Kidwelly Castle
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.
Kidwelly Castle Guidebook
Buy your Kidwelly Castle guidebook here before you visit.
10% off for Cadw members!
Opening times
9.30am – 5pm daily
Last admission 30 minutes before closing
9.30am – 6pm daily
Last admission 30 minutes before closing
9.30am – 5pm daily
Last admission 30 minutes before closing
10am – 4pm Monday - Saturday
11am – 4pm Sunday
Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Closed 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January
Prices
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Member - Join now |
Free
|
| Adult |
£4.20
|
| Family* |
£12.20
|
| Disabled and companion |
Free
|
| Juniors (Aged 5-17) / NUS / Armed Forces and Veterans |
£2.50
|
| Seniors (Aged 65+) |
£3.40
|
|
*Admits 2 adults and up to 3 children All children under 5 receive free entry. |
|
Facilities
Accessible toilets available at this site for visitor use.
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.
Cadw do not allow drone flying from or over its guardianship sites, except by contractors commissioned for a specific purpose, who satisfy stringent CAA criteria, have the correct insurances and are operating under controlled conditions.
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
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 01554 890104
Email
KidwellyCastle@gov.wales
Castle Rd, Kidwelly SA17 5BQ
