Beeston Castle and Woodland Park

• Former royal castle Beeston is an impressive medieval site situated 350 feet above the Cheshire Plain.
• Sitting on a rocky clifftop, Beeston Castle boasts gorgeous views, a 4000-year-old history and one of the deepest wells in England.
• This English Heritage site is also surrounded by the scenic 40 acres of Woodland Park where seasonal family events take place throughout the year.
• Don't miss the replica Bronze Age roundhouse built from authentic materials and the fascinating Castle of the Rock exhibition, which uncovers Beeston's medieval fortress roots.

Perched on a 350 feet craggy rock face overlooking the picturesque Cheshire Plain, Beeston Castle and Woodland Park is one of the most dramatic medieval sites in England and a renowned English Heritage destination. 

This historic Cheshire site dates all the way back to the Neolithic period, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, indicated by the unique evidence of ritual earthwork, early burial grounds and some of the first metalwork moulds that have been found at the location.

A wooden palisade was later known to be built on the site, before the monumental castle we can see the remains of today begun construction following the baronial civil war.

The Earl of Chester, Ranulf, began work on Beeston Castle in the 1220s before it passed to Henry III following his death.

Over many years and the destructive battles of the 1642 Civil War, the royal castle eventually became the picturesque ruin as we know it today and was the source of much artistic Romantic inspiration during the 1800s, including famous paintings by JMW Turner.

Today, Beeston Castle is a popular tourist attraction in the United Kingdom due to its ancient history and stunning landscape, being named as an English Heritage site in 1984.

A visit to Beeston Castle provides a magical, educational and truly memorable day out for all the family to enjoy.

Climb to the very top of this awe-inspiring castle in Cheshire and take in the sights of its ancient ruins.

The site is home to one the deepest wells in the whole of England, which is an impressive 370 feet deep, and from the top of this Cheshire castle, you can peer down into its spiralling sunken rock.

Legend has it that the missing treasure of Richard II, which has been famously lost for centuries, is buried in this immense Cheshire well.

Can you family discover the missing treasure whilst you're there?

Situated on the top of a rugged hilltop, Beeston's castle grounds also offer breath-taking views across the Cheshire countryside and, on clear days, you can see all the way over to the Welsh mountains and the picturesque Pennines.

Stretching out further around the castle ruins is the enchanting Woodland Park, whose 40-acre forest was famously used as a filming location for the 1991 movie of Robin Hood.

Young kids will love walking in the footsteps of the folkloric hero outlaw along the winding paths and tall trees of this mythical wooded park.

Beeston's Woodland is also home to a huge variety of wildlife that little nature lovers will delight in finding, from adorable foxes and rabbits to buzzards and spooky bats.

Within this Cheshire Woodland Park, you can also discover an intriguing replica of the Bronze Age roundhouse that was thought to be built on the castle site thousands of years ago.

Using authentic tools and the best archaeological evidence, the charming wooden structure of Beeston roundhouse transports visitors back to the world of our earliest ancestors.

It offers a fascinating window into what life here in Cheshire would have been like for them.

Whilst you're visiting Beeston Castle and exploring the scenery of Woodland Park, make sure you stop off at the Castle of the Rock exhibition on site too.

This wonderful museum space lets visitors uncover the full 4000-year-old history of Beeston Castle from its Neolithic days to the Iron Age, Middle Ages and Romantic period of the 19th century.

Discover how the Civil War turned this renowned medieval fortress into an iconic bygone ruin, why Richard II is suspected of having hidden his treasure in the Beeston well and get hands-on with the ancient tools that would have been used here over the changing years.

There is something for all the family to fall in love with at Beeston Castle and Woodland Park, from searching for treasure in the famous well and taking in the stunning Cheshire sites to uncovering the history of the Earl of Chester and reliving the adventures of Robin Hood in his legendary Woodland Park.

As well as exploring one of the most unique Heritage sites in England, you can find even more family fun in Cheshire at the tranquil sites of Castle Park House and Gardens or the Ness Botanic Gardens.

What to know before you go

• Beeston Castle and Woodland Park is open every day from 10am to 5pm.
• English Heritage members can enter the castle for free. For all other visitors, there are varying entrance prices for adults, children and concessions. Family tickets are also available.
• You currently need to book a timed entrance slot for your visit to Beeston Castle.
• We recommend allowing at least two hours to explore the castle grounds and surrounding Woodland Park in full.
• There is a convenient food and drink outlet on site serving hot and cold drinks, breakfast sandwiches, snacks and ice creams. You are also welcome to bring a picnic with you to enjoy in the expansive Woodland Park, which has picnic benches dotted throughout as well as the picturesque Castle Green to sit on.
• Many family-friendly country pubs also surround Woodland Park, such as The Dysart Arms, The Pheasant Inn and The Inn at Huxley.
• Beeston Castle has an English Heritage on-site gift shop selling souvenirs, books, cards, gifts, stationery and more.
• The 40 acres of Woodland Park has level paved pathways and seated rest areas dotted throughout.
• Beeston Cheshire is situated on a steep hill, and unfortunately, it is therefore not recommended for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility. Please note that there are also no accessible toilets on site.
• If you are visiting with younger children or people who may struggle on foot, please be aware that there are steep cliffs around the castle as well as uneven surfaces and some rabbit holes throughout the grounds.
• Assistant dogs are welcome at Beeston Castle and Woodland Park.
• Male and female toilets can be found at the castle as well as baby changing facilities.
• Dogs are welcome within Woodland Park and on the Beeston Castle grounds as long as they are kept on a lead. Water bowls can be provided for them.
• Look out for the great Beeston Castle events happening all year round such as haunted Halloween castle takeovers, half term quests and Christmas adventures, as well as wildlife trails around Woodland Park.
• Photography and filming are welcome at Beeston Castle as long as it is for private use only.

Getting there

• Beeston Castle and Woodland Park is located in Beeston, in the Cheshire county of England.
• If you are driving, the castle is situated 11 miles southeast of Chester off of the A49. There is a car park on site just 10 metres from the castle grounds entrance. Parking is free for members, but charges apply for all other visitors.
• Chester train station is located 14 miles (a 30-minute car or taxi ride away) from Woodland Park.
• If you wish to travel via bus, the castle and park can be accessed via the GHA 83 service to Beeston or the 56 service to Bunbury Heath (which is then a one-mile walk away). The Arriva 84 service also takes you to Tarporley, which is two and a half miles from the venue.
• Cycling around this area of the Cheshire county is encouraged, and Woodland Park is on the National Cycle Network.