The Castle is one of the best preserved Bishops’ palaces in Europe, sitting right at the heart of The Auckland Project. Auckland Castle has reopened its doors in 2019 after major conservation work with State Rooms restored to their original Georgian Gothic splendour, designed by architect James Wyatt.

The Bishop Trevor Gallery, named after Richard Trevor, who was Bishop of Durham from 1752 to 1771. Bishop Trevor played an important role in the story of Auckland Castle, having purchased the series of paintings of Jacob and his Twelve Sons by Francisco de Zurbarán, which have hung in the Long Dining Room at the Castle for over 250 years.