Cardiff Castle
Cardiff, Wales
Photo: Clint Budd, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Farwestern Photo by Gregg M. Erickson, CC BY 3.0 · Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Cardiff Council
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Nearest station
- Cardiff Central, 0.4 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- Norman keep, Victorian Gothic apartments, wartime tunnels
Pinpoint
Castle St, Cardiff CF10 3RB
Telephone 029 2087 8100
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
A Norman motte-and-bailey keep wrapped in William Burges's Victorian Gothic fantasy interiors, plus WWII air-raid shelter tunnels cut beneath the walls - three very different eras stacked on one city-centre site.
At a glance
Who to know
William Burges · the architect of the Victorian Gothic fantasy interiors
Worth the trip
The wartime tunnels, which reviewers describe as genuinely unsettling thanks to the darkness and sound effects, not just a museum walk-through.
Before you go
The grounds and coffee shop area are free to enter without a castle ticket, so it's worth a look even on a tight budget or schedule.
What visitors say
Cardiff Castle reviews · 4.6 / 5 across 22,719 Google reviews
Most reviewers describe Cardiff Castle as beautifully preserved and rich in history, with the decorated interiors and the included audio guide singled out as highlights, and the central location makes it an easy add to a city visit.
The wartime tunnels also come up as a memorable, atmospheric feature, though one visitor found the military museum less engaging than the rest of the site.
Staff are praised for being upfront about which parts of the castle aren't wheelchair accessible, which a couple of reviewers appreciated even though it limited what they could see.
“Visited the castle with my friend who uses a wheelchair. Staff were extremely helpful in explaining what parts of the castle are accessible before we purchased tickets.”- Eva Crowe, visitor review
Within reach of Cardiff (0 miles), Bristol (26 miles) - see what else is nearby.
Weddings at Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle is on our wedding roll because Cardiff Council mentions weddings on their own site. Visit their site.
Comparing options? See every castle wedding venue in Wales, or the full UK wedding roll.
Dates, capacity, licensing and exclusivity change constantly and we hold none of it - treat this as a starting point and speak to the venue before you plan anything around it.
History
William the Conqueror or Robert Fitzhamon · late 11th century
Norman invaders built a motte-and-bailey fortress on a 3rd-century Roman fort site in the late 11th century, commissioned either by William the Conqueror or Robert Fitzhamon. Stone rebuilding began in the twelfth century. The 3rd Marquess of Bute employed architect William Burges in the nineteenth century to transform the interior into an elaborate Gothic Revival mansion.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Plan your visit
- Combine this with
- Castell Coch is only 4.9 miles away - worth pairing into the same day. See Castell Coch →
- Tickets & opening times
- Check current prices and hours with the operator before travelling - details change more often than any directory can track.
- Data checked
- Ratings, review counts and the visitor-note quotes above were drawn from publicly available Google reviews. Castles change hands and adjust hours faster than any directory can track in real time.
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Guided tours
- “You can listen to the audio guide while you see everything and it makes your experience super rich.” - Amanda
- Terrain & accessibility
- “Visited the castle with my friend who uses a wheelchair.” - Eva Crowe
Common questions about Cardiff Castle
Where is Cardiff Castle?
Cardiff Castle is in Cardiff, Wales, at Castle St, Cardiff CF10 3RB.
Do you need a ticket to visit Cardiff Castle?
Yes - Cardiff Castle is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by Cardiff Council. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
What is the highlight of visiting Cardiff Castle?
The wartime tunnels, which reviewers describe as genuinely unsettling thanks to the darkness and sound effects, not just a museum walk-through.
Is Cardiff Castle a ruin or still intact?
Cardiff Castle is largely intact - Norman keep, Victorian Gothic apartments, wartime tunnels.
