Groups can visit on any day between April and September by arrangement, (excluding Fridays & Saturdays). Advance booking is essential and subject to availability. Please allow at least two hours for your visit.
For 2011 we are offering a choice of tours for groups ranging from a standard guided tour of the castle to a full study day, with lunch. The tours are listed below and a summary table, on a separate tab, is designed to help you make your selection. Catering details are included (but meal prices need to be confirmed at time of booking). Contact details are also provided in case you need to find out more. We are always happy to discuss your requirements to help your visit run smoothly. Our Special Offers 2011 page lists some excellent value visits that include a set meal. When budgets are tight these special offers could make the difference between enjoying a visit to an historic house or staying at home!
THE CASTLE TOUR lasts approximately one hour. On Sundays, each room has its own Castle guide and visitors can move freely along the Castle route at their own pace. On all other days, large parties are split into groups of up to 13 with their own guide. We are able to take up to 52 people around at the same time, which would usually accommodate a coach party. We are happy for groups to take a tour in the morning, prior to public opening, if requested. (NB During April and May the temperature inside the Castle can be lower than outside. Warm clothing is recommended). £7.95 per person.
THE PARK TOUR takes in the 3,000 acres of Grimsthorpe Park encompassing rolling pasture, landscaped lakes and historic oak woodland, little changed since the visit of Henry VIII. It includes the site of a 12th century Cistercian abbey, the grand designs of 18th century landscape architects and a centuries-long association with the Castle. Natural history is diverse, with three species of wild deer, teeming bird life on the lakes, ancient trees, rare flowers and butterflies. The tour is a one-hour journey and a member of the estate management team will accompany your coach. £7.95 per person. (NB - this tour does not require visitors to leave the coach).
COMBINED TOUR OF CASTLE & PARK. It is possible (and recommended) to combine a Castle visit with a Park tour. This is our most popular tour. Cost for combined tour £8.95 per person.
EARLY EVENING VISIT. Take a private tour when other visitors have gone home. We offer tours of the Castle and/or the Park as above. £11 per person (Castle tour), £12 per person (Castle & Park tour).
GARDEN TOURS. Groups are welcome to visit the gardens as part of their day at Grimsthorpe on a self-guided basis. By prior arrangement, the Head Gardener can meet groups and personally show them around the formal gardens. His work schedule could result in some limitations to his availability. Private garden tours last around 90 minutes. An additional £3.50 per person is added to any other applicable charges.
WINE ON THE TERRACE. This private visit caters for those who wish to enjoy the atmosphere of an early evening visit. Weather permitting, white wine will be served in the castle courtyard. This offers an ideal opportunity for visitors to enjoy the gardens on a quiet summer evening, prior to taking the castle tour. (When weather conditions prevent this, drinks will be served at the Coach House or in the Castle.) £13 per person to include tour of castle, glass of chilled white wine or mineral water.
'HOW GRIMSTHORPE WORKS' DAY. In recent years we have been asked to provide more information about the day-to-day running of the estate. Historic houses have had mixed fortunes over the centuries and discovering more about how Grimsthorpe has been managed from 1500 to the present day is now possible. To make the day complete we have included morning coffee, a light lunch and afternoon tea & cream scone. Allow a full day (11am-4pm) for this visit. We include an introductory welcome presentation, tour of the park (in your coach) and private guided tour of the castle. £25 per person.
'HIDDEN HISTORY' DAY. This visit includes morning coffee and a light lunch. The morning session includes walking in the footsteps of medieval monks and Tudor hunting parties across less well known parts of the park. Your guide will provide a background history of the park on a short circular route lasting around 90 minutes. This is not suitable for those with mobility difficulties (the Park Tour is a more suitable alternative for those with limited mobility) and suitable clothing/footwear is required. A castle tour after lunch can be included or your group can enjoy the gardens at leisure. £22 per person, (£19 without castle tour).
GARDEN STUDY DAY. Garden history and design is of interest to many and we have a diverse garden with a history stretching back to Tudor times. Hear something of this history in an introductory lecture and then take a private guided tour of the gardens with a member of staff. Morning coffee, light lunch and afternoon tea & cakes are also included along with a choice of either a castle tour or a coach tour of the 3,000 acre park (your coach is required for this). Tour available any weekday except Friday. Group size is limited to 15-24. Allow a full day for this visit. £25 per person.
CAKES & LAKES
The tearoom at Grimsthorpe has always been a popular venue for afternoon tea. Bring your group and enjoy a stroll around the grounds, rounding off the afternoon with cake tasting at the Coach House. The catering team will provide you with a private room where you can take tea whilst sampling the latest selection of our home made cakes. We'll even give everyone a recipe folder to take home. (You can always let us know how you get on with your home baking).
The cost of this visit is £8.95 per person based, on a minimum of 15 people. (to include entry to grounds, tea & cakes, recipes & recipe folder)
If you want to add something extra special to this visit, why not book a one-hour guided tour of the park, to be taken in your coach, prior to the tea & cakes? The 3,000-acre park is one of the largest in England, waiting to be discovered by your group with a little help from one of our managers.
The cost of this visit is £11.95 per person, based on a minimum of 15 people. (to include entry to grounds, tea & cakes, recipes & recipe folder, private guided tour of park using your coach).
