About
Berkhamsted Castle began as a timber motte-and-bailey raised in about 1070 by Robert of Mortain, half-brother of William the Conqueror, who had received the submission of the English here after the Battle of Hastings. Guarding the northern approach to London, it passed through famous hands: Thomas Becket rebuilt it from 1155, Prince Louis of France besieged it for two weeks in 1216, Richard, Earl of Cornwall, turned it into a palace, and the Black Prince spent his first married Christmas here in 1361. Today stretches of the curtain wall, the high motte and water-filled ditches survive right beside Berkhamsted station, managed by the Berkhamsted Castle Trust for English Heritage. Reviewers enjoy the moat and its waterfowl when it is full, and note how easy the castle is to reach from the station opposite. Dogs on leads are welcome. There is no parking or toilets on site, so use the station's charged car park and facilities, and expect the moat to be dry in high summer.
ClosedPick a day for times and prices
- Until 25 Oct
- Daily 10:00–18:00
- From 26 Oct
- Daily 10:00–16:00
Closed Fri 25 Dec
Today, Friday 2 October
- Berkhamsted Castle10:00 – 18:00
Free entry
From English Heritage's published calendar, updated 1 October 2026, with dates up to 16 March 2027.
PricingFreeFree for all visitors
Free entry for everyone
Entry
Free for everyone
Pricing details
Free to everyone; open daily in the published hours. Managed by the Berkhamsted Castle Trust.
ParkingNo car park
Arrive on foot, by bike or by public transport.
Parking details
No parking at the castle. Charged public car parks, not managed by English Heritage, are at the railway station and in the town centre. Very limited on-street parking on White Hill and nearby streets; park considerately.
Driving arrival: Berkhamsted Station Car Park (Station Approach, HP4 2AR), then walk through the station, whose rear entrance faces the castle.
Reviews & Tips
No reviews yet
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!
