Caerphilly Castle is the second largest castle in Britain and one of the mightiest medieval fortresses in Western Europe.
The castle offers something for all ages. Adults will enjoy the wonderfully preserved historical architecture, educational exhibits, and displays, while the children will love running around the expansive castle and its grounds, listening to the dragon’s tales, running up and down the many towers’ spiral staircases, and indulging in fairy tale fantasies.
How to Get To Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly Castle is conveniently located within Caerphilly town centre, in South Wales. Buses and trains regularly run to Caerphilly town. If travelling by car, get on the A40 road, and Caerphilly is roughly 45 minutes southwest of Cardiff.
Is There Parking at Caerphilly Castle?
No, Caerphilly Castle does not have its own car park, but both short and long stay car parks are nearby with dedicated accessible parking bays. Some car parks are free, but others will require payment via pay and display machines.
Visiting Caerphilly Castle
Entrance Fees
Here are the entrance fees for Caerphilly Castle:
| Adults | £10.10 |
| Children (aged 7-17) | £7.10 |
| Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) | £33.30 |
| Seniors | £9.50 |
Is Caerphilly Castle Free?
No Caerphilly castle is not free, it is a paid attraction. However, Caerphilly Castle is free to CADW members and free to anyone during the Big Cheese Festival in July. Visitors can enjoy exploring the outside of the castle and its lakes for free at any time.
Opening Hours
Opening hours vary depending on the time of year. Caerphilly Castle is open from 09:00 - 18:00 in summer and 10:00 - 16:00 in winter. Keep in mind that last entry is 30 minutes before closing time. You can book online or pay at the castle.
History of Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly Castle is the largest castle in Wales. It occupies roughly 30 acres and is surrounded by two vast artificial lakes. The central island is reached through a drawbridge and a pair of gatehouses.
The castle's construction was ordered by Henry III and originally built in very hostile territory during the 13th century by Gilbert de Clare (Earl of Gloucester and Hertford) as part of his struggle to keep control of Glamorgan.
Gilbert inherited the land when he was 18 years old and began construction on the castle as a method of defence and to subdue the Glamorgan region. Most of the castle was built in only three years (between 1268 and 1271). Additional water defences, towers, and gatehouses were later added to increase security and protect lowlands from flooding.
The castle saw a lot of fighting between Gilbert, his descendants, and the native Welsh rulers and by the fourteenth century, the castle had fallen into disrepair. In the early 16th century, it had become a ruin.
In the mid-seventeenth century a large bastion or redoubt was built to guard the castle’s north-western side and centuries later (between 1928 and 1939) a restoration and reconstruction campaign took place and its lakes (which had dried up) were reflooded.
Since 2016, The Welsh Government’s Historic Environment Service (CADW) have cared for the castle.
Facts About Caerphilly Castle
- Caerphilly Castle was one of the first concentric castles in the United Kingdom
- This wonderful architectural creation would likely have cost more to build than other significant castles built in Wales during the 13th century CE, due to its size and complicated water defences
- The distance between the castle's an outside wall and the centre is too great for conventional warfare to be effective. Catapults couldn't reach it, and tunnelling was too difficult.
- It served as a local jail in the 15th century and was used, not just for the town's eisteddfodau and religious rallies in the nineteenth century, but also for festivals, concerts, military tattoos, and horticulture displays.
- The castle boasts a resident ghost: The Green Lady
Things To Do At Caerphilly Castle
Here are the best things to do at Caerphilly Castle:
1. See Wales’s Very Own Leaning Tower
It is not only Italy that has a famous leaning tower, Wales also has one! Plus, it leans approximately 10 degrees further out than Pisa! The South East tower looks as if it is about to collapse at any second with several lumps of it already fallen.
The tower has strangely remained in this state since around the seventeenth century when likely ground subsidence caused the tower to split
The tower was believed to house Gilbert’s senior staff, such as the steward and carver, in a residence that faced the sun.
Find out more about in our full guide to the leaning tower at Caerphilly Castle.
2. Do the Circular Walk
To fully appreciate the size of the Castle, you can get to the Circular Walk via a doorway next to the visitor centre. You can walk along the North Bank, which indicated the northern extent of the early castle, to the Western Island (or Caer Y Werin in Welsh, which means ‘people’s fort’).
Two eastern dam platforms link the island to the North Bank which meant that people could bypass the centre of the castle this way.
A low curtain wall and three gatehouses surround the Western Island. The whole walk will take approximately 30 minutes.
3. Visit the Resident Dragon Family
For children and fantasy story-loving adults, you will find a dragon’s lair with a 13-foot long storytelling dragon and family who will tell you The Cadw Dragons' Tale complete with dragon smoke and snores. You can read the full story here.
What is Inside Caerphilly Castle?
The castle is entered via the Outer Main Gatehouse which was added to the caste in around the 1280s or 1290s. This building was a way to make a more imposing entrance to the castle and involved the construction of the North Dam Platform.
Just inside the Gatehouse is where you will find the visitor Centre where you pay to enter the castle and discover the following:
Battle Weaponry
On the South Dam Platform, to the left of the outer castle, you can learn about medieval 12th Century siege engines via Caerphilly’s Castle’s life-size wooden replicas.
