Reigate Castle Historical Site
Medieval castle ruins and public park
Reigate Castle's motte and ruined keep rise above Priory Park; visitors come for the earthworks, picnic lawns and views across the Surrey Downs.
Reigate Castle at a Glance#
Address: Reigate Castle Grounds, Castlefield Rd, Reigate RH2 (United Kingdom)
Website: https://www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/
Hours: Castle grounds open dawn-dusk; visitor access to the central mound and grounds is unrestricted (castle interiors are ruins)
Admission: Free (castle grounds and parkland open to the public)
About Reigate Castle#
Reigate Castle is a medieval motte-and-bailey site in the town of Reigate, Surrey, England, with visible earthworks dating from soon after the Norman Conquest. The site is now incorporated into public gardens close to the town centre.
A large earthen motte and fragments of the medieval defensive works remain, together with landscaped castle grounds that are used as a public park. Interpretive signage on site explains the castle’s medieval layout and later alterations.
The castle was established in the decades after the Norman Conquest as a motte-and-bailey fortification and later saw stone works added; it declined as a military site in the late medieval period and its structures were repurposed over subsequent centuries. Ownership and use changed several times, with the site moving from defensive use to civic and private functions.
The remains stand on a sandstone ridge in central Reigate in Surrey, roughly 30 kilometres south of central London and within easy reach of the town’s high street and railway station.
- Surviving features: Surviving earthworks include a prominent motte and associated bailey earthworks that are visible from the public park in the town centre.
How to Get to Reigate Castle#
Reigate Castle is a short walk from Reigate railway station (about 5-10 minutes). From London, trains run to Reigate from London Bridge and Victoria; once in town follow signs for the castle grounds and Castlefield Road.
Tips for Visiting Reigate Castle#
- Walk from Reigate railway station-the castle and castle grounds are just a short uphill stroll (about 5-10 minutes).
- Use the castle grounds' elevated viewpoint for good views over Reigate and the North Downs at sunset.
- Pair a visit with a walk through Reigate Priory Park and the nearby tunnel (18th‑century Reigate Tunnel) for a fuller historical circuit.
Best Time to Visit Reigate Castle#
Best visited April-October for comfortable walking conditions and open parkland.
Weather & Climate near Reigate Castle#
Reigate Castle's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 22°C. Moderate rainfall (712 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 1° - 7° | 1° | 76 mm | overcast | 91% | 4.6 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.2h |
| February | Poor | 1° - 7° | 1° | 50 mm | overcast | 89% | 4.4 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.8h |
| March | Acceptable | 3° - 10° | 3° | 55 mm | overcast | 87% | 4.4 m/s | 0.4 low | 11.7h |
| April | Acceptable | 4° - 13° | 6° | 48 mm | overcast | 83% | 4.1 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 13.7h |
| May | Good | 7° - 17° | 12° | 50 mm | overcast | 81% | 4.0 m/s | 1.2 high | 15.4h |
| June | Good | 10° - 20° | 15° | 55 mm | overcast | 81% | 3.6 m/s | 1.4 high | 16.3h |
| July | Very Good | 12° - 22° | 17° | 42 mm | overcast | 80% | 3.6 m/s | 1.4 high | 15.9h |
| August | Very Good | 12° - 22° | 17° | 54 mm | overcast | 81% | 3.4 m/s | 1.1 high | 14.4h |
| September | Good | 10° - 19° | 14° | 61 mm | overcast | 82% | 3.6 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 12.5h |
| October | Acceptable | 7° - 15° | 11° | 71 mm | overcast | 87% | 3.8 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.5h |
| November | Acceptable | 4° - 10° | 4° | 73 mm | overcast | 90% | 3.9 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.7h |
| December | Poor | 2° - 8° | 2° | 77 mm | overcast | 92% | 4.2 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.7h |