Plas Mawr
Overview
Britain’s finest town house of the golden Elizabethan age
Never was a building better named. Plas Mawr, or the Great Hall, is quite simply the finest surviving Elizabethan town house anywhere in Britain.
This was a golden age when fabulously wealthy merchants invested in mansions, rich fittings and lavish entertaining. Robert Wynn, third son of a local landowner, wanted a piece of the action.
He entered the service of Tudor diplomats and travelled to the most splendid royal courts of Europe. His fortune made, he bought a mansion house in Conwy for £200 and between 1576 and 1585 turned it into a celebration of his life, times and wealth.
The house’s main frontage is discreetly hidden away in a steep narrow lane. So the High Street gatehouse only hints at the grandeur within, as you rise via a series of terraces to explore 17 impressive rooms.
You won’t have to look far for clues about its creator. Wynn’s initials – R.W. – can be found all over Plas Mawr’s vividly painted ornamental plasterwork.
Over the centuries it became a courthouse, a school and even an art gallery. Perhaps this continual use enabled it to remain so miraculously intact. Four years of painstaking restoration have recreated the Elizabethan garden and returned all the light-filled rooms to their original glory.
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.
Plas Mawr Conwy Guidebook
Buy your guidebook online today
10% off for Cadw members!
Opening times
Daily 9.30am–5pm
Last admission 4.15pm
Daily 9.30am–4pm
Last admission 3.15pm
Closed
Prices & Tickets
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Member - Join now |
Free
|
| Adult |
£8.30
|
| Family* |
£27.40
|
| Disabled and companion |
Free
|
| Juniors (Aged 5-17) / NUS / Armed Forces and Veterans |
£5.80
|
| Seniors (Aged 65+) |
£7.70
|
|
*Admits 2 adults and up to 3 children All children under 5 receive free entry. |
|
Facilities
Please read our accessibility guidance for information on how to plan your visit.
Toilets available with baby changing facilities.
The nearest pay and display car park is Vicarage Gardens in Rose Hill St.
There is limited parking on the High St for limited time.
There are no dedicated disabled parking spaces.
The venue is available for civil wedding and civil partnership ceremonies for a maximum of 40 guests.
Join Dorothy Wynn for a virtual guided tour around Plas Mawr – Britain’s finest town house of the golden Elizabethan age.
Town centre location. There are many steps to negotiate throughout the property. Wheelchair access available to ground floor of main house only.
On-site exhibition within monument.
On-site garden.
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.
Light refreshments are 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.
A video presentation is available at this site.
Directions
Conwy via A55 or B5106.
2km/1.3mls Llandudno Junction or 0.6km/0.4mls Conwy Station, on the Crewe-Llandudno Junction/Holyhead route.
200m/220yards, route No 5, Caernarfon-Conwy/Llandudno
NCN Route No.5 (150m/164yards).
Postcode LL32 8DE.
For further information, please contact: Traveline Cymru on 0871 200 2233 or National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.
Contact us
Telephone 03000 252239
Email
PlasMawr@gov.wales
Plas Mawr,
High St, Conwy LL32 8DE
Plas Mawr mobile: 07392277592
For contractors, educational visits and deliveries please ring 01492 573605
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh.
High St, Conwy LL32 8DE
Plas Mawr mobile: 07392277592
For contractors, educational visits and deliveries please ring 01492 573605
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh.
