Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke Castle
4.4
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Sitting high and proud at the heart of the Isle of Wight, Carisbrooke Castle has been an artillery fortress, king's prison and a royal summer residence. Today it's the quintessential romantic castle, with plenty to see and enjoy in the fresh open air. Experience far reaching panoramic views from high castle walls, or wander the moat to discover King Charles I's bowling green. Enjoy the tranquil Princess Beatrice Garden and stunning St Nicholas' Chapel, all before meeting the adorable Carisbrooke donkeys. Book your visit now to get the best price and enjoy an epic day out at the Island's castle.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.4
2,272 reviews
Excellent
1,253
Very good
779
Average
173
Poor
48
Terrible
19
MDHogmeister
Godshill, UK102 contributions
Feb 2025 • Solo
Carisbrooke Castle is well preserved and irs origins date back to Anglo-Saxon times with many changes and additions since right up to the 20th century when the Chapel was constructed. There have been many notable residents during this time but it's probably best known for being used as a prison to inter King Charles 1 following his defeat in the English Civil War. Much later the Royal connection continued when Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s daughter, took up residence and there is a delightful garden within the castle grounds created in her honour. Within this garden there is a statue of General Jack Seely's 'war horse' Warrior who saw action on the battlefields during the First World War. In a similar vein the castle is home to several donkeys who operate the treadwheel to raise water from the castle well. Demonstrations are held throughout the day for visitors to see the donkeys in action. You can walk right round the castle walls on the battlements, which offer great far reaching views across the island, but the steps could be tricky for some and you will need a head for heights! There is also a nice tearoom within the castle grounds serving light lunches, a good selection of cakes and hot & cold drinks - the prices are a bit on the high side but, if your an English Heritage member, you get 10% off the total price of your food and drinks (as long as you've been a member for more than 1 year). The staff across the site are friendly, approachable and helpful right from the moment you arrive at the pay barrier/shop, when you're in the grounds and in the tearoom. The site is dog friendly, although you can't take dogs in to the museum, and there are plenty of water bowls positioned around the grounds for them to quench their thirsts. There is also a well stocked shop selling castle & historically related items as well as local and other produce. There is ample parking adjacent to the castle but you will need to pay if you aren't an English Heritage member.
Written 20 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
broganmc
Plymouth, UK592 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
We came across this Castle whilst driving around the Isle of Wight. So pleased we stopped to visit, which took us nearly 5 hrs to walk around, as there is so much to see.
You are greeted by the most friendly and passionate of staff at the ticket office, so much so, we decided there and then to join English Heritage after a very informative and friendly conversation with Bev. If you intend to visit several properties that are looked after by this organization, it truly pays to be a member, they even refunded the parking fee, our thanks to Nicky. Lightening Lisa was the lady who really deserved this title, as she was signing up members in a blink. It was simple and quick and I’d recommend doing so to keep these magnificent places of our history going for generations to come.
After walking through the shop to enter the castle you are given a guide to what you can see and do. We decided to visit the Chapel first where you see a copy of the death warrant for King Charles 1st. We then carried on to a walled garden , to which at this time of year is not so colourful, but worth viewing.
The bowling green is an eye opening surrounded by cannons in the corners, and used for parades too. All immaculately kept, a great place to have a picnic with a view.
We then carried on to see the donkeys who were going to be fed, so great timing, and a little later in the afternoon we saw jigsaw working the water wheel for a few minutes, with an excellent talk from Jill. Such well looked after donkeys, 2 which have been rescued, as centuries ago 1 donkey worked a 16hr day to provide the water from the well for the whole Castle. Thank goodness animal welfare came into force.
It took us a while to look around the museum, very informative especially the video of artifacts found and their uses.
From here we ascended the outer walls of the Castle to which the ariel views are breathtaking. There are step uneven stone steps with necessary hand rails, not suitable for mobility challenged people. It’s an up and down narrow pathway, but one not to miss if able to do so.
Refreshments are available in their cafe, there are clean and tidy toilet facilities and a rear picnic area near the donkey shed.