The replicas include a trebuchet which is a type of catapult, with a long arm used to throw large objects, such as stones or rocks, at the enemy. A trebuchet was a common and very powerful siege engine until the invention of gunpowder.
The weapons are fired at Easter to demonstrate their power to visitors.
The Middle Ward
Through the Inner West Gatehouse, you will find the Middle Ward, which surrounds the Inner Ward as a second line of defence. Soldiers would have been able to fire their arrows across the south lake through the many arrow loops and crenelations (castle battlements).
The walls of the middle ward would have been much higher in the mediaeval period than they are now, forming a more substantial defence.
The Inner Ward
The Inner Ward allows visitors to observe different periods of building and restoration work. The first phase (1268 – mid-1270’s) of building work are seen in the east and west gatehouses, corner towers and curtain walls under Gilbert de Clare command. Restoration work on this first phase took place in the 1930s.
In the 1320s, Hugh Despenser (who married a descendant of Gilbert) carried out alterations to the north wall of The Great Hall.
The courtyard in the centre of the Inner Ward, was the main hub of the castle where the castle owners, household members, guests, servants, and soldiers would pass whilst carrying out daily duties. The castle’s water source, in the form of a well, remains in the yard.
The Great Hall
Located within the Inner Ward is a rectangular Great Hall which gives you an idea of the social life of castle inhabitants. It is 23m (75 feet), 11m (36 feet wide) and originally 10.5m (34 feet) high. The current floor is now around 1m (3 feet 3 inches) higher than it was.
A huge open fireplace is found in the centre of the room, the smoke from which would have risen into the roof space and through a ventilator before escaping.
The hall is believed to be one of the largest great halls (excluding royal halls) built in England and Wales which Gilbert de Clare used for court, ceremonies, and great feasts. Knights and retainers were known to visit the hall and sit along tables that ran the length of the room.
Currently, the vast space is furnished with a medieval replica banquet table and high-backed chairs because the hall is still used for medieval banquets and other events and is available for private hire.
The Kitchens
The kitchen complex is located outside the south wall of the Inner Ward. The kitchen staff would have had to cater for large numbers on special occasions and food and drink were brought to them by boat across the lake and hauled up to the first and second-floor doorways, over the postern gate.
The Corn Mill
Located across a lawn to the left of the visitor centre, sunken into the ground, is the remains of an old corn mill. The corn flour would have been used as a binding agent and thickener for many medieval dishes.
The Earls’ Apartments
A doorway to the side of The Great Hall leads you to the Earl’s Apartments which consisted of four rooms over two floors. The ground first floor room was the withdrawing chamber with a staircase that led up to the first floor of the apartment.
The largest upper room was the Earl’s chamber with small, windowed alcoves where servants may have stood behind curtains, awaiting to assist the Earl as requested. Two smaller rooms lead off from this room.
Events at Caerphilly Castle
Here are some of the main events that take place at Caerphilly Castle throughout the year:
- The Big Cheese Festival: The Big Cheese Festival celebrates Caerphilly Cheese and takes place over three days annually during July.
- Fireworks Display: The Caerphilly Fireworks Display is a stunning aerial display set against Caerphilly Castle. The show lasts approximately 25 minutes and takes place on or around the 5th of October. Crescent Road and Dafydd Williams Park offer the greatest views. Crescent Road will host children's rides and refreshments. There will be a street collection for the Mayor's charities, but the event is free.
- Knight’s Trail to Celebrate Gilbert’s Birthday: To commemorate Gilbert's birthday, you can follow a knight's trail through the castle and create your own set of armour! Normal entrance rates apply, but guests who want to decorate a suit of armour for children will be requested to pay £2.
Related Questions
Where to Stay When Visiting Caerphilly Castle?
You can't stay at Caerphilly Castle, but there are many private guesthouses surrounding the castle and a Premier Inn nearby.
Is There a Cafe in Caerphilly Castle?
No there isn't a cafe at Caerphilly Castle. However, on the opposite side of the road to the castle's entrance, above an art gallery, is a café offering drinks, and cakes. If you are wanting more than a cake to eat, there are many pubs and cafés around the castle.
Is Caerphilly Castle Dog-Friendly?
Dogs are allowed within Caerphilly Castle’s outdoor areas, but unfortunately, they are not permitted to enter indoors.
Is Caerphilly Castle Indoors or Outside?
Caerphilly Castle is mostly outside, however, there are some indoor areas too. We recommend visiting on a sunny day to get the most out of your trip.
How Long To Visit Caerphilly Castle?
I spent just over an hour exploring the inside of Caerphilly Castle which included plenty of time taking photos. You can also spend another 30 minutes or so walking around the outside.
Can You Get Married in Caerphilly Castle?
Yes, you can get married at Caerphilly Castle. Wedding receptions often take place in The Great Hall.
Can You Fish at Caerphilly Castle?
Yes, you can fish at Caerphilly Castle. This is a great lake for carp and pike. Roach, crucian carp, chub, rudd, tench, eels, carp, bream, and perch are among the other fish.
How Far From Caerphilly Castle to Castell Coch?
Caerphilly Castle is approximately 5.2 miles from Castell Coch so both can be visited within the same day.
Published: 4 June 2022 · Last updated: 11 October 2023