Home › Arundel Castle Cricket Ground
Arundel Castle Cricket Ground: visitor guide
Updated 17 October 2026
Arundel Castle Cricket Ground is Sussex’s country-house cricket outing, with a compact ground in the castle estate and the town below. Bring a picnic only under the rules for your match, use the cricket entrance rather than the castle visitor entrance, and allow for the uphill walk from Arundel station.
We may earn a commission if you book through the hotel link.
Outground at a glance
The ground
The castle setting is central to the day: a grass cricket ground within the estate, reached by its own approach above the town. The Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club history dates construction of the ground to 1895 under the 15th Duke of Norfolk. Its milestones identify the first game in 1897, between a Castle Works XI and the West Sussex Gazette. That distinction between building the ground and playing the first match explains the two dates you may encounter.
The Friends were formed in 1975 to sustain cricket after the death of the 16th Duke. An associated charitable foundation followed in 1986, and the indoor school opened formally in 1991. Those developments show that Arundel’s cricket life extends beyond the county’s occasional visit. When looking at the club calendar, distinguish Sussex fixtures from other matches and fundraising occasions before choosing a ticket.
Our suggested approach is to leave a full day for the cricket and a separate half-day for the town or castle. Trying to see everything during a lunch interval takes away the unhurried appeal. If you are travelling with someone who wants a different day out, agree meeting points and transport before splitting up; a ticket for one attraction should not be assumed to provide entry to another.
Arundel Castle near the cricket ground; this photograph shows the castle, not the pitch.
Stands and where to sit
There is no published seating plan on which to base an accurate sun-and-shade diagram for Sussex’s next visit. Choose from the areas opened by the match organisers rather than searching for a numbered stand guide. For 2027, the seating allocation and provision of covered public seating are TBC. If you need a roof or a guaranteed chair, get that confirmed when booking.
Sussex’s 2025 Arundel festival information allowed visitors to bring folding chairs and picnic blankets. That is useful when imagining the style of day, but the next Sussex match’s instructions should determine what you carry. A compact chair can be more comfortable than sitting on a blanket throughout a one-day game; check its weight if you are walking uphill from the station.
On arrival, look for a clear view towards both ends of the wicket and avoid setting up directly behind a sight screen. Keep your picnic and spare bags within your space, leaving paths and access routes clear. Shade from trees can move substantially during the day, so assess conditions in person instead of relying on a photograph taken at another time. Bring sun protection even if your first chosen spot feels sheltered.
Staying over? Compare hotels near Arundel Castle Cricket Ground → (Paid link)
We may earn a commission if you book through this link.
Getting there
By taxi or drop-off
Book a licensed taxi in advance if you need a car after play, agreeing a safe collection point with the driver. Check whether your preferred taxi app serves the area.
Sources: Arun Council: taxis and taxi drivers
The cricket club’s directions specify an entrance opposite St Philips Primary School. Drivers should use BN18 9BA, follow the drive towards the gatehouse and turn right before entering the main park. The club specifically warns that its postal postcode BN18 9LH can direct you to the castle entrance instead. Follow any matchday signage and marshals on arrival, particularly where a queue is being held away from the entrance.
Arundel station is the rail destination. The club estimates the uphill walk at about 20 minutes and describes a taxi journey of about five minutes. Southern’s Arundel travel information gives the rail options, including services towards London Victoria. Compare the actual departure you intend to catch, allowing for the walk back and any connection. Carrying a folding chair, picnic and waterproof clothing can make the uphill approach feel longer than a map suggests.
The club also notes that a pathway through Fauna Brewery and Taproom can shorten the walk during its opening hours. Do not build your journey around that shortcut being open early or late: use the normal signed entrance if in doubt. For a group arriving separately, sharing the cricket entrance postcode is more useful than simply agreeing to meet at the castle.