On exiting through their shop there are many souvenirs and samples of the Island’s Mermaid Gin, which comes in many flavours served by Mark. We had an informative conversation regarding the Gin, and also some amazing facts about the Castle.
This extremely interesting place is truly worth a visit, and our thanks go to each and every one of the staff we came across on our visit there, who went that extra mile to make it so special.
You are greeted by the most friendly and passionate of staff at the ticket office, so much so, we decided there and then to join English Heritage after a very informative and friendly conversation with Bev. If you intend to visit several properties that are looked after by this organization, it truly pays to be a member, they even refunded the parking fee, our thanks to Nicky. Lightening Lisa was the lady who really deserved this title, as she was signing up members in a blink. It was simple and quick and I’d recommend doing so to keep these magnificent places of our history going for generations to come.
After walking through the shop to enter the castle you are given a guide to what you can see and do. We decided to visit the Chapel first where you see a copy of the death warrant for King Charles 1st. We then carried on to a walled garden , to which at this time of year is not so colourful, but worth viewing.
The bowling green is an eye opening surrounded by cannons in the corners, and used for parades too. All immaculately kept, a great place to have a picnic with a view.
We then carried on to see the donkeys who were going to be fed, so great timing, and a little later in the afternoon we saw jigsaw working the water wheel for a few minutes, with an excellent talk from Jill. Such well looked after donkeys, 2 which have been rescued, as centuries ago 1 donkey worked a 16hr day to provide the water from the well for the whole Castle. Thank goodness animal welfare came into force.
It took us a while to look around the museum, very informative especially the video of artifacts found and their uses.
From here we ascended the outer walls of the Castle to which the ariel views are breathtaking. There are step uneven stone steps with necessary hand rails, not suitable for mobility challenged people. It’s an up and down narrow pathway, but one not to miss if able to do so.
Refreshments are available in their cafe, there are clean and tidy toilet facilities and a rear picnic area near the donkey shed.
On exiting through their shop there are many souvenirs and samples of the Island’s Mermaid Gin, which comes in many flavours served by Mark. We had an informative conversation regarding the Gin, and also some amazing facts about the Castle.
This extremely interesting place is truly worth a visit, and our thanks go to each and every one of the staff we came across on our visit there, who went that extra mile to make it so special.
Written 22 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IkarianHunters
Yeovil, UK60 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Everything about the day was fabulous. We easily spent 3-4 hours here & we are a family of 4 with primary aged children. The donkey film is a great introduction to the entire visit with a short overview of the history of the castle, the wall walk is magnificent with stunning views. The museum is interesting and there is a museum trail children for ÂŁ1 which kept ours interested so we could look at the collection as well and they were rewarded with a sticker on completion so all were happy!
Our children liked meeting the donkeys and learning about their role at the castle. We took a picnic but supplemented it from the tea room and despite it being a busy summer day there was no shortage of space for a us to find a spot to enjoy our food. Shop is well stocked, pricey but only as you’d expect. Overall a great day all round.
Top tip - arrive early, we got there shortly after opening and had no problem enjoying rooms and walks without meeting too many people. Some parts of the wall walk are single file and I imagine having to wait for people to pass at points may take away from the enjoyment.
Our children liked meeting the donkeys and learning about their role at the castle. We took a picnic but supplemented it from the tea room and despite it being a busy summer day there was no shortage of space for a us to find a spot to enjoy our food. Shop is well stocked, pricey but only as you’d expect. Overall a great day all round.
Top tip - arrive early, we got there shortly after opening and had no problem enjoying rooms and walks without meeting too many people. Some parts of the wall walk are single file and I imagine having to wait for people to pass at points may take away from the enjoyment.
Written 27 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glenn F
Lincoln, UK57 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
We visited with our two children aged 6 and 9 on one of the themed days. It was very hot on the day we visited and the slight change in parking meant a longer walk than usual, which caused some whinging from both kids. The entrance fee I think is quite steep therefore would recommend becoming an English heritage member and make the most of the other attractions on the Isle. We still had to pay a small fee due to it being a special event day however this was reasonable considering it would be nearer ÂŁ100 if we weren't members.
