Berkeley Castle (/ˈbɑːrkli/ BARK-lee; historically sometimes spelt Berkley Castle or Barkley Castle) is a castle in the town of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, UK (grid reference ST685989). The castle's origins date back to the 11th century and it has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building. The castle has remained within the Berkeley family since they reconstructed it in the 12th century, except for a period of royal ownership by the Tudors. It is traditionally believed to be the scene of the murder of King Edward II in 1327. Construction Shell keep and inner gatehouse, viewed from the outer bailey The first castle at Berkeley was a motte-and-bailey, built around 1067 by William FitzOsbern shortly after the Conquest. This was subsequently held by three generations of the first Berkeley family, all called Roger de Berkeley, and rebuilt by them in the first half of the 12th century.The last Roger de Berkeley was dispossessed in 1152 for withholding his allegiance from the House of Plantagenet during the conflict of The Anarchy, and the feudal barony of Berkeley was then granted to Robert Fitzharding, a wealthy burgess of Bristol and supporter of the Plantagenets. He was the founder of the Berkeley family which still holds the castle. In 1153–54, Fitzharding received a royal charter from King Henry II giving him permission to rebuild the castle,[8] with the aim of defending the Bristol – Gloucester Road, the Severn estuary, and the Welsh border. Fitzharding built the circular shell keep during 1153–56, probably on the site of the former motte. The building of the curtain wall followed, probably during 1160–90 by Robert and then by his son Maurice. Much of the rest of the castle is 14th century and was built for Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley: Thorpe's Tower, to the north of the keep, the inner gatehouse to its southwest, and other buildings of the inner bailey. Modern times The castle is the third oldest continuously occupied castle in England after the royal fortresses of the Tower of London and Windsor Castle, and the oldest to be continuously owned and occupied by the same family. It contains an antique four-poster bed that has been identified as the piece of furniture that has remained in continuous use by the same family the longest in the UK.[16] The Berkeley family divide their time between the Castle and their other home, Spetchley Park, just outside Worcester, which has been in the family's ownership since 1606. With most areas open to the public since 1997, the private apartments occupy about 15% of the building and the rest is managed by the Berkeley Castle Charitable Trust. A restoration appeal was launched in 2006 to raise £5.5 million needed to renovate and restore the Norman building. Two ships of the Royal Navy have been named Berkeley Castle after the castle,as has a Great Western locomotive. The castle was used for many scenes for the hit BBC children's television series The Ghost Hunter[citation needed] and the first televised version of The Other Boleyn Girl.More recently the castle and grounds have been used for the external shots of the Valencian castle in Galavant[21] including scenes with Vinnie Jones, Joshua Sasse, Ricky Gervais and Luke Youngblood.

Parking FREE - Adult: £12.50 - Concession (full-time student or aged 65+): £11.00 - Student: £11.00 with valid Student card - Children (age 3 - 16) £7.00 - Children under <3> FREE - Family (2 adults and 2 children): £35.00 - Pre-booked party rates (25 or more visitors): £10.00 per person - Visiting groups of school children: one adult per 10 children at no charge, all other adults charged at £10.00. Children under <3> FREE For general enquiries: info@berkeley-castle.com For Private & Corporate hire enquiries: imogen.silby@berkeley-castle.com For Wedding enquiries: weddings@berkeley-castle.com - No dogs are allowed - A disabled toilet and baby changing facilities are available in both locations