Totnes Castle is a Norman motte-and-bailey castle with a well-preserved circular shell keep in the centre of Totnes, Devon, managed by English Heritage. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was last updated in March 2026 to reflect the 2026/27 admission prices, valid from 28 March 2026. Totnes Castle is not closed throughout winter — it reopens for half-term (13–21 February) and then Saturdays and Sundays from 22 February to 16 March. There are also no toilets on site. Totnes railway station is only a quarter of a mile from the castle entrance.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Castle Street, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5NU |
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm (summer); closed 2 Nov–12 Feb; open half-term and late winter |
| Adult ticket | £6.12–£7.65 depending on date and day |
| Nearest train | Totnes station (¼ mile on foot) |
| Parking | No dedicated parking; limited pay-and-display 64 metres away on North Street (not EH) |
| Time needed | 45 minutes–1.5 hours |
Totnes Castle opening hours
Totnes Castle has a partial winter opening. The 2026/27 schedule is:
- 28 March – 24 October: daily, 10am–5pm
- 25 October – 1 November: daily, 10am–4pm
- 2 November – 12 February: closed
- 13–21 February: daily, 10am–4pm (February half-term)
- 22 February – 16 March: Saturday and Sunday only, 10am–4pm
- 24–26 December: closed
Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Opening hours last updated in March 2026.
Totnes Castle ticket prices
At Totnes Castle the Super Saver rate applies on Fridays and Saturdays — the cheapest rate falls on Sundays to Thursdays outside peak summer, the reverse of most English Heritage sites. English Heritage members enter free. Concessions apply to visitors aged 65+, students with a valid ID, and jobseekers with relevant ID.
Super Saver — Fri–Sat, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily, 2 Nov–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £6.12 |
| Concession | £5.35 |
| Child | £3.06 |
Saver — Sun–Thu, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Fri–Sat, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £6.88 |
| Concession | £6.12 |
| Child | £3.40 |
Standard — Sun–Thu, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £7.65 |
| Concession | £6.88 |
| Child | £3.82 |
Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount. Groups must be pre-booked. Ticket prices last updated in May 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 Totnes Castle
Totnes Castle is on Castle Street in the centre of Totnes, signposted via brown heritage signs.
By train: Totnes station (Great Western Railway from Exeter ~30 min; from Plymouth ~25 min; from Bristol ~1 hr 40 min) is approximately a quarter of a mile from the castle — one of the shortest station-to-site walks of any English Heritage property. Head along Station Road, turn south on to Castle Street; the castle is ~200 metres ahead. The South Devon Railway steam railway also connects Buckfastleigh to Totnes.
By bus: Several routes serve Totnes town centre. Check traveline.info.
By car: Sat nav TQ9 5NU; follow ‘Historic Town Centre’ signs. Totnes has narrow one-way streets; parking is often congested in summer. No ULEZ charges apply.
Parking at Totnes Castle
There is no dedicated parking for Totnes Castle. A limited pay-and-display car park on North Street is approximately 64 metres from the castle entrance; it accepts cars only, is not managed by English Heritage, and can fill quickly in summer. Additional town car parks are within a 5-minute walk. There are no disabled parking spaces at the castle — disabled visitors can be set down at the Castle Street entrance. Arriving by train is strongly recommended.
How long to spend at Totnes Castle
Most visitors spend 45 minutes to 1.5 hours at Totnes Castle. The site is compact but rewards a slow visit: the keep climb, the moat walk (if accessible), the inner bailey, and the views across Totnes and towards the River Dart are the main draws. Totnes town centre is immediately adjacent and offers a worthwhile extension.
Accessibility at Totnes Castle
The inner Bailey is accessible on loose gravel and grass. The motte, keep, and moat walk are not accessible — the motte involves a steep slope and over 70 uneven stone steps; the moat walk is narrow and uneven. A wheelchair is available to loan on site. No disabled parking spaces; disabled visitors can be set down at the entrance. Pushchairs are permitted but will encounter steps and slopes. There are no toilets on site — nearest are in Market Square, off the High Street. Dogs on leads are welcome; dog bowl and waste bin at the entrance. Assistance dogs welcome. Take care on narrow Castle Street.
