Launceston Castle
Launceston Castle
4
About
Set on a large natural mound with an unusual keep consisting of a 13th-century round tower inside an earlier shell keep. George Fox, founder of the Quakers, suffered harsh imprisonment here in 1656. Dog friendly and child friendly.
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- Kevin SPontypridd, United Kingdom7,113 contributionsGood views over the countrysideA small castle, actually really just the keep on a hill with the gatehouse and some of the outer wall. But a good looking structure on top of its hill dominating Launceston and providing good views over the countryside. If you want to take over 140 steps to the top that is.Visited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 11, 2024
- Becky B3 contributionsWonderful staffThe lady who was working on Monday 29th am was really lovely. She helped us gain access for a blue badge holder. Helped us choose a gift. Really pleasant experience, brilliant customer service. Thank youVisited July 2024Traveled with familyWritten July 30, 2024
- pippa599Plymouth, United Kingdom114 contributionsGreat visit but no toilets on siteGreat castle to look around great views and history. 2 hours on the parking in the carpark was enough with getting pasties for lunch as well. The nearest toilets are in the multi storey carpark non onsite although there does seem to be a building round the back which is locked. Dog friendly and picnic area.Visited August 2024Traveled with familyWritten August 17, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
318 reviews
Excellent
117
Very good
125
Average
61
Poor
10
Terrible
5
Katie & Tom
Southampton, UK125 contributions
Sep 2020
If you're a little scared of falling, or if you suffer a bit from vertigo, this could well be a challenge. But take nothing away from the views and magnificence of this piece of history. The castle itself is rather small, so you're unlikely to spend more than 2 hours here, but the entry fee is well worth it to gauge the awesomeness of the local landscape. Plenty of history here too, clear and concise boards with lots of information about the castle. Special shoutout to the lady in the gift shop... friendly, funny and a great smile. The fudge by the way, was a top buy.
Written October 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bexy81
St. Albans, UK325 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
The castle and grounds are kept in very good order. Heritage members get in free with non members paying a fee to enter. Car park is literally a few minutes away and cost 60p for a hour which was just perfect as like most others have advised it's a really nice quick walk around.
Dog friendly too.
Dog friendly too.
Written September 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Acornise
400 contributions
Aug 2022
Interesting castle, fun to explore.
Great views from the top.
As usual, staff were knowledgeable and friendly.
If we had to pay we may have felt it was expensive - the prices advertised at the castle seemed steep for what was a fairly quick visit - 1 to 2 hours. Booking on line in advance or being a member is cheaper.
Great views from the top.
As usual, staff were knowledgeable and friendly.
If we had to pay we may have felt it was expensive - the prices advertised at the castle seemed steep for what was a fairly quick visit - 1 to 2 hours. Booking on line in advance or being a member is cheaper.
Written August 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annie
Tidworth, UK2,013 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
We are English Heritage members so booked to go here on our holiday to Cornwall. Lovely ruins of a castle with lovely views over Launceston, not much here there is a little shop. I would recommend taking a picnic and then you could spend a couple of hours here. A bit pricey if you were paying to enter though, worth a visit though. No parking, although there is a multi storey opposite so really easy to get too.
Written August 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ShaunH290
London, UK3,019 contributions
Jul 2022
This Grade I listed monument is unusual in having a circular tower within the circular keep at the top of the mound or motte. You can climb up the steps to the top of this tower to see great views across the countryside and appreciate why the Normans saw this as such a strategic site.
Free to English Heritage members - but worth it even if you are not!
Free to English Heritage members - but worth it even if you are not!
Written January 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sara
Devon, UK28 contributions
Jul 2023
Living nearby I have never actually visited this castle until a few days ago. My friend and I were walking around the antique shops in town with my Labrador and being an English heritage member I suggested we go to the castle since it was a nice day and I knew it was dog friendly.
The park is nice. Staff in the shop were friendly. I was surprised by the ÂŁ8+ fee (including donation) for my friend to pay as that's quite seem for what seems like a very small castle to view from the outside....
Tiny room of some interesting finds from the ruins, then cross the bridge and up the steps to the castle. You can climb the steps further up to the top of the tower (not good if you don't like heights though so bear that in mind) and that's pretty much it.
The views are beautiful from the top, there's no taking away from that but to be honest, had I not been an EH member I would have been a bit disappointed in the steep charge.
It only took us 15-20 minutes to complete, perhaps better if you take a picnic?
