Chirk Castle

The garden at Chirk Castle, Wrexham — Discover Chirk Castle's beautiful gardens

Important notice -

The estate, garden, shop and café are open. The castle will remain closed. On weekdays you don’t need to pre-book. At busier times, like weekends & school holidays, booking's recommended to guarantee entry. Please follow Welsh Government Regulations.

Magnificent medieval fortress of the Welsh Marches

Please book ahead before visiting Check availability

Overview
Opening times
Prices
How to get here
Facilities and access
Contact us

Important information

We have reopened our gardens, outdoor areas, holiday cottages, shops and outdoor seating at our tea-rooms in Wales. Over the coming weeks we will also be reopening some of our houses and castles, as well as indoor seating at some of our tea-rooms. Information about how to book your visit is available on property web pages and we ask everyone to please adhere to Welsh Government Regulations. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Chirk Castle

Things to see and do

Chirk Castle Wrexham

Please book ahead before visiting

The garden, estate, shop, and café are open. We are working hard to reopen the castle, however it will remain closed for now. 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. We're looking forward to welcoming you back.

Book now

View of Chirk Castle, Wrexham — Explore the grounds at Chirk Castle

Visiting Chirk Castle: What you need to know

To help keep everyone safe, we've made some changes to our usual offer. Read this article to find out everything you need to know about what's open and what to expect from your visit.

Relax in our glorious gardens

Indulge your senses and refresh your spirit with a gentle wander amongst the scents and seasonal colours of the rare shrubs and flowers in this lovely 5.5 acre garden.

Visitors in the garden at Chirk Castle, Wrexham, Wales

Find space to explore on the Chirk estate

Take a walk on one of our trails around the fascinating 480 acre parkland, and discover a working landscape full of ancient trees, wildflowers, birds and bugs.

Llewelyn, the Welsh Red Dragon, hiding in the Topiary at Chirk Castle — Find Llewelyn the Welsh Red Dragon on the dragon trail at Chirk Castle

The Dragon Trail at Chirk Castle

Adventure awaits on the Dragon Trail at Chirk Castle. Hunt high and low in the beautiful Formal Garden to find Llewelyn, our friendly Welsh dragon.

Chirk Castle

What's on

Timed entry to Chirk Castle (14 June - 20 June)

Thu 17 Jun 2021

+ 3 other dates

10:00-16:00

Book your timed entry to visit Chirk Castle.

Chirk Castle

Eating and shopping

What refreshments are available?

The Courtyard Café is open from 10:30am to 4:30pm daily and the Home Farm Kiosk is open 10am to 4pm daily. Both are serving a selection of drinks, cakes, light bites and sandwiches. We’ve introduced new safety measures including screens at our till and collection points, and waymarked routes. If you’re using our indoor or outdoor seating, we’ll ask you to scan your membership card or, if you’re not a member, to leave brief contact details for the Test, Trace and Protect programme.

A variety of cermics from the Courtyard Shop at Powis Castle and Garden laid out on a kitchen worktop.

Stop off at our shop

Our shop is open from daily from 10am to 5pm. For the safety of staff and visitors, social distancing measures are in place and we've made changes to payment, which will be via card only. It is through your purchases that we are able to continue looking after Chirk Castle for everyone, for ever.

Chirk Castle

History

Chirk Castle, built to defend

Started in the late 13th century, Chirk Castle was one of several medieval Marcher fortresses sited on the Welsh-English border to keep the Welsh under English rule.

Three photographs of Thomas Scott-Ellis, 8th Lord Howard de Walden, in the Bow Room at Chirk Castle

Lord Howard de Walden, patron of Wales

In 1910 the castle was leased to Thomas, 8th Lord Howard de Walden. He has been described as a shy man, a polymath (a man of many interests) and an eccentric millionaire.

Changing fashions in the Myddelton family home

All is not as it seems at Chirk Castle. Many of the impressive interiors are recreations of previous schemes, a nostalgic tribute to days gone by and a nod to previous incumbents.

The front of the Kings Cabinet at Chirk Castle

Treasures of our collection

When a family lives in the same place for 400 years they gather a diverse collection of art, furniture and curiosities.

Chirk Castle

Art and collections

Our collections

Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Chirk Castle on the National Trust Collections website

Search the collections

General

The garden, estate, shop, café and toilets 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.

In line with government guidance, you're required to wear a face covering in most enclosed spaces. Please bring one with you.

We ask everyone to follow Welsh Government Regulations and visit responsibly.

The cafe is open serving a selection of drinks, cakes, light bites and pre-packaged sandwiches.

Toilets are available in the Castle Courtyard and at Home Farm.

Dogs are welcome on the estate on a lead. Assistance dogs only please in the formal gardens, Pleasure Ground Wood and Kitchen Garden. Dog waste bins are available in the car park and on the woodland walk.

We are working hard to reopen as many of our areas as possible, however the castle will remain closed for now.

If booking using a Gardener's World 2 for 1 card please book one ticket. On arrival please show your 2 for 1 card for the second person.

Family

The garden, estate, shop, café and toilets are open.

We are working hard to reopen as many of our areas as possible, however the castle will remain closed for now.

Baby changing facilities are available at Home Farm, and at the castle 11am to 4pm.

Bikes and scooters are not permitted in the garden for health and safety reasons and to aid social distancing.

Access

The garden, estate, shop, café and toilets are open.

We are working hard to reopen as many of our areas as possible, however the castle will remain closed for now.

Carers can continue to access Chirk Castle's garden and estate for free with an essential companions' card. They don't need to book a ticket for themselves, but the person they accompany will need a pre-booked ticket.

We welcome all registered assistance dogs.

We have designated parking for blue badge holders; please ask a member of staff on entry.

The visitor shuttlebus is running from 10:30am to 4pm. This is a volunteer-run service and may not be available every day. Please check before visiting if you need this service.

Three wheelchairs are available to borrow. Please contact us if you would like to reserve one.

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.

Full access statement is available below, but please note that some parts of this property will be closed during your visit.

Gift Aid

Standard

Adult

N/A

£8.00

Child

N/A

£4.00

Family

N/A

£20.00

Gift Aid

Standard

Amount paid by visitor

£11.00

£10.00

Tax refund from Government*

£2.75

£0.00

Total received by the National Trust

£13.75

£10.00

Thursday 17 June

Friday 18 June

Saturday 19 June

Sunday 20 June

Monday 21 June

Tuesday 22 June

Wednesday 23 June

Chirk Castle

Important notice -

More about this place

Important information