The grounds are nice and there some good view from the walls however there isn't much else to see and do once you've walked the walls. It's worth a visit but not if the weather is poor and you're paying full price.
The grounds are nice and there some good view from the walls however there isn't much else to see and do once you've walked the walls. It's worth a visit but not if the weather is poor and you're paying full price.
Written 7 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlexTheJock
Wigston, UK3,553 contributions
Feb 2025 • Family
My wife and I, both of us senior citizens, and both of us English Heritage members, visited the castle, and it was such a good way to spend a lovely February day. We spent some time in the buildings taking in the history of the place, this included the museum which has some really interesting exhibits. We then moved onto the walls where we were afforded an amazing view of the surrounding area. Then we joined the queue to watch the donkey turning the treadwheel, which was great entertainment. First of all, watching the staff trying, in vain, to gently persuade Juno to go into the building, before they gave in and brought Jack down, who went straight in. We then had a briefing about what we were about to see and how it worked. Then Jack did his stuff and turned the wheel which was fascinating to watch – we’ve never seen anything quite like it. After this we had lunch in the café, which was reasonably priced and very good fare. All in all, we spent a lovely few hours here, so it is definitely worth a visit and highly recommended.
Written 7 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RoebuckQ
Leicestershire, UK97 contributions
Oct 2024 • Friends
Following my rather disappointing visit to Blackgang Chine (see separate review) I headed north to Carisbrooke Castle.
This was much more like it, a real slice of history. There was plenty of detail and interest wherever you went, including many interiors, as well as a well-house and a chapel. The highlight however was clearly the Norman Keep and the walk around the Castle on the battlements. These are reached by some rather steep steps. You are amply rewarded however with some magnificent views of the surrounding countryside and the Castle itself.
I would suggest that the Castle should be visited in dry conditions, as the steps and battlements may become slippery when wet.
Furthermore, unless you consider that ÂŁ5.45 for a rather average sandwich, or ÂŁ3.75 for a cremated sausage roll, is reasonable, bring your own snacks. The tea and coffee were quite good though.
This was much more like it, a real slice of history. There was plenty of detail and interest wherever you went, including many interiors, as well as a well-house and a chapel. The highlight however was clearly the Norman Keep and the walk around the Castle on the battlements. These are reached by some rather steep steps. You are amply rewarded however with some magnificent views of the surrounding countryside and the Castle itself.
I would suggest that the Castle should be visited in dry conditions, as the steps and battlements may become slippery when wet.
Furthermore, unless you consider that ÂŁ5.45 for a rather average sandwich, or ÂŁ3.75 for a cremated sausage roll, is reasonable, bring your own snacks. The tea and coffee were quite good though.
Written 1 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RobfromTorquay
Torquay, UK86 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
The Satnav directed us down country lanes and narrow tracks, giving us a clear impression of why the Castle was chosen by Cromwell as a remote and secure lodging house for his royal prisoner. So it was with some surprise that we discovered, emerging into the sunlit uplands, that in the present century the castle’s setting is relatively urban.
Carisbroke Castle has a fascinating history, and English Heritage and the local history museum between them tell it well. The buildings have changed and evolved over the centuries, and the story comes to life here.
As so often it’s the little details that bring history to life. I hadn’t realised that Charles l’s escape plan failed because he was too large to squeeze between the bars. How different history might have turned out had he been slimmer. And neither did I know that Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice, was for over 40 years governor of the island and for much of that time residing at the castle.
Carisbroke Castle has a fascinating history, and English Heritage and the local history museum between them tell it well. The buildings have changed and evolved over the centuries, and the story comes to life here.
As so often it’s the little details that bring history to life. I hadn’t realised that Charles l’s escape plan failed because he was too large to squeeze between the bars. How different history might have turned out had he been slimmer. And neither did I know that Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice, was for over 40 years governor of the island and for much of that time residing at the castle.
