Your Guide to Tintagel Castle

A Brief History of Tintagel Castle

The story of King Arthur and the knights of the round table is one of legend. It’s been told to kids, teens and grownups everywhere and begins its origins right here in Tintagel, Cornwall. It is believed that King Arthur was conceived when his father, Uther Pendragon, the King of Britain, seduced Queen Igraine, wife of the Duke of Cornwall using magic, appearing as her husband. King Arthur was also thought to have been later born in the very same walls. Ever since, King Arthur and Tintagel Castle have been intertwined within a mixture of local folklore and literary legends.

Amenities available at Tintagel Castle

• Food and drink available at the Beach Café. You can try tasty Cornish treats, as well as a selection of cakes, hot and cold drinks.
• Toilets are available next to the Visitor Centre, including an accessible toilet and baby changing facilities.
• Dogs are welcome on a lead
• There is no parking on site, but pay and display parking but pay and display parking can be found in the village. Or you can walk from Tintagel Cottage in less than 15 minutes
• Access: Be ready for steep climbs, uneven surfaces and rocky terrain.

What to see at Tintagel Castle

• Tintagel Castle: From the walled garden to the outlines of all the main rooms and courtyards, you can let your imagination run wild as to what King Arthur got up to during his life here.
• The Bridge: Newly opened for 2019, the castle's new footbridge recreates the historic crossing from the mainland to the headland. You can cross the bridge yourself and look down at the crashing ways that flow between the two
• Merlin's Cave: Twice a day, the receding tide at Tintagel reveals a world of rockpools and the impressive Merlin's Cave for children to explore.
• The Visitor's Centre: The centre at the bottom of the site contains an exhibition about the improvement of the site, the various periods in which it was inhabited and the important historical and mythical characters connected to it.