Visiting Rockingham Castle
Prior to Arrival
Rockingham Castle is centrally located within the heart of the country with good transport links.
Poised on the side of the Welland Valley, the Castle is positioned on the A6003, just one mile north of Corby. Northampton, Peterborough & Leicester are all within 45 minutes journey of the Castle.
For Satnavs, please use the postcode LE16 8TH or What3Words: ///cleanest.proceeds.helping
The nearest train station is Corby, which has an hourly service to and from London. For services to and from Leicester or Nottingham, you can travel to Kettering and get a connection to Corby. Taxis are usually available at the train station.
There are two local taxi services based in Corby:
Sky Cabs: 01536 202020 Star Cars: 01536 443322
Arrival & Car Parking
Upon arrival you will be greeted at the Ticket Office whereupon visitors may purchase tickets for either a Castle Tour of a Grounds Ticket. The Grounds Ticket entitles visitors to view the Cross Garden, Rose Garden, Wild Garden, St Leonard’s Church, Ice House, Gift Shop and Walker’s House Tea Room. A Welcome Leaflet with map will be given to each visitor with a purchased ticket.
The main Visitor Car Park is approximately 200 metres downhill from the entrance to the Castle. For visitors with impaired mobility, car parking is available immediately outside the Castle Towers. Please notify staff in the Ticket Office and they will be pleased to direct you.
Visitors who have difficulty in walking and are attending the special event days such as Jousting, are welcome to park close to the event field.
Visiting with an Assistance Dog
All dogs are welcome in the grounds whilst only Assistance Dogs are welcome in the Castle & Walker’s House Tea Room. If you are visiting with your Assistance Dog, please make the Front Desk and the Walker’s House team aware. A water bowl can be found in the Courtyard close to Walker’s House Tea Room but if you require any additional, please ask the tea room team.
Visiting with a Carer
We offer a complimentary carers ticket to visitors who would not be able to visit the Castle without the assistance and support of a carer. This can be organised on arrival to the Ticket Office or in advance if you wish to pre-book your tickets.
When pre-booking, please purchase any paid for tickets and email your order confirmation and proof of carer status or explanation for needing the additional support to estateoffice@rockinghamcastle.com. The office team can then attach an additional ticket to your order. Please be aware that the office team may ask some additional information to organise this ticket.
If you are bringing a carer with you, some accepted examples of proof include: :
- A letter from the local authority confirming receipt of Carer’s Allowance or another document naming you as a carer from the local authority.
- Documentation from a GP indicating that you are registered as a carer.
- A registered carer card from another recognised scheme (e.g. CredAbility Access Card, CEA Card, work ID badge etc.)
Should you have any questions regarding what you can provide as proof, please contact the estate office.
If you are a carer and you wish to visit Rockingham on your own, not just as a helper to a person in your care, you would need to purchase an admission ticket at the standard price.
Visiting the Castle
The Castle Courtyard is gravelled which can be quite difficult for those in wheelchairs or with mobility aids. Ramps are in place, around the grounds to encourage wheelchair users to use the grass.
Due to the architecture of the Castle it is not possible for visitors in wheelchairs to enter the Castle by the main visitor entrance. The access is via the ramp to the Gift Shop in the Courtyard. Please speak to our shop team, they will radio for a member of the Castle guiding team to help escort you back, through the Castle, to the start of the tour.
The flooring throughout the main part of Castle is flagstones which can be uneven in places.
Most rooms are situated on the ground floor and are accessible for those with limited mobility. There are chairs in every room for people to sit and take in the room if they wish. There is one step to go into the Street and two steps into the Old Kitchen.
Unfortunately, the Long Gallery and Salvin’s Tower are not accessible for those with limited mobility, but there is a detailed photograph album at the foot of the Long Gallery stairs for visitors to browse through. This will give a flavour if the Long Gallery, the Gardens and the view from Salvin’s Tower.
The Gift Shop is located in the Castle Courtyard and has ramp access.
Visiting the Gardens & Grounds
The formal gardens are generally accessible to those with mobility constraints. The paths throughout the formal gardens are gravelled, some of which are compacted which makes for easy manoeuvring around the gardens in a wheelchair and mobility scooters.
We have installed handrails and ramps and have added a ‘bypass path’ to the steps of the Rose Garden and the Cross Garden. The Beautiful Wild Gardens are set in a steep sided valley where the terrain is much more uneven.
There are benches and seats in the courtyard and three formal gardens as well as picnic benches in the visitor car park.
On open days we operate a complimentary outside tour; these are quite gentle in their pace but can last up to 45 minutes in total most of which is standing.
St Leonards Church is located in the Castle grounds and sits below the Castle battlements. Access is via a moderate hill, which is tarmac up to the Church Yard. The Church Yard and surrounding graveyard can be uneven terrain in places.
Facilities
The visitor Car Park locates a fully accessible disabled WC, 5 gender neutral lavatories and a larger cubicle with a baby changing table. The Courtyard Toilets are up two steps with handrails on either side of the doorway.
We have a disabled toilet facility within the Castle itself. Please speak to a member of the Castle guiding team if you require the toilet whilst visiting the Castle.
Unfortunately we do not have a changing facility for older children or adults.
Walkers House Restaurant & Tea Rooms has a ramp into the main floor to allow easy access to the restaurant.
Unfortunately we do not have wheelchairs on site to hire.
Visitors with hearing impairments
Please speak to a member of our front desk team to ask for one of our printed guides, you are welcome to take one to accompany your visit around the Castle. We ask that you return this to our Gift Shop staff at the end of your visit.
At the moment, we do not have an induction loop service at the Castle.
Visitors with learning difficulties/disabilities
Rockingham Castle is usually a very quiet and peaceful place, however we are a working estate so our team may be working in the grounds with loud machinery at times. Some of our special events may be quite loud with the activities taking place, or music playing.
The Wild Garden offers a very peaceful location in the Castle grounds with ponds and a natural water spring, you can often hear bird song and wildlife noises. In the Summer, once our roses are in bloom the Rose Garden is very fragrant, we also have a water feature located on the outside of the rose garden.
Please get in touch with us directly regarding your visit if you have any concerns or questions. The best contact method is email to estateoffice@rockinghamcastle.com.