Castell Coch
Visitor Notice
This monument is open to visit with a pre-booked ticket from Friday 21 May.
You must pre-book your tickets before your visit and please remember:
- purchased tickets cannot be refunded — please check you’re able to attend on the date you have booked
- book a ticket for every member of your party for the same time slot
- bring your face mask, to be worn in all indoor areas.
Unfortunately, visitors without pre-booked tickets will not be allowed entry.
Overview
Fairy-tale castle was a plaything for the rich and powerful
What happens when a patron of unlimited wealth meets an architect of boundless imagination? Here’s your answer.
Castell Coch, or the ‘Red Castle’, rises up from the ancient beech woods of Fforest Fawr like a vision from a fairy tale. Yet these great towers with their unmistakable conical roofs only hint at the splendour within.
Given free rein by the third Marquess of Bute, architect William Burges didn’t hold back. The highly decorated interiors and rich furnishings of Castell Coch make it a dazzling masterpiece of the High Victorian era.
But it’s no exotic folly. Underneath the mock-medieval trappings you can still trace the impressive remains of a 13th-century castle, once used as a hunting lodge by the ruthless Marcher lord Gilbert de Clare.
Castell Coch has been a plaything of the rich and powerful for over 700 years. Having lavished huge sums on it neither Gilbert de Clare nor the Marquess of Bute spent much time here.
But it remains a magnificent vision of an imaginary medieval world – regularly voted by the public as their favourite building in Wales.
Castell Coch Guidebook
Buy your guidebook online today
10% off for Cadw members!
Opening times
Friday–Monday 9.30am–5pm - Closed 12.30–1.30pm
Closed Tuesday–Thursday
Ticketed timed entry only
*Visitor centre open daily 9.30am–5pm
Friday–Monday 9.30am–6pm - Closed 12.30–1.30pm
Closed Tuesday–Thursday
Ticketed timed entry only
*Visitor centre open daily 9.30am–6pm
Friday–Monday 9.30am–5pm - Closed 12.30–1.30pm
Closed Tuesday–Thursday
Ticketed timed entry only
*Visitor centre open daily 9.30am–5pm
Friday–Monday 10am–4pm - Closed 12.30–1.30pm
Closed Tuesday–Thursday
Ticketed timed entry only
Closed 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January
Closed
Prices & Tickets
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Member - Join now |
Free
|
| Adult |
£6.90
|
| Family* |
£22.60
|
| Disabled and companion |
Free
|
| Juniors (Aged 5-17) / NUS / Armed Forces and Veterans |
£4.85
|
| Seniors (Aged 65+) |
£6.40
|
|
*Admits 2 adults and up to 3 children All children under 5 receive free entry. |
|
Facilities
Assistance dogs only at this site.
Audio guide available detailing the history of the site.
Unisex toilet with baby changing facilities on 1st floor.
Bike storage area available in car park or close to site.
Free car parking available for visitors.
Venue licenced for civil ceremonies.
The steepness of and gaps within the entrance bridge may pose difficulties to wheelchairs, buggies and those with walking aids.
On-site exhibition within monument.
Site guidebook available to purchase online and in selected visitor centres.
Gift shop at this site offering a range of products and guidebooks.
Cadw do not allow drone flying from or over its guardianship sites, except by contractors commissioned for a specific purpose, who satisfy stringent CAA criteria, have the correct insurances and are operating under controlled conditions.
Smoking is not permitted.
A portable induction loop is available.
Café closed
To book your free self-led education visit to this site, follow these simple steps in our self-led education visits section.
While you're there, check out our free learning resources to help with your time travel adventure!
Toilets closed
This site is available to hire for events, filming and exhibitions.
Cadw free public WiFi available at this site.
Directions
Postcode CF15 7JS
For further information, please contact: Traveline Cymru on 0800 464 0000 or National Rail Enquiries on 03457 48 49 50.
Contact us
Telephone 03000 252239
Email
CastellCoch@gov.wales
Cardiff CF15 7JS
For contractors, educational visits and deliveries please ring 02920 810101
