This was our second visit to the castle. We loved the 1st visit which was some years ago. We were a bit disappointed this time. We had booked using gardeners world 2 for1 for 2 adults and 1 child. Upon arrival we were told the tickets we had paid for we’re eligible for free return within 30 days which is great but that would also mean we would have to pay for an adult ticket if we wanted to visit again. The information boards in the castle were good and our son really enjoyed learning about the history. We visited the cafe which was very sparse, only offering sandwiches, pastry’s, cakes, drinks and ice cream. I was shocked when 2 small coffees ( not barista made) and a cadburys dairy milk ice cream cost £11.30 ( £3.90 for coffee and £3.50 for the ice cream) The animal ark looks at bit run down and neglected ( what happened to the birds etc?) some of the gardens have been left to get overgrown and look a mess. We even spotted an Easter egg presumably left over from the Easter trail. I assume they don’t have enough gardeners/volunteers as it’s the little details that can make a huge impact. The knot garden would look so much better if the thistles were removed. To sum up, I am not sure I would recommend a visit to the castle due to the entry cost and prices for the cafe. I don’t think we will be returning within 30 days either as it would cost us another £20.

As Historic House members this was our 3rd visit to Sudeley. There is a rich history and lots to see although the exhibition needs updating and to be made more family friendly. We enjoyed the Knights School in the summer holidays so were hopeful for an engaging Halloween offer. Sadly we were very disappointed. The Monsters Trail was not a trail of activities or things to look for but some cobwebs hung on hedges and trees and a few other decorations. The Monsters Ball in the orangery was not an organised activity. The many families who had turned up in costume for the event sat waiting for something to happen and when it didn’t drifted off. There was some music but the 2 costumed staff did not lead any dancing, there was a story read from 1 of their phones but “it wasn’t finished yet”. The other staff member was scrolling on their own phone throughout. They gave out some ghost biscuits which was nice but the whole activity was saved only by one of the visitors stepping in to lead a spooky musical statues for the remaining children. There was an archaeological dig tour which frustratingly had been scheduled for the same time and we’d wished we’d done that instead. I’m not someone who writes bad reviews and I have given 3 stars to acknowledge that we have had good visits before. But this visit left me feeling I didn’t want to return, even with ‘free’ entry. The ticket staff didn’t provide any information about the events of the day and when I asked didn’t give me all the information. I could see this information anywhere else on boards or on the website, yet I was hurried along for asking questions at the desk. When you’re paying £20 entrance fee (which my mum who I’d invited paid), you expect more professionalism in the visitor welcome and family activities. Families like us have the potential to be frequent repeat visitors, spending money in the cafe and shop, but at the moment sadly there aren’t enough new engaging activities to keep us coming back.

The day was great, £50 for a family of 5 with a free 30 day return is great value. Lots for the kids to see and do, a brilliant play park and a falconry display which was excellent. The falconry had audience participation and the ladies doing the show were very knowledgeable and also allowed the kids to hold the owl after the show! Thoroughly recommend if you’re near by.

We loved driving through the village on the way to the cartel however we did manage to pass the road leading down to the castle which is probably due to looking at the buildings. We arrived around 3. I thought the castle last entry was 4 but was told on arriving it was actually 3:30 so thankfully we made it on time. It seems that there is a certain way to walk around with Lot of barriers up so feels very much like a one way system. We followed it to the castle then to the church then to the animal ark but then came out at the exit and had missed the gardens as it was like a route and if you pass it the route just continues with the flow of people. I couldn’t be bothered to circle again back to the gardens from the entrance as it was over 30 degrees. We stop at the cafe this was around 3:30 bit was told they only have cakes and crisps. We wanted proper meal and I asked if they could recommend anywhere local as we aren’t from around here and was told she isn’t from around here either and she didn’t know. So left quite hungry with a long drive to our hotel

It was our first visit to Sudeley castle and we were hugely impressed by how beautiful the grounds were. It felt magical walking around and everything was so well kept. We enjoyed looking through the exhibitions and seeing all the old artefacts and clothing, particularly in relation to Catherine Parr and Elizabeth 1. Our 6 year old daughter is currently learning about the Tudors at school and it was a great little immersive experience for her. The play area was bigger than we anticipated with a large wooden castle, slides, obstacles and a zip line. There were some bench tables to sit and have lunch which was great. We were going to eat in the cafeteria, however quickly realised upon entering, that it was far too hot and humid. It was cooler to sit outside! Unfortunately we were not able to visit the church where Catherine Parr is buried. There was a wedding going on at the time, which is a shame considering you are paying for the full experience and the tickets are not cheap. We got a bit lost trying to find the gardens with the animal displays in, but a friendly lady showed us the way which meant walking past the entrance to the church. A lady who seemed to be working at the wedding tried to usher us away which we thought was very rude as we weren't going near them, we were walking past and there were no other wedding guests around at the time. We thought it was quite unnecessary. With that being said we decided to give the overall experience 4 stars out of 5. We hope to visit again during Christmas time to see the Spectacle of Light.

