Borough residents get the cheaper ticket free at Tonbridge Castle all month. Adult entry is £10.90, and you have to book in person with proof of address.
Anyone living in Tonbridge and Malling can take a second person into Tonbridge Castle for nothing throughout September. The council announced the offer on 27 August and it runs for the whole month.
The rule is simple: the cheaper of the two tickets is free. The council gives the example of an adult visiting with a child, in which case the child goes free.
Two conditions matter, and both will catch people out.
- You have to book in person. The offer is not available online, which is the way the castle normally tells people to book.
- You have to prove you live in the borough. The council asks for a driving licence, or a council tax bill together with another form of photo identification.
What you save
Admission prices went up in April 2026. These are the current ones, and what a pair pays under the offer.
| Visiting as | Normally | In September | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two adults (16 to 66) | £21.80 | £10.90 | £10.90 |
| An adult and a senior (67+) | £18.70 | £10.90 | £7.80 |
| An adult and a child (5 to 15) | £17.73 | £10.90 | £6.83 |
| Two seniors | £15.60 | £7.80 | £7.80 |
Single tickets are £10.90 for an adult, £7.80 for a senior and £6.83 for a child aged 5 to 15. Under-fives go free, and so do carers accompanying a visitor with additional needs, on proof of disability. A family ticket for two adults and two children over five is £29.14, and an adult season ticket is £38.50.
The council has not said how the offer applies to a group of more than two, so ask at the gift shop before you pay if there are four of you.
The opening hours are published two different ways
This one is worth checking before you set off. The council’s news release and the castle’s own website disagree about when it opens on weekdays.
- The council’s news release says Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4.30pm.
- The castle’s own opening times page says Monday to Thursday 10am to 5pm, and Friday 10am to 4.30pm.
Both agree on weekends and bank holidays, 10am to 6pm. Both are council-run pages, so we have not tried to pick between them. If you are planning an early visit, ring 01732 770929 first.
September is also the last month of the longer days. Winter hours start on 1 October and the castle closes at 4pm.
What you actually get
Admission covers the gatehouse and an audio tour, which takes about an hour, though you can go at your own pace. There is a children’s version of the audio guide and an activity book for younger visitors. Last entry is an hour before closing.
The council’s own warning is worth repeating: the castle is dark in places, with life-like models that some children find frightening, and there are steep steps to climb. Children need an adult with them.
Getting there
The castle is on Castle Street, TN9 1BG, just off the High Street. The nearest council car park is Upper Castle Field, and Lower Castle Fields sits below it by the river. Both are pay and display, and you can pay by RingGo.
Tonbridge station is about ten minutes on foot. Our parking in Tonbridge page has the town’s car parks and tariffs, and things to do in Tonbridge covers the rest of the town.
One thing to plan around if you are travelling in by train: engineering work closes the line between Orpington and Tonbridge on Sunday 6 September. Our roadworks and travel page has the September rail dates.
Sources
- Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, September 2 for 1 offer to Tonbridge Castle for Tonbridge and Malling borough residents, published 27 August 2026, for the offer, the proof of address requirement and the in-person booking rule.
- Tonbridge Castle, prices and tickets for the admission prices from April 2026, the carer and under-five concessions and the castle’s own description of the offer.
- Tonbridge Castle, opening times for the hours and last entry.
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