Frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q.   Do I need a pre-booked ticket to visit Highclere Castle? 

A.  Pre-booking your tickets is the only way to guarantee entry to the Castle during Public Opening. We will have a limited number of tickets available at Visitor Reception on each day of Public Opening (dates can be viewed HERE). However, in extreme cases due to the number of people on site, we may have to stop selling walk up tickets and as such we cannot guarantee entry for those without pre-booked tickets. For Special Events and Guided Tours, tickets must be bought in advance. Tours are available outside the public opening times but are for limited numbers of guests and pre-book only. Please see our Admission Tickets page for all available events and to purchase tickets.

Q.   I can’t proceed to checkout and pay for my order. How can I solve this?

A.  Have you registered for an online account with us? Before you are able to complete your purchase you will need to register your details with our site. To do this, please click on the tab labelled ‘Register’ in the top right hand corner and then follow the directions.

Q.   Is your address entered in the correct format?

A.  Please note that:

All categories marked by an * are compulsory fields which must be completed.
US states should be entered in a two letter format in capital letters e.g. CA.
British post codes should be written in capital letters and with the appropriate space.
No special characters should be included in your address e.g.  - , #.
The name and address you enter must match up with the details on the card you wish to use for payment and those which are registered with your bank, please pay particular attention to upper and lower case letters.
Have you ticked/checked the box to agree to our online terms and conditions?
After registering/logging-in you will select your tickets and place them in your cart, you can then click proceed to checkout. At the bottom of this page before you submit your order you will see a link to read our terms and conditions and a small box to tick/check to confirm that you have done this. This must be completed before you can finalise your order.

Q.   Are my tickets posted to me?

A.  Tickets are not posted. They are sent via email to the email address which you entered when you registered with us. You should receive these immediately as an attachment to your order confirmation email.

Q.   How do I access my tickets?

A.  If you cannot access your tickets via the email confirmation that you should have received, then please try the following: please go back onto our ticket purchasing website and login using the details you registered with us. From here you will see the option to click on to ‘Your Account’ and then select ‘Order History’. Here you should see a 'Details' link highlighted in red . Please click this link and follow the on-screen instructions to print your tickets.

Q.   I can’t print my email attached tickets. What can I do?

A.  Does your email attachment containing your ticket not open?

If you cannot access your ticket due to a corrupt file then please see answer above regarding printing your ticket from your order history.

Q.   I do not have access to a printer, how can I show my ticket?

A.  If you do not have access to a printer, please download your barcoded tickets to your phone, these can be scanned from the ticket office on arrival.

Q.   Is Highclere Castle a member of any trust?

A.  We are not a member of any third party organisations and therefore, we do not provide free admission for Historic Houses, National Trust or English Heritage.  If you are interested in booking tickets, please do so via our Admission Tickets page.

Q.   I am a disabled visitor; does my carer have to pay for their ticket? (subject to event, please check with the Castle office)

A.  A necessary carer of a registered, paying, disabled visitor is entitled to complimentary admission to Highclere Castle, Gardens, and Egyptian Exhibition during our Public Opening. Therefore, a disabled visitor should select a ‘Disabled’ ticket at the concession price. Then, if you require a 'Carer' ticket for the carer who will accompany this disabled visitor, please click the 'Carer' ticket option which is now displayed on-screen to obtain, at no cost, an entrance ticket for this carer, who will need to present both Disabled and Carer tickets at the Castle Main Gate.  For our other events, a carer ticket is available at a reduced price, which can be found via our admission site.

Q.   I have purchased tickets for a Special tour or reception outside the public opening  dates. When may I arrive and when do the grounds close? 

A.  Each of the guided tours or evening receptions gives you the information on the ticket page before you select the date on the calendar and buy the tickets. It also suggests, when to  arrive and when the grounds or gardens are open. If it is a guided tour , please do try to enter on time so you do not miss anything! If you cannot find the page with information or are unsure, please do email the Castle Office (theoffice@highclerecastle.co.uk)  and we would be delighetd to help you. 

Q.   Can I bring my dog with me to visit the Castle and Grounds?

A.  Dogs are not permitted in the Castle, Exhibition or Gardens with the exception of guide dogs. Please note that if you wish to bring a guide dog on site, we respectfully ask you to let us know in advance and to bring the correct livery and any corresponding paperwork. Dogs are welcome on the public footpaths which run through part of the estate but please do ensure they are kept on a lead at all times due to our grazing livestock.  (Please note when the Castle is open to the public none of the public footpaths are accessible from the car parking area. Any visitors wishing to walk before or after visiting the Castle need to park off of the estate).