Concerns over City Council introducing new ticket prices for Nottingham Castle

Nottingham City Council sparks local backlash after launching new ticket entry prices for Nottingham castle starting next year. 

The price of a yearly entry ticket is currently £15 but will increase to £18 by April 2026. 

Children under 15 will continue to have free entry to the castle including carers of people who pay the full ticket price. 

Linda Stockton said: “The new price is ok because it’s a return ticket, so if you’re going to use it more than once it’s fine, but if it’s a one off it’s a little expensive.” 

She added: “I shall be going to the castle next year and oh gosh yes I’ll be paying the new price, no two ways about it.” 

Plans to increase ticket prices will ensure the historic site can be maintained and financially supported.

Nottingham Castle reopened following a £31 million revamp in 2021.

The authority took over the castle after it fell into liquidation in November 2022 and reopened in June 2023.

Their goal of 200,000 visitors was smashed three months before its deadline in June 2024.

“I’ve lived in Nottingham all my life and I remember when the castle entry was free.”

Abbie BRAY

Samuel Gensler said: “I think you see across the country that places that are free or cheap tend to do better in terms of getting visitor numbers in, so the castle runs the risk of losing visitors.”

He added: “I showed up the other day and thought I might just have a walk around and then I saw it was £15 and I turned away.”

When the castle reopened in June 2023 the annual admission price for adults was £12 which included entry of three children under 15.

Abbie Bray said: “I’ve lived in Nottingham all my life and I remember when the castle entry was free.”

She added: “I don’t think we’ll be impacted as a business and tourism will happen no matter what, so if people are visiting from far away I don’t think that ticket price is going to make as much of a difference to them as it would a local.”

Tickets to the Castle and Brewhouse Yard cottages, can be bought online or upon entry to the castle, which is open all through the week 11 am till 4 am.