Brancepeth Castle

Brancepeth Castle is an historic castle near Durham. Now a family home, it is open to visitors on a number of days each year and for public events.

Activities we offer

Tours

Take a tour of Brancepeth Castle and find out how it developed from a Saxon stronghold to become the seat of the mighty …

Weddings

Whether your dream wedding is a grand celebration or a more intimate gathering, the castle offers an ideal setting, with…

Holiday let

Quartermaster’s is a charming, bright and sunny south-facing ground floor flat. It has recently been sensitively moderni…

Open Mornings

Enjoy free and unguided access to four of the castle's main rooms. To delve deeper into our history then we also have gu…

Craft Fair

The next fair is from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 November 2025, the stall list and FAQs are now available. Since 1987, Branc…

Community of the Well

A small, non-residential community based at Brancepeth Castle, offering retreats and spiritual direction. The Community …

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From the Saxons to the present

The castle has changed hands many times over the centuries and been used in many ways. Fortress and family home, laboratory and barracks, read more about the owners and residents that together make the story of Brancepeth Castle.

Find out more about our History

Latest News

What's On

Our summer newsletter is out. You can view it here and subscribe to our mailing list. Highlights include, Summer Craft …

Jul 2025

Historic Houses

The 4th July 2025 edition of the Historic Houses e-bulletin (#335) features Brancepeth Castle in their Places you have l…

Jul 2025

Dragons Arise!

Our second dragons event for families is Saturday 22nd March 2-5pm! Calling all knights, princesses, dragons and their …

Feb 2025

There Be Dragons!

Announcing our exciting October half-term family event! Calling all knights, princesses, dragons and their attendants. B…

Sep 2024

An Old Front Door

We have reinstated the original early 19th Century oak studded doors to the entrance of the castle’s main event room, th…

Jun 2024

Quartermaster's at 8

We are lucky at Brancepeth Castle to have so much space, but the question is always which areas should we next bring bac…

Mar 2024

Christmas Craft Fair

Looking for gifts? Maybe something nice for yourself? Some jewellery perhaps. Local ales, cheeses, Northumbrian sausages…

Nov 2022

Culture Recovery Fund

When we moved into the castle in the late 1970s, we discovered that damage to the roof by a previous owner meant one of …

Oct 2020

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