Caernarfon Castle is a large fortress in the town of Caernarfon that sits on the bank of the River Seiont where it meets the Menai Strait. The castle is one of the biggest and best castles in North Wales, the castle walls contain eight towers and two twin-towered gateways that stand prominently in the town.
Is Caernarfon Castle Worth Visiting?
Yes, if you're in Caernarfon then the Castle is worth visiting. Caernarfon Castle is the town's main attraction, inside you'll find the Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental Museum and an exhibition about the Prince of Wales. You can also climb some of the towers for a view across the town and the Menai Strait.
Getting To Caernarfon Castle
By Car: Caernarfon Castle is easily accessible by car. once you reach Caernarfon town (usually along the A487), there is clear signage towards the castle. Traffic in the town is very manageable. See the castle on Google Maps here.
Where To Park For Caernarfon Castle?
There is a car park directly outside Caernarfon Castle entrance called Slate Quay, however, this is a long stay car park at a flat rate of £6 for 24 hours. If you are only visiting the castle for the day, the best place to park is at one of the short-stay council-owned car parks in Caernarfon such as Glan Mor Uchaf and Ffordd Y Felin which cost £1 per hour.
By Public Transport: Caernarfon Castle is within the town centre so it's easy to visit by public transport. The town's main bus station is located on Pool Side Road, just a 4 minute walk away. There are no local train services to Caernarfon.
Visiting Caernarfon Castle
Entry Fees
| CADW Members | Free |
| Adults | £11.10 |
| Seniors (65+) | £10.60 |
| Juniors (5-17) / Student / Armed Forces | £7.80 |
| Family (2 adults, 3 children) | £36.60 |
| Disabled / Kids (Under 5) | Free |
If you are planning to visit several castles during your stay, consider getting a CADW Explorer Pass which gives you unlimited access for 3 or 7 days. See my full guide to the explorer pass for details and prices.
Do You Have To Book Caernarfon Castle?
No, you don't need to book Caernarfon Castle, you can just turn up when you like.
Opening Times
Caernarfon Castle is open daily, however, opening times vary throughout the year as follows:
| March to June | 9.30am - 5pm |
| July to August | 9.30am - 6pm |
| September to October | 9.30am - 5pm |
| November to Februrary | 10am - 4pm |
Last entry to the castle is 30 minutes before closing time. The castle is closed on the 24th, 25th, and 26th December and 1st January.
The castle occasionally runs free events within the grounds such as archery, falconry, and knight training, check for the latest events here to see if they coincide with your visit.
Visitor Questions
How Long Do I Need To Visit Caernarfon Castle?
You will need a minimum of 1 hour to visit Caernarfon Castle, however, it's best to allow 1½ - 2 hours to see everything. The Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental Museum is particularly large and spread over several floors so you could spend an entire hour in this part of the castle.
There's also an interesting video about the castle's history, the walls and towers to explore, an exhibition about the role of the Prince of Wales, and a cafe where you can enjoy a coffee and a light bite in the lower ward.
Is Caernarfon Castle Dog Friendly
No, Caernarfon Castle is not a dog-friendly attraction as they are forbidden from entering the castle. However, an exception is made for assistance dogs.
Is Caernarfon Castle Wheelchair Friendly
No, Caernarfon Castle is not wheelchair or pram friendly as there is no accessible entrance. Only the museum's ground floor and the lower ward would be accessible inside the castle. However, there were building works there during my visit in 2022 which is aimed at improving accessibility to the castle, check before visiting to see if the building work is complete.
What Facilities Are At Caernarfon Castle?
There are toilets, a cafe, and a gift shop inside Caernarfon Castle.
What Can You Do At Caernarfon Castle?
Here are the top five things you can do at Caernarfon Castle:
1. Visit the Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental Museum
The Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental Museum spans two towers and three floors at Caernarfon Castle. It tells the story of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, a regiment of the British Army under the Prince of Wales' division.
The museum tells the story from their founding in 1689, their role in the Spanish succession, Waterloo, the American War of Independence, right through to the First and Second World Wars. Exhibits weapons, medals, and uniforms from throughout the year. You can even try on some of the uniforms as elegantly styled by yours truly above.
Make sure you start at the top floor, otherwise you'll do the whole museum backwards as I did.
2. Watch a Video About the Castle's History
Housed in the North East tower is a video to help you learn about the history of Caernarfon and its castle. In just 8 minutes, the video reveals 2000 years of history from AD87 when Romans arrived right up to the modern day and the castle's UNESCO status.
