£10m Caerphilly Castle revamp to enter first phase next week

A £10 million revamp of Caerphilly Castle, which will see a brand new visitor centre, cafe, toilets and education room, is set to get underway this summer.

The project, which is expected to take three years, is set to be completed by summer 2026 – with the castle remaining at least partially open during the renovation works.

It is part of Cadw’s five-year “masterplan”, which was announced in 2019, to improve the 13th century Grade I listed castle.

Initial regeneration work began at the castle back in 2021, with conservation works on its upper east gatehouse.

Now, phase one of the revamp will begin on Monday August 7.

This phase will include improvement works to the inner ward of the castle and is set to last until July 2024.

It will include the refurbishment of the Great Hall, the installation of visitor access paths, ramps, new information signage and a wildflower garden.

Work will also be carried out on the castle’s watergate, which has not been used since medieval times.

During this phase, the Great Hall, central courtyard and some ground floor areas of the inner ward will be closed to visitors.

Once the first phase is complete, the second phase will get underway in the castle’s outer ward.

This work will include the construction of a new visitor centre, the refurbishment of the gift shop and the creation of a children’s play area.

Dr Kate Roberts, Cadw’s chief inspector of historic monuments and buildings, said: “Caerphilly Castle is one of Wales’ most impressive historical landmarks with a rich past – it’s seen many sieges and battles and played an important role in the downfall of King Edward II.

“Our aim is to conserve this unique historic place – the first truly concentric castle in Wales and to transform the experience for the thousands of visitors that enjoy the attraction each year.”

Dr Roberts continued: “We’re working closely with Caerphilly Council and other key stakeholders within the Caerphilly 2035 strategy to shape the town as an attractive place to live, work and invest, and to make the castle one of Wales’ biggest heritage attractions for us all to keep in years to come.”