Longford Castle
Guided tours of an historic house and gardens, and its world-class art collection
Venue
Longford Castle, near Salisbury, Wiltshire
Tickets £16
Dates and times
Various dates from March – September, 2–4.30pm
Longford Castle and the National Gallery
Longford Castle has been home to the Earls of Radnor for generations. It has enjoyed a long and fruitful association with the National Gallery.
Some of the Gallery’s best-known and important paintings once belonged to Longford Castle, including Holbein’s ‘Ambassadors’ and Poussin’s ‘Adoration of the Golden Calf’. The Gallery is also fortunate to have wonderful pictures on loan from Longford, such as Holbein’s ‘Erasmus’ and Sebastiano del Piombo’s ‘Portrait of a Lady’.
By helping to organise visits to the Castle, the Gallery is delighted to support the Longford Estate in measures taken to preserve major works in the settings created for them.
Image: Detail from Anthony van Dyck, 'Portrait of Gaston of France, Duke of Orléans', c. 1634-5 © Longford Castle Collection
Image: Detail from The Green Velvet Drawing Room at Longford Castle
The Castle
Longford Castle was originally built in the late 16th century to an unusual triangular plan. In the 18th century, the second Earl of Radnor employed the architect James Wyatt to transform it into a hexagonal palace.
Abandoned part way through this project, it was left to the fourth Earl of Radnor and Victorian architect Anthony Salvin to complete Longford.
World-class art
Longford is home to many world-class works of art. The majority of works were collected by the family in the 18th and 19th centuries, but the collection continues to grow and evolve.
As well as paintings by Old Masters including Anthony van Dyck, Claude, David Teniers, Frans Hals, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Thomas Gainsborough, you can also see contemporary art and sculpture.
Exceptional interiors
The Castle was decorated and furnished to house the collection of fine art.
Alongside magnificent paintings, you can see stunning examples of Oriental porcelain, Brussels tapestries, and 18th-century English and continental furniture on display.
A bucolic setting
Longford sits on the banks of the River Avon, south of Salisbury, Wiltshire. The river runs through the estate, providing a spectacular backdrop to the gardens.
Stunning gardens
On your visit you’ll have time to enjoy the Castle’s beautiful formal gardens.
The planting scheme creates a series of colourful vignettes throughout the year.
5/5
Booking is online or you can contact the National Gallery by emailing hello@nationalgallery.org.uk.
Please note that once booked, tickets cannot be refunded, transferred or exchanged (apart from in exceptional circumstances), and visitor names cannot be changed.
Tickets are £16 per person. Tours are for up to 20 people each day, and last about 2.5 hours.
Yes, you can also book at one of our ticket desks in the Gallery. Your confirmation email will be sent to you once your booking has been processed.
If you book online, over the phone, or in the Gallery, you will receive confirmation by email as well as an E-ticket. Please ensure that you provide a valid email address.
Please read and follow the instructions included in your confirmation email and E-ticket and bring it with you on the day.
If you haven’t received a confirmation email three working days before the tour that you are booked onto, please contact the National Gallery by emailing hello@nationalgallery.org.uk.
Unfortunately we are unable to offer refunds. In exceptional circumstances, an exchange date for your visit will be considered.
Yes, for security reasons each adult visitor to Longford Castle should bring one form of photographic ID (driving licence, passport, Freedom Pass, student card, international ID card), which corresponds to the supplied details.
If participants cannot produce suitable ID, regrettably they will not be able to join the tour and we are unable to offer refunds. Although tour bookings and payments are made with the National Gallery, the information you give us will be passed to Longford Castle for administration purposes. We will not pass on your details to any other third party.
We provide a free coach to collect and drop you off from either Salisbury Railway Station or the Radnor Arms pub in Nunton.
Please specify which collection point you would like to be picked up from when booking your tickets. The same collection must be selected for all visitors in your booking.
Salisbury Railway Station – Collection: 1.30pm
South Western Road
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP2 7RS
The Radnor Arms – Collection: 2pm
Nunton
Salisbury
SP5 4HS
The coach service is provided by Assisi Travel and the coach will have a sign for Longford Castle on the front windscreen.
There is no public parking at the Castle. A minibus service is provided to collect you from either Salisbury Railway Station or The Radnor Arms pub (please see above). There is ample parking at The Radnor Arms.
If you miss the coach please make your way to Longford Castle by taxi, where arrangements will be made for you to join the tour.
Tours of the Castle and gardens last approximately 2.5 hours. We recommend you wear comfortable footwear.
Children over the age of 12 are warmly welcome, if accompanied by an adult. The tour, regrettably, is not suitable for younger children.
You are very welcome to take photos in the garden, but as the Castle is a private home, photography is not permitted within the house.
There are convenient toilet and refreshment facilities at both Salisbury Railway Station and at the Radnor Arms pub. The pub has an adapted toilet.
We welcome all visitors with access requirements. Visitors with mobility impairments may drive directly to the house, by prior arrangement. Please contact Longford Castle on 07880 006131 to discuss your requirements.
The ground floor is accessible by wheelchair. As the first floor is only accessible by stairs or a small lift (which is not suitable for a wheelchair), and the first floor has a number of changes of level to negotiate, wheelchair users will receive a longer special tour of the ground floor with a guide.
Electric scooters cannot be used inside the house. However, other small mobility aids may be used.
Tour guides can carry induction loops for the benefit of hearing aid users and there will also be a large-print version of the guidebook available on request.
Assistance dogs are welcome.
We would love to hear your feedback. A visitors’ book is available at the Castle for you to leave comments in.
There are postcards available to buy at the Castle. An accompanying book, 'Longford Castle: The Treasures and the Collectors' is available to buy at the Castle or from the National Gallery gift shop. Both cash or card payments are accepted.
Special Interest Groups are welcome and should book visits directly with the Castle:
Email: sitours@longford.org.uk
Phone: 07880 006131
Address: The Tour Manager, Longford Castle, Salisbury SP5 4ED
All images courtesy of Longford Castle Collection