If you are a fan of Catherine Parr like I am, it is worth seeing Sudeley, but prepare to be bitterly disappointed. The church with her tomb is great; the castle tour is very brief...6-7 rooms! They no longer have the mannequins of the six wives and Henry VIII. It made a great photo before. No longer can you look for the 'Twenty Treasures of Sudelely Castle' from the 2014 brochure; the rooms are closed. And you are told no pictures of the family, which I totally get, but they are placed in Every Single Room. Even if you try to take an overall picture of the room without focusing on them, NO! They loudly and ridiculously shame you. Oh, hallways are off limits as well! I took a picture of these funky planter as they were Winston Churchill etc....nope. Apparently that is too private as well. Why not simply tells us photos inside are prohibited??? I was so disappointed as I was there in 2014 on a group tour and couldn't wait to come back and see things I'd missed. Looking back, the brouchure lists many items to see in many rooms. Now, it all focuses on everything outside of the castle. After the harsh reprimand by the docents, my burning questions about ghosts and what happened to little Mary and Catherine's life with Thomas were left unasked; I did not feel the questions would have been welcome. I was there Tuesday, September 24 at 11:00, in case management wants to tell docents that their job is to be welcoming to guests..... I did end up buying the $5 book as I couldn't remember if I had one at home--now I have two :) Still, on a 25 day trip exploring England, this was my #2 Most Looking Forward To Place. I was gutted that it was the worst experience of the entire trip. To Travelers: there are plenty of taxis at the Cheltenham Spa train station to get to Sudely. I had the best conversation with the driver--it saved the day for me :)

We visited Knight School and the Adventure playground today with 3 four-year olds. It was brilliant; definitely one for the memory bank. The team running Knight School were very patient and friendly, with the rotation of activities good fun for all ages. It can't be easy to keep up the energy levels when in full medieval dress and the weather at 28 degrees, but you wouldn't know as everyone stayed in character and made us feel welcome. Adventure playground was also a real hit and I'd suggest bringing a picnic plus rug to enjoy and relax. Only slight niggle was the pricey gift shop which is cleverly situated on your exit and can't fail to entice children after being knights for the day. There was a 10% discount off swords if you'd attended Knight School, but the lure of a princess crown scuppered this offer for us!

So much to praise about our visit here today. A wonderful and well kept site and beautifully laid out. Plenty of seating for less able folk to rest awhile and plenty of information about the history of the site with films and display boards. With the added fact that Katherine Parr , the surviving wife of Henry the Eighth is buried here it just gets better. The gardens are worth viewing on their own and the horticulturalists on site clearly work hard but what impressed me the most was the staff and the way they dealt with a complaint I had. There are two eateries at Sudley and we decided that we’d eat at the second which is approximately half way round the site, when we arrived they had ran out of all rolls and sandwiches forcing my husband and I to leave his disabled parents ( who are less able) whilst we walked back to the entrance to buy food there BUT they too had run out of any rolls or sandwiches and only had hot food to eat in the restaurant available, this was at approx 1.15 pm so I was annoyed to say the least. When at these places you do expect a variety of food to be available and especially at lunchtime. I asked was I expected to now go and retrieve my less able bodied in laws and bring them all the way back for food and expressed my displeasure….BUT the staff, Isobel especially offered to make us a hot meal and bring it personally over to the other eatery where I had left my in laws and she did just that! Took my order for 4 hot dogs and fries , gave me a discount for the inconvenience and personally arrived with our food 20 mins later. Sam and Jack the two young men in the eatery we were in couldn’t have been more apologetic about the lack of food they had left and once we had eaten offered us free ice cream for our inconvenience. What a nice pair of lads! I honestly felt that WE mattered, and they couldn’t do enough to make it easier for my in laws. Honestly the best customer service I have ever rescued. Hats off to the staff!

On August 11, 2024, we visited Sudeley Castle and Garden. We arrived at 14:45 and were concerned that we might not have enough time to explore the castle, Church and garden as the last entry for the interior was at 15:30. Initially we had some difficulty finding the castle because we kept accidentally walking into various exhibitions within different parts of the castle. However, we eventually found the main part of the castle. The inside of the castle was lovely. Since the castle is still lived in and owned by a family, it was very well maintained. It was wonderful to gain insight into the life of Elizabeth, Lady Ashcombe, and her family. The outside, however, wasn't the best looking because it is currently covered in scaffolding, so sadly we couldn't get a good picture. The St. Mary's Church behind the castle was stunning and also very well-maintained. It also provided a refreshing escape from the heat as it was quite cool outside. The stained glass windows were beautiful! We finished our visit with a walk through the Animal Ark section of the garden at 3:20 PM. It was lovely to see all the sculptures of different animals. We would have liked to walk around more of the garden, but since it was very hot (above 30°C), it was too much to be outside for a long time. Before we left, we went to the cafe to inquire about their food options. Unfortunately, they could only offer us cakes, crisps, and drinks. When asked if they knew any places locally we could get any food they couldn't tell us anything. For us, this was a surprise. Every job we've known of has made sure their workers knew the basics about the local area in case a customer asked. However, maybe businesses outside of our home area don't require their employees to know about the area they work in. So I would I recommend bringing your own Food/snacks whilst visiting the castle.

We explored the amazing Sudeley Castle, steeped in over 1,000 years of history. This Tudor masterpiece boasts connections to royalty, including Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's last wife. The beautifully preserved rooms and exhibits offer a fascinating glimpse into England's past. We were particularly impressed by the stunning gardens and St. Mary's Church.