VISITORS to Sudeley Castle this August will get a little bit extra as they are invited on guided tours of the private family apartments.

The castle, once owned by Henry VIII, is now the home of Lady Ashcombe and the Dent-Brocklehurst family who will be welcoming guests into their family apartments six days a week.

The Connoisseur Tours, usually open to the public just three days a week, will be available from Sunday to Friday, between August 8 to 21.

They allow access to some of the most impressive rooms in the castle, including Katherine Parr’s nursery, the Stone Drawing room, the Library, the Chandos Bedroom and the Billiard room.

Masterpieces by Rubens and Van Dyck are on display and knowledgeable guides will provide visitors with fascinating accounts of the origins of the paintings as well as stories and anecdotes from the castle’s rich history.

The castle, in Winchcombe, is open daily and is also currently hosting Sotheby’s selling exhibition Material Worlds, a contemporary art show featuring outdoor sculptures. Bookings can be made at sudeleycastle.co.uk and cost £12, including a tour of the house, access to the gardens and exhibitions.

Alternatively, tours can be booked on arrival at the visitor centre on a first-comefirst- served basis but there is a maximum number of 15 people allowed on the tour.

The tours are not suitable for those with limited mobility and those aged under 12.

The history of Sudeley Castle and its gardens dates back more than 1,000 years and Katherine Parr is buried at the site at St Mary’s Church.