling job of keeping the grass under control!
Free access into the castle with our apartment was also a plus as we went more than once, could get there early to beat the crowds and/or plan our trip around one of the best Norman castles there is in the UK around the weather.
It was great being at the heart of the town, with free parking too. It was a great base to explore the area.
Highly recommend a night (or two) in the castle apartments!
It was also great to be able to see the castle at night and all the rabbits that do a sterling job of keeping the grass under control!
Free access into the castle with our apartment was also a plus as we went more than once, could get there early to beat the crowds and/or plan our trip around one of the best Norman castles there is in the UK around the weather.
It was great being at the heart of the town, with free parking too. It was a great base to explore the area.
Highly recommend a night (or two) in the castle apartments!
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.
Ludlow Castle
Ludlow, United Kingdom
We have a parking space available for disabled parking in our private car park. We would require sight of or a copy of your parking badge at the Shop
This parking is not available during festivals as the roads are closed and the space is used for the on-site Ambulance
Written 19 November 2018
Ludlow Castle
Ludlow, United Kingdom
There are several car parks around Ludlow, long and short stay. They are all within 10 minutes walk of the castle which in itself is a treat through Ludlow's medieval streets.
£5 Adult, £4.50 over 60 or student, £2.50 child, £13.50 Family (2 x adults 2 x children)
Written 2 June 2017
Will the castle be open for casual visitors on Saturday June 10th? I notice there is some sort of event on that day, but we just want to explore the castle.
Written 28 February 2017
Ludlow Castle
Ludlow, United Kingdom
Hi, thank you for your enquiry. The Castle is open to the public from 10.00am to 5.00pm on Saturday 10th June.
The Event is in the function rooms of Castle House which is totally separate
Written 1 March 2017
Ludlow Castle
Ludlow, United Kingdom
Thank you for your feedback. We are currently working with the Mortimer History Society on content for more informative interpretation boards and leaflets/handouts that bring in a human element as well as the history of the buildings that will also contribute to school key stages requirements so over the next few years there will be more information on both. Watch this space...
Written 14 July 2015
Ludlow Castle
Ludlow, United Kingdom
Dogs are very welcome in the Castle and Courtyard of the Tea Rooms as long as they are kept on a lead at all times. We love our 4 legged friends. We also have 1 apartment Sir Henry Sidney that welcomes dogs, so if ever you want a holiday with your dog you know where to come.
Written 18 January 2018
Ludlow Castle
Ludlow, United Kingdom
Hi Gerry
Thank you for your feedback. The weeds are a problem, but the wild flowers that we have growing in the mortar are not going to damage the walls. Every few years we pay a team of specialist abseiling gardeners to get rid of them, as you can imagine its not cheap but great to watch. We get rid of as many as we can within reach of hand and sprayer.
The photos are taken before spring/summer so are without the foliage.
Written 14 July 2015
opening times for Sat 24th and Sun 25th January please?
Written 12 January 2015
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