St Michael's Mount
Cornwall, England
Photo: Werner Wilmes, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: B.Hawkins.Cornwall, CC BY-SA 4.0 ยท Tom Corser, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- National Trust
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Entry pass
- National Trust Explorer Pass
- Nearest station
- Penzance, 2.4 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- Managed jointly with St Aubyn Estates; tidal island
Pinpoint
St Michael's Mount, Marazion
A castle and former priory on a tidal island off Marazion, reached on foot across a causeway at low tide or by boat when the sea's in - a genuinely rare way to arrive anywhere in Britain. It's managed jointly by the National Trust and the St Aubyn family, who still live there part of the year.
At a glance
Worth the trip
Timing the crossing right - walking the causeway at low tide, then watching it disappear under the sea a few hours later, is most of the experience.
Before you go
Check tide times on the National Trust website before you go and book tickets ahead - reviewers say the process for buying castle and boat tickets isn't well explained on site, and parking on the mainland isn't covered by National Trust membership.
What visitors say
St Michael's Mount reviews · 4.6 / 5 across 2,961 Google reviews
Reviewers are drawn to St Michael's Mount's tidal causeway and boat crossing, calling the experience memorable, but several flag practical friction points: needing separate tickets for the garden, castle and boat, a ticket office located away from the jetty, and a steep, slippery climb to the castle that's difficult for elderly visitors or small children.
One reviewer also found the toilets and baby-changing facilities lacking.
“One of my favourite National Trust places. Parking is not NT so be prepared to pay extra. Check tide times ahead of your visit so you can walk across at low tide. Booking ahead is essential.”- Troy Jenkinson, visitor review
Getting in - what National Trust says
20 disabled parking bays at Marazion car park. Paths steep, cobbled, uneven, no handrails. Wheelchairs cannot reach castle summit. Tramper (all-terrain scooter) hire available. Accessible toilets on east side. Tidal causeway wet and cobbled with deceptive water depth-designated opening times required.
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.
History
Benedictine monks (via Edward the Confessor) · 12th century (castle structures)
The island possibly hosted a monastery from the 8th to early 11th centuries before Edward the Confessor granted it to the Benedictine order of Mont-Saint-Michel. A priory developed with 12th-century monastic buildings and castle structures. After Henry V's dissolution of alien houses ended the Mont-Saint-Michel connection in the early 15th century, the site became a secular chapel gifted to Syon Abbey (1424). Sieges and rebellions marked its medieval history; Colonel John St Aubyn purchased it in 1659, and his descendants, the Lords St Levan, remain there today.
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
- “Car park is council owned but not too expensive.” - Angela Rutter
- Facilities
- “Toilets were not clean and they are unisex.” - Ljubica Banic
Common questions about St Michael's Mount
Where is St Michael's Mount?
St Michael's Mount is in Cornwall, England, at St Michael's Mount, Marazion.
Do you need a ticket to visit St Michael's Mount?
Yes - St Michael's Mount 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.
What is the highlight of visiting St Michael's Mount?
Timing the crossing right - walking the causeway at low tide, then watching it disappear under the sea a few hours later, is most of the experience.
Is St Michael's Mount a ruin or still intact?
St Michael's Mount is largely intact - Managed jointly with St Aubyn Estates; tidal island.