The park is nice. Staff in the shop were friendly. I was surprised by the ÂŁ8+ fee (including donation) for my friend to pay as that's quite seem for what seems like a very small castle to view from the outside....
Tiny room of some interesting finds from the ruins, then cross the bridge and up the steps to the castle. You can climb the steps further up to the top of the tower (not good if you don't like heights though so bear that in mind) and that's pretty much it.
The views are beautiful from the top, there's no taking away from that but to be honest, had I not been an EH member I would have been a bit disappointed in the steep charge.
It only took us 15-20 minutes to complete, perhaps better if you take a picnic?
Written July 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bandit-One
Lucerne, Switzerland10,512 contributions
Jul 2022
Came here in the late afternoon for a quick visit. Since we're members entrance was free. Our English Bulldog was welcome on the site as well.
The site is very nice and green. Very quiet when we've visited with only a handful of visitors. Surprising. Because even though not the biggest, it is a very interesting and beautiful castle.
The big 13th-century round tower was built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall. You can climb up to the top to enjoy the views of the beautiful valley.
The castle also served as prison and was also used as the base for the Cornish Royalist defence of the county.
A very pleasant visit. Nice history, great surroundings. A small souvenir shop at the entrance as well. We enjoyed it.
We parked our car at the nearby Westgate Street Multi-Storey Car Park and Coach Park. Only a few steps away.
The site is very nice and green. Very quiet when we've visited with only a handful of visitors. Surprising. Because even though not the biggest, it is a very interesting and beautiful castle.
The big 13th-century round tower was built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall. You can climb up to the top to enjoy the views of the beautiful valley.
The castle also served as prison and was also used as the base for the Cornish Royalist defence of the county.
A very pleasant visit. Nice history, great surroundings. A small souvenir shop at the entrance as well. We enjoyed it.
We parked our car at the nearby Westgate Street Multi-Storey Car Park and Coach Park. Only a few steps away.
Written November 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracy G
Andover, UK271 contributions
Jun 2021
This castle is not large and will not take long to look round the remains but worth a visit, particularly if you are an English Heritage member. Good information boards giving the history of the place and excellent views over the town and countryside. The steps up the tower would benefit from having a light fitted, as on overcast days (as it was when we visited) it was very dark and the steps, being old, were very uneven. There are no on site facilities but there is a public toilet in the multi-story car park opposite.
Written July 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
katye1983
Southampton, UK211 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
We visited whilst in the area, Launceston is a castle ruin and it took us less than hour to walk around it. Had we not have been EH members we wouldn’t have visited as it’s not worth paying for. There is little information about it and for all the steps up to it about 65 steps apart from the views it offers there is little else to be worth it.
We had a quick walk around Launceston town but being a Monday everything was shut just like the rest of Cornwall.
We had a quick walk around Launceston town but being a Monday everything was shut just like the rest of Cornwall.
Written July 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CeeCee
7 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Amazing view, even in rain! The rolling hills in the 360 pano view were very picturesque with the equally rolling grey clouds! We had a lucky break in the clouds thankfully for the steep walk back down. Lots of stairs but worth it for the views.
Very informative panels giving details on the castles history. Just the right amount of details for the children.
Staff were really lovely & some lovely EH items available in the shop. Whole venue is dog friendly.
Good Covid layout - one way around the grounds & one family group allowed in the keep at a time, but as it’s pre booking only & numbers are kept low, we didn’t feel as though we needed to rush.
We parked at the top of town & took a nice walk through the town, some nice shops and stopping off for pasties! On the way back to the car we also stopped in at the lovely church - St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Launceston - worth a visit.
Very informative panels giving details on the castles history. Just the right amount of details for the children.
Staff were really lovely & some lovely EH items available in the shop. Whole venue is dog friendly.
Good Covid layout - one way around the grounds & one family group allowed in the keep at a time, but as it’s pre booking only & numbers are kept low, we didn’t feel as though we needed to rush.
We parked at the top of town & took a nice walk through the town, some nice shops and stopping off for pasties! On the way back to the car we also stopped in at the lovely church - St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Launceston - worth a visit.
Written August 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
can anyone tell me when the castle is open? thank you
Written February 15, 2018
I agree with the person above I would suggest it’s something like 10-5, but count on that so check before you travel
Written February 18, 2018
craigcotterillal2016
Wadebridge, United Kingdom
if you changed anything wat would it be
Written July 15, 2016
Quite frankly I would not change anything.. The information available is very good.. I do recommend getting the guidebook, and there are nice nooks and crannies to explore..
Written August 27, 2016
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