Parking within the cricket grounds has been offered for Sussex festival fixtures. The published 2025 arrangements sold a separate car-park product under the chosen match in Sussex’s booking system. Parking availability, surface, accessible spaces and the 2027 charge are TBC. Check whether your confirmation covers one car and which day, and keep it accessible before reaching the gate. A castle visitor car park ticket is a different purchase.
Getting home
Check your match guide for the expected finish. Play can finish early or run late. Use Arundel station for London Victoria and the south-coast connections shown by Southern; check the evening frequency for your date. Book a licensed taxi in advance if you need a car after play, agreeing a safe collection point with the driver. Check your last train in the National Rail journey planner and allow time to leave the ground.
Tickets and festival days
The Sussex 2026 fixture announcement placed the men’s One Day Cup match against Essex at Arundel on 29 July. Follow Sussex’s official ticket links for county matches and the Arundel club’s calendar for its other cricket. Using the correct organiser matters when asking about member admission, refunds, hospitality or an access requirement.
The 2025 festival included a mixture of county, disability and testimonial cricket, with different admission arrangements. That variety is part of Arundel’s appeal, but a general festival heading does not necessarily mean a single ticket covers the whole programme. Read the individual event title and start time. The 2027 festival programme, prices, membership benefits and any family offers are TBC.
For a first visit with children, our suggestion is to choose a day around their interest in the game and the practicalities of carrying your equipment. A picnic can make the lunch break part of the outing. Keep a light waterproof layer and a change of activity for a quiet interval, while following staff instructions about the playing area. Do not promise an advertised activity from an earlier festival unless it appears in your match’s programme.
Your ticket on the day
The 2025 festival guide asks visitors to buy match tickets in advance through Sussex and members to bring their membership cards. Follow your booking’s ticket instructions. Contact the ticket team before travelling if you cannot access your ticket or need concession ID.
Children and age rules
Ask the county’s ticket team whether a child needs an accompanying adult for this festival. Confirm junior ID, hospitality age limits and the ID accepted at bars before booking. Taking the family
Buy tickets from the county’s official ticket office or the resale platform named by that seller. Use the official resale route and read Action Fraud’s ticket fraud advice.
Sources: Sussex: Arundel Festival cricket · Southern: visiting Arundel by train · Arun Council: taxis and taxi drivers · Gatwick Airport: train connections · National Express: coach journeys and tickets
County cricket
Sussex main-ground visitor guide →
Sussex Sharks Women’s 2026 One Day Cup programme included Middlesex at Arundel on 2 August. Use Sussex’s own fixture ticket information for admission to this county date. Arundel women’s fixture source · Women’s county teams and tickets.
This ground has also hosted National Counties showcase cricket. Read our National Counties cricket guide for the formats, fixture search and admission checks. NCCA match record. Past use does not confirm a future fixture.
What you can take in
The county’s published 2025 festival rules permitted food, drinks, folding chairs and picnic blankets, but excluded alcohol brought into the ground. Food and drink stalls were also advertised. The 2027 rules are TBC. Plan a picnic in easy-to-carry containers, then check the current prohibited-items list before adding bottles, cutlery or a large cooler. A manageable bag is particularly useful on the station walk.
If you have dietary requirements, ask the organiser whether your preferred option will be available or whether bringing your own meal is simpler. Keep food shaded and bring enough drinking water for your journey as well as the match. For visitors who need medication or specialist equipment, arrange any entrance-search clarification in advance so it can be explained calmly at the gate.
Paying at the ground
Bring a card and some cash, as payment methods for this festival need confirmation. Ask the county about cash-machine provision before travelling.
Where to stay
Our preference for a short cricket break is a base in Arundel town if you want to eat locally after play and avoid another drive. The club’s visitor page points travellers towards the town’s accommodation and visitor information. Compare the walking route to the cricket entrance, not just the straight-line distance to the castle: the climb is an important part of the journey.
If arriving by train, ask your accommodation about luggage storage before check-in and after check-out. That can save carrying an overnight bag to the boundary. Drivers should confirm overnight parking separately from their cricket parking. For an accessible stay, ask about steps from the street, bedroom floors and bathrooms, and how a taxi can reach the entrance.
