Penrhyn Castle
Penrhyn Castle
4.5
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
About
This 19th-century neo-Norman castle sits between Snowdonia and the Menai Strait. It's crammed with fascinating items, such as a one-ton slate bed made for Queen Victoria, elaborate carvings, plasterwork and mock-Norman furniture. In addition, it has an outstanding collection of paintings.The restored kitchens are a delight and the stable block houses a fascinating industrial railway museum.The 24.3 hectares (60 acres) of grounds include parkland, an exotic tree and shrub collection as well as a Victorian walled garden.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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  • Dawnie
    9 contributions
    Beautiful Christmas vibe
    Amazing effort Penrhyn Castle is magical at the best of times. Obviously a reduced overall experience with this time of year. Every member of staff and volunteers should be commended for their hard work and effort in keeping the history and spectacular building alive for generations and educational resources for years to come.
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled with friends
    Written December 21, 2022
  • Joanne W
    Daventry, United Kingdom193 contributions
    Loads to see
    A Norman looking castle that is Victorian inside. Lots of rooms insider to wander around, both upstairs and below stairs. Outside is a railway museum as well which even includes engines you can climb on. Note that it is quiet a walk from the carpark up to the house, so you may need to consider this.
    Visited October 2022
    Written January 1, 2023
  • FionaJ
    Llanberis, United Kingdom62 contributions
    Christmas Experience
    A wonderful visit to the castle to see the Christmas Experience. It was lovely to enter via the Victorian Kitchens, where a fire was burning and a very welcoming and knowledgeable volunteer (Annette) was willing to share her substantial knowledge which was of great interest. As I walked around it was very enjoyable to see the rooms so tastefully decorated. The Christmas trees were stunning and the highlight was the library set up with games and entertainment as it would of been in the era. A great deal of effort had been put into this experience and it was great to see how family focussed it was, such as all the board games for families to enjoy.
    Visited December 2022
    Written January 3, 2023
  • ddwilliams66
    16 contributions
    Very Interesting with Knowledgeable Staff
    We enjoyed a short visit due to the weather and will return in the summer months. The Castle interior is just amazing with interesting items to see and learn about. The staff were so helpful and a special shout out to 'Roger the Buggy Man' who is a legend in his own right. There is an interesting Industrial Railway Museum and beautiful walled garden both of which we will visit again. THANK YOU to the National Trust Team for all your Care & Knowledge during our visit.
    Visited March 2023
    Written March 12, 2023
  • GlobetrottingViking
    Thatcham, United Kingdom2,721 contributions
    Take your time, there is much to see
    We came here just as the site opened to the public and were happy to see that a buggy was available to take us up the hill from the car park to the castle. This building with its roots in the 15th century has been updated and added to many times and now looks like a Norman Castle, even though most of what we see is from the 19th century. The house is crammed with artefacts and paintings, and the décor inside is incredibly intricate with plaster cast ceilings and carved slate fireplaces. The guides are enthusiastically telling you every detail you care to know, perhaps even more than you need to know. There is a Railway Museum on the site, which were told would soon be moved to a dedicated site.
    Visited March 2023
    Written March 18, 2023
  • David B
    Lichfield, United Kingdom30 contributions
    Penrhyn Castle. Such an impressive property
    Visited with my wife who has mobility issues. We are NT members so no charge. Paths not great for disability access so used the free buggy up to the house. An impressive property. Disappointed with lack of written information in the rooms, but friendly, knowledgeable guides available to question. During our visit the State Bedroom unavailable because of lack of volunteers. Other things to see, Victorian Kitchen and small railway museum. Good catering on site. Ample car parking
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 6, 2023
  • Sorry for the typos...
    London, United Kingdom192 contributions
    The best castle!
    Wow, this NT property is stunning! We also did the Easter egg hunt which was good. Was not expecting the train museum to be as good as it was, a really decent collection of trains, with decent information. Take a whole day to visit this place, it’s great.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written April 12, 2023
  • Proudy008
    Preston, United Kingdom105 contributions
    Amazing, can’t fault it.
    I can’t give this place anything but 5/5 stars. It’s simply amazing. One of the best castles you’re likely ever to visit. The grounds are immaculate, the castle is superb, ample parking all over, great cafe (the lamb stew was divine) loads of facilities toilets etc. There’s a fun adventure play park and ruins and great views of the bay, also a train museum. I can’t sing it’s praises enough. We’ll definitely come back again.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written April 21, 2023
  • ABC622014
    Shrewsbury, United Kingdom246 contributions
    WOW Interiors
    This is a very special place, every room got a WOW the interiors are fantastic and the grounds are lovely too. The volunteers were very knowledgeable and were happy to share their knowledge. Only negative the guide book I bought doesn't show much of this magnificent place which is a shame
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 29, 2023
  • Chipmonk
    Clyro, United Kingdom13 contributions
    Great setting.
    Very interesting place to visit. It is in a stunning setting and worth a visit. We even managed to spot a red squirrel. The cafe was a little restricting in choice, no vegetarian sandwiches or pasties left or perhaps were never available even at mid day so it wasn't like it was after lunch. Maybe eat before you come.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 29, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Luke J
Prestatyn, UK33 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
I was looking forward to showing my partner and daughter a wonderful stately home and gardens, giving them a day to remember.
Well they had a day to remember for the wrong reasons!!
I haven’t been to Penrhyn Castle for 7 years and unfortunately it has changed for the worse.
I expected the usual “warm” welcome from the National Trust volunteers who seem to look down their noses at certain people or just can’t be bothered to engage unless you look like you fit a certain category, I will exclude the lovely young foreign lady at the main hall entrance from this observation.
We walked in and missed the paying booth at the car park which isn’t well sign posted, there is one sign at a fork in the road and in small writing it said admissions but a talkative Geordie blocked our view of it although we probably wouldn’t of noticed anyway. We went to go into the Castle and the aforementioned lady arranged a buggy to take me down to the ticket office and back.
We waited 10-15 minutes for it and I had to ask again whether it was on it’s way.
It turned out that Roger had forgotten about us!!
He eventually turned up and drove past us to pick up another couple who arrived much later than us and we were instructed to sit on the jump seats at the back while they got into the inside seats despite having my six year old Autistic daughter with me.
Scarlett likes to be independent so was trying to put on her own seatbelt which took a little longer than usual much to the annoyance of Roger as he kept repeatedly asking if we had them on even after I acknowledged we had.
We were taken to the ticket office and Roger was pleasant to the people behind him but when we arrived I was told we would have to walk back as he wasn’t waiting around and was taking the couple on a tour of the grounds!!

