Arundel Castle & Village Day Trip

A full-day coach tour visiting Arundel Castle, one of England's best-preserved Norman castles dating to 1067, plus three hours exploring the medieval town of Arundel. You'll tour 40 rooms of the castle interior, walk through manicured grounds overlooking the River Arun, browse antique shops along the steep High Street, and visit Arundel Cathedral. The village retains original 14th-century street layout with period buildings housing independent retailers. Best for castle enthusiasts and history buffs. This is a easy activity lasting 7 hours. Group size: 2-50. You meet at Churchill Square bus station. Key highlights: Norman keep dating to 1067 with 360-degree views over Sussex Weald, 40 castle rooms including State Dining Room with Gainsborough paintings, Medieval High Street with independent antique dealers and galleries.

Price: £52

Duration: 7 hours

Difficulty: easy

Group size: 2-50

Minimum age: all ages

Best for: castle enthusiasts and history buffs

Best time: May-September for warm weather and full castle opening. April and October offer smaller crowds but some castle rooms may have limited hours. Avoid school holidays (Easter, summer) for quieter experience.

Meeting point: Churchill Square bus station

Languages: English

Here is how the experience unfolds:

8:30am Meet at Churchill Square bus station, coach departure - Confirm your seat number on boarding; group briefing on return time (5:30pm).

8:30am-10:00am Coach drive to Arundel via A29 and A27 - Approximately 17 miles; guide provides history of the Fitzalan and Dukes of Norfolk families who own the castle.

10:15am-12:45pm Guided tour of Arundel Castle interior and grounds - 40 rooms open including library, kitchen, and bedrooms; grounds feature herbaceous borders and river views. Tour takes 2.5 hours including photo stops.

1:00pm-3:00pm Free time in Arundel town centre for lunch and shopping - Steep High Street has 15+ antique shops, galleries, and cafes. Most shops open 10am-5pm Monday-Saturday.

3:00pm-3:30pm Optional visit to Arundel Cathedral or riverside walk - Cathedral entry is free; riverside walk covers 0.5 miles with swan feeding spots (bring bread).

3:45pm-5:30pm Coach return to Brighton via A27 - Final stop at a motorway service station (15 minutes) before arriving back at Churchill Square.

The whole experience takes 7 hours. Difficulty: easy. You meet at Churchill Square bus station.

• Norman keep dating to 1067 with 360-degree views over Sussex Weald
• 40 castle rooms including State Dining Room with Gainsborough paintings
• Medieval High Street with independent antique dealers and galleries
• Arundel Cathedral with intricate Victorian Gothic architecture
• River Arun valley views and riverside walking paths
• Accessibility: Castle has steep stone stairs and uneven floors; not fully wheelchair accessible (ground floor only). Town High Street has steep 1-in-4 gradient. Coach has wheelchair lift. Notify operator at booking.

What is included: Return coach transport from Churchill Square, Arundel Castle entry ticket, Professional guide for castle tour (1.5 hours), Castle grounds access and photo opportunities, Coach tea/coffee service.

Not included: Meals (except tea/coffee), Antique purchases or shopping, Arundel Cathedral donation (suggested £2), Car parking (included with coach transport), Souvenir purchases from castle gift shop. You will need to arrange these yourself.

What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes (steep cobbled High Street), Cash for antique shopping (some dealers cash-only), Camera for castle exterior and river views, Light jacket (castle interiors are cool even in summer), Sunglasses for afternoon shopping, Reusable water bottle (fountains in castle grounds). Having these with you makes the experience smoother.

Best time to go: May-September for warm weather and full castle opening. April and October offer smaller crowds but some castle rooms may have limited hours. Avoid school holidays (Easter, summer) for quieter experience..

Tip: Castle entry included in price

Tip: Great for antique shopping

Accessibility: Castle has steep stone stairs and uneven floors; not fully wheelchair accessible (ground floor only). Town High Street has steep 1-in-4 gradient. Coach has wheelchair lift. Notify operator at booking..

Operator: Sussex Heritage Tours

After this activity, these are within easy reach:

• Devil's Dyke (5 miles north, alternative day trip destination walk)
• Brighton Pier (Return point after tour, 17 miles south walk)

This activity is run by Sussex Heritage Tours.

Cancellation policy: Free cancellation up to 72 hours before departure. Cancellations 24-72 hours prior incur £10 fee. No refunds within 24 hours..

Accessibility: Castle has steep stone stairs and uneven floors; not fully wheelchair accessible (ground floor only). Town High Street has steep 1-in-4 gradient. Coach has wheelchair lift. Notify operator at booking..

Best time to go: May-September for warm weather and full castle opening. April and October offer smaller crowds but some castle rooms may have limited hours. Avoid school holidays (Easter, summer) for quieter experience..

Are the castle stairs manageable?

Castle interiors include 3-4 flights of narrow stone spiral stairs per floor. Steps are worn and uneven. Ground floor (kitchen, dining rooms) is accessible without stairs. First and second floors require moderate fitness and are not recommended for those with mobility issues. Handrails are present but limited.

What time is lunch?

No dedicated lunch break is scheduled; you have 2 hours free time (1-3pm) in Arundel town centre to eat and shop. Restaurants and cafes cluster around the High Street and riverside. Prices range from £6 (fish & chips) to £16 (seated restaurant). Book restaurants in advance during summer weekends.

Do I have to buy anything at the castle gift shop?

No, the gift shop is optional. It stocks books, postcards, and branded items (£2-£25). Photography inside castle rooms is permitted. No special exhibitions or additional fees apply beyond the included entry ticket.