Written 29 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
the_lucy_show
Southampton, UK114 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Although I've popped in to Carisbrooke Castle before, this was the first time I'd made a proper visit of it - and what an incredibly interesting day it was, with much more to see and do than I had expected. Starting with a donkey-narrated animation that (it's in fact Phil Jupitus playing donkey Jupiter) that whizzes you through an overview of centuries of the castle's history. We climbed up to walk right around the castle on the battlements, rewarded by stunning views across the island in all directions. We met a couple of the castle’s resident donkeys - delightful! We went for the daily demonstration of the well - usually operated by a donkey but their rest schedule meant we saw it demonstrated by an incredibly knowledgeable human. So impressed how she kept up a fascinating explanation of the well, its history and the animal welfare arrangements all while working the Tudor treadwheel. We spent a long time in the museum, which is packed with fascinating and unexpected artefacts and stories - from the bedroom where Charles I was imprisoned before his execution through to a very interesting display about the hidden heritage of the Isle of Wight LGBTQ+ people past and present. We had a very good lunch in the English Heritage cafe - compliments to the friendly young staff who did an excellent service recovery when some of the items on the menu ran out, we left well fed and contented. All in all an excellent day out.
Written 28 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
287Loges
Sydney, Australia570 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Well preserved walled castle in parts with interesting ruins and rebuilt features. The working well with the donkeys turning the wheel was very interesting and a highlight of the visit. Princess Beatrice’s ( Queen Victoria’s niece) gardens inside the walls were well kept. The chapel rebuilt in early 1900 was well fitted out with stained glass windows and period timber work.
Very good shop for souvenirs and some quality items like tapestries also.
Got in for half price with the Historic Scotland card with has a reciprocal arrangement with English Heritage sites.
Good close parking.
Very good shop for souvenirs and some quality items like tapestries also.
Got in for half price with the Historic Scotland card with has a reciprocal arrangement with English Heritage sites.
Good close parking.
Written 10 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
55mo55
London, UK247 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Cant really explain how I feel about this. Wonderfully preserved with the ability to walk all around, the donkeys and water wheel are excellent. But the Cafe is dull, packed with people but little seating and typical of English Heritage an uninspiring selection of fare. Great views for those unafraid of heights
Written 18 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello is this site suitable for a mobility scooter?
Written 30 April 2021
Lisa, you mentioned you spent the morning at the castle. Is a half-day sufficient? We won't be bringing kids. Thanks
Written 10 March 2019
Hi
Sorry for the late reply, I’d say half a day would be fine.
Regards
Collin
Written 24 March 2019
Yes, we even saw people with dogs walking the castle walls and crowding into the wellhouse to see the donkey treadmill in action!
Written 7 September 2018
What times are the donkey demonstations?
Written 7 June 2018
Hiya. I don’t work there I’m afraid so can’t answer with certainty but if memory serves properly there are several demos from mid morning to mid afternoon. I think they’re about every 45 mins? Could ring and check?
Written 8 June 2018
emma e
London, United Kingdom
Hi,
Can anyone recommend a pub/restaurant near the castle that is dog friendly and serves good food?
Thanks
Written 8 April 2018
8 bells, its just at the bottom of the hill from carisbrooke castle
Written 8 April 2018
Is there a tunnel from the castle to the castle pub in newport
Written 20 February 2018
I didn't see one, and I doubt if there as, but then I am not an historian.
Written 11 March 2018
Do they have an audio tour?
Written 29 July 2017
Hi Karen, unfortunately we do not have an audio tour at Carisbrooke, however there is plentiful interpretation on signage around the site giving info on what you are seeing. ^Matt
Written 31 July 2017
We are visiting the area in May. Inour party one older adult that walks with sticks and one one year old in stroller,
Would te castle be suitable for them?
ER
Written 21 March 2017
The ground level is spectacular but the steps do get a little steep although handrails are also there if that would help.
Written 26 March 2017
How much should I allow for exploring the castle?
Written 30 December 2016
A Tripadvisor member
Wiltshire, United Kingdom
You could cheerfully spend all day here! There is so much to see and do. BUT; it's weather-dependent. There is at least as much outside as inside, so go on a dry day if you want to appreciate the full experience.
Written 30 December 2016
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