Lovely old Castle set in a picturesque village of Orford. Small car park but was plenty of spaces available when I visited. Can pay entry fee online or at entrance. Media players available while visiting the many rooms. Definitely worth a visit.

Nice castle and lovely staff! Some interesting history, obviously. Just knocked one star off as entry fee was a bit steep with parking on top for what amounts to a 30 minute visit (you don’t need any longer).

It is a small castle, but it has beautiful views. Ran and cared for by English heritage. A few rooms to explore and a few stairs to climb obviously, an audio guild is available also. Small car park, free for English Heritage members.

Absolutely quintessential castle keep. Built in the 12th century for Henry II, Orford Castle was intended to curtail the power of turbulent East Anglian barons, such as Hugh Bigod of nearby Framlingham Castle. Its polygonal keep was built to a revolutionary design, which is today a landmark in the Suffolk landscape

Well maintained castle and impressed by the multi media guide, very interactive and what a unique experience. Definitely would recommend it.

Orford Castle is a remarkable 12th-century fortress located in the village of Orford, Suffolk, England. Commissioned by King Henry II between 1165 and 1173, the castle was built to assert royal authority in East Anglia, a region then dominated by powerful barons like Hugh Bigod. Its unique polygonal keep, described by historian R. Allen Brown as “one of the most remarkable keeps in England,” showcases a blend of military and symbolic architectural elements, possibly influenced by Byzantine designs. The keep’s design features a central circular tower flanked by three rectangular towers, creating a distinctive and innovative structure for its time .  Beyond its architectural significance, Orford Castle is steeped in local legend. One of the most famous tales is that of the “Wild Man of Orford,” a mysterious, hairy man captured by fishermen and held in the castle, who eventually escaped back to the sea. This legend has contributed to the rich tapestry of folklore surrounding the castle .  Today, Orford Castle is managed by English Heritage and is open to the public. Visitors can explore the well-preserved keep and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding Suffolk countryside. The castle also houses the Orford Museum, which features exhibits on local history and archaeological finds.  For those planning a visit, the castle is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Booking tickets online before 8:45 AM on the day of your visit can save you 15% on admission. Please note that while tickets are valid all day, parking fees may apply separately . 

Great castle to visit, be prepared for lots of stairs, views are good from the roof top! 👍👍

Great place to visit, it's a huge site with some interesting military buildings, they have transport to help people around the site which is a relief on the way back to the boat. The staff are amazing, such a lovely bunch of people that work there especially Mary who spent time talking to our little boy about the birds on the Ness...highly recommend.

Absolutely loved visiting Orford Ness, the atmosphere was beautifully calm and the history of the site was really interesting to learn about, I've never seen anything like it! John was absolutely fantastic, super friendly knowledgeable and showed us around explaining the history of the site, answering our questions and just being an all around excellent chap, so huge thanks to him! The ferry across was a quick trip which we booked in advance and you can get the ferry back whenever you fancy as long as its before the last crossing! We spent basically all day here, exploring the history and the nature reserve, the passionate and knowledgeable staff really make this experience top notch and I can't recommend it enough!

Tickets cost £4.50 for national trust members and you need to book in advance. The cost covers the ferry ride over. The car park also costs £4.50. You get to explore the nature reserve at your own pace with a map. There is a blue route and red route you have to follow and you’re not allowed to stray off the path because of unexplored ordnance. There are buildings and bunkers to explore and a few mini museums. There is also a tea shop and toilets. Expect to walk 7-13 KM on the site to explore everything.

Access to island is by small boat only at certain times which is why you have to book in advance via National Trust. Not a lot there, only a few building accessible. There is a lot of walking involved so stout footwear would be recommend

An excellent Nature Reserve to visit, and fascinating wartime and Vold War history. Beautiful isolated location packed with wildlife, and the boat ride across is a bonus. Just pay attention (unlike some visitors) to the 'danger, do not enter' signs as there are still unexploded bombs.

Amazing place to engage with history and nature! Lots of spots preserved in time, with so much information about the importance of the Orford Island in the war. Something really important to stress is, to see anything there is a lot of walking! (Like 7k round trip to the buildings on the shingle - see map in pics) Everything is very spread out, but it's over beautiful landscapes. On the day we visited, it went from blue skies and sun to torrential rain, as seen in the last 2 pictures (apparently this happens alot, so take a rain coat). The volunteers on the island were friendly, passionate and knowledgeable. There is also nowhere to buy food or cold drinks on the island (the book shop has a kettle and tea and instant coffee available for a small donation). Next time we visit we will take a picnic and make a day of it. The Ferry service was smooth, on time and the captain was friendly. For anyone who likes rambling and walking in nature or world war history (or ideally both) this place is a must-see.

Spent an afternoon on this ‘Island of Secrets’ taking the ‘Half Day Trailer Tour’ with the National Trust. The tour was a great way to see some of the important buildings and landmarks on this intriguing part of Suffolk. Our guides for the day, Richard and David, were excellent, knowledgeable and keen to share their love for Orford Ness. The trailer tour is a great way to see the sites, so that you can decide which ones to explore further, on foot at a later date. You travel to Orford Ness by a small boat, it takes less than 5 minutes, which gives you great views of the river too. Highly recommend a visit.