Things to see and do at Kenilworth Castle
There’s so much to see and do at Kenilworth. Below, you’ll find a helpful list of highlights, including the Tower, the gardens, the Keep and the Great Hall, as well as family-friendly tips and details about where to eat and shop at this unique historic site.
Enjoy tower views
You can now explore the full height of the tower built by Robert Dudley, the 1st Earl of Leicester to court Elizabeth I. Climb up to the queen’s apartments in Leicester’s Building to take in fantastic views over the castle and surrounding countryside.
Glimpse the queen's private staircase, and the long gallery where she could enjoy private time with her most intimate friends. In 1575, these rooms would have been luxurious, elegant and flooded with light from the enormous glass windows. Interpretation helps you imagine this miniature palace in its heyday.
Explore the Elizabethan Garden
Walk in the footsteps of the great Tudor queen through the gardens and imagine the opulence and splendour of Elizabethan Kenilworth.
This beautifully recreated Elizabethan Garden is a haven of peace and tranquillity, full of colour and fragrant walkways. Thanks to our restoration, it’s the most complete evocation of an Elizabethan garden anywhere in the world. Among its glories you’ll discover a Renaissance aviary, plant beds full of scent, colour and fruit, and an imposing fountain carved from Carrara marble.
Learn about a royal romance
Learn all the juicy facts about the famous royal romance between the queen and her ambitious courtier, Robert Dudley, the first Earl of Leicester, in the exhibition within Leicester’s Gatehouse.
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.
Admire the castle keep
Admire Kenilworth’s 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 then modified for entertaining Elizabeth and her retinue by Robert Dudley in 1570.
Take in the 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 further, 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.
Meet Kenilworth Castle's 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 through 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 when the castle was under siege 800 years ago and have remained here ever since.
Take a break
Unwind with a visit to the Stables Tearoom at Kenilworth Castle. There’s plenty of seating inside and out.
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. You’ll find can find allergen and nutritional information here.
After your visit, why not browse our gift shop for a souvenir of your trip, or hunt for your next pageturner in our secondhand bookshop? Thank you! Every cup of tea, book or kids’ treat you buy helps the charity look after England’s heritage.
Discover a motoring pioneer
Whilst exploring the castle, take a moment to enjoy our exhibition 'Speed and Power: John Siddeley, Pioneer of the Motor Age'.
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.
Visit, and you can uncover the hidden story of how Kenilworth Castle's 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.
See the Wicked Game installation
A new art installation will mark the 450th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth I’s 19-day visit to Kenilworth Castle. The temporary artwork by acclaimed contemporary artist, Lindsey Mendick, will go on display in the Great Hall from 8 July to 31 October 2025. Wicked Game will explore a new perspective on Queen Elizabeth I’s relationship with her courtier and long-term suitor Robert Dudley, and her strategies for maintaining authority from the epicentre of a Tudor power struggle.
Find out more