Castle hotel
Cardigan Castle
Cardigan, Ceredigion
Level 2 Castle Estate StayLevel 2: a medieval castle site restored as a heritage attraction. Guests sleep in Georgian buildings within the grounds, such as Castle Green House, not in the medieval castle walls.
Rooms outside the historic walls
Check prices and availability (opens in a new tab)
We may earn a commission if you book. It doesn't change our ratings. How we earn money
Cardigan Castle is a Level 2 castle estate stay in Cardigan, Ceredigion. The medieval castle site dates from 1110, with the first stone castle built here in 1165, but accommodation is in Georgian and outbuildings such as Castle Green House rather than the medieval fabric. It suits visitors who want to be based inside a historic site without expecting to sleep in the castle itself.
Quick facts
- Castle Authenticity Scale
- Level 2: Castle Estate Stay
- Where you sleep
- Rooms outside the historic walls
- Built
- Castle founded 1110, rebuilt in stone from 1165; the accommodation buildings, including Castle Green House, date from around 1808
- Architecture
- Medieval castle ruins and precinct with an early 19th-century Georgian house and outbuildings
- Heritage status
- Historic castle site restored with Cadw and Heritage Lottery Fund support
- Rooms
- 9
- Star rating
- Five-star (Booking.com)
- Guest rating
- 9.1 out of 10 on Booking.com (September 2026)
- Restaurant
- Yes (hotel website)
- Weddings
- Yes (hotel website)
- Listed on Booking.com
- Restaurant, Family rooms, Parking, Free wifi
- Last checked
- September 2026
The story
The story of Cardigan Castle
Cardigan Castle stands above the River Teifi in Cardigan, Ceredigion. According to the castle's own history pages, a wooden castle was first built on the site in 1110 by Gilbert fitz Richard de Clare. In 1165 the Welsh prince Lord Rhys captured the site and began rebuilding it in stone, a project the castle describes as the first stone castle built by a Welshman.
The castle later passed to English control: Prince Edward received it in 1254, and King Edward I made it the county town of Cardiganshire in 1279. It suffered further change over the centuries, including damage during the English Civil War in 1644 to 1645, when it was slighted and burned. Castle Green House, a residence within the castle walls, was begun in 1808 and forms much of what visitors and guests see today.
The site fell into disrepair before a 12 million pound restoration, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, Cadw and private donors, reopened it to the public in 2015. It now combines a heritage attraction with self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation across several buildings on the grounds.
The sleep
Rooms at Cardigan Castle
Accommodation is spread across several historic buildings within the castle grounds rather than inside the medieval castle structure itself. According to the castle's own site, rooms and apartments are found in Castle Green House, the East Wing (four Georgian heritage rooms), Ty Castell, Ty Cadwgan, the former coach house and the gardener's cottage.
Around nine named accommodation units are listed, ranging from family rooms and doubles to self-catering apartments and cottages. Guests wanting to be inside the historic walled site can be, but should not expect to sleep within the medieval castle ruins themselves.
The table
Eating at Cardigan Castle
Restaurant 1176, named for the year Lord Rhys is said to have held a gathering of poets and musicians at the castle, operates on site during the day. According to the castle's website, guests staying in the main rooms have breakfast included, served either as a traditional cooked breakfast in the restaurant or as a continental hamper delivered to the door. Self-catering units do not include breakfast, though guests can book the restaurant separately.
The grounds
Around Cardigan Castle
The castle grounds sit above the River Teifi in the centre of Cardigan, with gardens used for events and ceremonies. The site functions as a wedding venue, with couples able to marry in Castle Green House or in the gardens overlooking the river, according to the castle's own wedding pages.
What we'd flag
What we'd flag
- Rooms are in Georgian and later buildings within the castle grounds, not inside the medieval castle towers or curtain wall. If you want the atmosphere of a historic walled site with a working restaurant and gardens rather than a stay inside ancient stonework, this fits; if you specifically want to sleep in a medieval castle, it will not.
Who it's for
Who Cardigan Castle suits
Cardigan Castle suits visitors who want to combine a stay with a heritage attraction in the centre of Cardigan, and self-catering groups who want cottages or apartments within a historic setting. It is less suited to travellers who specifically want to sleep inside a medieval castle building, since the accommodation here is in later buildings on the estate rather than the castle ruins themselves.
Where Cardigan Castle is.
Map tiles from OpenStreetMap.
Also on these lists
Similar stays nearby
Level 0 Castle in Name Only
Green Castle
Llangain, Carmarthenshire
Rooms outside the historic walls
- Dogs allowed
- Hot tub
Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion
Craig-Y-Nos Castle
Abercraf, West Wales & Pembrokeshire
Sleep inside the walls
- Dogs allowed
- Restaurant
- Family rooms
Cardigan Castle: questions
Is Cardigan Castle a real castle?
Yes, the site is a genuine medieval castle, founded in 1110 and rebuilt in stone from 1165. However, the rooms and apartments available to book are in later buildings within the grounds, such as the Georgian Castle Green House, rather than inside the medieval castle fabric.
Can you sleep inside the castle at Cardigan Castle?
No. Accommodation is in buildings on the castle estate, including Castle Green House, the East Wing, and several cottages and outbuildings, rather than inside the medieval castle structure itself.
Who built Cardigan Castle?
A wooden castle was first built here in 1110 by Gilbert fitz Richard de Clare. The Welsh prince Lord Rhys captured the site in 1165 and began rebuilding it in stone, according to the castle's own history.
Can you get married at Cardigan Castle?
Yes. Couples can marry in the historic Castle Green House or in the landscaped gardens overlooking the River Teifi, according to the castle's wedding pages.
Sources and checks
Last checked: September 2026. We checked these sources for this page. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- cardigancastle.com: founding date 1110, stone rebuilding from 1165, historical events, restoration and 2015 reopening
- cardigancastle.com: accommodation buildings, room count, breakfast arrangements
- cardigancastle.com: wedding venues and ceremony settings