Arundel Castle

Set high on a hill in West Sussex, this great Castle commands the landscape with magnificent views across the South Downs and the River Arun.

Founded at the end of the 11th Century, it has been the family home of the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors for nearly 1000 years. Arundel Castle is one of the longest inhabited country houses in England. Many of the original features such as the crenellated Norman keep, gatehouse and barbican and the lower part of Bevis Tower survive. Between the 1870s and 1890s the house was almost completely rebuilt and the magnificent architecture in Gothic style is considered to be one of the great works of Victorian England.

Enjoy the grandeur of the finely preserved interior with its fascinating furniture, tapestries and rare collection of paintings by renowned artists including Van Dyck, Gainsborough and Canaletto.

The grounds, together with the keep and gatehouse, have been open to visitors since 1800 and the gardens since 1854.

Today the stunning and inspirational walled gardens include the internationally renowned Collector Earl’s Garden, The Stumpery; the hot and cool Herbaceous Borders with contrasting foliage plants; and the Cut Flower Garden and Organic Kitchen Garden that supply the Castle with fresh fruit, vegetables and cut flowers.

A rare lean-to peach house and vinery, originally built in 1850 by Clarke & Hope, has been restored to its former glory and houses exotic fruit and vegetables.

The sheltered location of the gardens makes it possible for many of the tender perennials such as Cannas, Salvias, Bananas and Palms to remain in the ground throughout the winter.

The Fitzalan Chapel has its own delightful garden planted charmingly in white, and there is also the Rose Garden, in what was once a Medieval bowling green, which has been newly planted with old-fashioned English roses.