VISIT BELSAY CASTLE WITH ENGLISH HERITAGE MEMBERSHIP
- Up to 6 Kids go free
- Free Parking at English Heritage
- Receive our Handbook
- Unlimited access to over 400 days out
TICKETS & PRICES
Adults: £7.60
Children 5-17 Years: £4.60
Families (2 adults, up to 3 Children): £19.80
Families (1 adult, up to 3 Children): £12.20
Quick Navigation
Visiting Belsay Castle
Belsay Castle is an English Heritage site complete with elaborate, exotic gardens, historical manors, walking trails, a Victorian tea room, a second-hand book shop, and regular seasonal events. On the estate, visit the 14th-century medieval Castle, the Greek revival hall, and the exotic Victorian gardens owned by the Middleton family starting in the 13th century.
Parking
Parking is free for visitors. The central car park, right next to the castle entrance, also has some accessible parking spaces for Blue Badge holders. There are also two overflow parking lots a bit farther from the gate. So, there is plenty of free parking on-site.
If you visit Belsay in July or August, you can take the Belsay Express Bus from Newcastle’s Haymarket Bus Station. When you take the bus, you’ll receive a 20% discount on admission prices, so be sure not to miss it! For more information about the bus and the deal, click here.
Price
English Heritage Members - Free
Adult - £10.00
Child (5-17 years old) - £6.00
Concession (Students with Student ID and people 65+ with ID) - £9.00
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) - £26.00
Family (1 adult and up to 3 children) - £16.00
Opening
Belsay Castle is open every day of the week from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. However, the last admissions are at 4:30 PM, 30 minutes before closing.
Location and Access
Belsay Castle is located at Belsay, Nr Morpeth, Northumberland, NE20 0DX.
Know Before You Go
- Most areas of Belsay castle are handicap accessible, but the ground may be uneven in some places, so take care.
- Dogs are allowed in outdoor areas only and must be kept on a leash at all times. Assistance dogs are allowed indoors, though.
- Toilet facilities are available near the main entrance year-round, and there may be some portable bathrooms near the Castle during the summer season.
Places To Stay Nearby
If you are looking for an excellent, unique, and comfortable place to stay near Belsay Castle, look no further. Whether you are looking for economy or luxury, these inns and cottages are the very best, and they offer fantastic amenities that will help make your stay perfect.
Harnham Hall
1.6 miles (2.6 km) from Belsay Hall lies Harnham Hall, a 16th century fortified house turned hotel. With elaborate and historical furnishings, decorations, and architecture, this hotel is the perfect place to stay if you want to add as much history as you can to your visit.
On the property, visit the large herds of white cattle that greet you at this stunning hotel. Enjoy free parking, wifi, and complimentary English breakfast while you are here, and enjoy the many amenities that this 5-star hotel has to offer.
The Tower Cottage
Just 0.9 miles (1.4 km) south of Belsay Castle, stay at The Tower Cottage, a 1-bedroom self-service cottage nestled between lush countryside and the Bolton Abbey Estate. You can walk to Bolton Abbey and the tower when you visit here, so you won’t need to pay for transportation.
The Tower Cottage offers weekly rentals, and included are many amenities. The cottage consists of an equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, tv, free wifi, linens and towels, a full bathroom, a patio, free parking, and access to the estate’s tennis courts.
Hedgefield House
Hedgefield House, 13 miles (21 km) south of Belsay Castle, is a lovely Georgian manor house decorated in period style. Located near the city centre, beside the River Tyne, and Hadrian’s wall, you can see all of the sites in Newcastle upon Tyne when you stay here.
Their rates are also surprisingly low for such a great value. So, this is the perfect place to stay for anyone who wants both comfort and affordability.
Amenities include free wifi, complimentary tea and coffee, colour TV in each suite, en-suite bathrooms, a sauna, a gym, a lounge, and lush gardens. They also offer continental breakfasts and drinks in their 16-seat dining area.
History of Belsay Castle
The history of Belsay Castle follows the Middleton family, as they have kept the estate in the family for some 700 years. The Middletons were the Baronets of Belsay who often served as members of the House of Commons and Parliament. They had prominent positions in Northumberland.
Time Line
-1270 (The Middleton’s Gain Belsay Estate)
The first recorded mention of Belsay Castle was in 1270. At this time, the owner of the estate was Sir Richard Middleton. Middleton was the Lord Chancellor to King Henry II, and King Henry likely gave him the Belsay Estate as a reward for his devotion.
-1278
In 1278, Sir Richard Middleton entertained King Edward I of England and Belsay Hall.
No one is positive what the Castle looked like in the 1270s, but it must have looked very different from what it looks like today. Still, since Belsay was suitable for hosting a king, it must have been a grand manor in the 1270s.
Based on archaeological research from Historic England, the Hall would have included an artificial pond and a large, walled garden in front of the original manor house.
-1317
Sir Richard Middleton’s heir, John, joined a rebellion called the Rebellion of the North in 1317. John was captured and executed for treason during this rebellion, leaving Belsay Hall to King Edward II. Edward then granted the Hall to John, Lord Stryvelyn, a distant relative of the Middleton family.
