Powderham Castle

Powderham, Kenton, Exeter, Devon, EX6 8JQ

Tel: 01626 890243

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1085 reviews1085 reviews
Powderham Castle exterior

About

Covid-19 update:

Powderham's gardens and grounds are now open on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays, 10am - 5pm (with last admission at 4pm).

We encourage you to purchase your tickets in advance if possible. Tickets will also be available to purchase onsite using CARD ONLY. Click here to buy your tickets now.

The Castle itself is currently closed until further notice. 

About us:

There is so much to see and do at Powderham Castle you will be pushed to fit it all in to one day, but don’t worry as you can come back on another day for FREE!*

For the very first time since Powderham opened to visitors in 1957, the tour routes and the tales told of Devon’s 600-year-old family home are changing.  After years of study and with input from Universities of Exeter, Plymouth and Pennsylvania, Charlie and AJ (the new Earl and Countess of Devon) are excited to launch this fresh telling of the ancient and unique Powderham story.  

This season, visitors to Powderham will be offered a choice of two distinct and very different tours, both within a single ticket price.    

On the Castle tour you will see the many majestic rooms and hear fascinating stories about the Courtenay family as told by our knowledgeable and engaging guides. The tour lasts an hour and all of our guides adapt it to suit their audience, so it is an entertaining experience for all!

The State Room Tour guides guests through the gardens, the grange and the grandest rooms of the Castle – the public face of Powderham.  Visitors explore chronologically Powderham’s illustrious architectural history, from its medieval foundation, through Civil War sieges, Georgian, Rococo and Regency expansion, to its dramatic neo-Gothic culmination.  All of this via secret doors, long libraries and even a hidden ballroom.

The Upstairs/Downstairs Tour offers a different view – Powderham as a private home of the Courtenay family and their staff for over 600 years.  Charlie and AJ invite visitors into never-before-seen family bedrooms, and offer a host of intimate and personal insights, spooky stories, and winding staircases used for generations.

Outside there are acres to explore and discoveries to be made. Visit the Walled Garden, Play Area & Pets Corner (and take part on our nature trail on the way) home to our friendly Powderham pets and adventure play area (including our Courtenay Fort!). A donkey, pot-bellied pigs, goats, guinea pigs, chickens, sheep, and stick-insects, to name but a few, live here in a blissfully happy environment and enjoy the company of visitors, children and adults alike.

Head to our American Woodland Garden (open between 1st April – 1st September) to enjoy a scenic picnic and explore this haven of peaceful tranquillity, adorned with exotic trees and a gothic summerhouse/folly.

Take in the sights of the Castle’s natural rugged beauty on our tractor trailer rides around the grounds of Powderham. Get close to our 600 Fallow deer as well as lots of other wildlife or simply take time to relax and enjoy the stunning views.

For a spot of lunch, have a bite from the Courtenay Café offering a range of light lunches, refreshments and delicious cream teas, as well as vegetarian and vegan options! We can seat up to 25 inside the Café with additional seating in the Coach House as well as outdoor seating so that visitors can enjoy the West Country sunshine!

And don’t miss our family fun in the school holidays – from Easter activities to spooky school at Halloween there’s something for all visitors during every season! With a Powderham Season ticket you can enjoy unlimited admissions to the castle, plus all of our extra activities for free!

*Free return valid for 7 days. Children can take part in another themed session on a Free Return ticket for only £3.00.

Book Tickets

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Adult£12.95 per ticket
Child (4 - 16 years) / Student£10.90 per ticket
Family (2 adults + 2 children)£39.95 per ticket
Senior£11.95 per ticket
Under 3sFree

Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
  • Travelers Choice 2022
  • Excellent
    636
  • Very Good
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  • Average
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  • Poor
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Recent Reviews:

    Directions

    Road Directions

    Nearest major road is A379. Follow B/W signs on A379 Exeter to Dawlish Road.

    Public Transport Directions

    Nearest station is Starcross station. Follow A379 to castle gates in Kenton.

    Facilities

    Other

    • Gift Shop

    Accessibility

    • Facilities for Visually Impaired Visitors - Tour guides
    • Guide Dogs Permitted
    • Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
    • Ramp/Level Access
    • Toilets for Disabled Visitors

    Attraction Facilities

    • Childrens Play Area
    • Garden Centre
    • Plant Sales
    • Shop

    Catering

    • On-Site café/restaurant - Tearooms seating 25 max with an overflow of 25 in Coach House, also outdoor seating for 30.Serving cream teas, snacks and homemade lunches. Restaurant at the Country Store within the grounds with outdoor seating area.
    • Picnic Site

    Children & Infants

    • Facilities for children

    Establishment Features

    • Available for wedding receptions
    • Bristol Pound Accepted
    • Cater for groups
    • Coach drop-off point
    • Conference facilities
    • Event venue
    • Event Venue
    • Free car parking
    • Licenced for civil marriages
    • On-site coach parking
    • On-site Restaurant/Cafe
    • Picnic Area
    • Shop
    • Tea / Coffee Shop
    • Toilets
    • Wedding Venue

    Key Features

    • Families
    • Film or TV location
    • Haunted
    • In countryside
    • Indoor Attraction
    • Min group size - 15
    • Of historic, literary or architectural interest
    • Outdoor Attraction
    • Weddings

    Parking & Transport

    • Coach Parking
    • On Bus Route
    • Parking (free)

    Payment Methods

    • All major credit cards accepted
    • Cash & Cheque accepted
    • Maestro accepted
    • MasterCard accepted
    • Visa accepted

    Printed Material in Foreign Languages

    • French printed material
    • German printed material
    • Polish printed material
    • Spanish printed material

    Specialist Features

    • Family Fun
    • Marketed towards families
    • Marketed towards senior citizens

    Tours and Demonstrations

    • Educational Visits Accepted
    • Guided Tours Available for Groups
    • Guided Tours Compulsory for Groups
    • Guided Tours Compulsory for Individuals

    Travel & Trade

    • Group discounts available
    • Wi-fi available

    Venue Facilities

    • Area for musician/band
    • Garden/grounds available for photography
    • Groups Accepted
    • Lawn area for marquee

    Opening Times

    * Open 24th March - 1st November 2019 Sunday to Friday - 10am - 5pm
    First guided tour at 11.00am. Last guided tour at 3.30pm except holidays.
    Free Flow daily during summer holidays - 1:15pm – 2:00pm. Free return visit within 7 days.
    The castle sometimes closes for private functions - please call or check the website before making a special journey

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