Arundel Castle

In June of last year, right before the summer vacation, we went to Arundel Castle. Although we were aware that it would be difficult to see everything in a single day, the combination of its immense size and the oppressive heat we experienced during our visit caused us to give up. When I was exploring the castle, I admired how the old and new castles were separated from one another. The stories of The Anarchy and the English civil war were expertly told in the keep, the Norman gatehouse, and a few chambers in the "old" part.

We arrived at the airport early in the morning to begin our journey. The issue now was that we had to reserve an airport cab, which frequently arrived late and was expensive. To go to our location, we, therefore, booked a cab from company. Surprisingly, the cab arrived on time—or better yet, ahead of schedule. The car's condition was also excellent because it was so well-kept and clean. Our driver was also really competent. We rode in comfort and safety and Then we arrived at our final stop.

Having a conversation with a tour guide who could fill in additional details about the castle's early years was also entertaining and educational. In the "new" castle, the challenge started. As usual, I was hoping to find a guided tour, but none was available. This caught me completely off guard because I had thought of Arundel Castle as being in the same "elite league" as castles like Alnwick, Raby, and Blenheim. However, whereas the other enormous castles were very interactive with their visitors and provided a variety of guided tours, Arundel did not. Later, I discovered that trips are offered, but not every day, so it's important to double-check before travelling.

There were several experienced guides in the chambers, but to learn about Arundel, you need to know what questions to ask. It is tough to know exactly the correct things to ask in a castle with almost 1,000 years of history and a dynasty that ruled the political sphere for hundreds of years. Here's an example: According to what I heard before visiting the castle, one of the staterooms contained a special item of memorabilia connected to Mary Queen of Scots. The gardens needed to be explored next. Since we began "chasing castles," I have seen a lot of lovely gardens, but what set Arundel Castle Gardens apart from the others was the cathedral's stunning and dramatic backdrop. The FitzAlan chapel and its distinctive effigies of the Howards are located on the grounds. There are divisions between the private, the Howards' Catholic chapel, and the parish's Anglican church.

To sum up, Arundel Castle is undoubtedly one of the most impressive sites we have ever been to, but it is also one of the most perplexing. The rich history and impressive wow factor of Arundel castle are undeniable, however, it is difficult to engage with and appreciate this due to the absence of adequate tours. In addition, it is not exactly a family-friendly location, thus I would rate it as a one-star castle in its present condition. The Dukes of Norfolk still reside in Arundel Castle, which is privately owned.