Cardiff Castle
A Norman Keep On A Roman Fort In The Middle Of Wales' Capital, Rebuilt In Fantastical Victorian Gothic For The Marquess Of Bute By William Burges With Painted, Gilded State Rooms. Walls Hold A Wartime Air Raid Shelter And An Animal Wall. A Castle For A Half Day, Not A Long Trip · Cardiff, Wales
Cardiff Castle stands in the middle of Wales' capital, a few minutes' walk from the main shopping streets. Its Norman keep was raised on the walls of a Roman fort, and pieces of that Roman wall still show in the outer ring. In the 19th century the Marquess of Bute, one of the richest men in Britain, had the architect William Burges rebuild the living quarters as a Victorian Gothic Revival fantasy of painted ceilings, gilding, carved beasts and stained glass. You can pay for the castle grounds alone, or add the guided tour of the house, which is the only way into those rooms. The grounds also hold the Animal Wall, stone beasts along the street side, and air-raid shelters built into the wall for thousands of townspeople in the Second World War. It is a compact site, a half day at most, and the keep climb is short. Rooms are small and tours can sell out on busy days, so book ahead in summer. Cardiff itself is lively, compact and bilingual, with Welsh on every sign.
Castle Street, in the centre of Cardiff, a few minutes' walk from Cardiff Central station, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
The castle is open daily for most of the year, with longer hours from spring to early autumn and shorter ones in winter. Last entry is commonly an hour or more before closing, and house tours run on set times through the day rather than on demand. It closes on Christmas Day and may close for concerts, weddings or events, so check the calendar. Bute Park beside the castle is FREE and open from early morning until dusk, and you can see the outer wall and the Animal Wall from the street at any hour for nothing. The grounds, keep, shelters and Burges rooms all need a ticket and are CLOSED once the castle shuts. Confirm hours near your date.