I thought the worst was over but the vast majority of the house was closed off I think we went into 5 rooms and the Victorian kitchen most of which was roped off unlike previous visits so our tour of the Castle took about 10 minutes!!!
We were told it was due to a lack of volunteers which quite possibly is true but no mention of the Castle being mostly closed off on any their sites or when you pay for your ticket or I wouldn’t of come.
I have given them two stars as the Great Hall and the rooms we did see are beautiful as are the grounds including the scenery but this place has really gone downhill and I would recommend any of the CADW sites instead and leave this place off your itinerary.

I can only hope they get their act together as Penrhyn Castle used to be a great day out.
Written August 6, 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.

Kay S
1 contribution
Aug 2020 • Family
Had a visit here Friday paid for 2 adults and a child to visit the castle. Turned up in a really raining day to be asked are you aware the castle is closed. I replied no but was told the garden is open. A few families were there and appeared to be walking aimlessly around. We walked along a open path and there stood the castle. We walked around the castle which tbh did appear worth a visit if it was open. Some gates were open and inside there was a an ice-cream fridge. Back outside we walked around till we were back to the start wondering where the so called gardens were. Asking a man he pointed towards where the gardens were. We walked there without a soul about and came to an area of unmaintained what look like enormous cabbages. Old rickety viewing ports taped along saying not safe. Tatty unpainted benches and overgrown weeds.
We spent all of 10 minutes there.
I asked for a refund under the circumstances as I feel we were sold tickets deceiptfully. We didn't see the small print saying the castle was closed. I feel these tickets should have been cheaper as we was just walking around an closed building.
The complaints section told me they wouldn't refund as due to covid 19 had less staff to maintain the upkeep. This should have been reflected in the cost.
I wouldn't normally moan but when you are on holiday time is precious and the national trust wasted our time where we could have spent our time and money more worthy. I wouldn't have seen it in the website as payment states castle and gardens.
I can honestly say this is a waste of family time and money the trust should have kept it closed until as they say they have staff to maintain it.
Written September 1, 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.

Dawn R
12 contributions
Jun 2021
We visited the castle on Saturday19th June and had pre booked as required. I had read the National Trust page and was informed that the house was open. There were only four rooms to access and the rest of the house was closed off to the PAYING public .There was no mention of this restricted access on their website. What a rip off. Money is tight for a lot of people and I`m sure that if the powers that be at the NT were to go to buy bread they would expect a full loaf for their money and not a couple of slices. Greedy.
Written June 20, 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.

Drooper901
Chester, UK143 contributions
Jul 2023
It's a National Trust property and unless you are a NT member then it's ridiculously expensive to get in. The castle itself is excellent and the parklands are very nice, especially the walled garden and bog garden. That said, I also particularly wanted to see the railway museum - what a disappointment - there is a small collection of locootives in a cramped gallery which makes it impossible to get a decent photograph. The historic Fire Queen is located so as to be impossible to capture the loco and tender. Only Charles is reasonably accessible for pictures. there is a small selection of narrow gauge track outside the building, but this is strictly a static display. Overall disappointing and a poor effort given the historic importance of the railway to the North Wales slate industry.

