Chirk Castle
Wrexham, Wales
Photo: Prichardson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0 · DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- National Trust
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Entry pass
- National Trust Explorer Pass
- Nearest station
- Chirk, 1.0 miles (straight-line)
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
- Note
- Edwardian-era marcher fortress, inhabited 700 years
Pinpoint
Chirk Castle, Wrexham LL14 5AF
Telephone 01691 777701
Opening Hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| 31 August - 27 September | Castle - Daily 12:00 - 16:30 |
| 5 October - 1 November | Castle - Daily 12:00 - 16:00 |
| 2 November - 22 November | Castle closed |
| 30 November - 20 December | Castle - Daily 11:00 - 16:00 |
Last entry to the castle staterooms is 4pm, with the last entry ticket sold at 3.30pm. Please note we do not have an EV charger available. We apologise for any inconvenience. Home Farm Kiosk and The Dairy are open seasonally. We close when high winds are forecast, please check for any emergency notices before travelling. Individual dates outside these ranges are on the official page.
Checked against the official page on 25 August 2026.
Visitor essentials
- Parking
- The car park is at Home Farm, about 200 yards from the castle entrance up a steep hill.
- Access
- No wheelchair or step-free access to the castle interior; a volunteer-run shuttlebus (not guaranteed daily) helps visitors up to the castle, plus an electric mobility scooter for the gardens and estate.
- Facilities
- A second-hand bookshop and shop at Home Farm, a plant shop, and toilets at both Home Farm and the castle courtyard.
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on the wider estate and on short leads in the formal gardens and Pleasure Ground Wood, but not in the kitchen garden or play area; assistance dogs only inside the castle rooms.
One of Edward I's marcher fortresses, and unlike most of his Welsh castles, this one has been continuously lived in for around 700 years rather than left to decay - the result is a working castle exterior wrapped around interiors furnished across every era since, from tapestries and armour to a library reviewers rate as a must-see. National Trust now looks after it, with gardens and walks around the grounds.
At a glance
Who to know
Edward I · the king whose marcher fortress this was, inhabited 700 years
Worth the trip
The library, which reviewers say holds a copy of the first Welsh Bible - a highlight inside a house full of them.
Before you go
State rooms don't open until noon, so time a visit accordingly if the interior is the priority; there are two cafes (one in the car park, one in the castle) and plenty of parking.
What visitors say
Chirk Castle reviews · 4.7 / 5 across 7,076 Google reviews
Reviewers consistently praise Chirk Castle's well-preserved interiors, extensive gardens, and grounds walks, with several singling out the King's bedroom, library, and the castle's rare first Welsh Bible as highlights.
Staff are repeatedly described as friendly and knowledgeable, and the on-site cafés get positive mentions too, though one reviewer found the counter service in the café a little brusque on their visit.
“A very quiet and tranquil place to visit. Lots of history,lots to do. Very knowledgeable staff and friendly with it.”- Stephen Stiles, visitor review
Within reach of Liverpool (33 miles) - see what else is nearby.
Getting in - what National Trust says
There is no wheelchair or step-free access to the castle interior. A volunteer-run shuttle bus helps visitors up to the castle throughout the day, but it may not run every day. There is an accessible route in the garden. Accessible toilets are at Home Farm (right-hand transfer) and in the castle courtyard (left-hand transfer), with designated parking. One electric Tramper can be reserved for the g
Taken from National Trust’s own website and read 28 July 2026 - check the current version. Access can change with building work, weather and staffing - if the visit depends on it, ring ahead.
Walks at Chirk Castle
Chirk Castle is on our walks roll because a visitor described a walk here in their own review:
“The gardens and surrounding grounds are equally breathtaking, with lush greenery, peaceful walking paths, and stunning countryside views in every direction 🌿.”- G D (Savor the Journey), visitor review
Also worth knowing: dogs are reported welcome and you can arrive by train (Chirk is 1.0 miles off).
Comparing options? See every UK castle with a walk visitors describe.
One visitor's account, not a route guide. We hold no distances, waymarks or start points. For the actual route, check the operator's own site and an Ordnance Survey map before you set out, and treat coastal and clifftop paths as weather- and tide-dependent.
History
Roger Mortimer de Chirk · 1295
Roger Mortimer de Chirk built this fortress in 1295 as part of Edward I's defensive chain across north Wales, guarding the Ceiriog Valley entrance. It served as the administrative hub for Chirkland marcher lordship. The Edwardes family initially ran it before the Myddelton family purchased it in 1593 for £5,000. Surviving English Civil War damage, it was rebuilt and remained in Myddelton hands until transferred to the National Trust in 1981. Continuous inhabitation for 700 years made it unique among Edward I's Welsh castles.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Plan your visit
- Combine this with
- Castell Dinas Bran is only 4.2 miles away - worth pairing into the same day. See Castell Dinas Bran →
- 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.
- Parking
- “Two cafes one in the carpark one in the castle, serving gorgeous ice-cream.” - Stephen Stiles
- How long to allow
- “We spent full day wandering there.” - krzmar969
- Facilities
- “Very nice cafe with lots of interesting rooms.” - Alan Gee
Common questions about Chirk Castle
Where is Chirk Castle?
Chirk Castle is in Wrexham, Wales, at Chirk Castle, Wrexham LL14 5AF.
Do you need a ticket to visit Chirk Castle?
Yes - Chirk Castle is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by National Trust. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
Can you stay overnight at Chirk Castle?
Yes - Chirk Castle offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the castle itself or within its grounds. See the Castles You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
Is Chirk Castle dog-friendly?
Visitor reviews suggest dogs are welcome at Chirk Castle - one reviewer noted: “…rdens. Staff were friendly and helpful. Dog friendly but must be kept on tight lead (provided) in gardens. Very…”. Policies can vary between parts of a site and change over time, so confirm with the operator before visiting with a dog.
Are there walks at Chirk Castle?
Visitor reviews describe walking here - one reviewer wrote: “The gardens and surrounding grounds are equally breathtaking, with lush greenery, peaceful walking paths, and stunning countryside views in every direction 🌿.”. That is one visitor's account rather than a route guide, so check the operator's own site and an Ordnance Survey map for distances, paths and start points before setting out.
