Yes, there is a castle – but a visit to Berkeley has so much more to offer. Great links to the motorway, great pubs, and some great view points, make visiting Berkeley a great day out.
Jump to:
- Getting there
- Berkeley Castle
- Edward Jenner museum and gardens
- The Salutation pub
- Sharpness viewpoint and picnic site
Getting there
By car, Berkeley is around a 5 to 10-minute drive from junction 14 of the M5 motorway. The nearest train station is Cam and Dursley – 6 miles away. You can then catch the 62 bus service from Cam to Berkeley. If you’re coming from Bristol, again take the 62 bus service. This bus service will get you to and from Bristol bus station and Berkeley post office.
As with many other small towns and villages in the area, Berkeley can be difficult to reach if you don’t have a car. Consider renting a car to make the most of your trip to the area if you plan to visit a number of different towns and villages. If you’re on a budget – contact some locals using Couchsurfing.
Berkeley Castle
Who doesn’t like a good castle? Berkeley castle was built in 1117 and has been in the hands of the Berkeley family for over 900 years! King Edward II was murdered there in 1327, and Queen Elizabeth I visited the castle a number of times. On the site today sits the castle itself, the gardens and a butterfly house.
Opening times
The castle is open from Sunday to Wednesday every week from the beginning of April to the end of October. The Butterfly house is also open from Sunday to Wednesday – but from May to September.
Entry to the walled garden and grounds is from 10:30AM, and entrance to the castle building and butterfly house is from 11:00AM. Last admission is 4:00PM, and everything closes at 5:00PM.
Admission prices (Ticket includes access to the castle, gardens and butterfly house):
- Adult £12.50
- Children (age 3 – 16) £7.00
- Concession (full-time student or aged 65+) £11.00
- Student £11.00 with valid Student card
- Family (2 adults and 2 children) £35.00
- Children under 3 are free.
Edward Jenner museum and gardens
Berkeley is the birthplace of Dr Edward Jenner – the pioneer of the smallpox vaccine. The museum and gardens are located next to Berkeley castle. It is here where he lived and developed his work which helped to address one of the biggest issues of the period.
The museum and gardens are located at Edward Jenner’s former home. There are family trails and activities, talks and tours – subject to availability, and an indoor picnic area available.
Opening times
The house, museum and garden are open from the end of March to the end of October. The museum is open from Sunday to Wednesday between 11:00AM and 5:00PM and last admission is 4:00PM.
Admission prices:
- Adults: £6.95
- Concessions (65+): £5.95
- Students (with valid ID): £5.95
- Child (5-17): £3.95
- Family (2 adults/concessions and up to 3 children): £15.95
Note:
- Visitors with a ticket for Berkeley Castle from the same year receive a £1 discount on these prices
- Visitors arriving on foot, bike, or public transport receive a 10% discount on standard admission
The Salutation pub
The “Sally” – as this pub refers to itself – has more awards and nominations for pub of the year than they probably know what to do with! The Sally is a 10-minute walk from Berkeley Castle and is located in the small village of Ham.
This pub prides itself on its community spirit and vintage bar games – more than simply its selection of ales and cider. Ham itself is a great place to explore by foot before or after your stop in the Sally – with some particularly great sunset views as you walk from the pub back in to Berkeley.
Lunch menu
They have changing lunch menus and update their website regularly – check out what they are serving this week here. Freshly baked pasties are served Tuesday to Thursday from noon – 2:00PM, and lunch is served Friday to Sunday also from noon – 2:00PM.
Sharpness viewpoint and picnic site
A great place to have a picnic, or see the sunset from. This viewpoint and picnic site is located 2.5 miles from Berkeley Castle and is a great place to visit if you have your own car.
There is a large open green space here with plenty of seating and a few tables on the bank of the River Severn. From here, you have unrestricted views across the river and down to both Severn Bridges.
For a truely British day out – consider picking up some fish and chips from Berkeley before you head here for the view. The fish and chip shop in Berkeley is open from noon – 2:00PM and 4.30PM – 10:00PM – everyday except Sundays.
Consider checking out the nearby village of North Nibley if you’re in the area!
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