Overview

One of the things I love about Cardiff is how central it is for transport, food, shopping and culture. As a Scot, we've got Edinburgh Castle, but the grounds are up the Royal Mile, which is pretty steep with alternating terrain and cobbles. That's why it's refreshing to find castle grounds with a level approach that's so close to so much. If you visit, make sure to check out the Animal Wall, a long stone wall that leads from the Castle Street Gate to the entrance to Bute Park. The wall is lined with carvings of all types of animals, leering over the wall. I paid a visit to the castle grounds at the start of December 2024.

Transport & Parking

Paid parking can be found 360 metres from the entrance in the YourParkingSpace-owned car park across the street. This appears to be an online-only service, which can be paid for by the hour or via subscription. There's a convenient bus stop across the street from the Castle Street entrance, where the 32, 61, 62, 63, 101, 102, 122, 124, and 320 bus services operate. Cardiff Central Railway Station is half a mile away, which is about a 20-minute walk, so it's not particularly handy for the castle.

Access

The road leading up to the castle is well-maintained on either side, with tactile paving at the local crossings. You'll also find cycle lanes near the entrance, which I tend to use when I operate my manual wheelchair with my power attachment. The pavements are smooth, although you'll find there's no shortage of cobblestones throughout the castle's courtyard, making for a rickety ride for those using powerchairs and a general challenge when pushing a manual chair. On your right as you enter from Castle Street, there's the Firing Line museum, a small visitor centre with a ticket office, gift shop, café, and two accessible toilets on the upper level, which are accessed via the lift. The lift buttons have braille markings on the inside, but not on the outside, and do not feature an induction loop. The café area has plenty of seats despite its small size, but there is no lowered counter, although it's low enough that I could see over as a wheelchair user. It was early December when I visited, so much of the courtyard had wooden boards leading to a raised walkway, but I expect this is only during the festive season. There was no use of an induction loop, from what I could see.

Toilets

There are two accessible toilets at this location. I was only able to access the one on the left, as the other was in use. The toilet door opens outward and doesn’t require a RADAR key to enter. The toilet is small but manageable with most wheelchairs. There was enough room for a left-side transfer, with grab rails on both sides of the toilet and a lever-style tap at the sink. I was disappointed to find the red cord tangled and out of reach, hanging over a light installed in the toilet, making it useless. I fixed it, but given how far these toilets are from the ground floor where most of the staff are based, it’s incredibly dangerous. I can only hope the other toilet isn’t the same.

Staff

The staff were lovely, being quick to advise me of concessions for disabled visitors and eager to receive feedback. When I mentioned the red cord, they were apologetic and glad I reported it.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

On their website, Cardiff Castle states that they have an audio guide available for visually impaired users in addition to touch tours, though advance booking is required. I also found it interesting to learn that those who live or work in Cardiff can apply for a Castle Key, which provides free entry for a minimum of 3 years.

Photos