The Berkeley Visitor Experience
Guided Tours
Guided tours have been an important part of the visitor experience since Berkeley Castle opened its doors to the public in 1956. We have a dedicated team of experienced tour guides who conduct educational visits for schools, garden tours during the month of June and of course, tours of the castle.
Taking a tour is the ideal way to experience Berkeley Castle, understand its role in British history and be introduced to the Berkeley family who have held this castle for nearly 900 years. Tours last an hour and a quarter and there are several timings a day. There is a small extra charge for guided tours and places can be booked at the Ticket Office on arrival.
Below, we introduce you to just a few of the fantastic tour guides who work here.
Jane Handoll
Jane joined the guides team in 2008. She became a Blue Badge guide in 2007 and focuses mainly on the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire area. Jane is also part of the educational team here at Berkeley Castle, delivering school tours and workshops, in addition to garden tours during the month of June and castle tours.
Jane attained a degree in Drama, English and History of Art at the University of Bristol. In her previous career, she was a teacher and also worked for BBC Radio in London and Radio Australia.
Located in Berkeley, Jane loves living in close proximity to a beautiful medieval castle, “it’s an amazing place with a fascinating history. Visitors are always surprised to see how well preserved and complete it is, compared to so many ruined castles in the country.”
Jane’s favourite room in the castle is the Morning Room, due to its original ceiling, beautifully carved doors and the illuminated 14th century antiphonary displayed there, a medieval book of music.
Lynda McLaren
Lynda hails from Surrey, not far from Hampton Court Palace. Whilst working mostly in London, Lynda spent two years at the British Embassy in Paris working in the British Delegation to O.E.C.D. She loved history as a child and returned to it later in life when she completed a BA in History at the University of West of England in 2000. She joined the guides team in 2002. In addition to castle tours, Lynda also conducts garden tours during the month of June.
Lynda is our longest standing tour guide, “once you start working here, it’s hard to leave! You fall in love with the castle. It is a joy to be part of such a wonderful team.”
Lynda enjoys regaling visitors with stories of the castle and its inhabitants. Particular favourites are the grisly tale of King Edward II’s imprisonment and death, and the scandalous Countess of Berkeley who rose from a butcher’s daughter to the peerage. She also especially admires the painting of ‘A Sleeping Dwarf’ by Peter Lely, which hangs on the great staircase, due to its natural repose.
Jill Brookes
Jill brings her expertise in education to Berkeley Castle. She was a headteacher at a local primary school for 8 years and following retirement, joined the guides team in 2015. Along with a colleague, Jill has worked hard to develop educational visits for schools, including teaching workshops such as Tudor dancing and stained-glass window arts and crafts. She also conducts castle tours.
Jill has always lived in Gloucestershire, apart from a short stint in Kuwait teaching English. Her mother was also a tour guide for twenty years at Berkeley Castle before she joined herself. Jill enjoys working here because “the castle is steeped in history so there’s always more to learn. I like meeting new people and I love working with children when they visit.”
One of Jill’s favourite artefacts at Berkeley Castle is the beautiful 14th century statuette of the Madonna and Christ child which is displayed in the Long Drawing Room.
“Jill was an outstanding guide around the castle. She brought to life the wonderful history of the castle itself as well as the Berkeley family.”
— Tour feedback
