Castle Rising is a 12th-century Norman keep and scheduled monument located in the village of Castle Rising, near King’s Lynn, Norfolk. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, parking, transport, accessibility, and practical visitor tips to help you plan your visit.
Updated May 2026. Adult admission is now £6.00 — several older guides and review sites still quote the previous price of £5.00.
Quick facts: Castle Rising, Norfolk
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Castle Rising, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 6AH |
| Opening hours (1 Apr–1 Nov) | Daily, 10am–6pm (or dusk if earlier in October) |
| Opening hours (2 Nov–31 Mar) | Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–4pm |
| Closed | Monday and Tuesday in winter; 24–26 December |
| Adult admission | £6.00 |
| Child admission | £4.00 |
| Concession (over 60s, students with valid ID) | £5.00 |
| Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) | £18.00 |
| English Heritage members | Free |
| Parking | Free, on site |
| Typical visit duration | 1–2 hours |
Castle Rising opening hours
Opening hours differ significantly between summer and winter seasons.
1 April – 1 November: Open daily, 10am to 6pm. In October, the castle closes at dusk if that falls before 6pm.
2 November – 31 March: Open Wednesday to Sunday only, 10am to 4pm. The castle is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout winter.
Closed: 24, 25, and 26 December.
Castle Rising ticket prices
Tickets are purchased at the gate on arrival. There is no requirement to book in advance for standard visits.
| Visitor type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | £6.00 |
| Children | £4.00 |
| Concessions (over 60s; students with valid ID) | £5.00 |
| Family (2 adults + 2 children) | £18.00 |
| Children under 5 | Free |
| English Heritage members | Free |
| Groups of 11 or more | 15% discount + 1 free ticket |
Castle Rising is managed in partnership with English Heritage. Full English Heritage members enter free of charge. If you visit multiple English Heritage sites each year, membership may represent good value. Visit english-heritage.org.uk for current membership prices.
Castle Rising is not part of the National Trust, Go City, or any multi-attraction city pass scheme.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and 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 Castle Rising
Castle Rising is situated on the A149, approximately four miles north-east of King’s Lynn in Norfolk.
By car: From King’s Lynn, take the A149 north towards Hunstanton. The castle is signed from the main road. Sat-nav postcode: PE31 6AH. Sandringham is approximately five miles north; Hunstanton is ten miles.
By train: The nearest station is King’s Lynn, approximately 4.5 miles from the castle. King’s Lynn is served by Greater Anglia trains from Cambridge and London King’s Cross (via Ely). A taxi from King’s Lynn station takes around 10 minutes.
By bus: Norfolk Green bus service route 11 stops directly at Castle Rising and connects to King’s Lynn. Check current timetables at Traveline East Anglia before travelling, as rural services have limited frequency.
Parking at Castle Rising
Free parking is available in an on-site car park approximately 50 metres from the castle entrance, accessed off Lodge Lane. Note that signage pointing to the car park entrance is not prominent — watch carefully when approaching. The car park surface is grass and may be uneven; it is not ideal for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility. There are no designated disabled parking bays.
Pedestrians may also access the castle via the Lynn Road entrance.
How long to spend at Castle Rising
Most visitors spend one to two hours at the castle. The site includes the keep interior, the inner bailey and church ruins, and extensive earthworks. Visitors who climb the earthworks for views over the countryside and spend time in each room of the keep typically need around 90 minutes. The audio guide, available free at castlerising.co.uk, extends the experience further.
Accessibility at Castle Rising
Wheelchair access is limited. The castle grounds and gift shop are accessible, and accessible toilets are located in the car park. However, the keep interior involves stairs and is not suitable for wheelchairs. The car park’s grassy surface is also challenging for wheelchair users and may be uneven in wet weather.
Dogs are welcome throughout the grounds and car park on a lead. Assistance dogs are always welcome. The site is largely open and flat in the bailey area but involves steps to access the gatehouse and keep.
Inside Castle Rising: what to see
The keep is the centrepiece of the site. Built around 1140 by William d’Albini II for his wife (the widow of King Henry I), it is one of the largest and most elaborately decorated Norman keeps in England. The keep is largely intact and visitors can walk through multiple floors, including the Great Hall, the well room, and the remains of the forebuilding.
Queen Isabella’s apartments are among the keep’s most visited spaces. Isabella — mother of Edward III and infamous as the ‘She-Wolf of France’ — lived at Castle Rising from around 1330 until her death in 1358. She was not imprisoned here, as popular legend suggests; she lived comfortably and entertained her son at the castle on several occasions.
The earthworks are among the most impressive in England. The inner bailey is encircled by banks rising to around 18 metres, covering an area of 12–13 acres. Climbing the steps beside the gatehouse gives a panoramic view of the keep and surrounding countryside. The scale of the earthwork system is best appreciated from the top.
