Highclere Castle only opens to the public on selected dates each year. Here's exactly when, what it costs, and how to get there without a wasted trip.
Highclere Castle's 2026 public opening is split into two main windows. The Spring Public Opening runs across selected dates in April and May, timed around Easter. The Summer Public Opening runs from Sunday 12 July to Thursday 3 September 2026 — but even within that window, the castle is closed on Fridays and Saturdays, so it's not a daily-access attraction the way many other stately homes are.
Three timed entry windows are typically offered on open days: 10:00am–12:30pm, 12:30pm–2:30pm, and 2:30pm–4:00pm. Visitors are asked to arrive within their booked window rather than at a fixed time, since the castle manages flow across the three slots.
Two main ticket types are available for general visitors. The Castle & Gardens ticket covers the state rooms and grounds, while the Castle, Exhibition & Gardens ticket adds entry to the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars — the display connected to the 5th Earl of Carnarvon's funding of Howard Carter's 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb.
If you'd rather not handle ticket logistics yourself, several guided tours from London and Oxford bundle admission directly into the tour price — see the full list of Highclere Castle tours for options with admission included.
Highclere Castle sits in Hampshire, roughly an hour and a half from central London by car, and about an hour from Oxford. There's no train station directly at the castle, which is why most visitors either drive, join a coach tour from London, or book a private transfer. The nearest mainline station is Newbury, from which a taxi is typically required to complete the journey.
If you're not driving yourself, compare the guided coach and private tour options — most include return transport from central London, removing the need to arrange your own route to a fairly rural location.
Photography and videography are not permitted inside the castle or the Egyptian Exhibition. You're welcome to take photos on the grounds and in the gardens for personal use. Drones are strictly prohibited anywhere on the estate.
Large bags and backpacks aren't permitted inside the castle grounds and should be left in your car. A small storage area exists at Visitors Reception for those arriving by taxi without their own vehicle.
Dogs are welcome on the public footpaths through the wider estate, on leads, but are not permitted inside the castle, exhibition, or formal gardens. Guide dogs are the exception, and advance notice is requested.
Picnics aren't permitted inside the grounds, though visitors can eat them by their car in the car park. The on-site tearooms open from 9:30am and serve sandwiches, salads, cakes, and hot takeaway food.
Manual wheelchair access covers the main State Rooms and the Egyptian Exhibition. The upstairs gallery and bedrooms require unaided walking due to steep, long staircases, so plan accordingly if mobility is a concern for anyone in your group.