The garden, estate, castle, shop, and café are open. On weekdays you don’t need to pre-book your visit. At busier times, like weekends, bank holidays and school holidays, booking is recommended to guarantee entry. We ask everyone to follow Welsh Government Regulations when visiting. In this article you’ll find everything you need to know about what's open and what to expect from your visit.
Arrival and parking
Please park in the main car park. Once you've parked please go to the Ticket Office to start your visit.
On weekdays you don’t need to pre-book your visit.
At busier times, like weekends, bank holidays and school holidays, booking is recommended to guarantee entry. On these days have your booking details ready to check in with our staff in the ticket office. If you’re a member you'll also need to scan your membership card. In order to maintain social distancing, please arrive within your timeslot. Sadly, if you're more than 10 minutes late, we won’t be able to guarantee you entry. Your entry will be at the discretion of the property staff and will be based on visitor numbers and the ability to maintain social distancing.
We have a large car park at Chirk Castle, so there is plenty to space to park away from others. We also have designated parking for blue badge holders; please ask a member of staff on arrival.
Campervans that are used for transport are welcome but are not permitted to stay overnight and we’re unable to welcome caravans and coaches at this time.
There is no limit to the amount of time you can spend at Chirk Castle during your visit, but you will need to exit the property by 6pm.
Staying safe
The safety of our staff, volunteers and visitors is our priority. To ensure that social distancing is maintained we have set up new one-way routes in parts the property. Look out for the signs that will explain any changes to how you can access different parts of the site.
In line with government guidance, you're required to wear a face covering in most enclosed spaces (including the castle, ticket office, toilets and café). Please bring one with you.
To help keep everyone safe, please follow social distancing and government guidance when you visit. If you’re showing any of the symptoms of coronavirus, or if you've been in contact with anyone who has the virus in the last 10 days, please don’t visit.
What's open?
- The car park, estate, garden, Home Farm play area and wild play area are open daily 10am - 5pm (last entry 4pm).
- The shop and secondhand bookshop are open 10am - 4pm.
- The Courtyard Cafe (10:30am-4:30pm) and Home Farm Kiosk (10am-4pm) are serving hot and cold drinks, cakes and light bites.
- Toilets and baby changing facilities are available at Home Farm and in the Castle Courtyard, with queues marked to maintain a safe one in/one out system. These are sanitised by our facilities team throughout the day.
- For the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers, you may need to queue in the Courtyard for a short while before entering the castle. If you have pre-booked your visit to Chirk, please note the time on your ticket refers to your arrival on site, rather than the time you will enter the castle. If you can go to the castle interior after 1pm you will have more time and space to enjoy your visit.
- In line with government guidance, you're required to wear a face covering in most enclosed spaces (including the castle, ticket office, toilets and café). Please bring one with you. You will also need to track and trace to enter the castle.
- On busy days a timed ticket system may be in operation to access to the castle. These tickets can be collected from the Ticket Office on arrival and are not available to pre-book.
- The castle will be open daily 12noon-4pm (last entry 3.30pm). However, we are currently working with a very small team dedicated volunteers and on rare occasions, we may be unable to open. If you wish to visit the staterooms specifically, we recommend calling the day before your visit (01691 777 701) to ensure it is open.
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Accessibility
Most of the new one-way garden route follows hard-standing paths which are wheelchair and pushchair friendly and there is seating available to offer you a place to rest along the way. However, one stretch of path is grass and this may become muddy following heavy rain.
If you have accessibility concerns or need a shorter/step-free route of the garden, please talk to a member of staff at the Garden Entrance who will be happy to help.
Accessible toilets are available at Home Farm and these are sanitised by our facilities team throughout the day.
Access with dogs
Dogs are welcome in all outdoor areas with the exception of the gardens and kitchen garden, which welcome registered assistance dogs only. We just ask that you keep your four-legged friend on a lead at all times.
Booking your visit
We've introduced advance booking to keep everyone safe and maintain social distancing. On weekdays you don’t need to pre-book your visit. At busier times, like weekends, bank holidays and school holidays, booking is recommended to guarantee entry. If you do not book we cannot guarantee admission.
- Please book one ticket per person, except for children under five as they don’t need a ticket.
- You’ll need to choose a 30-minute arrival time for the day you want to visit.
- The timeslot is for your arrival time only and you are welcome to stay as long at you like. The property gates will close at 5pm.
- Tickets are for your use only and are not available for resale.
- We'll send your booking confirmation by email. Please make sure you fill in your correct email address when you book to ensure you receive your confirmation email.
- Every Friday we'll release new bookings for visits the following week. You'll need to book your tickets by 3pm on the day before your visit.
- Carers can continue to access our places for free with an essential companions' card. Carers don't need to book a ticket for themselves, but the person they accompany will need a pre-booked ticket.
Changing your booking
If your plans change and you can’t make your timeslot, you can easily change or cancel your booking. We really appreciate you doing this as soon as possible so the tickets can be made available for other visitors.
If you’re a member, the option to cancel or change your booking can be found in your confirmation email by selecting ‘view and manage your order online' underneath your order summary.
For non-members, please ring us on 0344 249 1895 to discuss changing your booking.
Scooters/Bikes/Skateboards/Rollerblades
Unfortunately, independent toys with wheels are not currently permitted in the garden for health and safety reasons and to aid social distancing.
