Visiting Gwrych Castle in North Wales should definitely be on your list. Gwrych Castle was built between 1812 and 1822 by Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh as a memorial to his mother’s ancestors.
It is an imposing gothic ruin on the picturesque North Wales coastline, with spectacular sea views and impressive architecture around every corner. Gwrych Castle became popular after the TV show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! used this spot as a filming location for two consecutive years.
Gwrych castle stands in 250 acres of gardens and grounds and has extensive views over a deer park and the Irish Sea.
“When Lloyd died, the Castle was passed onto Robert Bamford-Hesketh and his wife, Ellen Jones-Bateman. George Edmund Street designed the family’s chapel during the 1870’s and also several churches and schools for the Hesketh family. Robert and Ellen planted much of the present gardens with their enormous Monkey Puzzles and Yew trees.
During World War II the castle was requisitioned as part of Operation Kindertransport and in 1946 was sold by the Dundonald family, ending nearly 1000 years of continuous family ownership.” – https://www.gwrychcastle.co.uk/history/
Visiting Gwyrch Castle Information:
⏱Opening hours: 10am – 5pm.
+ October to December they are open Wednesday to Sunday.
+ From January 2024, their website says Saturdays and Sundays, but it does not specify if those are the days it’s open, or closed ahh! Make sure you check.
💰The entrance fee is £11
⏱ Allow at least 1 hour to wander through the castle and its grounds
Visiting Gwrych Castle is a great thing to do when you are in the North of Wales. It really is a beautiful spot to explore.
If you are looking for other things to do in the area, please click here for my Wales page, for other suggestions.