About
Brougham Castle guards a river crossing near Penrith with a red-sandstone keep, a double gatehouse and the formidable Tower of League. Founded in the early 13th century by Robert de Vieuxpont, it was enlarged by the Clifford family and later restored by Lady Anne Clifford, whose life is explored in the exhibition by the entrance. Passages and spiral stairs turn the ruined buildings into an absorbing place to investigate, and the top of the keep looks out over the Eden Valley and the earthworks of the neighbouring Roman fort. Visitors often single out the staff's explanations for adding detail to the stonework. The four-storey climb involves steep, narrow stairs, although the shop, grounds and ground floor of the keep have level access. Bring a picnic for the benches inside the ruins and use only permitted roadside parking. Dogs are welcome on leads, but the land beside the river is private and inaccessible.
OpenSee all times
- Brougham Castle10:00 – 17:00
Opening times may change at short notice.
Open daily 10:00-17:00 until 24 October 2026, then daily 10:00-16:00 from 25 October to 1 November. From 2 November to 2026-12-20, closed. Check the official calendar for holiday and later dates.
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
EH members receive free standard admission with a valid membership card. National Trust membership alone does not cover admission. Ordinary advance booking is optional; special events can have separate arrangements.
Accessibility: Level access through the shop, grounds and keep ground floor. Steep, narrow spiral stairs reach the four-storey keep roof. Visitors with limited mobility may be set down at the entrance.
Parking: No on-site car park. EH identifies free roadside parking nearby; park only where permitted and keep the entrance and private land clear.
The riverside land is private and not accessible from the castle. Official baby-changing information conflicts, so availability is not confirmed.
Photo: Michael D Beckwith. CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brougham_Castle.jpg. Resized for display.
Dogs at the location: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on leads are welcome at the castle, but not on the private land beside the river.
Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on leads may accompany a ticketed or EH-member castle visit; there is no access to the private riverside land.
Dog walks in the surrounding area: Not confirmed. Not confirmed: no route with explicit dog permission outside this property was established on the official pages checked.
Leads: Keep dogs on leads in permitted areas; additional livestock or wildlife precautions not confirmed.
PricingFree with English Heritage membershipEH memberFree entryNon-member£9
Free entry with English Heritage membership
Entry
Non-member prices
Adult£9.00
Child (5-17)£4.50
Concession£8.10
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children)£22.70
Family (1 adult, up to 3 children)£13.60
Pricing details
Standard-day walk-up price without voluntary donation. Dates vary: this tier is £8.10 off-peak and £10.00 peak. Book by midnight the day before to save up to 15%. Children under five enter free. EH members receive free standard admission with a valid membership card. National Trust membership alone does not cover admission. Ordinary advance booking is optional; special events can have separate arrangements.
Standard-day walk-up price without voluntary donation. Dates vary: this tier is £4.00 off-peak and £5.00 peak. Book by midnight the day before to save up to 15%. Children under five enter free. EH members receive free standard admission with a valid membership card. National Trust membership alone does not cover admission. Ordinary advance booking is optional; special events can have separate arrangements.
Standard-day walk-up price without voluntary donation. Dates vary: this tier is £7.20 off-peak and £9.00 peak. Book by midnight the day before to save up to 15%. Children under five enter free. EH members receive free standard admission with a valid membership card. National Trust membership alone does not cover admission. Ordinary advance booking is optional; special events can have separate arrangements.
Standard-day walk-up price without voluntary donation. Dates vary: this tier is £20.40 off-peak and £25.00 peak. Book by midnight the day before to save up to 15%. Children under five enter free. EH members receive free standard admission with a valid membership card. National Trust membership alone does not cover admission. Ordinary advance booking is optional; special events can have separate arrangements.
Standard-day walk-up price without voluntary donation. Dates vary: this tier is £12.20 off-peak and £15.00 peak. Book by midnight the day before to save up to 15%. Children under five enter free. EH members receive free standard admission with a valid membership card. National Trust membership alone does not cover admission. Ordinary advance booking is optional; special events can have separate arrangements.
ParkingNo car park
Arrive on foot, by bike or by public transport.
Parking details
No on-site car park. EH identifies free roadside parking nearby; park only where permitted and keep the entrance and private land clear.
Follow current signs and any operator conditions.
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