Goodrich Castle is a ruined medieval castle near Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, managed by English Heritage as a paid visitor attraction. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips for planning your visit.
This guide was last updated in March 2026 to reflect the 2026/27 admission prices, valid from 28 March 2026. The car park at Goodrich is 400 metres from the castle and involves steps; visitors with limited mobility should park near the tearoom instead, and disabled visitors can drive along the otherwise no-entry driveway to reach two spaces closer to the castle.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Goodrich, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR9 6HY |
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm (summer); Sat–Sun in winter; closed 24–26 Dec (see below) |
| Adult ticket | £9.26–£12.32 depending on date and day |
| Nearest town | Ross-on-Wye (~5 miles north on the A40) |
| Parking | On-site car park (~400m from castle); £4 for non-members; free for EH members |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
Goodrich Castle opening hours
The 2026/27 schedule (28 March 2026 – 16 March 2027): 28 Mar – 24 Oct, daily 10am–5pm; 25 Oct – 1 Nov, daily 10am–4pm; 2 Nov – 23 Dec, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 24–26 Dec, closed; 27 Dec – 1 Jan, daily 10am–4pm; 2 Jan – 12 Feb, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 13–21 Feb (half-term), daily 10am–4pm; 22 Feb – 16 Mar, Wed–Sun, 10am–4pm. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Opening hours last updated in March 2026.
Goodrich Castle ticket prices
English Heritage members enter free. Concessions apply to visitors aged 65+, students with a valid ID, and jobseekers with relevant ID. A free audio tour is included with admission; a free family game (‘As I Was Saying’) featuring nine historical characters can be collected from the visitor centre.
Super Saver — Mon–Fri, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily, 2 Nov–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £9.26 |
| Concession | £8.50 |
| Child | £4.59 |
Saver — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Mon–Fri, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £10.79 |
| Concession | £10.03 |
| Child | £5.35 |
Standard — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £12.32 |
| Concession | £11.56 |
| Child | £6.12 |
Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount. Not included in any city pass scheme. Ticket prices last updated in March 2026.
Is it worth paying for English Heritage membership?
Entry prices for English Heritage sites, including Dover Castle, Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle, can seem extremely expensive. This is clearly a deliberate ploy to push visitors towards taking out annual English Heritage membership.
Membership gives free access to more than 400 sites across the country, and costs £82. That is, unless you get a special deal – there was a 25%-off Black Friday deal in November 2025, for example.
Whether that £82 is worth it depends on how many sites are near you (there are lots in the south of the country, not so many near me in Yorkshire). And, critically, whether you’re going to visit them with children.
Each member can take up to six children with them free of charge. Given the steep one-time entry fees, an adult member with two children is likely to recoup the cost of their membership by visiting just two or three sites within the year.
For an individual without children, I’d say English Heritage membership is worth it only if you’re planning to blitz a few sites in one year. For an individual with children, membership is a smart investment that will likely pay itself back within one school holiday. To me, it’s a no-brainer.
The real question is whether it’s worth renewing English Heritage membership after a year. That’s debatable, as you’re unlikely to go to many of these sites twice. I eventually renewed after I was offered 20% off the price. I’ll probably recoup the membership price visiting two sites in summer next year, even if I’ve ticked off most of the best ones near me.
If you buy membership through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How to get to Goodrich Castle
Goodrich Castle is 5 miles south of Ross-on-Wye, off the A40, in the Wye Valley. There is no practical public transport to the site — the English Heritage directions page lists no bus services. A car or taxi is required.
By car: Use postcode HR9 6HY; follow brown heritage signs from the A40 south of Ross-on-Wye. No ULEZ charges apply. Bike racks on site.
By taxi: Taxis from Ross-on-Wye (5 miles) or Hereford station (~12 miles; trains from Cardiff, Birmingham, and London Paddington).
Parking at Goodrich Castle
An on-site car park is located near the visitor centre and tearoom, approximately 400 metres from the castle entrance. Parking is free for English Heritage members; non-members pay £4. The path from the car park to the visitor centre involves steps; visitors wishing to avoid steps should park near the tearoom instead, which provides a stepped-free approach.
Disabled visitors can drive along the driveway marked ‘no entry’ to two disabled parking spaces approximately 150 metres from the castle entrance — these are on a rough track. Notify the custodian in advance; spaces are subject to availability. The standard disabled parking is on the same level as the visitor centre, but the castle itself is not wheelchair accessible (see below).
How long to spend at Goodrich Castle
Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours at Goodrich, making it one of the longer visits in the series. The castle’s size and preservation — extensive towers, keep, great hall, chapel, barbican, and dry moat — reward exploration at a slow pace. The free audio tour at this English castle takes around 45 minutes if followed throughout.
Accessibility at Goodrich Castle
Wheelchair access to the castle itself is not possible. The site has steep steps at ground level, on the first floor, and into the dry moat. Steps become slippery when wet. The café and shop are wheelchair accessible. Pathways around the visitor centre are bonded gravel. The keep staircase is steep, narrow, and dark; the dungeon has no lighting. Three benches are in the courtyard.
Disabled visitors can drive along the no-entry driveway to two parking spaces ~150 metres from the castle entrance (rough track) — notify the custodian in advance; not guaranteed. Toilets including accessible facilities with baby-changing are on site. Induction loop at the till. Dogs on leads are welcome. Dog bowls provided. Ball games and kites not permitted. Picnics are welcome in the grounds and dry moat.
Inside Goodrich Castle: what to see
Goodrich is one of the most complete medieval castles in England — a Norman keep (c.1120), a full circuit of 13th-century towers and walls, a barbican gatehouse, a great hall, a chapel, and a deep dry moat carved from the rock. Its position above the River Wye gives views over the Welsh border hills.
The castle’s most dramatic chapter was the English Civil War. After a five-month Royalist siege in 1646, Goodrich fell to Parliamentary forces who used Roaring Meg — a massive mortar — to bombard it into surrender. Roaring Meg is displayed in the courtyard (under cover in winter) and is one of the few surviving Civil War siege mortars in England.
Other highlights include a medieval prison at the base of the south-east tower — a dark, sometimes flooded vault — which visitors can enter. Murder holes in the castle walls are explained on the audio tour. The 13th-century chapel retains a carved stained-glass window visible from the courtyard. Tower climbs give views across the Wye Valley into Wales on clear days.
The free audio tour covers the siege and the castle’s key features. The family game (‘As I Was Saying’) provides nine cartoon historical characters for children to follow around the site. Children’s trails are sometimes available during school holidays — check the events page. The tearoom serves soups, sandwiches, cream teas, and cakes; kids’ lunches are available. Picnic benches are in the grounds (not at tearoom tables, which are reserved for customers). A gift shop is in the visitor centre.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Car is essential | There is no practical public transport to Goodrich Castle. Plan to drive or arrange a taxi from Ross-on-Wye or Hereford. |
| Steps from car park | Park near the tearoom to avoid the steps on the route from the main car park area. |
| Disabled visitors: notify custodian | The closer disabled spaces (150m from castle) require driving along a no-entry driveway. Notify the custodian in advance; spaces are not guaranteed. |
| Castle is not wheelchair accessible | The café and shop are accessible, but the castle itself involves steep steps throughout. |
| Roaring Meg is under cover in winter | The Civil War mortar is moved indoors during the winter months. |
| Ball games and kites not permitted | Despite the large open grounds, ball games and kites are not allowed. |
Frequently asked questions about Goodrich Castle
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Goodrich Castle accessible by public transport? | Not practically. There are no direct bus services. A car or taxi from Ross-on-Wye (5 miles) or Hereford (12 miles) is required. |
| Is Goodrich Castle accessible for wheelchair users? | No. The castle involves steep steps throughout. The café and shop are accessible. Disabled visitors can arrange to park closer — notify the custodian in advance. |
| Are dogs allowed at Goodrich Castle? | Yes. Dogs on leads are welcome throughout. Dog bowls are provided. |
| Is there a café at Goodrich Castle? | Yes. The tearoom serves soups, sandwiches, cream teas, and cakes; kids’ lunches available. |
| Is Goodrich Castle free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free, park free, and can bring up to six children free. |
Things to do near Goodrich Castle
Symonds Yat Rock (~3 miles south) is a free viewpoint above a dramatic bend of the River Wye. Puzzlewood (~4 miles south near Coleford) is a privately run woodland with ancient rock formations; charges apply. Dean Heritage Centre (~7 miles south-east) covers the history of the Forest of Dean; charges apply. Ross-on-Wye (5 miles north) has independent shops, riverside walks, and cafés. Hereford Cathedral and Mappa Mundi (~12 miles north) charges for the Mappa Mundi exhibition.
More West Midlands travel
Other West Midlands travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Visitor tips for Stokesay Castle in Shropshire.
- What you need to know before visiting Buildwas Abbey in Shropshire.
- Plan a visit to Witley Court and Gardens in Worcestershire.
- Discover the Tolkien connection at Sarehole Mill in Birmingham.
- What to know before visiting Aston Hall in Birmingham.
