Penrhyn Castle
Gwynedd, Wales
Photo: Hefin Owen from Wales, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Bs0u10e01, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bs0u10e01, 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
- Bangor (Gwynedd), 1.7 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- 19th-century neo-Norman castle
Pinpoint
Bangor LL57 4HT
Telephone 01248 353084
Opening Hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| 25 August - 1 November | Castle - Daily 10:30 - 16:00 |
| 2 November - 22 November | Castle closed |
| 23 November - 20 December | Mon - Wed: Closed Thu - Sun: 10:00 - 16:00 |
Last admission is at 3pm Individual dates outside these ranges are on the official page.
Checked against the official page on 25 August 2026.
Visitor essentials
- Parking
- Free parking about 500 yards from the castle, with accessible spaces near the Welcome Centre and a 4.22m height restriction at the drive entrance.
- Access
- Accessible toilets are near the Welcome Centre and by the castle; assistance dogs only are permitted inside the castle.
- Facilities
- On-site cafe, seasonal kiosk, bookshop, shop and a picnic area near the castle.
- Dogs
- Dogs on short leads are welcome in the gardens and cafe; assistance dogs only inside the castle.
A Victorian country house built to look like a Norman castle rather than one that ever needed to defend anything - the Pennant family raised it in the 1800s on fortune from the Welsh slate industry, and National Trust interpretation doesn't shy from that history's harder side alongside the architecture. The grounds are the real draw as much as the house: extensive gardens, a walled garden reviewers rate among the best they've seen, and views back to Snowdonia.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The walled garden - reviewers repeatedly single it out as one of the finest they've visited.
Before you go
The house isn't always open (check before travelling if that's the priority), but the gardens and grounds make for a full visit on their own, even on a day when it's shut.
What visitors say
Penrhyn Castle reviews · 4.7 / 5 across 5,133 Google reviews
Reviewers consistently describe Penrhyn Castle as a grand, imposing property with lavish interiors and a genuinely interesting connection to the local slate industry, and several single out the gardens and grounds as a highlight in their own right.
A couple of visitors found parts of the house or garden closed for renovation work during their visit, which was a minor disappointment, but even those who couldn't get inside still felt the grounds alone made for a worthwhile visit.
“Lovely walk around. Would like to visit again when more of the house is open. Gardens are an easy walk, not long at all. Walled garden is probably one of the most beautiful in my experience, but a lot was still being…”- Carly Hayward, visitor review
Getting in - what National Trust says
Accessible parking spaces near the Welcome Centre; accessible toilets and baby changing areas both by the Welcome Centre in the main car park and by the Castle. Accessible picnic tables sit on the lawn near the Castle, approximately 400m from the Welcome Centre. Level access terrain is listed, and a full Accessibility Guide is published on AccessAble with a Welsh language option.
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 Penrhyn Castle
Penrhyn Castle is on our walks roll because a visitor described a walk here in their own review:
“Outside, the grounds are peaceful with gardens, trees and walking paths.”- Przemyslaw Kowalski, visitor review
Also worth knowing: dogs are reported welcome.
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
Gwilym ap Griffith · 15th century (rebuilt 1822-1837)
A 15th-century fortified manor built by Gwilym ap Griffith, Penrhyn was substantially rebuilt beginning in 1782 under Lord Penrhyn, who accumulated wealth from West Indian slave plantations. Architect Thomas Hopper restructured it between 1822 and 1837 as a grand Neo-Norman castle, creating one of Wales's most impressive Romanesque Revival country houses.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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
- “Parking was straightforward and staff were friendly and welcoming.” - Justin Marley
- How long to allow
- “There is a café and a shop, so it is easy to spend a few hours here.” - Przemyslaw Kowalski
Common questions about Penrhyn Castle
Where is Penrhyn Castle?
Penrhyn Castle is in Gwynedd, Wales, at Bangor LL57 4HT.
Do you need a ticket to visit Penrhyn Castle?
Yes - Penrhyn 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.
Are there walks at Penrhyn Castle?
Visitor reviews describe walking here - one reviewer wrote: “Outside, the grounds are peaceful with gardens, trees and walking paths.”. 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.
What is the highlight of visiting Penrhyn Castle?
The walled garden - reviewers repeatedly single it out as one of the finest they've visited.
Is Penrhyn Castle a ruin or still intact?
Penrhyn Castle is largely intact - 19th-century neo-Norman castle.
