Tours

Digital Garden Tours

Exclusive Content of our RHS Partner Gardens

Bloomberg Connects

Whether you’re at home, on the bus, or even sitting in our café, you can now explore our 14 acres of RHS partner gardens from your phone with our new free digital guide on the Bloomberg Connects app.

Through this new digital guide, our stunning gardens come to life with audio tours led by Palace staff and accompanied by images. Browse our content on the web or enjoy our optimised guide on the Bloomberg Connects app, available in the App Store and Google Play Store.

Accessing the Guide

On-site, connect to our free Wi-Fi and scan one of the QR codes using your device’s camera app. You’ll be directed straight to our guide in your web browser.

If you’re using the Bloomberg Connect app, browse the list or use the ‘Explore’ search bar to find The Bishop’s Palace to start your tour. Simply tap ‘Start Guide’ to begin your journey through our gardens.

Interactive Garden Map

Created by our Trainee Gardener, Anna Challenger-Mills, as part of a college project, this digital map was designed to help you explore and learn about our gardens in an interactive and educational way. You can use it on your phone, tablet or computer, and switch layers on and off depending on what you want to see.

View trees, borders, building, planting features and structures to find out specific information on each item.

Accessing the Map

To view the interactive garden map, simply click the button below on either your phone or computer and it will open Google Maps.

Moving Around the Map

• Drag with your finger or mouse to pan across the gardens
• Use the + and – buttons (or pinch zoom on mobile) to zoom in and out
• Switch between Map and Satellite view using the base map selector

Digital Palace Tours

Multimedia Tours of the Palace

Multimedia tours of the Palace building are included with admission sharing the wonderful stories of the medieval Palace building and its people with our visitors.

There’s a choice of an adult version or one tailored for a more family audience including quizzes, treasure hunts and talking Bishops from years gone by!

Here’s some feedback we’ve received from one of our younger visitors who loved their multimedia tour family option:

“History is boring; this WAS NOT boring!” 

Visitors are guided around the Palace buildings through five narrative themes using stories, music, imagery, quizzes and talking Bishops bringing stories of their tenure and legacy at the Palace to life in an interactive and engaging way.

Where to pick up your multimedia tours?

The multimedia guides are available at no additional charge to ticket holders between 10am – 4pm from the entrance to the Palace building.

During this time, volunteers will also be on hand to explain how to use the guides.

In Person Tours

Our tours are delivered daily by our expert volunteer tour guides, subject to availability.  Our typical schedule is below but we recommend visitors ask at the Ticket Office for tour availability on the day of your visit.

Summer Hours Tours

11am – Buildings Tour: Learn about the fascinating Palace and Chapel (Lasts approx. 30 mins)

12pm – Gardens Tour: Stroll through the gardens to the wellpools (Lasts approx. 45 mins)

2pm – Buildings Tour: Learn about the fascinating Palace and Chapel (Lasts approx. 30 mins)

3pm – Gardens Tour: Stroll through the gardens to the wellpools (Lasts approx. 45 mins)

Winter Hours Tours

12pm – Guided Tour of the Palace and Gardens (Gardens tour is weather dependent) (Lasts approx. 1 hour)