Other things covered in the video are the legend of Caernarfon, Edward I's castles across the region, and the fighting between the Prices of Wales. The video is interesting for adults, however, you have to read the subtitles as there's no commentary so I noticed children getting bored very quickly.
3. Tour the Towers and Castle Walls
Once you've educated yourself about the castle, it's time to take a full tour. You can make your way around the various towers and adjoining walls. There isn't a huge amount of information on the way around but there is a castle guidebook included in your entry fee which is packed full of information so be sure to check this out.
4. See Where the Prince of Wales is Invested
Caernarfon Castle is famous as the place where the Prince of Wales is invested. The ceremony takes place on the large circular plinth made from Welsh slate which is found in the upper ward. There were two investitures here in the 20th century, Edward VIII in 1911 and Prince Charles in 1969
As well as being the spot where the actual investiture of Prince Charles took place in 1969, it was also the filming location for the investiture of Prince Charles in the hit Netflix show, The Crown
5. Visit the Prince of Wales Exhibition
The Eagle Tower is the greatest of all the towers at Caernarfon Castle. It is also home to an exhibition, dubbed the 'Game of Crowns'. about the role of the Prince of Wales.
Inside the exhibition, there is a giant chess board showing the winners and losers of the so called 'game of crowns'. You can also learn more about the investiture which takes place here with the investiture chairs from over the years on display, a model of the castle on investiture day and you can watch a video of Prince Charles investiture.
Fun Facts About Caernarfon Castle
1. Caernarfon Castle and town walls cost £25,000 to build
The combined construction cost of the castle, town walls and quay was between £20,000-£25,000 to complete. This is equivalent to about £22million in today's money. The project took a staggering 47 years to complete.
2. North Wales was once governed from here
Caernarfon Castle was built by King Edward I of England during the late 13th century as part of his efforts to subdue and control the Welsh after his conquest of the region.
Not only was this castle a military stronghold, but it effectively controlled his newly conquered territory and is where he would stay when vsiting North Wales.
Due to it's importance and significance, it would always be guarded by a garrison of around 20-40 men whereas most typical castles of this size would have only had a few guards at any one time.
3. The British Monarch, King Edward II, was born at Caernarfon Castle
Edward I's son, Edward of Caernarfon (later King Edward II), was born in Caernarfon Castle in 1284. This was a tactical move as Edward gave his son the title 'Prince of Wales' in an attempt to establish English authority over Wales.
4. It's where Prince Charles was invested as Prince of Wales
The tradition of having a Prince of Wales continues to this day. The current Prince of Wales is Prince William, prior to this is was Prince Charles, now King Charles III. He was invested as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in 1969.
5. Caernarfon Castle is part of a UNESCO heritage site
Caernarfon Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the castles at Beaumaris, Harlech, and Conwy. Together, they form one heritage site known as the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd.
6. Scenes for Netflix show, The Crown, were filmed here
Prince Charles was invested as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle both in real life and in the Netflix hit show The Crown. His investiture was filmed in the exact locaton as it took place over half a century earlier.
Other Things To Do in Caernarfon
Although the castle is the best thing to do in Caernarfon, there are plenty of other activities in the town to make it worth visiting:
- Caernarfon Boat Cruise - Experience Caernarfon from a different perspective by taking a boat cruise down the Menai Strait.
ㅤ - Ride the Welsh Highland Railway - Enjoy a scenic ride on a heritage steam train along the single gauge railway track that runs from Caernarfon to Porthmadog.
ㅤ - Airworld Museum - The Airworld aviation museum at Caernarfon Airport showcases iconic aircraft from across the years.
Related Questions
Can You Go Inside Caernarfon Castle?
Yes, you can go inside Caernarfon Castle which is open to the public, however, it is a paid attraction managed by CADW.
What City Is Caernarfon Castle In?
Caernarfon Castle is located in the North Wales town by the same name, Caernarfon.
Is Caernarfon Castle National Trust
No, Caernarfon Castle is not a National Trust property so you cannot use your membership here. It is owned and managed by CADE, the Welsh Government's historic environment service.
Is Caernarfon Castle English Heritage?
No, Caernarfon Castle is not an English Heritage property, it is a CADW property which is the Welsh Government equivalent. If you have an English Heritage membership, you can have 50% off entry in your first year or it is free in subsequent years.
Published: 15 August 2022 · Last updated: 26 August 2023