Inside Totnes Castle: what to see
Totnes Castle was founded shortly after the Conquest of 1066, making it one of the oldest Norman fortifications in Devon. The original timber palisade of this English castle was replaced in the early 13th century by a circular stone shell keep — one of three best-preserved shell keeps in Devon. The keep’s circular wall walk offers a 360-degree panorama over Totnes’s rooftops, the River Dart, and Dartmoor beyond. Arrow slits and battlements are visible in the circular wall.
The inner bailey below the motte is a grassed, wooded enclosure with several ancient trees, including a Holm Oak thought to be over 150 years old. Among the trees, visitors who look carefully can find carved inscriptions left by Italian prisoners of war held here during the Second World War — a rarely mentioned detail absent from most guides. The path around the outside of the castle walls follows the original steep-sided ditch and outer bank, now covered in wildflowers — a distinctive walk giving a sense of the castle’s original defensive scale.
The castle has a small gift shop selling English Heritage merchandise and cold drinks; there is no café. The inner bailey has picnic benches and is well suited to picnics. Staff are noted by visitors for friendliness and have been known to carry dog treats.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Partial winter opening | The castle closes 2 Nov–12 Feb. It then reopens for half-term (13–21 Feb, daily) and Sat–Sun from 22 Feb to 16 Mar. |
| No toilets on site | Use the public toilets in Market Square before entering the castle. |
| Train station is 5 minutes away | Totnes station is one of the closest mainline stations to any English Heritage site. Arriving by train avoids the town’s parking difficulties. |
| Super Saver is Fri–Sat | The cheapest rate falls Sun–Thu outside peak summer — the reverse of most English Heritage sites. |
| 70+ steps to the keep | The motte staircase involves over 70 steep, uneven stone steps. The inner bailey at the base is accessible; the keep top is not. |
| Look for the Italian POW carvings | Inscriptions carved by WWII Italian prisoners of war are on trees in the inner bailey. Ask staff where to look. |
Frequently asked questions about Totnes Castle
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Totnes Castle open in winter? | Partially. It closes from 2 November to 12 February. It then opens daily for half-term (13–21 February) and on Saturdays and Sundays from 22 February to 16 March. |
| Are there toilets at Totnes Castle? | No. The nearest public toilets are in Market Square, off the High Street. |
| Is Totnes Castle accessible for wheelchair users? | The inner bailey is accessible. The motte, keep, and moat walk are not accessible due to steep slopes and over 70 uneven steps. A wheelchair is available to loan on site. |
| Are dogs allowed at Totnes Castle? | Yes. Dogs on leads are welcome. A dog bowl and waste bin are at the entrance. Staff have been known to carry dog treats. |
| Is Totnes Castle free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free and can bring up to six children free. |
| How far is the station from Totnes Castle? | Approximately a quarter of a mile — about a 5-minute flat walk from the station to the castle entrance. |
Things to do near Totnes Castle
Berry Pomeroy Castle (English Heritage, ~2.5 miles south-east) is a ruined castle with a partly standing Elizabethan mansion; members free. Dartmouth Castle (English Heritage, ~12 miles south) guards the mouth of the River Dart; members free. Totnes town centre has independent shops and the Brutus Stone on the High Street. South Devon Railway runs seasonal steam trains to Buckfastleigh; charges apply. Dartmoor National Park begins ~8 miles north with free moorland access.
More South-West England travel
Other South-West England travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- How to see the Whitelady Waterfall in Lydford Gorge.
- Plan your visit to Kents Cavern in Torquay.
- A first-timer’s guide to visiting Portland Castle in Dorset.
- How to get into the best bit of Tintagel Castle without paying.
- Practical guide to visiting Pendennis Castle in Falmouth, Cornwall.
