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Castle
Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle works best for families who want a structured half-day rather than a quick photo stop. Decide whether your children will enjoy the 50-minute guided interior tour or would be happier exploring the gardens and grounds, then allow time for woodland and food afterwards.
- Best ages
- Best for school-age children
- Cost
- Paid entry; under-5s free
- Weather
- Tour indoors, gardens outdoors
- Time
- Allow 2–4 hours with the tour
Our family take
It gives families more shape than a look-at-the-outside castle stop: a 50-minute guided tour, clear grounds routes and easy on-site food once the indoor part is done.
- Best for. School-age children and older visitors who will get something from a guided heritage tour, plus families who want outdoor space after the interiors.
- Think twice. A 50-minute guided tour may be too much for toddlers who need to move freely. Gardens only gives you more flexibility, but you will still be paying for an outdoor visit.
- Access. The castle tour has several staircases and no lift to the upper floors. Choose the ground-floor displays and gardens if stairs are a barrier.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Opening
- Open daily from 10am until 1 November 2026. From 5 November to 20 December, the announced pattern is Thursday to Sunday. Check your date and tour time before travelling.
- Tickets
- Castle tour: adult £19.50, child aged 5–16 £11, family £65 (2 adults and up to 3 children). Gardens only: adult £9.50, family £30. Under-5s are free. Check the booking price for your date and children’s ages.
- Tour format
- The castle interior is visited on a guided tour lasting about 50 minutes. Check the booking instructions for your date; winter tours have set times.
- Parking
- Ample parking is behind the Pavilion Shop, and car parking is included in pre-booked tickets.
- Address
- Glamis, Angus DD8 1QJ
- Food and toilets
- Castle Kitchen serves meals and afternoon teas; The Old Larder has takeaway drinks and snacks. Toilets are in the castle and an accessible toilet is in the Pavilion Shop.
ParkingCafé or restaurantGift shopToiletsWoodland Trails
30 September 2026
Official visitor informationA little more detail
Make it work for your family
Castle tour or gardens only?
Choose the castle tour if your children enjoy listening to stories and looking around historic rooms. It includes the gardens and grounds, so you can follow the indoor visit with time outside. Allow 2 to 4 hours for that combination.
Gardens & Grounds tickets leave out the interior tour. The Italian Garden, Kitchen Garden and East Woodland give you a more flexible visit; the Macbeth Loop has seven carved wooden sculptures along the woodland route. This is a walking and sightseeing day rather than a play park.
The outdoor part needs decent weather. The tour and food stops give you some shelter, but gardens only is a weaker choice for a wet day.
Stairs, buggies and wheelchair access
The guided tour involves several staircases, including one with 42 steps, plus uneven flagstones, rugs and carpets. There is no lift to the upper floors. If you need to keep a child in a buggy, plan around the gardens and ground floor, and ask Glamis about buggy storage before booking a tour.
The ground floor is step-free, including the Coach House exhibition and a video tour of the castle. The Italian Garden and Kitchen Garden can be visited with a wheelchair or buggy, although some garden paths are rougher. Blue Badge spaces are beside the Pavilion Shop and its accessible toilet.
Wheelchair users and registered carers with ID receive free entry. Check directly with Glamis how this applies to your party before buying tickets. Baby-changing facilities and specific sensory support are worth checking if you need them.
Food and before you go
The Castle Kitchen Restaurant is wheelchair-accessible on the ground floor; The Old Larder has ramp access. You need a Gardens & Grounds ticket even if you only want to visit the restaurant, shop or Old Larder, so this is not a free cafe stop.
Check seasonal opening and the booking calendar before travelling, especially later in autumn and winter. Dogs are welcome in the gardens and grounds on leads. Children under 12 must stay with an adult.
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