Beaumaris Castle on the Island of Anglesey is the great unfinished masterpiece. It was built as one of the 'iron ring' of North Wales castles by the English monarch Edward I, to stamp his authority on the Welsh. But it was never finished money and supplies ran out before the fortifications reached their full height.

Beaumaris is nonetheless an awesome sight, regarded by many as the finest of all the great Edwardian castles in Wales. Begun in 1295, it was also the last. The king's military architect, the brilliant James of St George, brought all his experience and inspiration to bear when building this castle, the biggest and most ambitious venture he ever undertook.

In pure architectural terms Beaumaris, the most technically perfect castle in Britain, has few equals. Its ingenious and perfectly symmetrical concentric 'walls within walls' design, involving no less than four successive lines of fortifications, was state of the art for the late 13th century.

The stronghold stands at one end of Castle Street, inextricably linked with the history of the town. This was the 'beau marais' (fair marsh) that Edward chose for a castle and garrison town. From the outside, Beaumaris appears almost handsome. It does not rear up menacingly like other fortresses buts sits contentedly in a scenic setting overlooking mountains and the sea, partially surrounded by a water filled moat.

The gate next-the-sea entrance protected the tidal dock which allowed supply ships to sail right up to the castle. Beaumaris is endlessly fascinating. There is so much to see here, the 14 separate major obstacles that any attacker would have to overcome, the hundreds of cleverly sited arrow-slits, the deadly use of 'murder holes' to defend entrances.

This outstanding fortress is a World Heritage inscribed site.

Opening Hours 2009 - 2010

Last admission half an hour before closing.

1^st April to 31^st October - 09.00 - 17.00 daily

1^st November to 31^st March - 09.30 - 16.00  Monday to Saturday
11.00 - 16.00 Sunday

Closed:- 24^th, 25^th, 26^th December, 1^st January

Contact and Admission Information

Telephone:- +44 1248 810361

Admission Charge:- Adults £3.60, Reduced rate £3.20.

Family Ticket:- £10.40 - admits 2 adults and up to 3 children under 16 years.

Three or seven day explorer passes are available to give you free admission to the historic sites in the care of Cadw.

Cadw, Plas Carew, Unit 5/7 Cefn Coed, Park Nantgarw, Cardiff, CF15 7QQ, Wales, UK.

Telephone:- +44 1443 33 6000
Fax:- +44 1443 33 6001

18th & 19th April - 11am - 4pm - Step Back in Time with the Crafts and Soldiers of Gwent - Free Men of Gwent.

24th & 25th May  - 11am - 4pm - Knights Hospitaller - Using Beaumaris Festival 2008 theme of War and Peace, Soldiers and Clerics make their camp at the Castle.

30th & 31st August - 11am - 4pm - Sea Dogs and Soldiers! - C17th Society.