About
Arundel Castle is one of the great stately homes of England, the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Norfolk for over 850 years and the administrative centre of the hereditary Earl Marshal of England, the nobleman responsible for organising state occasions including coronations. Rising dramatically above the River Arun in the picturesque West Sussex town of Arundel, this imposing castle combines genuine medieval fabric with extensive Victorian restoration to create one of the most magnificent inhabited castles in the country.
The castle was founded in 1067 by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel, one of William the Conqueror's most trusted companions. The original Norman motte and bailey can still be seen at the heart of the complex, with the great mound providing panoramic views over the town, river, and South Downs. The castle passed to the FitzAlan family in the 14th century and thence through marriage to the Howard family, Dukes of Norfolk, who have held it continuously since 1138, making Arundel one of the longest-inhabited castles in England.
The castle underwent extensive restoration and rebuilding in the Victorian era under Henry, 15th Duke of Norfolk, who employed architect C.A. Buckler to create the grand Gothic interiors visitors see today. The result is a remarkable blend of medieval defensive architecture and Victorian neo-Gothic splendour, with magnificent state rooms furnished with fine paintings by Van Dyck, Gainsborough, Canaletto, and Reynolds, alongside collections of furniture, tapestries, arms and armour, and personal items accumulated across centuries.
The FitzAlan Chapel, a 14th-century Catholic chapel attached to the parish church but legally separate from it, contains magnificent tombs of the FitzAlan and Howard families spanning five centuries. The castle gardens are exceptional, particularly the Collector Earl's Garden, created in 2008, which evokes the cabinet of curiosities tradition with exotic plantings, water features, and architectural follies. The castle's combination of medieval history, Victorian grandeur, world-class art collections, and beautiful gardens makes it one of the premier heritage attractions in southern England.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
Quietest: Tuesday, Wednesday
Busiest: Saturday, Sunday
💡 Weekday mornings for quietest exploration of castle rooms; spring or early summer for gardens
💡 Visitor Tips
- Allow at least 3 hours for castle rooms, FitzAlan Chapel, and gardens — this is a substantial visit with much to see.
- The Collector Earl's Garden is a highlight — don't skip it in favour of more castle rooms. The combination of exotic plants and architectural fantasy is unique.
- No photography inside the castle rooms — bring your camera for the gardens, grounds, and exterior views instead.
- Climb the Norman motte for the best panoramic views over the town, river, and South Downs.
- Check the events calendar — jousting tournaments and medieval festivals add spectacle and atmosphere.
- Arundel railway station is 12 minutes' walk away on the Arun Valley Line from London Victoria and Portsmouth.
- The town of Arundel has excellent independent shops, galleries, and restaurants — allow time to explore.
Highlights
The State Rooms and Art Collection
Arundel's grand Victorian Gothic state rooms house an exceptional art collection including paintings by Anthony van Dyck, Thomas Gainsborough, Canaletto, and Joshua Reynolds. The Barons' Hall, with its soaring timber roof, carved panels, and heraldic decorations, is one of the most impressive rooms in any English castle.
The drawing rooms and library contain fine furniture, Sèvres porcelain, Mortlake tapestries, and personal items collected by the Howard family across centuries.
The rooms were designed by C. A. Buckler in the 1890s to create the appropriate setting for a ducal household of the highest rank, and their Gothic detailing and rich furnishings create an atmosphere of aristocratic splendour.
The FitzAlan Chapel
The 14th-century FitzAlan Chapel contains one of the finest collections of medieval and Tudor tomb effigies in England, commemorating members of the FitzAlan and Howard families across five centuries. The alabaster and marble tombs feature exquisitely carved recumbent figures in armour and court dress, some with traces of original paint.
The chapel remains a functioning Catholic place of worship — uniquely, it is legally separated from the adjacent Anglican parish church of St Nicholas by an iron grille and glass screen.
This architectural curiosity reflects the Howard family's adherence to Catholicism through the Reformation, a loyalty that cost several family members their lives.
The Norman Motte and Keep
The original Norman motte, built by Roger de Montgomery shortly after the Conquest in 1067, remains at the heart of the castle complex and offers panoramic views over Arundel, the River Arun, the South Downs, and on clear days the sea. Climbing the steep motte provides a physical sense of the castle's strategic importance — controlling the gap in the South Downs where the river passes through.
The medieval gatehouse, barbican, and curtain walls surrounding the motte demonstrate the evolution of defensive architecture from the 11th century onwards.
The Norman origins remind visitors that Arundel's history stretches back almost a thousand years.
The Collector Earl's Garden
Created in 2008 by architects Isabel and Julian Bannerman, the Collector Earl's Garden is one of the most innovative and beautiful modern gardens attached to any English castle. Inspired by the tradition of the cabinet of curiosities, the garden features exotic plants, architectural follies, cascading water features, and whimsical decorative details that evoke 17th-century collecting culture.
Hot herbaceous borders, an Oberon's Palace grotto, classical columns, and a spectacular stumpery create a sequence of garden rooms that are theatrical, scholarly, and deeply enjoyable.
The garden has won multiple awards and adds a contemporary creative dimension to the castle's historical experience.
Collections
Arundel Castle houses one of the finest private art collections in England, including major works by Van Dyck, Gainsborough, Canaletto, and Reynolds. The collections encompass furniture from the 16th to 19th centuries, Sèvres and Meissen porcelain, Mortlake tapestries, arms and armour, personal and religious items of the Howard family, and documents relating to the Earl Marshal's role.
The FitzAlan Chapel contains medieval tomb effigies of exceptional quality.
The State Rooms
Grand Victorian Gothic rooms furnished with fine art, furniture, tapestries, and decorative arts collected by the Howard family over centuries.
📍 Main castle
The Armoury
Collection of arms and armour spanning medieval to Victorian periods, reflecting the military heritage of the Norfolk dukedom.
📍 Armoury
The FitzAlan Chapel
14th-century Catholic chapel with exceptional medieval and Tudor tomb effigies of the FitzAlan and Howard families.
📍 FitzAlan Chapel
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.