Caerphilly Castle

Caerphilly Castle is a Grade I listed castle in Caerphilly, cared for by Cadw. Read about its history and architecture, plus how to visit and what's nearby.

About Caerphilly Castle

Caerphilly Castle covers 30 acres, making it the second largest castle in Britain after Windsor.

It stands in the town of Caerphilly, in south Wales, ringed by a series of artificial lakes that formed one of the most sophisticated water defence systems of its age.

The castle's south-east tower leans further than the Tower of Pisa, a result of subsidence and Civil War slighting rather than design.

Cadw manages the site today, and visitors can walk the wall walks and cross the great gatehouses that once guarded it.

History of Caerphilly Castle

Gilbert de Clare, Lord of Glamorgan, began building the castle in 1268 to secure the region against Welsh resistance under Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. Its scale and concentric design, with layered walls and flooded moats, marked a significant advance in medieval military architecture and influenced later castles including Edward I's in north Wales. The castle fell into ruin after the Civil War, when parts were deliberately damaged, before restoration work began in the 19th and 20th centuries under the Marquesses of Bute.

Architecture of Caerphilly Castle

The castle is a pioneering example of concentric fortification, with two rings of walls and towers separated by a wide moat rather than relying on a single keep. Its great hall, gatehouses and water defences were built in phases from 1268 under Gilbert de Clare, with substantial 20th-century restoration reconstructing sections lost to decay and demolition.

Worth knowing

The castle's leaning south-east tower, tilted further than the Tower of Pisa, has made it a recognisable landmark and a subject of long-standing local fascination.

Facilities

Parking Café Toilets Shop Restaurant Accessible toilets Cycle parking Baby changing

Plan your visit to Caerphilly Castle

Prices & opening times Official site Google Maps Waze

Nearest station: Caerphilly Rail Station (0.3 miles)

Open year-round; check Cadw website for seasonal opening hours.

Places to visit near Caerphilly Castle

Castell Coch

castle 3.1 miles

Visit Castell Coch View Castell Coch on heritage map

Stable Block Including Orangery

historic building 8.2 miles

View Stable Block Including Orangery on heritage map

Tredegar House Lake

historic building 8.3 miles

View Tredegar House Lake on heritage map

Tredegar House

historic building 8.3 miles

View Tredegar House on heritage map

Tredegar House Museum

museum 8.3 miles

View Tredegar House Museum on heritage map

Historic places nearby

Within 5 miles of Caerphilly Castle there are 1 historic properties, including 1 castle.

1 Cadw

1 Castle

See these 1 sites on the heritage map

Within 10 miles of Caerphilly Castle there are 9 historic properties, including 4 historic buildings and 2 castles, across National Trust and Cadw sites.

5 National Trust

4 Cadw

4 Historic building

2 Castle

1 Archaeological site

1 Garden

1 Museum

See these 9 sites on the heritage map

Within 20 miles of Caerphilly Castle there are 23 historic properties, including 11 historic buildings, 6 castles and 3 museums, across Cadw and National Trust sites.

16 Cadw

7 National Trust

11 Historic building

6 Castle

3 Museum

1 Domestic