Incredible 750-year-old UK castle open again to the public – ‘magnific | UK | News
This castle has reopened after a two-year renovation (Image: Getty)
A magnificent castle in the United Kingdom has fascinated visitors since it reopened to the public in 2025. The UK is full of incredible castles full of history, many of which are frequented by tourists visiting Britain. Now one of Wales’ top attractions, one of these castles has received rave reviews since it reopened in the summer of last year. Caerphilly Castle has reopened after a two-year, £8 million renovation brought it back to life. Following the closure, new exhibitions and experiences were introduced, with areas of the castle such as the Great Hall given new life.
For example, this area used to be quite bare, but is now brimming with stories as the grandeur of a medieval scene has been recreated. The castle redesign also includes digital enhancements that help visitors dive into the past of the castle in its heyday. The castle was built in 1268 and modern technology helps visitors understand what life in the castle was like at that time.
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The incredible castle is surrounded by a moat (Image: Getty)
Located in the town of Caerphilly, just outside Cardiff, Caerphilly Castle is an easy tourist attraction to visit given its proximity to other major towns and cities.
As part of the renovation works, the medieval water gate passage has been opened to public access. Meanwhile, the Inner East Gatehouse, which you see as you approach the castle, has also received significant improvements.
The regeneration project was led by Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, which protects landmarks across the country. Standard adult entry to the castle costs £11.90, but those with Universal Credit can buy tickets for just £1.
Caerphilly Castle called ‘magnificent’ by tourists (Image: Getty)
Caerphilly Castle was built as part of the Anglo-Norman expansion into South Wales. As such, it has had its share of historical wars and power struggles, which you will learn about during your visit.
Tourists praised the visitor experience, with people calling it “fabulous” and “affordable.” A reviewer on TripAdvisor shared: “Quite an impressive, sprawling site. The large site minimizes crowds, so you should be able to enjoy the site at your leisure; we certainly did. Limited interior space left but still worth a visit.”
Another said: “I can’t recommend visiting Caerphilly Castle enough! I had some free time so decided to visit on my own one afternoon. I had a great time and will definitely be bringing my family back.”
“There are lots of modern touches that tell the story of the castle without taking away from the real history of the place – I can imagine the kids will love it.”
Renovation works brought the castle back to life (Image: Getty)
A third wrote: “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Caerphilly Castle. It was fun to explore with a clearly marked guided trail allowing you to see everything.”
“The castle was beautiful and they made great use of animations and narration to explain some of the displays. My favorite was the tale of two dragons and there was an option for this to be told in Welsh or English.”
Tickets must be purchased in advance online or by phone. If you are charging £1 you must have proof of eligibility on arrival. The experience proved so popular it made Time Out’s list of the best experiences in the UK for 2026.
