Arundel Castle holds a renowned Tulip Festival, held between mid-April and May each year, the festival is regarded as one of the top tulip displays in Europe, and is set against the breathtaking backdrop of the castle’s gardens. A riot of colour awaits as the festival showcases over 120 different named tulips planted by the castle’s award-winning Head Gardener, Martin Duncan, and his team. Here’s a look at what you can expect and a brief history of Arundel Castle.
Arundel Castle is a restored medieval castle located in Arundel, West Sussex, England. It’s safe to say that Arundel has seen some action over the years. It was established during the reign of Edward the Confessor and completed by Roger de Montgomery, who was a cousin of William the Conqueror.
The castle has been the seat of the Earls of Arundel and the Dukes of Norfolk since the 11th century and is a Grade I-listed building. It was damaged during the English Civil War and then restored in the 18th and 19th centuries. The castle has been visited by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and has undergone several restorative works over the centuries.
Now the seat of the 18th Duke of Norfolk/Earl Marshall of England, Edward Fitzalan-Howard, today the castle features extensive gardens and is open to visitors between April and October. Visitors can take advantage of a full events programme throughout the season, from the world-renowned tulip festival to family history days, medieval festivals and jousting tournaments and even Shakespearean theatre events.
This year’s festival is set to feature over 100,000 tulips, creating a stunning display of colour and beauty as the bulbs, which have been dormant underground throughout the winter, burst into bloom.
The festival will feature an array of tulips, including Purple Passionale, White Triumphator, Angelique, Madame Lefeber, Curley Sue, and Flaming Spring Green to name but a few. Plus, for the first time in history, the castle’s iconic steep bank has been planted with more than 10,000 Oxford red tulips, while the labyrinth has been planted with over 14,000 King’s Blood tulips to create a stunning feature, in celebration of the King Charles III’s Coronation in May.
Martin Duncan, Arundel Castle’s Head Gardener, commented:
“We are thrilled that we are once again able to hold the iconic Tulip Festival at Arundel Castle. Our team has worked around the clock over the winter to create a beautiful display of tulips that will delight visitors of all ages. We invite everyone to come and see the amazing display of colours and hues that the tulips will bring. It really will be a spectacular display of nature at its finest, and you will truly be able to immerse yourself in the vibrant colours of spring.”
The Tulip Festival at Arundel Castle takes place during April and early May, but due to the unpredictability of when the bulbs will bloom, visitors are encouraged to check Arundel Castle’s social media channels or website to find out when the tulip display is ready to avoid disappointment.
Tickets to the Tulip Festival are available from www.arundelcastle.org and cost from £14.00 per adult and £6.50 per child. Under 5s go free. Check the website for full details.
