Things to see and do
Tower views
For the first time in 350 years you can explore the full height of the tower built by Leicester to court Elizabeth I. Stand at floor level in the queen's private rooms and soak up the same spectacular views that she enjoyed.
Experience a whole new perspective on what was one of Elizabethan England's finest buildings. Our staircases and platforms take you 18 metres up into the tower, to the level of the fireplaces and windows built specially for the royal visit.
Glimpse the queen's private staircase, and the long gallery where she could have private time with her most intimate friends. In 1575 these rooms were luxurious, elegant and flooded with light from enormous glass windows.
Elizabethan Garden
Walk in the footsteps of the great Tudor queen through the garden and imagine the opulence and splendour of Elizabethan Kenilworth.
Lost to the world for almost 400 years, this beautifully recreated Elizabethan Garden is a haven of peace and tranquillity, full of colour and fragrant walkways.
Approach through the loggia onto the terrace to start your tour, and for the best views over the garden and beyond. Then wander the pathways to discover the marble fountain, the ornate aviary and the Earl of Leicester's emblem of the bear and ragged staff.
Leicester's Gatehouse
Visit the fascinating exhibition about the famous royal romance between the queen and her ambitious courtier, Robert Dudley.
Built in the 1570s, the imposing castle entrance was transformed into a private house after 1650. Today you can see how it looked when the last caretaker left in the late 1930s.
Explore the Elizabethan bedroom and Oak Room which contains a beautifully ornate alabaster fireplace which once stood in Elizabeth I's private rooms.
A Castle and its People
Have fun with the family-friendly displays in our interactive exhibition bringing Kenilworth's past to life. Housed in the magnificent Tudor stables, see how the castle has changed throughout its 900-year history, and what it looked like in its heyday.
Children can get hands-on with history as they try on our dressing up clothes. Then see, and touch, the mighty trebuchet balls which were hurled at Kenilworth Castle 800 years ago and have remained here ever since.
Castle Keep
Admire the mighty keep - the heart of castle life for 500 years. The Norman keep was a defensive powerhouse, built three stories high with walls 14 feet wide. It is still a dominant feature of the castle today.
Originally built in the 12th century, it was strengthened by King John a century later, and modified for entertaining by Robert Dudley in 1570.
Great Hall
John of Gaunt's Great Hall was one of the finest of its kind and at the cutting edge of 14th century architectural design.
Built to reinforce Kenilworth's position of power and wealth it played host to medieval monarchs and Tudor kings.
If you want to explore more, why not take a walk round the outside of the castle walls and admire its imposing exterior. Go back through Mortimer's Tower where you entered the castle grounds and take the path either to the left or the right.
Stables Tearoom
Unwind with a visit to the Stables Tearoom.
You will find the tearoom within the magnificent Tudor timber-framed stables building. It offers a delicious selection of cakes and light lunches, made from seasonal ingredients and sourced from local suppliers.
Children's meals are also available.
Speed and Power
In May 2017, our exhibition 'Speed and Power: John Siddeley, Pioneer of the Motor Age' opened at Kenilworth Castle. Created in partnership with the Armstrong Siddeley Heritage Trust, the exhibition celebrates motoring and aviation pioneer, Sir John Siddeley, 1st Baron Kenilworth, a British motoring pioneer who bought the castle in 1937.
The exhibition invites visitors to discover Armstrong Siddeley's glamorous motor cars and aeroplanes and uncover the hidden story of how the castle gatehouse became the company's drawing room after the factory was bombed in the Coventry Blitz. There are also family activities and a chance to view a portrait of Siddeley by celebrated artist Frank Salisbury.
