English Heritage

What you need to know

We've made some changes to help keep you safe, and things might be a little different when you visit. Here's everything you need to know.

• Do we need to Book?

  Advance booking is now essential. We have introduced limits on visitor numbers to help keep everyone safe, and you won’t be able to visit without your booking confirmation. If you’re a Member, your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance. Make sure you've read our ticketing FAQ before you book.

  Book Tickets

  Booking FAQs

• What parts of the site are closed?

  All interiors are currently closed, including our shop and exhibition. The toilets remain open and the cafe is open for takeaway only. 

• What changes have you made to your facilities?
  • Tintagel Castle Bridge - The bridge will be open for you to cross onto Tintagel Island while following social distancing rules. We will have a one-way system in place with visitors leaving via the original steps. 
  • Tintagel Castle Beach & Merlin's Cave - These will be open (depending on tide times). Access is via steps and rocks on the beach so may not be suitable for visitors with limited mobility. 
  • Island Walk - The island walk will be open for you to explore while following social distancing rules. 
  • Cafe -  The kiosk will be open for takeaway light refreshments.
  • Shop - Our shop will remain closed until 12 April
  • Access - In response to Covid-19, there is currently a one-way system in place at the castle, which means leaving via 140 steep steps. The busiest days at Tintagel tend to be school holidays between 11am and 3pm. The last timeslot of the day usually provides a quieter experience on-site, which can be beneficial to visitors with access requirements or autistic spectrum conditions. At this quieter time, there will be fewer people arriving at the castle, and if requested our staff can safely guide visitors back across the bridge and along the step-free path without a delay.

   

  Plan your Visit

• How are you keeping us safe?

  We've made a number of changes to help keep you safe. Although things might be a little different when you visit, you’ll still be able to enjoy exploring the places where history really happened. And you’ll still be given a warm and safe welcome by our friendly – if socially distant – staff and volunteers.

  You can visit our reopening page for information on general safety measures we've taken to help keep you safe.

  General Safety Information

• Do I need to wear a face covering?

  Face coverings must be worn in all indoor areas. We won't be able to provide you with a face covering, so please come prepared so you don't miss out.

• Where do I need to be and when?

  Your ticket states the time when you can enter the castle and cross the bridge. We recommend giving yourself at least 30 minutes to walk from the village car parks to the footbridge entrance. Once on the island, you can explore at your leisure. 

  Plan your Visit

• I still have questions.

  The answers to all frequently asked questions can be found on our FAQ page.

  Read our FAQs