Then we have two cafes, a small one which has cakes, toasties and sandwiches, and a larger one which serves a bigger selection of hot food. Cakes in the smaller cafe were uncovered and open to flies and being handled. Some of the cakes in the larger cafe were also uncovered, and the selection of hot food is limited, even more so as even at 1230 a considerable selectrion was sold out leaving a limited selection of jacket potatoes, soup or bean chilli. The overall catering experience is disappointing at best.
Written July 9, 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.

Cruisinlass
Edinburgh, UK89 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Looking for dog friendly attractions we were delighted to find Penrhyn Castle. Dogs are only allowed in the garden and cafe areas. The charge to access the attraction is £14 per person - if you have dogs you cannot enter the castle, which is fairly standard for most stately homes. The gentleman taking the entrance fee was very pleasant and suggested that my husband and I take turns to visit the castle - afterall we had paid to visit the castle! We are on holiday as a family which includes two well behaved dogs, and whilst I appreciate that we cannot take our dogs into stately homes, perhaps they would attract more visitors if they were to charge those with dogs a reduced entry fee. It becomes somewhat tiring to be told that we cannot visit certain parts/areas because we have dogs, yet are charged the same as those who can experience the entire attraction. The coffee from the cafe was very good and we enjoyed the walled garden - however its an expensive visit if you have a dog, so think twice before paying £14 per person to see a small garden and have a good coffee.
Written September 7, 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.

ShropshireLad
Shrewsbury, UK4 contributions
Aug 2021
An amazing building, gardens and history ruined by an unremitting display of wokeness! There was no information about the castle, its history or the people involved. Just a one sided diatribe presented as fact and without comment, sucking all joy out of what should be an uplifting experience. Even the exotic stuffed birds, which our kids loved, weren't spared from forming an object to preach about how wicked, everything associated with the castle is. So predictable, dismal, boring, dull...

......come on National Trust, get off the populist bandwagon, think for yourself. NT members (like our family) deserve so much more.
Written August 26, 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.

Paul T
Newport, UK67 contributions
Mar 2020
This house is extravagant in the extreme. Built on the slave trade, the original owners have thrown everything, including the kitchen sink, at this place. So much so it reminds of an elaborately iced cake. It is difficult to imagine the wealth and to then compare that to the misery of the slaves who contributed to it. On the one hand one gets a feeling of disgust whilst on the other, an appreciation of the architecture, decoration and furnishings. Talking to the volunteers, it is clear they have their own views but the overwhelming opinion is that the house stands as an historic artefact, despite on whose backs it was built on. I can only recommend that if you visit, then view it that way. Unfortunately we had no previous insight and it came as something of a shock to the senses.
Written March 19, 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.

Ann R
1 contribution
Sep 2021
Used to be one of our favourite places but rooms now showing hints of the passed with the use of poems etc. from children. The mourning room which is so interesting now used to display stuffed birds and background in darkness?? the grand dining room showing a message case with the surroundings as a backdrop ignored. concerned on the light boxes glaring at the pictures.
Learnt nothing of the slave and sugar past of family. Could have been shown and informed of history so that we can learn of the wrong doings and ensure they are not repeated.
won't been visiting again for a long time
And should they be charging full price entry with only half the castle open?
Written September 13, 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.

ToursJones
United Kingdom466 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
Regardless of the wet and windy day the Bud loved his walk in the extensive grounds. A warm welcome from the entrance staff and it was tempting to stay by the wood burner. But there were coastal views to admire and a walled garden to explore. And the sheltered camellias had started to flower. Useful labels were found on specimen trees. The dog friendly stables cafe was open and we enjoyed a cappucino and warm Edwards’ sausage roll. Shall have to return to see the castle interior when it re-opens at the end of February.
Written February 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.

Cherriesfan99
Cheltenham, UK820 contributions
Mar 2022
We came to Penrhyn Castle in the hope of being entertained, learning something interesting, and enjoyment in a setting that is both aVi8ctorian fantasy, but also has some dark echoes of the past.
What we had was a very quick 20 minute wander around the castle, and no information at all - at any point. As other reviewers have pointed out there was no information about the rooms, with unsurprisingly, fewer volunteer staff either. Certainly no relevant audio visual, and unhappily, only limited access to certain rooms. Instead, what we did get served up was some utter drivel that was incompressible, and thinly disguised as art, this was written old school fashion on blackboards. What was supposed to be I was unable to work out, neither could I understand why the NT would allow such fatuous nonsense. The NT had approved this meaningless collection (and in every open room ) - why I have no idea, and other visitors were equally mystified, as to its relevance. Neither, it appears, does the NT. Just why did they sanction this twaddle ?....Moreover, it does send a strong reason as to we should NOT be so keen as to rejoin/ continue subscriptions to the National Trust, if this is something we can expect, in the future, that our membership and donations would be spent on.
The gardens, however, were stunning for this time of the year (mid March), quite literally an oasis in a desert of bunk.
Written March 31, 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.

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