At a glance
The only medieval castle in Wales still used as a private home — built 1295–1310 and continuously occupied for over 700 years. The National Trust property combines a medieval fortress, evolving state apartments and award-winning formal gardens. Adult £17.50 (April 2026).
About Chirk Castle
Chirk Castle was built between 1295 and 1310 by Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Chirk, as a Marcher fortress controlling the Ceiriog Valley on the border between England and Wales. It is the only medieval castle in Wales continuously occupied to the present day — a distinction that gives it a very different character from the Cadw ruins at Conwy, Caernarfon, Harlech and Beaumaris.
The Myddelton family acquired Chirk in 1595 and transformed it over the following centuries. Sir Thomas Myddelton, a wealthy merchant adventurer, undertook a major programme of improvements, and subsequent generations added fine plasterwork ceilings, portraits and furniture in the state apartments. The castle's remarkable 18th-century wrought-iron entrance gates — made by the Davies brothers of Bersham between 1719 and 1721 — are considered masterpieces of decorative ironwork.
The National Trust assumed management of the castle in 1981 while a member of the Myddelton family continues to live in a private wing. The formal gardens were developed in the 20th century and include clipped yew hedges, rose gardens and a hawk house with sweeping views across the Cheshire plain to the east and towards North Wales mountains to the west.
What to see at Chirk Castle
- The state apartments — Seven centuries of changing taste — from medieval dungeon to 17th-century saloon, Adam-period plasterwork ceilings and Victorian domestic quarters.
- The ornate entrance gates — The Davies Brothers' wrought-iron gates (1719–1721) are among the finest examples of decorative ironwork in Britain — best viewed from the road below the castle.
- The formal gardens — Clipped yew hedges, topiary, rose garden and a hawk house with panoramic views over the Ceiriog Valley and towards Snowdonia.
- The medieval tower dungeons — Remarkably intact dungeon cells in the round towers retain original ironwork and give a sobering sense of medieval reality.
- The parkland walk — The estate parkland is freely accessible on foot — a fine circular walk gives views of the castle exterior from every angle.
Visiting tips
Getting there
Chirk railway station (on the Wrexham–Shrewsbury line) is 1 mile from the castle — a pleasant walk through the parkland approach. By road, Chirk is on the A5 between Llangollen (5 miles west) and Oswestry (5 miles east). Free parking is available on site. From the A483, follow signs for Chirk village and then the brown tourist signs for the castle.
Combining with Pontcysyllte
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is 2 miles from Chirk Castle — a canal-side walk or short drive along the B5605. Plan a morning at the castle and an afternoon walking the aqueduct towpath for an excellent day out in the Dee Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site area.
Find it on the map
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Chirk Castle has been continuously occupied as a private home for over 700 years — longer than any other medieval castle in Wales. The Myddelton family lived here from 1595 until the 20th century. It was given to the National Trust in 1981 but members of the Myddelton family continue to live in a private wing, which is not open to visitors.
National Trust admission at April 2026 rates: Adult £17.50, Child £8.75. National Trust members enter free. The admission covers both the castle interior and the formal gardens. The parkland and external grounds can be accessed on foot from the car park free of charge outside opening hours.
The castle interior shows 700 years of changing tastes — from the medieval dungeon tower to the 17th-century state apartments, the Adam Tower with its fine plasterwork, and the servants' hall. The basement dungeons still have their original ironwork. The castle also holds important paintings and furniture accumulated by the Myddelton family over centuries.
Yes. Dogs on leads are welcome throughout the formal gardens and parkland — making Chirk one of the more dog-friendly National Trust properties. Dogs are not permitted inside the castle building itself. Water bowls and dog waste bins are available on site.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (UNESCO World Heritage) is just 2 miles from Chirk Castle — they make a perfect same-day combination. Walk the towpath across the 307-metre iron aqueduct above the River Dee in the morning, then visit the castle in the afternoon, or vice versa.
Yes — Chirk is distinct from the Cadw Iron Ring castles in that it feels lived-in rather than a ruin. The combination of medieval fortress, evolving state apartments and outstanding formal gardens makes it one of the most complete and atmospheric castle visits in Wales. The Jubilee Tower on the West Lawn and the ornate 18th-century iron gates are especially memorable.