With beautiful buildings, interesting exhibits, spectacular gardens and one of the best adventure playgrounds in Gloucestershire, there's loads to do on a day out at Sudeley Castle.
There's lots of special events taking place across the summer holidays, too, from its exciting new animal attraction to outdoor theatre...
Animal Ark at Sudeley Castle
Sudeley Castle's impressive new Animal Ark takes intrepid explorers on a journey across the continents, with an augmented reality treasure hunt and the chance to spot 50 life-sized animal sculptures of elephants, lions, leopards, wolves, orangutans and lots more around the castle gardens. It has created habitats from China, India, Kenya, Tibet and even the North Pole to highlight global conservation efforts, as well as a dedicated area celebrating Britain's native wildlife and the work of local charities Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Winchcombe Green Town, with everything from supersized hedgehogs to giant blue butterflies — and a Birdsong Garden with a musical composition of British birdsong, too.
Aiming to become the 'world's first digital reserve', it is also launching a virtual reality 'world tour' with wildlife, just in time for the summer holidays, too.
The Animal Ark is available every day and is included within the cost of admission to Sudeley Castle. Virtual reality experiences cost £5 for ticketholders or £8 for visitors to the cafe and courtyard garden.
Outdoor theatre at Sudeley Castle
Sudeley Castle provides a breath taking backdrop for one of Shakespeare's most iconic comedies, Twelfth Night, this summer.
With the play opening on twins Viola and Sebastian finding themselves shipwrecked, both believing the other to be dead, you'd be forgiven for thinking you were about to watch a tragedy, but what ensues is a farcical tale of disguises, love triangles and practical jokes that leads to an ultimately happy ending. If music be the food of love, play on!
The Duke's Theatre Company performs Twelfth Night on Thursday 27 July 2023 at 7pm. Tickets cost £18.50 for adults and £16.50 for children under 16, with family tickets available, too.
Tudors vs Victorians at Sudeley Castle
Pitting 'the virgin queen' Elizabeth I against 'the woman in black' Queen Victoria, the Past-Times Living History performers present Tudors vs Victorians at Sudeley Castle this summer.
This time-travelling tussle sees each queen battle it out for dominance, with support from Sudeley Castle's resident monarch Queen Katharine Parr and her trusty rat catcher. Earn points for your team and learn all sorts of fascinating facts about life in the 16th and 19th centuries through interactive games and quizzes.
Tudors vs Victorians takes place every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from Tuesday 25 July until Thursday 31 August 2023 and is included in the price of admission to Sudeley Castle.
