The castle on the river Conwy Castle

Conwy Castle is easily the most spectacular of all the castles in North Wales (and cost the most to build, too!). The castle was built for Edward I by Master James of St George, and is one of the most impressive surviving medieval fortifications in Britain.

You can’t visit North Wales and not explore the castles of the Unesco World Heritage site this fascinating area of the country has to offer. While it may not be as technically perfect as Beaumaris Castle, be positioned upon dramatic cliffs like Harlech Castle or have stood the test of time as well as Caernarfon Castle, it's an outstanding historical building which dominates the town.

Constructed over four years from 1283 and located in the former principality of Gwynedd, Conwy Castle has an almost fairytale-like appearance despite its military-based origins.

The entrance is impressive in itself; eight huge, tapered towers which hold up the bow-shaped hall are connected by two barbicans, or fortified gateways, and the whole thing is recognised for its elongated structure. It’s not all about the turrets and towers, though. If the outside impresses you, the inner and outer chambers, comprising of the great hall, kitchen and royal chapel, are bound to leave you spellbound; it’s an insight into the lives of the royals and their entourage, private chambers and all.

Conwy Castle is a fantastic day out for all ages, though it’s not great for pushchairs or wheelchairs as the surrounding hillside is quite steep. Kids will love scrambling to the towers and taking in the view, and they’ll be having too much fun to realise it’s an educational trip, too! If that’s not a win-win, we don’t know what is; Conwy is the perfect family day out.

As for whether it wins the crown of the most impressive of Edward I’s Welsh fortresses - we’ll let you decide; for the complete picture, head to the battlements for stunning panoramic views across mountains and the mouth of the River Conwy. Either way, it’s indisputably magical and there's free entry with a Cadw Explorer Pass

With so much to see at Conwy Castle, adults and children alike could easily spend hours exploring the grounds, imagining its previous life and learning about its fascinating history. While the warmer, British summer months are of course the most popular, there’s really no bad time to visit the castle. It’s a pretty unforgettable experience rain or shine! The spectacular firework display behind the castle for Bonfire Night is something special, too.

The town of Conwy is full of historic buildings and has a great selection of shops, galleries and resaurants which makes it popular with visitors and locals. The old town is surrounded by a fortified wall, part of the original castle defenses and now provides an elevated pathway around the town. There's no charge to walk along the wall but you may need a head for heights in a couple of places!

If you’d like to find out more about our holiday cottages in Snowdonia and North Wales, you can see a full list here and specifically around Conwy here.