Sudeley Castle

Sudeley Castle is a spectacular place with the medieval castle surrounded by 8 individual gardens, all maintained to a high standard. Roses are the great thing at Sudeley, and they look wonderful against the old stone walls of the roofless ruins of a 15th-century barn. Old trees – walnuts, limes and a vast cedar of Lebanon – stand out superbly against the castle walls.

Steeped in history, Sudeley Castle has royal connections which span a thousand years and has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England’s past.

Walking through the beautiful gardens there is a quiet, relaxing atmosphere. The wonderful floral displays, fine trees and topiary change their colours and shapes throughout the seasons. Centrepiece is the award winning Queen’s Garden, named after Catherine Parr who was married by Sir Thomas Seymour and lived and died at Sudeley following Henry VIII’s death in 1547. It has hundreds of varieties of old fashioned English roses, interspersed with fragrant herbs. Ancient yew hedges divide and punctuate the various parts of the garden.

The Tudor Knot Garden, with water features in a castle courtyard, commemorates Queen Elizabeth 1’s visit in 1592. The design was inspired by the Queen’s dress fabric in a painting which hangs in the castle.

Sudeley Castle