Raglan Castle
Overview
Welsh fortress-palace transformed into regal residence
The unmistakable silhouette of Raglan crowning a ridge amid glorious countryside is the grandest castle ever built by Welshmen.
We can thank Sir William ap Thomas, the ‘blue knight of Gwent’, for the moated Great Tower of 1435 that still dominates this mighty fortress-palace. His son Sir William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, created the gatehouse with its flared ‘machicolations’.
These stone arches allowed missiles to be rained down on attackers. But Raglan came 150 years later than the turbulent heyday of castle-building. It was designed to impress as much as to intimidate.
Under various earls of Worcester Raglan was transformed into a magnificent country seat with a fashionable long gallery and one of the finest Renaissance gardens in Britain. But loyalty to the crown was to prove its undoing.
Despite a garrison of 800 men and one of the longest sieges of the Civil War, it fell to parliamentary forces and was deliberately destroyed. Among the looted treasures was a piece of Tudor wooden panelling, now proudly displayed in the visitor centre after being rescued from a cow shed in the 1950s.
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.
Raglan Castle Guidebook
Buy your guidebook online today
10% off for Cadw members!
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 |
£9.50
|
| Family* |
£30.40
|
| Disabled person and companion |
Free
|
| Juniors (Aged 5-17) / Students** |
£6.70
|
| Seniors (Aged 65+) |
£8.80
|
|
*Admits 2 adults and up to 3 children All children under 5 receive free entry. **Student photo ID card is required to be shown on entry Blue Light Card holders and HM Armed Forces & Veterans receive 10% off admission (not available online). |
|
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Member - Join now |
Free
|
| Adult |
£10.00
|
| Family* |
£31.90
|
| Disabled person and companion |
Free
|
| Juniors (Aged 5-17) / Students** |
£7.00
|
| Seniors (Aged 65+) |
£9.20
|
|
*Admits 2 adults and up to 3 children All children under 5 receive free entry. **Student photo ID card is required to be shown on entry Blue Light Card holders and HM Armed Forces & Veterans receive 10% off admission (not available online). |
|
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Member - Join now |
Free
|
| Adult |
£9.50
|
| Family* |
£30.40
|
| Disabled person and companion |
Free
|
| Juniors (Aged 5-17) / Students** |
£6.70
|
| Seniors (Aged 65+) |
£8.80
|
|
*Admits 2 adults and up to 3 children All children under 5 receive free entry. **Student photo ID card is required to be shown on entry Blue Light Card holders and HM Armed Forces & Veterans receive 10% off admission (not available online). |
|
Facilities
Please read our accessibility guidance for information on how to plan your visit.
Toilets available with baby changing facilities.
The car park at Raglan is situated within the castle grounds on a grassed surface.
Car parking for approx. 120 cars; no dedicated accessible parking.
Inside the monument there are lawns, gravelled and cobbled areas.
There are steps within the monument, Limited wheelchair access
Dogs on short leads welcome to access ground floor levels of the site.
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.
Picnic benches and /or tables are available for visitor use.
A portable induction loop is available.
To book your free self-led education visit to this site, go to our self-led education visits section.
While you're there, check out our free learning resources to help with your time travel adventure!
Customer toilets available at this site; one accessible toilet at the rear of the visitor centre.
This site is available to hire for events, filming and exhibitions.
Cadw free public WiFi available at this site.
Raglan Castle Café – located approx. 300 metre / 5 min walk from Raglan Castle.
(Please note this cafe is not owned or managed by Cadw – please visit their Facebook page or call 01291 691899 for opening times)
Directions
Postcode NP15 2BT.
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
RaglanCastle@gov.wales
Castle Rd, Raglan, Usk NP15 2BT
For contractors, educational visits and deliveries please ring 01291 690228
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh
