Visit Beaumaris Castle and Get Your Cadw Explorer Pass to Visit 20 Historic Monuments in Wales

Your key to unlock Wales' greatest castles, in one ticket!

The Castles of Wales Explorer Pass offers the freedom to explore all of Cadw's historic attractions and help you get the most out of your visit to Wales. 

• Entry to 20 Welsh castles and attractions (see additional info for full list)
• Visit as many castle as you want
• Choice of either the 3 day pass or 7 day pass (the 3 day pass gives you 3 days of entrance and is valid for a 7 day period. The 7 day pass gives you 7 days of entrance, valid for 14 days)
• Save lots of money!

Book your Castle of Wales Explorer Pass by tapping 'Book' on this page. Once booked, your pass will be sent to you by email. Show this pass upon entry to all attractions either on your device or print if you prefer.

Beaumaris Castle, a fairy-tale castle on the Anglesey coast

Somewhere inside us all is that child obsessed with the fairy-tale stories of Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel.

Stories of castles that climb high into the sky and bridges stretching over dark, water-filled moats below.

Approaching Beaumaris Castle, you’ll be convinced someone plucked the castle out of your childhood daydreams and built it here in Anglesey.

Old stone walls, patched with moss and the cracks of history stretch from tower to tower.

Walking alongside, you’ll sneak glimpses further into the castle through the narrow windows along the exterior wall.

Originally used for archers to fire arrows at oncoming enemies, let your imagination wander and soon you’ll be the one stooping for cover and firing back with your own weapons.

The floating castle

At moments, you’ll be certain the castle is floating on water.

The moat that surrounds it was used to keep out enemies in the days of rebellions and uprisings.

If you look close enough, you might even see some of the ancient faces looking back at you in the water’s reflection with stories as old as the castle itself.

Never fully finished, the construction of the castle ended in the 1320s due to a lack of funds and has been forever known as the "greatest castle never built".

But even still, Beaumaris Castle is one of the most formidable and captivating medieval buildings in all of the UK.

Once you’re over the moat and through the outer walls, you’ll be met by the inner wall which is equally as remarkable.

Dragons roaming the grounds

Wander up staircases to the tops of towers, and take a moment to admire the beauty of North Wales from the castle walls.

Roam along stretches of grass between the inner and outer walls before discovering secret chambers and the chapel tucked away.

On your explorations, you might even stumble across a Welsh dragon lying in slumber if you’re lucky enough.

Usually prowling the Welsh skies in search of treasures to add to their horde, they’ve been known to take rest within the walls of Beaumaris.

But don’t worry, Welsh dragons are friendly old creatures and you’ll be snapping pics of the kids standing next to them before you’re headed home.

Be sure to check opening times and what’s on before you pack up the car and head to Beaumaris Castle.

With new events on all the time, you don’t want to miss any that might be going on.

Once your adventures around the castle are done, check out Beaumaris Gaol if you’re with older kids and fancy a slightly more macabre history lesson.

We're sure a day out at Beaumaris Castle will be a memorable one for the whole family.

What other Cadw attractions can I visit with the Castles of Wales Pass? 

• Beaumaris Castle, Anglesey
• Blaenavon Ironworks, Torfaen
• Caerleon Roman Baths, Newport
• Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd
• Caerphilly Castle, Caerphilly
• Carreg Cennen Castle, Carmarthenshire
• Castell Coch, Cardiff
• Chepstow Castle, Monmouthshire
• Cilgerran Castle, Pembrokeshire - please note, this attraction is closed for 2024
• Conwy Castle, Conwy
• Criccieth Castle, Gwynedd
• Denbigh Castle, Denbighshire
• Harlech Castle, Gwynedd
• Kidwelly Castle, Carmarthenshire
• Laugharne Castle, Carmarthenshire
• Oxwich Castle, Swansea - please note, this attraction is closed for 2024
• Plas Mawr Elizabethan Town House, Conwy
• Raglan Castle, Monmouthshire
• Rhuddlan Castle, Denbighshire
• Rug Chapel, Denbighshire - please note, this attraction is closed for 2024
• St Davids Bishop's Palace, Pembrokeshire
• Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire
• Tretower Court and Castle, Powys
• Valle Crucis Abbey, Denbighshire - please note, this attraction is closed for 2024
• Weobley Castle, Swansea