Castell Coch
Visitor notice
Castell Coch will be open exclusively for Santa Grotto visitors only on the following dates: 7/8, 14/15, 21/22 December, grotto tickets must be booked in advance.
You may soon notice scaffolding appearing on the Well Tower of our fairy-tale castle in the trees, this is to enable weatherproofing work on roofs and chimneys, as well as extensive re-pointing of stone walls.
Follow our timeline as we work to restore Castell Coch's timeless splendour.
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
Daily 9.30–5pm
Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Daily 9.30–6pm
Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Daily 9.30–5pm
Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Daily 10am–4pm*
Last admission 30 minutes before closing
*Closed 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January
**Castell Coch will be closed from 6-31 January 2025 for its annual deep clean.
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). Assistance dogs only at this site. If you are booking 15+ tickets, please email our team before booking online: CastellCoch@gov.wales |
|
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Member - Join now |
Free
|
| Adult |
£14.30
|
| Family* |
£45.75
|
| Disabled person and companion |
Free
|
| Juniors (Aged 5-17) / Students** |
£10.00
|
| Seniors (Aged 65+) |
£13.45
|
|
*Admits 2 adults and up to 3 children All children under 5 receive free entry **Student photo ID card required to be shown on entry Blue Light Card holders and HM Armed Forces & Veterans receive 10% off admission (not available online). Assistance dogs only at this site. If you are booking 15+ tickets, please email our team before booking online: CastellCoch@gov.wales |
|
Facilities
Please read our accessibility guidance for information on how to plan your visit.
(assistance dogs only at Castell Coch)
Unisex toilet with baby changing facilities on 1st floor.
The castle car park is free and open during standard site opening hours.
There are three dedicated accessible parking bays at the top of the car park on the right hand side.
The bike rack is temporarily unavailable - Apologies for any inconvenience.
We are currently unable to accept any wedding hire requests for Castell Coch due to essential conservation works being carried out at the castle.
Please check our other civil ceremony venues available for hire.
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.
Please read our policy information about flying drones at Cadw monuments: read the guidance
Smoking is not permitted.
A portable induction loop is available.
On-site café open with light refreshments available.
Our castle tea room is open seven days a week and open to castle visitors only during weekends, school holidays and bank holidays, this is due to the restricted capacity limits within the monument. For more information, please contact our team: CastellCoch@gov.wales
Regular visitor to the café? Sign up for a free café pass.
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!
One unisex toilet on the ground floor, 25 metres from the visitor centre.
One ladies toilet on the ground floor of the Well Tower.
Twin toilet facilities on 1st floor.
Audio guide available detailing the history of the site.
Cadw free public WiFi available at this site.
Directions
M4 (Jct. 32), A470 then signposted.
2.5km/1.5mls Taffs Well, Cardiff-Taffs Well/Merthyr Tydfil/Aberdare/Treherbert route.
1km/0.6mls Tongwynlais, route No 26, Cardiff-Tongwynlais /Tredegar or route No 132 Cardiff-Tongwynlais-Mardy.
NCN Route No.8, Taff Trail.
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
Castell Coch
Cardiff CF15 7JS
For contractors, educational visits and deliveries please ring 02920 810101
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh.
Cardiff CF15 7JS
For contractors, educational visits and deliveries please ring 02920 810101
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh.
