Pevensey Castle is a ruined Roman fort and medieval castle in Pevensey, East Sussex, 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. Pevensey Castle now has a new museum, year-round access to the dungeon, and a new children’s trail — all introduced since 2019 and absent from older guides. There is no on-site car park and no café.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Castle Lane, Pevensey, East Sussex BN24 5LE |
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm (summer); reduced days in winter (see below) |
| Adult ticket | £7.65–£9.26 depending on date and day |
| Nearest train | Pevensey and Westham (~13-minute walk) |
| Parking | Pay-and-display ~300m from entrance (not managed by English Heritage); free on-street parking in the village |
| Time needed | 1.5–2.5 hours |
Pevensey 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 – 12 Feb, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 13–21 Feb (half-term), daily 10am–4pm; 22 Feb – 16 Mar, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 24–26 Dec, closed. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Opening hours last updated in March 2026.
Pevensey 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 Folktale Creature Trail is included with admission.
Super Saver — Mon–Fri, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily, 2 Nov–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £7.65 |
| Concession | £6.88 |
| Child | £3.82 |
Saver — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Mon–Fri, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £8.50 |
| Concession | £7.65 |
| Child | £4.25 |
Standard — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £9.26 |
| Concession | £8.50 |
| Child | £4.59 |
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 Pevensey Castle
Pevensey Castle is on Castle Lane at the junction of Castle Road and High Street in Pevensey, East Sussex, approximately 5 miles east of Eastbourne.
By train: Pevensey and Westham station (Southern, from London Victoria ~1 hr 30 min; from Eastbourne ~10 min) is approximately a 13-minute walk south along Station Road to High Street. Pevensey Bay station is a similar distance from the other direction.
By bus: Several services stop in Pevensey village within a short walk. Check traveline.info for current routes.
By car: Use postcode BN24 5LE from the A259. No ULEZ charges apply; no on-site parking.
Parking at Pevensey Castle
There is no English Heritage car park. A pay-and-display car park (~50 spaces) is approximately 300 metres from the entrance; not managed by English Heritage, so charges apply to all visitors including members. Accepts card, coin, and mobile parking app. Free on-street parking is available in Westham and Pevensey village. Disabled parking is approximately 300 metres from the entrance on an uneven brick surface with a narrow gravel track. No designated coach bay; contact English Heritage in advance for group visits. Car park revenues contribute to the maintenance of the free Pevensey Court House Museum.
How long to spend at Pevensey Castle
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2.5 hours. The Roman outer walls, inner bailey, Norman castle, dungeon, towers, museum, and WWII exhibits can all be seen within this time. The extensive outer grounds — enclosed within the Roman walls — add further time for families.
Accessibility at Pevensey Castle
The inner and outer baileys are accessible to wheelchair users via mainly compacted gravel paths and some rough grass; assistance may be necessary. Level access is available to the lower exhibition in the North Tower and to the tearoom area near the car park. The North Tower viewing platform and dungeon are reached by steep stairs; some lower tower areas are accessible by external staircase. Disabled parking is approximately 300 metres from the entrance on an uneven brick surface with a narrow gravel track — plan accordingly.
The moat surrounding the inner bailey contains deep water; low foundation walls present trip hazards across the site. Some areas of the dungeon and lower tower have low lighting. Toilets including male, female, and accessible facilities with baby-changing are near the car park. There is no café or tearoom — cold drinks and sweets are available from the gift shop. A picnic area is available anywhere in the grounds; no picnic benches. Dogs on leads are welcome throughout the site. Assistance dogs welcome.
Inside Pevensey Castle: what to see
Pevensey has one of the longest and most layered histories of any English Heritage site. The Roman outer walls were built in the 4th century as one of the last Saxon Shore forts; two-thirds still stand to considerable height, enclosing a nine-acre site. In 1066, William the Conqueror landed at Pevensey Bay and immediately fortified the Roman fort before marching to meet Harold at Battle Abbey. The medieval inner bailey was constructed shortly after the Conquest. Among its notable prisoners was Joan of Navarre, Queen of England, held here in 1419–22 on charges of witchcraft against her stepson Henry V.
The new museum (opened 2019) displays jewellery, household items, and weaponry from the site. The dungeon, now accessible year-round, is one of the site’s most atmospheric spaces. A recreated 1940 commander’s office tells the story of the castle’s WWII role; three WWII pillboxes are concealed within the medieval walls — spotting them is part of the visit. Children can crack the Pevensey Castle Code trail and follow the Folktale Creature Trail, both included in admission.
There is no café. The gift shop sells cold drinks, sweets, and themed souvenirs. Picnics are welcome anywhere in the grounds.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| No on-site parking | The pay-and-display car park (£) is 300 metres away and not managed by EH — charges apply to members. Free on-street parking is available in the village. |
| No café on site | The gift shop sells drinks and sweets. Bring a picnic — it is welcome anywhere in the grounds. |
| Toilets are near the car park | Not inside the castle. Use them before entering the site. |
| WWII pillboxes are hidden in the walls | Look carefully — three are concealed within the medieval castle walls as part of a wartime camouflage scheme. |
| Dungeon has low lighting | Some areas are genuinely dark. Take care, especially with children. |
| Combined 1066 visit | Battle Abbey (English Heritage) is approximately 10 miles west — the site of the decisive battle that followed William’s landing at Pevensey. Members enter free. |
Frequently asked questions about Pevensey Castle
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is there parking at Pevensey Castle? | No on-site parking. A pay-and-display car park (~50 spaces) is 300 metres away; charges apply to all visitors including EH members. Free on-street parking is available in the village. |
| Is there a café at Pevensey Castle? | No. The gift shop sells drinks and sweets. Bring a picnic — welcome anywhere in the grounds. |
| Is Pevensey Castle suitable for children? | Yes. The dungeon, towers, WWII pillboxes, Code trail, and Folktale Creature Trail all suit children. |
| Is Pevensey Castle free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free and can bring up to six children free. Note the adjacent car park charges all visitors. |
| Is Pevensey Castle accessible for wheelchair users? | Partially. The inner and outer baileys are mostly accessible via gravel paths with assistance. Towers and dungeon require stairs. |
| Is Pevensey Castle open in winter? | Partially — Saturdays and Sundays only from November to mid-February, with daily opening during half-term. |
Things to do near Pevensey Castle
1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield (English Heritage), ~10 miles west near Battle, is the site of the decisive Norman Conquest battle; members enter free. Herstmonceux Castle, ~5 miles north, is a medieval moated castle open for guided tours and grounds visits; charges apply. Eastbourne, ~5 miles west, has a seafront, pier, and Towner Eastbourne gallery (free). Pevensey Court House Museum is a free museum in the village’s Tudor court house, a short walk from the castle. Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs are approximately 8 miles west and free to walk.
You could also pay a visit to several English Heritage sites in neighbouring Kent. These include Walmer Castle and Gardens and Deal Castle, St Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury and Dover Castle.
More Sussex travel
Other Sussex travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to see at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion – and what it’ll cost you.
- Plan your visit to Bodiam Castle.
- What to expect at Camber Sands.
- Guide to parking at Battle Abbey.
- Visitor guide to Drusillas Park in East Sussex.
