A Castle for the Community

As we prepare to open the doors for the 2026 season we’re looking forward to welcoming our local visitors to enjoy the castle and grounds, café and shop. We’re also keen to expand the Sudeley team and are recruiting for new volunteers to help care for the castle and grounds as well as share its stories.

Annual Pass

We’ll once again be offering our Annual Pass, which offers unlimited access during the visitor season, with no increase in fee for 2026 and local residents with a GL54 postcode can purchase this at a special discounted rate of 50% off full Annual Pass rates. Starting from just £17.50 for children (3-15yrs), an Annual Pass means you can drop in and enjoy your favourite corners of the castle and grounds as often you’d like.

We were delighted to welcome our Annual Pass holders for a free special pre-season day to enjoy the grounds and Adventure Playground on 21 February, a rare opportunity to see the castle out of season, and look forward to welcoming local visitors back throughout this year. Don’t forget to share your experiences, be it beautiful garden blooms or one of the castle’s exhibition treasures, with us on social media.

Café & Shop

Our Pavilion café is open to the public from 9.30am making it an ideal pitstop on a Winchcombe walk (or run!) or after school drop off. Enjoy enticing locally-sourced food and drink and pick up a loyalty card to collect stamps on hot drinks – buy nine and the 10^th is on us! Dogs are allowed in the café but please note only assistance dogs are allowed in the castle and grounds, no pets.

Our Visitor Centre shop has some superb new ranges for the 2026 season including honey from Harry's Honey, beekeepers on nearby Cleeve Hill, mouth-watering fudge made by Cotswold Fudge Co in Kingham and apple juice and vintage cider from our neighbours Hayles Fruit Farm. We’ll also continue to stock a large selection of popular products from Cotswold Lavender in Snowshill.

Volunteers

We hugely value the skills, expertise and enthusiasm of our volunteers whose roles vary from offering tours of the castle and grounds to getting hands on in the gardens or helping out in our Visitor Centre. If you’d like to find out more about joining the Sudeley family, please get in touch at enquiries@sudeley.org.uk.

Community engagement and events

November 2025 marked 10 years since we welcomed Stroud Camera Club to capture the beauty of Sudeley. We hugely enjoy hosting members throughout the season and have no doubt 2026 will produce some eye-catching moments.

We were delighted to be asked to be part of Winchcombe Welcomes Walkers' podcast with Jo Durrant delving into the story behind the Winchcombe Walking Festival, which takes place each May. You can listen to Mike Reynolds, our Head of Guides, discussing Sudeley's history and involvement with the festival (from 31 minutes in) online at www.winchcombewelcomeswalkers.com. We're also looking forward to supporting Winchcombe Party in the Park on June 27 2026. For more information visit winchcombeparty.co.uk.

As well as hosting castle weddings, the Chapel, St Mary's, also holds Evensong services, often with a cappella musical support, at 4pm on the 4th Sunday of the month from April-September (except in exceptional circumstances). The services are held in conjunction with the wider Parish of Winchcombe and Revd David Penny. Those attending the services can obtain free admittance to the church of St Mary’s by asking at the Visitor Centre.