Beeston Castle and Woodland Park

About

Beeston Castle crowns a rocky Cheshire hill with the remains of a fortress built by Ranulf, Earl of Chester, in the 1220s. Its medieval walls incorporated an earlier fortified landscape, and the exhibition traces human activity here across four millennia. A reconstructed Bronze Age roundhouse adds another period to explore before the climb towards the inner gatehouse and deep castle well. Reviewers repeatedly single out the wide views from the summit, while warning that the steep approach takes effort. Woodland paths offer another way to explore the forty-acre park, with places to pause and picnic. The castle's upper areas and woodland walk are not recommended for wheelchairs, and natural surfaces become slippery when wet. Dogs on leads are welcome. Parking is opposite the entrance, and a separate kiosk offers drinks and snacks with outdoor seating, useful before or after the climb.

CastleWalking routesDog friendlyParkingShopToiletsBaby changingPicnic areaRefreshmentsDogs on leads

Check today’s timesPick a day for times and prices

Until 24 Oct: Daily 10:00–17:00
25 Oct–1 Nov: Daily 10:00–16:00
2 Nov–27 Dec: Weekends 10:00–16:00

Closed Sat 26 Dec

Later dates are in the calendar.

Off-peak days are £1.80 cheaper for an adult.

Today, Friday 2 October

Off-peak day

Visitor access10:00 – 17:00

Off-peak prices, non-members

Adult£10.90 on the day£9.26 booked online
Child£5.40 on the day£4.59 booked online
Concession£10.00 on the day£8.50 booked online
Family£27.20 on the day£23.12 booked online
Family (one adult)£16.30 on the day£13.85 booked online

Book tickets

From English Heritage's published calendar, updated 1 October 2026, with dates up to 16 March 2027. Prices are without the optional donation.

PricingFree with English Heritage membershipEH memberFree entryNon-member£12.70

Free entry with English Heritage membership

Entry

Non-member prices

Adult£12.70

Child (5-17)£6.30

Concession£11.80

Family (2 adults, up to 3 children)£31.80

Family (1 adult, up to 3 children)£19.00

Pricing details

Standard-day walk-up price without voluntary donation. Prices vary by date; advance booking by midnight the previous day saves up to 15%. English Heritage members enter free; National Trust membership alone does not cover admission. Adult walk-up range: £10.90 off-peak to £14.50 peak.

ParkingParking not known

The Trust's page does not say how parking is charged.

Parking details

Parking for around 100 cars opposite the entrance. Free for English Heritage members displaying a valid car sticker; non-members pay. The current non-member tariff is not confirmed.

Named Beeston Castle Car Park result matches the official parking opposite the entrance, rather than the hilltop castle or museum listing.

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Walking routes1 route

Beeston woodland paths

WalkDogs, with restrictions

Path network through the forty-acre woodland park; normal castle admission applies and parking is separate. Very steep, uneven and potentially muddy, with steps; not recommended for wheelchairs.

Nearby

Chester Roman Amphitheatre

9.3 mi

Chester Castle: Agricola Tower and Castle Walls

9.4 mi

Sandbach Crosses

13.4 mi

Erddig

14.9 mi

Opening times may change at short notice.

Daily 10:00-17:00 until 24 October 2026; daily 10:00-16:00 from 25 October to 1 November. From 2 November to 20 December, weekends only, 10:00-16:00. Closed 24-26 December; daily 10:00-16:00 from 27 December to 3 January. Last entry thirty minutes before closing; check later winter dates.

Very steep ascent of about half a kilometre from visitor centre to the castle top. Wheelchair access to the top and woodland walk is not recommended. Uneven ground, animal burrows, steep bridge and slippery grass/stone require care; no climbing on walls.

English Heritage members enter free; National Trust membership alone does not cover this English Heritage admission. Advance booking is optional; bring your membership card.

Photo: Beeston Castle - Inner Gatehouse. Ihaveseenthings, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beeston_Castle_-_Inner_Gatehouse.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.

Dogs at the location: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on leads are welcome. Normal admission or the advertised opening arrangements apply.

Leads: Keep dogs on leads.

Assistance dogs: Assistance dogs welcome.