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Overview

Norman stronghold is a match for the greatest castles of Wales

See Kidwelly Castle rising above the river Gwendraeth on a misty morning and prepare to be amazed. This is the medieval fortress of everyone’s dreams.

That’s probably why it appears in the very first scene of ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’. But it would have been no laughing matter to attack this military stronghold.

Kidwelly began in the early 12th century as a Norman ‘ringwork’ castle made of wood and protected only by an earthen bank and ditch. Not surprisingly it was under constant attack by Welsh princes including the Lord Rhys, who captured it in 1159.

Four decades later the Normans were back in charge. By the 1280s the Chaworth brothers, powerful Marcher lords, had created the stone ‘castle within a castle’ that still stands today.

Imagine being a Welsh attacker. First you had to conquer the great gatehouse with its drawbridge and portcullis, a hail of arrows and rocks raining down on you. Breach these outer defences and you were faced by the four towers of the inner ward. No way forward – and nowhere to hide. A true killing zone.

After centuries of see-sawing conflict between Norman invaders and native princes Kidwelly was now a match for any castle in Wales. The gatehouse added by the Duchy of Lancaster was the icing on the cake. Even the forces of Owain Glyndŵr couldn’t break through.

How to visit

•    purchase your admission tickets on arrival (or book online)*
•    view our opening times and prices below
•    check Welsh Government health & safety advice before visiting.

*pre-booked tickets are non-refundable.

More about Kidwelly Castle


Opening times

Daily 9.30am–5pm

Last admission 30 minutes before closing

Daily 9.30am–6pm

Last admission 30 minutes before closing

Daily 9.30am–5pm

Last admission 30 minutes before closing

Daily 10am–4pm

Last admission 30 minutes before closing

Closed 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January

Please note: during extreme weather conditions we may need to close monuments at short notice, please check our social media channels before visiting to ensure the site is open and safe to visit.

Facebook @CadwWales | Twitter @cadwwales


Prices & Tickets

Category Price
Member - Join now
Free
Adult
£6.80
Family*
£22.10
Disabled person and companion
Free
Juniors (Aged 5-17) / Students
£4.80
Seniors (Aged 65+)
£6.30

*Admits 2 adults and up to 3 children 

All children under 5 receive free entry.

Blue Light Card holders receive 10% off admission (not available online)
 

Category Price
Member - Join now
Free
Adult
£7.50
Family*
£24.00
Disabled person and companion
Free
Juniors (Aged 5-17) / Students
£5.30
Seniors (Aged 65+)
£7.00

*Admits 2 adults and up to 3 children 

All children under 5 receive free entry.

Blue Light Card holders and HM Armed Forces & Veterans receive 10% off admission (not available online).
 


Facilities

Access guide icon Baby changing icon Bikes access icon Car park icon Disabled person access icon Dogs welcome icon Exhibition icon Gift shop icon Guidebook icon Drone policy icon No smoking icon Portable hearing icon School visits icon Toilets icon Venue hire icon

Please read our accessibility guidance for information on how to plan your visit.

Kidwelly Castle — Access Guide

Toilets available with baby changing facilities.

Bike storage area available in car park or close to site.

Approx. 11 parking spaces on site.

There is a large free parking area a short walk from the monument with 1 dedicated disabled space.

There is an incline to main entrance. Access is on a wide concrete path with a non slip surface, which leads on to a wooden slatted bridge.

There is wheelchair/buggy access in visitor centre and the monument.

Access to upper levels of monument is limited to walkers.

Dogs on leads welcome to access ground floor levels of the site.

On-site exhibition within monument.

Gift shop at this site offering a range of products and guidebooks.

Site guidebook available to purchase online and in selected visitor centres.

Please read our policy information about flying drones at Cadw monuments: read the guidance

Smoking is not permitted.

A portable induction loop is available.

To book your free self-led education visit to this site, follow these simple steps in our self-led education visits section.

Discover our free facilitated educational activities.

While you're there, check out our free learning resources to help with your time travel adventure!

Visitor toilets are available at this site.

This site is available to hire for events, filming and exhibitions.


Directions

Road
Kidwelly via A484.
Rail
2km/1.2mls Kidwelly, on the Swansea-Milford Haven/Pembroke Dock route.
Bus
100m/110yards, route No X11/X12, Swansea-Carmarthen.
Bike
NCN Route No.4 (400m/437yards).

Postcode SA17 5BQ

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
KidwellyCastle@gov.wales

Address
Kidwelly Castle
Castle Rd, Kidwelly SA17 5BQ

For contractors, educational visits and deliveries please ring 01554 890104
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh.