Near a city · The Castle Rolls
Castles near Cardiff
34 castles are within 40 miles of Cardiff - the highest density of any UK city on this list, courtesy of South Wales's cluster of Norman and Edwardian castles.
Map
Every castle on this list - 36 in total, 15 free to enter, 4 you can stay overnight in
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff · 0 mi away
Norman keep, Victorian Gothic apartments, wartime tunnels
Photo: Clint Budd, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Castell Coch
Cardiff · 5 mi away
Victorian Gothic fantasy rebuild by William Burges; fully roofed
Photo: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly · 7 mi away
Britain's second-largest castle; famous leaning tower and water defences
Photo: Balon Greyjoy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Hensol Castle
Vale of Glamorgan · 8 mi away
Gin distillery tours in cellars; wedding/event venue
Photo: TedColes at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Fonmon Castle
Vale of Glamorgan · 10 mi away
Now runs as Jurassic Wales dinosaur attraction plus castle
Photo: FruitMonkey, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Newport Castle
Newport · 11 mi away
Interior fenced off; riverside towers viewable externally only
Photo: The original uploader was Owain at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Old Beaupre Castle
Vale of Glamorgan · 11 mi away Free entry
Fortified Tudor manor with Renaissance porch; free; field walk
Photo: Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
St Quentin's Castle (Llanblethian)
Vale of Glamorgan · 12 mi away Free entry
Twin-towered gatehouse near Cowbridge; free
Photo: Chris Andrews, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
St Donat's Castle
Vale of Glamorgan · 16 mi away
School campus; pre-booked tours, open days, arts centre events
Photo: cowbridgeguide.co.uk, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Coity Castle
Bridgend · 16 mi away Free entry
Norman castle held by the Turberville family; free
Photo: John Finch, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Newcastle (Bridgend) Castle
Bridgend · 17 mi away Free entry
Norman ringwork with fine carved gateway; free
Ogmore Castle
Vale of Glamorgan · 19 mi away Free entry
Riverside Norman castle beside famous stepping stones; free
Photo: Ewan Topping from Amsterdam, Netherlands, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Caldicot Castle
Monmouthshire · 20 mi away
Free entry Tue-Sun Apr-Oct; country park setting
Photo: Dominic Nelson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Cyfarthfa Castle
Merthyr Tydfil · 21 mi away
1824 ironmaster's castle; museum shut for restoration, park open
Daw's Castle
Somerset · 22 mi away Free entry
Alfred the Great's clifftop burh above Watchet; almost nothing survives above ground
Dunster Castle
Somerset · 24 mi away
Luttrell family castle remodelled as country home
Photo: Hchc2009, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Abergavenny Castle & Museum
Monmouthshire · 24 mi away Free entry
Grounds daily; free museum in castle grounds
Photo: Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Chepstow Castle
Monmouthshire · 24 mi away
Britain's oldest surviving post-Roman stone castle, above the Wye
Photo: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Raglan Castle
Monmouthshire · 24 mi away
Grand late-medieval castle with moated Great Tower
Photo: Bob McCaffrey from Rickmansworth, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Bristol Castle
Bristol · 25 mi away Free entry
Fragmentary keep, wall and vault remains survive in Castle Park, free to enter at all times.
Photo: Tadeusz Hare, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Tretower Court and Castle
Powys · 28 mi away
Round keep plus adjacent restored medieval manor house
White Castle
Monmouthshire · 28 mi away Free entry
Best preserved of the Three Castles; water-filled moat; free
Photo: Andy Dingley, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
St Briavels Castle
Gloucestershire · 29 mi away
YHA hostel; bailey usually open 11am-4pm
Photo: Hchc2009, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Thornbury Castle
Gloucestershire · 29 mi away
Tudor castle hotel; dining open to non-residents
Photo: Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Monmouth Castle
Monmouthshire · 30 mi away Free entry
Fragmentary; birthplace of Henry V; regimental museum adjacent
Photo: Scribwik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Skenfrith Castle
Monmouthshire · 32 mi away Free entry
NT-owned, Cadw-managed; round keep by River Monnow; free; also listed under National Trust
Photo: Davidmholmes51, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Craig-y-Nos Castle
Powys · 32 mi away
Adelina Patti's Victorian castle; adjacent country park free
Photo: Peter Morgan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Taunton Castle
Somerset · 32 mi away
Houses Museum of Somerset; free entry
Grosmont Castle
Monmouthshire · 33 mi away Free entry
One of the Three Castles of Gwent; free
Longtown Castle
Herefordshire · 34 mi away Free entry
Photo: John H Darch, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Swansea Castle
Swansea · 34 mi away Free entry
City-centre ruin; ground level accessible, upper levels closed
Photo: Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Berkeley Castle
Gloucestershire · 34 mi away
Occupied by Berkeleys for ~900 years
Photo: Andrew Hackney, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Oystermouth Castle
Swansea · 36 mi away
Seasonal Apr-Oct; pay on gate
Photo: Len Williams, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Bronllys Castle
Powys · 36 mi away Free entry
Climbable round tower on motte; free
Photo: Keith Salvesen, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Goodrich Castle
Herefordshire · 36 mi away
Photo: Scribwik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Nunney Castle
Somerset · 39 mi away
Interior closed; exterior viewing from outer moat
Photo: Ian Alexander, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Distances are straight-line ("as the crow flies"), not driving or train time - check the operator's own site for real travel options before you go.
Common questions
How many castles are there within 40 miles of Cardiff?
This roll lists 36 visitable castles, fortresses and tower houses within 40 miles of Cardiff. Of those, 15 are free to enter and 13 charge admission. The other 8 have restricted access.
Which castles within 40 miles of Cardiff are free to visit?
15 of the 36 castles within 40 miles of Cardiff are open-access sites with no admission charge, including Old Beaupre Castle, St Quentin's Castle (Llanblethian), Coity Castle, Newcastle (Bridgend) Castle, Ogmore Castle and Daw's Castle.
What is the best-rated castle within 40 miles of Cardiff?
Dunster Castle is among the highest-rated castles within 40 miles of Cardiff on this roll - 4.7/5 from 8,645 Google reviews.
Can you stay overnight in a castle within 40 miles of Cardiff?
Yes - 4 of the castles listed here offer overnight stays, namely St Briavels Castle, Thornbury Castle, Craig-y-Nos Castle and Berkeley Castle.
Can you reach any castle within 40 miles of Cardiff by train?
14 of the 36 sit within 1.5 miles of a railway station, the closest being Newport Castle (Newport (S Wales), 0.3 miles), Chepstow Castle (Chepstow, 0.3 miles), Caerphilly Castle (Caerphilly, 0.3 miles) and Swansea Castle (Swansea, 0.3 miles). Those are straight-line distances from the station to the castle, so the walk on the ground is longer than the figure.
Can you go inside every castle within 40 miles of Cardiff?
Not all of them on the same terms. 8 of the 36 restrict what a visitor can see. Thornbury Castle and Craig-y-Nos Castle are hotels, so there is no way in without booking a room or a table. At Newport Castle, Cyfarthfa Castle, St Briavels Castle and Nunney Castle the building itself isn't open to visitors, so you see it from the grounds or from outside. At Hensol Castle and St Donat's Castle you get the grounds or a booked tour rather than free run of the building.