Events, Open Days and Tours
Hertford Castle hosts regular events, open days and tours, throughout the year. Outside of these events, the Castle is not open to the public to explore, as it houses the offices of Hertford Town Council.
All of the events at Hertford Castle are organised by Hertford Town Council with the kind support of the Friends of Hertford Castle.
The grounds of Hertford Castle are free to be enjoyed during daylight hours (gates are managed by East Herts Council and are closed at dusk).
See listings of Hertford Town Council events and open daysFind out about future plans for the grounds of Hertford Castle
Location
Hertford Castle Gatehouse is set in the heart of the county town of Hertford, surrounded by beautiful, meticulously cared for grounds which provide a stunning backdrop for any event. In such a wonderful tranquil environment it’s hard to believe you are only 40 minutes from the centre of London.
If you have guests coming from afar we are 30 minutes from Luton airport. Hertford Castle is less than 15 minutes walk from both of Hertford’s train stations (see below). Although we do not have on site accommodation, the town centre is minutes away, where you will find many hotels, restaurants and bars.
Hertford Castle is the first point of interest on the Hertford Heritage Trail - download a map from www.GoHertford.co.uk.
Filming
When Hertford Town Council run community events at Hertford Castle, they may use a photographer to capture images for media purposes - inside and/or outside Hertford Castle.
Inside Hertford Castle, whether on a private tour, or on an open day, no recording, filming or flash photography is permitted. Any photographs taken should be for personal use only and not for commercial purposes, unless otherwise arranged with the Council.
Outside filming and photography is permitted in public spaces - please show respect for the history and heritage of Hertford Castle and its grounds and be mindful of any issues of consent and/or safeguarding.
In order to protect individuals, vehicles and the building and grounds of Hertford Castle, drones are only to be flown upwards from the main lawn behind Hertford Castle. Operator ID must be displayed on all camera drones and a maximum altitude of 400ft (120m) is advised. Please note that if your drone hits any person or property you will be liable for any injury or damage, therefore you are responsible for arranging appropriate insurance - drones must maintain reasonable distance and avoid hovering directly above people or property, with special attention paid to weather conditions. Drones (with cameras) weighing over 250g should be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority.
Directions and travel
Hertford Town Council declared a Climate Emergency in July 2023 and has committed to taking action to protect human health and our natural world to the maximum extent its powers allow. We therefore encourage people to come to Hertford Castle by public or active transport. There are two railway stations in Hertford: Hertford East (Liverpool Street) and Hertford North (Moorgate, Kings Cross & Cambridge). Both are within 15 minutes walking distance from the Castle (or there are taxi ranks available) and bus services are available to The Wash and Hertford Bus Station.
If you need to drive:
From the A10 take the Hertford exit. At the roundabout take the second exit. At the next roundabout take the second exit heading towards the Town Centre. At the next roundabout, take the first exit (left) along Gascoyne Way. You will then need to get into right hand lane (Gasycone Way multi-storey car park on your right-hand side). Take the third exit, you will see a brown sign for The Castle immediately on the left. Follow along Castle Street, until you come to a turning head, the Castle gates are straight in front of you. Press the entry button to gain access - please note Hertford Castle does NOT have public parking.
From the A1/M1 Follow the A414 to Hertford. As you enter Hertford, you will go across a roundabout and directly under a railway bridge. At the next roundabout take the second exit (straight on, then move into the left-hand lane). At the next roundabout, take first exit (left) you will see a brown sign for The Castle immediately on the left. Follow along Castle Street, until you come to a turning head, the Castle gates are straight in front of you. Press the entry button to gain access - please note Hertford Castle does NOT have public parking.
Car Parking
Up to 103 car parking spaces are are available at the St Andrew's car park which is less than 1 minutes walk to Hertford Castle, through the Castle grounds. This is pay and display. For more information on parking in Hertford please see here.
For venue hire, a maximum of 4 car parking spaces are available for weddings/receptions free of charge and a maximum of 2 car parking spaces are available for private or corporate hire, free of charge.