At a glance
Gwrych Castle is a spectacular 19th-century romantic ruin cascading through woodland above Abergele on the North Wales coast. Built 1819–1825 and now managed by the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust, it became internationally known as the filming location for I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2020 and 2021. Guided tours run seasonally — check gwrychcastle.co.uk for dates.
About Gwrych Castle
Gwrych Castle is not a medieval fortress but a Regency-era romantic creation — a castellated mansion built between 1819 and 1825 by Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh in the picturesque tradition, designed to appear as though it had grown organically from the wooded hillside above Abergele. At its completion it comprised over 100 rooms in a complex of towers, terraces and battlemented walls extending along a mile of hillside, with views across the North Wales coast to Ynys Môn (Anglesey).
The castle changed hands several times after Bamford-Hesketh's death and fell into serious decline after the Second World War, when it was stripped of its contents and left to deteriorate. By the 1980s and 1990s it had become one of the most vandalised and structurally at-risk historic buildings in Wales. The Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust, established in 2018, has led a significant restoration programme and reopened the site to the public.
International fame came unexpectedly in 2020, when ITV chose Gwrych as the replacement filming location for I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! when COVID-19 travel restrictions prevented the usual Australian production. The series returned to Gwrych in 2021, and the resulting publicity transformed public awareness of the castle and generated considerable restoration funding. Today, guided tours offer access to the restored towers, ruined interiors and terraced gardens.
What to see at Gwrych Castle
- The battlemented towers — Several towers have been stabilised and are accessible on guided tours, with views across the North Wales coast from their battlements.
- The ruined interiors — The roofless great hall, staterooms and corridors create a dramatic atmospheric ruin among the mature woodland trees.
- The terraced gardens — Long terraces cascade down the hillside below the castle, with the Preservation Trust gradually clearing and restoring them.
- The I'm a Celebrity filming locations — Tour guides point out the areas used for challenges and camp scenes during the 2020 and 2021 series.
- Woodland walks — The castle is set within extensive semi-natural woodland with paths connecting the various castle structures.
Visiting tips
Planning your visit
Gwrych Castle is only accessible on organised guided tours or on specific open days — it is not a walk-in attraction. Check the current schedule and book in advance at gwrychcastle.co.uk. Open days and special events are held throughout the year, with the summer programme being the most extensive.
Getting there
From the A55, take Junction 24A (Abergele) and follow the A547 west towards Llanddulas. The castle access road is on the right after 0.5 miles. Abergele & Pensarn station on the North Wales coast line is 1.5 miles east — the station has taxi links to the castle.
Find it on the map
Frequently asked questions
Gwrych Castle is managed by the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust and opens for guided tours on selected dates throughout the year. The castle is not permanently open — check gwrychcastle.co.uk for current open days, tour times and ticket availability before visiting.
Yes. Gwrych Castle was the filming location for I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2020 and 2021, replacing the usual Australian jungle setting during COVID-19 travel restrictions. The series dramatically increased the castle's profile and public interest in its restoration, generating significant donations for the preservation trust.
Gwrych Castle was built between 1819 and 1825 by Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh as a romantic castellated mansion in the picturesque tradition — designed to look as though it had grown organically from the wooded hillside. It was one of the largest domestic building projects in Wales of its era. The castle was sold and passed through several owners, fell into disrepair after the Second World War, and by the 1990s was a vandalised ruin. The Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust has been restoring it since 2018.
Guided tours take visitors through the castle's ruined interiors, battlement towers and terraced gardens. The towers offer views across the North Wales coast and towards Anglesey. Tour guides explain the castle's history, the stories of its owners, and the ongoing restoration programme. Photography is a highlight — the combination of ruined stonework and mature woodland is exceptionally photogenic.
Gwrych Castle is on the A547 between Abergele and Llanddulas, approximately 1.5 miles from Abergele & Pensarn station on the North Wales coast line. By car from the A55, take Junction 24A (Abergele) and follow the A547 west for half a mile; the castle access road is on the right. On-site parking is free.