Book around confirmed fixture dates when the 2027 programme is released. If you want time inside the castle or at the wetland centre, adding a night may be more comfortable than fitting those visits around the match. Compare cancellation conditions before choosing a room; a low headline rate can be less useful than flexibility when your travel plans depend on a particular cricket day.
Some links earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Evenings out
Visit Arundel’s restaurant listings include town-centre options on the High Street, such as Jonny’s and the Town House. Check the restaurant’s own opening and booking arrangements for the evening you want. Our suggestion is to leave a gap after the expected finish, allowing time to walk down, change clothes or collect luggage without watching the last overs against the clock.
For a second day, Arundel Castle and Gardens publishes its own opening calendar and ticket choices. The gardens and castle interiors are a separate visit from cricket at the ground. Choose the admission option that includes the parts you want to see, and consult the castle’s accessibility information if stairs or slopes could limit your route.
The Arundel Wetland Centre is another local option for a non-cricket morning. Its nature reserve offers a different sort of open-air outing from sitting at the boundary. Check its seasonal programme and last admission directly before making plans. For a mixed-interest family break, assigning different attractions to different days is usually less rushed than attempting a short visit between cricket sessions.
Fixtures
Sussex’s men played Essex at Arundel on 29 July 2026 in the One Day Cup. The women’s programme also used the ground. Those dates belong to the completed 2026 season; confirmed 2027 county fixtures and festival dates are TBC. Use Sussex’s fixture list to distinguish Arundel from Hove and other outgrounds when the next schedule appears.
For a longer Sussex trip, pair the Arundel page with the Hove ground guide. The two venues need different travel and seating plans, so check the place as well as the county name on every booking. When fixtures are released, save the individual match page and parking confirmation together, particularly if you are attending more than one festival event.
2027 county fixtures
- County Championship 2027 fixtures
- Vitality Blast 2027 fixtures
- One-Day Cup 2027 fixtures
- Women’s county cricket 2027 fixtures
Match-day timings
Blank = not published by Sussex; check your match guide.
For Festival / county match, check your match guide for timings.
FAQs
- Which postcode should I use for Arundel cricket?
The postal address is BN18 9LH, but the cricket club tells drivers to use BN18 9BA for the entrance opposite St Philips Primary School.
- Can I walk from Arundel station?
Yes. The cricket club estimates about 20 minutes, uphill, from the station.
- Can I bring a picnic?
Sussex’s 2025 festival guidance permitted food, drinks, folding chairs and blankets, but no imported alcohol. The 2027 match rules are TBC.
- Are Sussex fixtures announced for 2027 at Arundel?
The 2027 Arundel county fixtures and festival dates are TBC.
- Do I need to print my ticket?
The 2025 festival guide asks visitors to buy match tickets in advance through Sussex and members to bring their membership cards. Follow your booking’s ticket instructions.
- What time do the gates open?
Check your match guide or ticket email for the gates-open time before travelling.
- What time does play finish?
Check your match guide for the expected finish. Play can finish early or run late.
- Can children go on their own?
Ask the county’s ticket team whether a child needs an accompanying adult for this festival. Confirm junior ID, hospitality age limits and the ID accepted at bars before booking.
Accessibility
Contact Sussex and the Arundel organisers about the specific match if you need accessible parking, a suitable viewing position, an accessible toilet or companion admission. Published 2027 arrangements for those facilities are TBC. Explain whether you are arriving by train, car or taxi so the response covers the journey from the entrance rather than only the place where you will watch.
The station walk is uphill, which makes a planned taxi or agreed drop-off worth considering if walking distance is limited. Ask about the surface between parking and seating and any wet-weather alternative before committing to a route. Accessibility arrangements for the castle visitor attraction should be checked separately; a description of its gardens does not establish the cricket ground’s matchday facilities.
Plan your day at Arundel
First visit · Sun and shade · What you can take in · If it rains · Ballots and resale · Taking the family · County cricket explained