The ruins of an early Norman church can be found within the inner bailey. Pre-dating the castle itself by several decades, this is thought to have been the first parish church of the village of Rising, built around the late 11th century.
The audio guide covers all areas of the site and is freely available at castlerising.co.uk. Download it before visiting if you do not have mobile data on site.
Practical visitor tips for Castle Rising
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| No food on site | There are no refreshments available at the castle. Picnics are permitted on the grounds, which have plenty of open grassy space. The nearest town is King’s Lynn, four miles south, with restaurants and cafés. The village of Castle Rising itself is very small with minimal facilities. |
| The car park is unsigned | Arriving visitors have reported that the car park entrance off Lodge Lane is easy to miss. Slow down when approaching along the A149 and watch for the turning. Sat-nav to PE31 6AH will bring you close. |
| Winter hours are reduced | From November to March, the castle opens Wednesday to Sunday only. Monday and Tuesday visits are not possible in winter, even if the weather is good. Always confirm before travelling out of season. |
| Download the audio guide in advance | The free audio guide at castlerising.co.uk significantly improves the visit. Mobile signal in rural Norfolk can be unreliable. Download the guide before you leave home. |
| Combine with Sandringham or Castle Acre | Sandringham Estate is five miles north and Castle Acre Priory and Castle are 25 minutes’ drive. Both make natural additions to a visit and are covered further below. |
Frequently asked questions about Castle Rising
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Castle Rising suitable for young children? | Yes, with caveats. The open earthworks and grounds are excellent for children with space to explore. The keep involves steep stone stairs, which younger children will need supervision on. There are no on-site refreshments; bring food and drink. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Castle Rising? | No. Tickets are purchased at the gate on arrival. English Heritage members enter free on presentation of their membership card. |
| Is Castle Rising open on Sundays? | Yes, year-round. In summer (April to November) the castle is open daily including Sundays. In winter (November to March) it opens Wednesday to Sunday. |
| Is Castle Rising managed by English Heritage? | The castle is privately owned by the Howard family but is managed in partnership with English Heritage. English Heritage members enter free. It is not a National Trust property. |
| Is there food available at Castle Rising? | No. The site has a gift shop and accessible toilets but no café or refreshment facility. Picnics are permitted on the grounds. |
Things to do near Castle Rising
Sandringham Estate (Sandringham, PE35 6EN, ~5 miles north) is the private country estate of the Royal Family, open to visitors during the season with house tours, gardens, and a museum.
Castle Acre Castle and Priory (Castle Acre, ~25 minutes’ drive) is a Norman planned settlement with a ruined castle, two gatehouses, and a remarkably well-preserved Cluniac Priory dating to 1090. The castle itself is free to enter. The priory is managed by English Heritage (admission applies; free for members).
Houghton Hall (~10 miles east, seasonal) is a Palladian mansion built for Sir Robert Walpole, Britain’s first Prime Minister, with formal gardens and a large walled garden. Open on selected days in spring and summer.
King’s Lynn (~4.5 miles south) is a historic port town with a medieval Tuesday Market Place, the 15th-century Custom House, and a range of independent shops and restaurants. The King’s Lynn Minster (the Minster of Our Lady of the Assumption) is also worth a visit.
Hunstanton (~10 miles north-west along the A149) is a seaside town with a beach, funfair, and striped cliffs unique in England for facing west. The Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty begins here.
What to visit tomorrow: castles within two hours of Castle Rising
Castle Acre Castle (Castle Acre, Norfolk, ~25 minutes) is a free-to-enter Norman motte-and-bailey castle within a remarkably complete planned Norman village. The adjacent Cluniac priory is one of the best-preserved monastic ruins in England.
Norwich Castle (Norwich city centre, ~55 minutes) is a 12th-century Norman keep now housing the city’s principal museum and art gallery, with extensive collections on Norfolk history, natural history, and art.
Baconsthorpe Castle (Baconsthorpe, ~1 hour north-east) is a ruined 15th-century fortified manor house in a quiet rural setting, managed by English Heritage and free to enter at any reasonable daylight hour.
Framlingham Castle (Framlingham, Suffolk, ~1 hour 20 minutes south) is a well-preserved 12th-century castle with a complete curtain wall walk offering views over the town and mere. Managed by English Heritage; admission applies, free for members.
Oxburgh Hall (Oxborough, Norfolk, ~40 minutes south) is a 15th-century moated manor house owned by the National Trust, with a walled garden, woodland walk, and priest holes. Admission applies; free for National Trust members.
More East of England travel
Other East of England travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Five excellent reasons to visit Cambridge: The highlights of this great university city.
- The Polar Museum, Cambridge: Guide to opening hours, entrance fees and what to see.
- Ely Cathedral visitor guide: When to visit and what you should know before you do.
- Framlingham Castle visitor guide: Prices, hours, accessibility and key visitor information.
- Plan your visit to Colchester Castle in Essex: All you need to know before you go.
