Sudeley Castle

Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Cotswold Hills near the village of Winchcombe, Sudeley Castle is steeped in history. With royal connections spanning a thousand years, it has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England's past.

The Castle was once home to Queen Katherine Parr, the last and only surviving wife of Henry VIII. Henry, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey and Queen Elizabeth I have all lived at or visited Sudeley. King Charles 1 stayed here and his nephew, Prince Rupert, established his headquarters at the Castle during the Civil War. Following its destruction by Cromwell's troops, Sudeley lay neglected and derelict for two hundred years. However, its romantic situation and ruins attracted many visitors, including King George III. In 1837, Sudeley was bought by John and William Dent, of the Worcestershire glove making company of that name. They began an ambitious restoration programme which was continued by their nephew John Coucher Dent, who inherited the Castle in 1855. His wife, Emma, threw herself enthusiastically into Sudeley's restoration, at the same time forging strong links with the town of Winchcombe. It is the results of Emma Dent's dedication that is so evident in the gardens and exhibitions at Sudeley today. Sudeley is now the family home of the Dent-Brocklehursts and Lord & Lady Ashcombe. The family are dedicated to Sudeley's continued restoration and regeneration of the gardens, with particular emphasis on conservation and sustainability. As custodianship of the Castle passes to a new generation, Sudeley looks forward as it enters a new and exciting period in its history. The family are delighted to offer a Connoisseur Tour of their private apartments, please see The Connoisseur Tours page for further details.
Getting there and around Sudeley castle is 3km from the village of Winchcombe.

Places close to Sudeley Castle

Airports near here

Attractions near here

  • Hidcote Manor Gardens(18.2 km)
    Hidcote Manor Garden is one of England's great gardens. It was the life's passion of one man, self-taught gardener Lawrence Johnston who created his 'garden of rooms'.
  • Shakespeare's Birthplace(31.9 km)
    Step into the house where William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and re-enter the Tudor world. Newly refurbished, the house now offers visitors a fascinating insight into life as it was when Shakespeare was a child.
  • Hook Norton Brewery(32.6 km)
    Hook Norton Brewery is a regional brewery in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, England, founded in 1849. The brewing plant is a traditional Victorian "tower" brewery in which all the stages of the brewing process flow logically from floor to floor.
  • Warwick Castle(44.6 km)
    Built by William the Conqueror in 1068, Warwick Castle was originally a wooden motte-and-bailey fort, but was rebuilt in stone in 1260 and expanded over the following centuries. It was temporarily captured by Simon de Montfort in 1264 and saw action during the English Civil War, when Royalist forces unsucessfully lay siege to it. The castle was later used to hold prisoners taken by the Parliamentarians. It has been open to tourists since 1978. The town of Warwick is situated near the centre of England, 8 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon.
  • Oxford Castle(53.2 km)
  • Christ Church College(53.6 km)
    Christ Church is one of the largest colleges in the University of Oxford and the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Oxford. Located on St Aldate's it has a busy academic community of about 450 undergraduates and 150 graduate students.

Cities and towns near here

  • Winchcombe
    Winchcombe is a traditional English village located in the heart of the Cotswolds.
  • Cheltenham(9.5 km)
    Located in the rolling countryside of the county of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham is a fascinating town boasting picturesque architecture and unique shops. Cheltenham is also known as the 'gateway to the Cotswolds' due to its convenient access to this picturesque region.
  • Evesham(15.4 km)
    Evesham is a pleasant town on the banks of the River Avon.
  • Bourton-on-the-Water(16.1 km)
  • Alcester(30 km)
    Alcester is the quintessential English market town, an architectural gem with a lively community feel set in the attractive, rolling 'Shakespeare's Countryside', just seven miles west of Stratford-on-Avon. Situated on the River Arrow, its medieval street pattern survives almost intact, along with many ancient properties including the wonderful church of St Nicholas with its 14th century tower and the early 17th century town hall.
  • Stratford-upon-Avon(31.8 km)
    Stratford-upon-Avon, a medieval market town established in 1196, occupies a unique position in British cultural heritage as the birthplace and home of William Shakespeare, Britain’s greatest playwright. Key properties associated with Shakespeare’s life have been exceptionally well preserved so visitors can experience a real flavour of life as Shakespeare and his contemporaries would have lived it. Stratford’s beautiful setting on the River Avon in the area known as the Heart of England, its excellent shops, restaurants, tea rooms and pubs, and the fact that it is the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, all make it a superb homestay location.
  • Worcester(31.9 km)
  • Great Alne(32.5 km)
    Great Alne is a pretty village located just outside the town of Stratford-upon-Avon. The village is made up of pretty cottages and a fantastic 400 year old pub. The village has easy access to Stratford-upon-Avon, Birmingham, warwick and other towns.
  • Hook Norton(33.3 km)
    Hook Norton is a picturesque village located in between the town of Banbury and city of Oxford. If you are searching for a taste of the idyllic British countryside and quaint English village we suggest that you come to Hook Norton.
  • Carterton(33.3 km)
  • Charlbury(34.3 km)
  • Bearley(35.9 km)
  • Wellesbourne(37.1 km)
  • North Leigh(39 km)
  • Faringdon(41.9 km)
  • Deddington(44.2 km)
    Deddington is a small market town with a population of about 2,000. Location in between Oxford and Banbury, Deddington is on the edge of the Cotswolds and is a wonderfully attractive village with traditional stone cottages.
  • Banbury(44.3 km)
  • Lydney(45.1 km)
  • Leamington Spa(47.7 km)
  • Hereford(52.7 km)
  • Oxford(53.5 km)
    Oxford is one of Europe’s great cities, famous for its ancient university and outstandingly beautiful with its many towers and spires of golden stone. As a centre of learning and culture, it offers the visitor a huge range of cultural experiences. At the same time, Oxford has always been a thriving modern city with successful industries and great entertainment facilities, including excellent shopping, hundreds of pubs and restaurants, many cinemas and theatres and an exciting night life. This mix of old and new, of scholarly tradition and popular British culture, makes Oxford the ideal location for a homestay.
  • Coventry(59 km)
    Coventry is a city dominated by its stunning state of the art Cathedral, with wide pedestranised streets, modern architecture, good shopping facilities, fashionable restaurants, luxurious modern hotels, parks and gardens, theatres, and sports venues.
  • Birmingham(59 km)
    Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK. Birmingham is located in the central part of England and served by Birmingham airport, east Midlands airport and with a regular, fast direct train service to London. Birmingham is a culturally diverse city and an excellent city in which to learn English.
  • Blakemere(67.2 km)
  • Bath(69 km)
    The World Heritage Site of Bath and the stunning countryside surrounding it is one of England's most beautiful places to visit.
  • Bristol(70.2 km)

Famous People

  • William Shakespeare(31.8 km)
    Shakespeare's reputation as dramatist and poet actor is unique and he is considered by many to be the greatest playwright of all time, although many of the facts of his life remain mysterious. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire and was baptised on 26 April 1564

English links