Guildford Castle

Discover the history of Guildford's Norman castle, and climb to the top of the Great Tower for stunning views of historic Guildford and beyond. 

Guildford Castle is thought to have been built by William the Conqueror, or one of his barons, shortly after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Used as a Royal Palace, a prison and a private residence, Guildford Castle and grounds was sold to the Guildford Corporation in 1885. The grounds at Guildford Castle opened as public gardens in 1888 to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887.

The castle gardens are famous for their vibrant floral displays, centred on the 11th Century Castle Keep. Other attractions include a life-size statue of Alice Through the Looking Glass, a bowling green and music concerts in the bandstand. The town's war memorial stands in the grounds. Open-air theatre takes place in the summer months. 

Watch this short video of the beautiful castle grounds. See the hard work that goes into making the flower displays.  

Opening times

The Castle Grounds and Castle Cliffe Gardens are open by 9am throughout the year.
They close at 7.30pm in summer months and 5pm in winter months.

Castle Keep opening times

The Castle Keep is open seasonally from Easter until October. The Castle Keep will reopen around Easter 2025. Find out what's on in our other heritage attractions:

Guildford Museum

Guildford House Gallery

Guildford Guildhall

Admission 

Admission to the Castle Grounds

The Castle Grounds are free to enter.

Getting here 

Castle Street 
Guildford
GU1 3UW

Our nearest car park is Castle car park 

Guildford Station is a 15-minute walk away. 

Access Information

Most parts of the Castle Grounds are wheelchair accessible. There are areas with steps and steep slopes, particularly around the Castle Keep.

Guildford Castle Access Guide (PDF) [14KB]

A Green Flag park

Guildford Castle Grounds is a Green Flag award winner. The awards scheme is the national benchmark standard. It recognises well managed parks and green spaces. To win, parks must meet high standards and have excellent facilities. For further information and to find other Green Flag parks and open spaces, visit the Green Flag Award website (opens new window).

All Green Flag sites must have a management plan. You can request a copy by emailing: parks@guildford.gov.uk