Penrhyn Castle

This enormous neo-Norman castle was built by Thomas Hopper between 1820 and 1845 for the wealthy Pennant family, who made their fortune from Jamaican sugar and Welsh slate. The castle is crammed with fascinating things such as a one-ton slate bed made for Queen Victoria.

The castle's interior has elaborate carvings, plasterwork and mock-Norman furniture, and contains an outstanding collection of paintings. The Victorian kitchen and other servants' rooms, including scullery, larders and chef's sitting room, have been restored to reveal the preparations for the banquet for the Prince of Wales's visit in 1894.

In the stable block there is an industrial railway museum, a model railway museum and a dolls' museum displaying a large collection of 19th- and 20th-century dolls.

The extensive grounds include parkland, a large exotic tree and shrub collection and a Victorian walled garden. 

This attraction can be easily visited whilst staying in the Conwy Valley, and is 16 miles (25 km) from Betws-y-Coed as the crow flies (straight line distance). See the routeplanner below for a suggested route and estimated journey time.

Transport/Access

Disabled Access :
Ramped entrance. Many stairs to other floors. Stable block: Fully accessible. Lift to 1st-floor gallery, museums and coffee shop. See attraction website for details.

Public Transport :
Bus: Many services pass the castle drive. Train: bangor 3 miles.

Parking :
Free Parking.

Driving Route :
From Betws-y-Coed Capel Curig Dolwyddelan Llanrwst Trefriw to Penrhyn Castle
(Suggested route from Googlemaps)

Location Map :

View location on multimap based on our postcode