Lord Stryvelyn pitied John Middleton’s widow and his son, Thomas. So, he arranged a marriage between Thomas Middleton’s son, John, and Christiana de Stryvelyn, bringing honour and property back to the Middleton family.
-1391-1409 (Great Peel Tower Constructed)
In 1391, after Lord Stryvelyn and his wife died, Belsay was inherited by Christiana and her husband John Middleton, restoring the estate to the Middleton family.
John Middleton built the great peel tower at Belsay. The building still stands today in the eastern corner of the estate. Its turreted tower and strongholds are characteristic of the Anglo-Scottish wars, as Middleton built the tower to protect the Middleton family from Scottish invaders.
-1614
When the Anglo-Scottish conflict ended in 1603, Belsay Castle was modified to make it a more comfortable and elaborate living space.
Thomas Middleton High Sheriff of Northumberland, the resident of Belsay, started constructing a Jacobean Manor on the west side of the tower to show his high status and entertain influential guests. The manor was completed around 1614, and it still stands today.
Although the expansion of Belsay resulted in an elaborate estate, Thomas soon moved to Yorkshire, leaving the Castle to fall into disrepair.
-1670 (West Wing Added)
William Middleton, son of Thomas, moved back into Belsay in 1670, finding it in disrepair. He restored the Castle and added a new, vast west wing to the estate.
-1795
In 1795, Sir Charles Monck, the third son of Sir William Middleton and the 6th Baronet of Belsay, inherited the Castle. Monck was an enthusiastic Classicist with a keen interest in Greek botany, art, and architecture.
Monck is responsible for the vast gardens and the Greek revival-style great Hall at Belsay.
-1934-1980
During WWII, the army requisitioned Belsay and used it to house troops. During this time, the Middletons lived in the Great Hall built by Monck, but they moved out shortly after, allowing the estate to fall into disrepair.
In 1980, the estate fell into the hands of England, and shortly after, it became an English Heritage site and a protected building.
Belsay Castle Occupants
Belsay belonged to the Middleton family almost constantly for 710 years, but it was their primary residence for only short periods. The Middletons were never highly prestigious, but they did serve as influential politicians in the House of Commons and Northumberland’s elite.
Some of the most well-known Middletons who preferred Belsay as their primary residence include:
- Sir William Middleton, 1st Baronet of Belsay
- Sir John Middleton, 2nd Baronet of Belsay
- Sir William Middleton, 3rd Baronet of Belsay and Whig Member of the House of Commons
- Sir John Lambert Middleton, 4th Baronet of Belsay
- Sir William Middleton, 5th Baronet of Belsay and member of the House of Commons
- Sir Charles Monck, 6th Baronet of Belsay, High Sheriff of Northumberland
- Sir Arthur Edward Monck/Middleton, 7th Baronet of Belsay
Images of Belsay Castle
Images Supplied and licensed from Shutterstock Standard Licence Package
Belsay Castle Facts
Belsay Castle is an English Heritage site and Grade 1 listed building.
Many of the plants and trees in the gardens were initially planted by Sir Charles Monck in the early 1800s.
Belsay Castle has been a popular tourist attraction since Victorian times, and today has tonnes of walking trails, elaborate and spectacular gardens, well-preserved medieval architecture, and plenty of history lessons along the way!
The Medievals castle’s peel tower is a rare surviving example of the Northumbrian fortified tower design. Climb to the top to see the stunning view!
Belsay Castle Q&A
Is Belsay Castle, Hall, and Gardens Handicap Accessible?
In most places, Belsay Castle is handicap accessible. However, the walking trails and castle grounds are uneven in some areas, so take care. In addition, the Hall includes several steps that make it inaccessible to wheelchairs.
For your convenience, electric wheelchairs and manual wheelchairs are available for loan at the main entrance.
Can I Bring a Picnic?
You can bring a picnic, and there are many outdoor eating areas. In addition, if you forgot to bring food, there is a tearoom and shop on-site that offers light meals and refreshments.
Location of Belsay Castle
Belsay Castle is in Northumberland, located at B6309, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 0DX, United Kingdom.
Other Places To Visit Near Belsay Castle
While you are in Northumberland, you can’t miss all that the area has to offer! After you visit Belsay, stop by some of these other fantastic sites and museums to make your vacation memorable.
1. Kirkley Hall Zoological Gardens
5.5 miles (8.9 km) southeast of Belsay Castle, visit Kirkley Hall Zoological Gardens. They have a large menagerie of birds, exotic animals like capybara and lemurs, and a petting zoo for the kids. They also have a tea room, gift shop, walking trails, forest walks, and more, so don’t miss it!
2. Cheeseburn
Cheeseburn is a historical sculpture park located 6.1 miles (9.8 km) south of Belsay Castle. Visit the Victorian-era Grange, stroll through the sculpture gardens, and look inside to see revolving exhibitions from upcoming and established sculpture artists.
3. Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
In the centre of Northumberland upon Tyne, 16 miles (25.7 km) south of Belsay Castle, lies the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Northumberland’s premier contemporary art museum. Baltic always has new exhibits from up-and-coming artists and permanent installations from established ones, so there is always something spectacular to see here!
Stop by after visiting the Castle, then walk the town to enjoy the nightlife of Northumberland for the perfect day out!