Castle

Baconsthorpe Castle

High Kelling, Norfolk
Directions
  • Open
  • Free entry
  • Dogs in the grounds
  • Parking on site, free for members
  • English Heritage
Baconsthorpe Castle: Panorama of inside of the castle.
Photo: Sam Hunt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Quick answer

Checked 14 Oct 2026

Baconsthorpe Castle is a castle near High Kelling, Norfolk, managed by English Heritage. Entry is free. Dogs on a lead are welcome in the grounds but not inside. There is a members' car park on site.

Baconsthorpe Castle opening times

Last checked 15 Oct 2026
  1. Mon 12 Not listed
  2. Tue 13 Not listed
  3. Wed 14 Not listed
  4. Today Thu 15 Not listed
  5. Fri 16 Not listed
  6. Sat 17 Not listed
  7. Sun 18 Not listed
Opening times by season
Season Dates Days Hours Last entry
Autumn/winter 2026-27 (calendar, every week read) 19 Oct to 16 Mar
Daily
10:00 to 16:00
 n/a

Closed on 25 Dec.

Check current times on the official site

Getting to Baconsthorpe Castle and parking

Plan your route

These open in your own maps app. Nothing is sent from this page until you choose one.

Directions to Baconsthorpe Castle View on a map
Parking
Car park on site, free for members. £2 for non-members, pay by text; free for members with valid EH car sticker.
By train
Entrance2 is 34 miles away.
Public transport
Sanders 16 (Tue, Fri) or 17 (Thu); Aldborough Community Bus 8 (Fri); NS2 (Wed) serve the village.

Dogs, accessibility and facilities

Dogs

Partly
  • Welcome: in the grounds.
  • Not allowed: inside the buildings.
  • Leads: dogs must be kept on a lead.
  • Dogs on leads welcome; open ruin, nothing about inside buildings, so lesser value chosen.

Accessibility

Partly step-free
  • Step-free: in parts of the site.
  • Paths and surfaces: Gravel paths and grass, some uneven, muddy when wet; narrow gate to inner castle.
  • Accessible toilet: no.
  • Changing Places toilet: no.

Food and facilities

  • Audio guide Yes

What to see at Baconsthorpe Castle

  • 01

    Gatehouse

    The fortified main entrance.

  • 02

    Moat

    A ditch, wet or dry, around the walls.

  • 03

    Gardens

    Gardens you can walk around.

History of Baconsthorpe Castle

  1. c.1450 Built as the Heydon family's main residence
  2. 1561 Outer gatehouse and a park built
  3. 1579 Sir Christopher Heydon I dies in debt; parts of the estate sold
  4. 1650 Debts force demolition of much of the castle
  5. 1920 A turret of the outer gatehouse collapses; occupation ends

Photos

Castles near Baconsthorpe Castle

All 120 castles in England

FAQs

When is Baconsthorpe Castle open?

In the week of 12 oct 2026 (calendar, read) season it opens every day from 10:00 to 16:00. Check the opening times above for the other seasons and closed dates.

Sources

Every fact on this page last verified 14 Oct 2026
Suggest a correction
  1. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 14 Oct 2026
  2. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 15 Oct 2026
  3. Wikidata · checked 15 Oct 2026
  4. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 14 Oct 2026
  5. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 14 Oct 2026

We are independent and not affiliated with English Heritage. Prices and times can change at short notice, so check the operator's site on the day. How we check our data