Welcome
Discover a story spanning almost 1,000 years of history on your visit to Auckland Castle.
An unexpected delight and where the Auckland Project all began are the thirteen life-size figures painted by Francisco de Zurbarán (1598–1664), a master of the Spanish Golden Age of art. The paintings were bought by Bishop Trevor in 1756 and have hung in the Long Dining Room at Auckland Castle ever since. It is one of the largest collections of Zurbaráns in the world.
Complete your visit with some time outdoors; relax in over 150 acres of historic parkland and see where some of your lunch ingredients started out life, in the Castle's Walled Garden.

Level access
There is level access from the main entrance to:
CastleChapel & VestryGentleman's HallThrone RoomLong Dining RoomBlue Drawing RoomGalleriesLibraryPublic toiletsAuckland Castle Deer HouseAccess with steps
Visual
General
Getting here
Travel by public transport
If travelling by bus you should alight at Bishop Auckland Market Place
The following bus services, service both stops:
Arriva route 6 runs between Durham Barnard Castle via Cockfield, stopping approximately every 30 mins.
Arriva route 18 runs between Durham Barnard Castle via Cockfield, stopping approximately every 30 mins.
Arriva route 56/56A runs between Durham and Bishop Auckland, stopping approximately every 30 mins.
Please check bus routes direct with transport providers. There are additional services that service Bishop Auckland bus station which is located near the Newgate Shopping Centre.
Travel by taxi
We have no affiliation with the suggested taxi services and the information provided is based on current available data at the time of writing this guide. Any suggestions for alternative please inform the accessibility point of contact.
Parking
Blue badge parking bays are available in the market place directly opposite Spanish Gallery. This is also the drop off area.
Additional parking including blue badge spaces is available on North Bondgate which is approximately 0.4 miles / 645 meters from Auckland Castle.
Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
Getting around inside
Visual Impairment - General Information
Lift
Lift to all floors (Red Stairs)
Lift to Bishops Kitchen (Gentleman's Hall Lobby)
Lift to Shop (Stone Hall)
Lift to galleries
Things to See and Do
Castle
Access to the Castle is via the main entrance. However, due to the medieval construction of the Castle, there are some stairs and areas that will not be wholly accessible for wheelchair users, those with pushchairs or persons with mobility issues, there is a designated accessibility route signposted throughout.
Chapel & Vestry
The ramp is 290mm wide. The chapel is illuminated by natural lighting with some secondary lighting in use. During periods of inclement weather the lighting levels maybe lower and when it is very sunny it can be quite bright in places.
Everyone will be welcome to attend the regular services in the chapel, free of charge, and worship in a place where bishops have worshipped for centuries.
Gentleman's Hall
There is a projector display operating in this area.
The accesibility route to the throne room is to the left of the stairwell. If using the stairs there are 22 steps in total.
Throne Room

Long Dining Room

Blue Drawing Room
Galleries
Galleries accesible via the platform lift in the lift lobby.
Library
Access to Bishop's Kitchen is via the stone hall which is either 3 steps or the platform lift.
Public toilet
Public toilets
Baby changing faciltiies available.
Door does not require a radar key.
Shop
Castle Shop
There is a platform lift available to the Castle shop. There is a floor grill that run around the boundary to the Castle shop.
The exit door is operted by pushing the exit button, however, there is a small step that drops onto the gravel pathway.
The lowest height from the fall to the til is 310mm
Place to eat and drink
Bishops Kitchen
There is a platform lift available for access to the Bishop's Kitchen. There is an outdoor couryard which is out of use during inclement weather.
Education Rooms
The learning rooms are generally unavailable to the public and there use is pre-bookable.
Getting around outside
Walled Gardens
Due to the nature of the terraine this area is on a slope with steep stair cut into the terraine. There are no colour contrast to the steps. The horizontal spaces are more level.
The upper walled garden is still under construction and currently unavailable to the public.
Designated Walking Trail
Walking Routes (Deer Park)
Visitors are welcome to freely explore our 150 acre Deer Park at all times of the year taking advantage of one of the 3 dedicated walks. Visitors should be aware that roaming wildlife may be present and the terraine can be uneven and boggy during wet weather.
Visitors should be aware that there is ongoing maintenance works to the grounds to improve visibiliy and terraine levels. These areas are fenced off with signage.
Auckland Castle Deer House
There is no access to the interior. The exterior is open to view from the surrounding parkland

Customer care support
Accessibility equipment
Emergency evacuation procedures
There will be a member of staff in every room during an emergency evacuation procedure.
Customer care support