Hartlebury Castle Grounds
Relax in the peaceful grounds of Hartlebury Castle as you stroll around the historic moat. Encounter the Castle’s wildlife, take in the floras’ colours of the seasons and discover the wonderful variety of fruits on site including our 280 year old mulberry tree and the Worcestershire black pear. The Perimeter walk offers beautiful views of the Castle taking you across the Sunken Garden, Orchard Terrace and around the moat, finishing in the peaceful Old Moat Coppice.
The Carriage Circle
The Carriage Circle creates a grand entrance to the Castle, offering a picture perfect moment. The wonderful variety of flowers and trees adds extra colour to the scene, changing with the seasons.
The Carriage Circle was created in 1750 by Bishop Johnson so that his coach and six horses could sweep round to the door and be ready to leave without needing to turn around. Today you can relax in this open space as you catch up with friends and family over a picnic and the children let off some steam. In summer, the Carriage Circle is also used for our open air events, including theatre, concerts and car shows.
Perimeter Walk
Stroll around the moat and enjoy beautiful views of the Castle before marvelling at the magnificent poplar trees. Learn about the history of the grounds through interpretation boards along the route.
The Perimeter walk begins in the Carriage Circle before taking you down to the historic Queen Elizabeth Walk, where you can discover our fire sphere sculpture and see the outside of the chapel’s stain glass window. Depending on the season, you may also catch site of the house martins swooping over the chapel roof.
After crossing the Sunken Garden (once part of the Castle moat), the orchard terrace offers a chance to discover our apple and mulberry trees, and provides a stunning viewing point of the moat.
See what wildlife you can spot on the water and listen to calming birdsong while enjoying the scenery, before entering our wooded boardwalk.
Adventure Playground
Let the children burn off some steam as they climb on rope nets, zoom down the zip-wire and enjoy the slides. Relax in the beautiful woodland on the picnic benches or get involved, the playground is a brilliant addition to your visit.
Walk in the footsteps of Royalty
The bishops have welcomed many Royal visitors to their home at the Castle throughout history. Promenade along the Queen Elizabeth Walk, created for her visit in 1575 and stroll along the Orchard Terrace as King George III and Queen Charlotte once did in 1788.
Frequently Asked Questions
With information boards around the site and contactless trails that we will shortly be introducing, we recommend allowing 1 – 1.5hrs for your visit. A simple walk around the grounds takes approximately 45mins.
Yes. Dogs are allowed in the grounds provided that they are kept on a lead at all times.
There is a level access route to the adventure playground. Unfortunately due to the nature and age of our site, other areas of the grounds include narrow paths, stairs and uneven surfaces.
There are benches in the Carriage Circle, Orchard Terrace and Old Moat Coppice for you to relax on. However, there are no benches along the walk around the moat due to the space of pathways.
Yes. Toilets & baby change facilities are available in the main reception.
Hayley’s Kitchen at Hartlebury Castle will be running a pop-up cafe in the Carriage Circle, where you can purchase takeaway hot drinks and delicious cakes.
You are also welcome to bring your own picnic to enjoy in the grounds, however please continue to maintain a social distance from other households while doing so.
Our Grounds admission costs are:
Adult – £5.75
Concession (over 60s & Students) -£5.25
Child (aged 5-16) – £4.00
Family (2 adults & 3 children) – £15.00
Under 5s Free
You can either book online by clicking here, or you can pay on the door. Please be aware that grounds tickets are unavailable on event and partial closure days. If you are uncertain and making a special journey, we recommend calling 01299 250416 or emailing museum@worcestershire.gov.uk to confirm which areas of the site are open.