About
Wolvesey Castle was the principal medieval residence of Winchester's bishops, powerful figures whose connections reached into the royal court. Much of the surviving palace dates from the 12th-century building campaign of Henry of Blois, King Stephen's brother. Its ruined rooms and walls stand close to Winchester Cathedral, making the relationship between ecclesiastical wealth and political influence easy to appreciate. The East Hall hosted the wedding banquet of Queen Mary and Philip of Spain in 1554, a final great occasion in the palace's story. Reviewers enjoy the quiet setting and the information boards that help reconstruct the buildings in imagination. Dogs are welcome on leads. Enter from College Street and use the city's public car parks; the ground can become muddy or flooded after heavy rain, and the site may close at short notice.
ClosedSee all times
- Wolvesey Castle (Old Bishop's Palace)10:00 – 17:00
Opening times may change at short notice.
Daily 10am-5pm from April to September, 10am-4pm from October to March.
Heavy rain can cause closure without a website update. Enter from College Street.
Ordinary access is free to everyone; no membership is required. Separate tours, events and parking may have charges.
Accessibility: Uneven ground can become muddy or flood after heavy rain. The site may close at short notice, so check the official page before travelling.
Parking: No EH parking; Colebrook Street public car park is about a five-minute walk away. Charges and current tariff are not confirmed here.
Dogs at the location: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on leads are welcome in the palace ruins and grounds.
Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on leads are welcome in the palace ruins and grounds. Ordinary grounds access is free.
Dog walks in the surrounding area: Not confirmed. Not confirmed: no separate research into surrounding dog walks was undertaken.
Leads: Leads required; livestock and wildlife precautions not separately confirmed.
Seasonal dog restrictions: Not confirmed: no separate seasonal dog restrictions stated.
Assistance dogs: Not confirmed separately in the visitor guidance used for this record.
PricingFreeFree for all visitors
Free entry for everyone
Entry
Free for everyone
Pricing details
Ordinary access is free to everyone; no membership is required. Separate tours, events and parking may have charges.
ParkingParking not known
The Trust's page does not say how parking is charged.
Parking details
No EH parking; Colebrook Street public car park is about a five-minute walk away. Charges and current tariff are not confirmed here.
Driving arrival: Colebrook Street Car Park. Named parking or public approach compared with the official visitor guidance.
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