Overlooking picturesque Peel harbour is the ancient castle and island fortress of Peel Castle set on St Patrick’s Isle, where you can unwrap the layers of Manx history within the castle’s magnificent walls.

Things to do and see

• Visit the Church of St Patrick and the Round Tower dating from the 10th to 11th centuries and the 16th century Great Garrison Hall.
• Discover the story of unique treasures uncovered on this ancient isle.
• Touch the ancient stones which stand within this island fort.
• Marvel at the arched stone structures of St German’s Cathedral.
• Step below ground into the atmospheric cathedral crypt.
• Stroll around the castle’s extensive grounds.
• Climb to the top of the Gatehouse Tower.
• Enjoy panoramic views of Peel and beyond.
• Look out for the ghostly Moddey Dhoo.
• Relax and enjoy a picnic in the castle grounds.
• Buy memorabilia of your visit at the heritage shop.

See a 360 degree panoramic view of Peel Castle by clicking here.

Information for Disabled Visitors:

This site does not have its own car park. A convenient drop off point is located outside of the main entrance. There are 15+ worn and uneven steps to access the castle making wheelchair access extremely difficult. The steps have hand rails. Audio guides of the castle are available free of charge. Guided tours can be arranged for visually impaired and blind visitors and large format information about the site can be provided. Staff receive some disability awareness training. There are no wheelchair accessible toilet facilities on site but accessible toilets are available in the foyer of the nearby House of Manannan. Registered assistance dogs are welcomed. It is the policy of Manx National Heritage to admit the assistant or carer of a disabled person free of charge.

Visitor Information

Peel Castle is open from 10am to 5pm daily from Easter to October.

Admission Charges: £2.00 Children (under 18 years) and students, £4.00 Adults, £9.50 Family (2 adults and 2 children). Free admission is available to holders of a valid 5 Site Pass, 10 Day Heritage Explorer Pass, ACE Card holders and reciprocal agreement members.

Peel Castle and House of Manannan combination ticket: £4.25 Children (under 18 years) and students, £8.50 Adults, £20.50 Family (2 adults and 2 children)

Whilst planning your journey around our beautiful Island, you will find our Visitor Information page useful when planning visits to the Isle of Man's amazing museums, interpretive centres and historic sites. Alternatively, you can click here to watch a short film on the Story of Mann.

Group visits: for details on how to plan a group visit to Peel Castle, please click here.

How to get there

• By foot and road: situated on Peel Quayside, signposted in Peel.
• By bus: 4, 4B, 5, 5A, 6, 6A, 8
• Parking: small public car park nearby.
• Separate coach park nearby at the House of Manannan.

Background and Development

Peel Castle, one of the Isle of Man’s principal historic monuments occupies the important site of St Patrick’s Isle at Peel. The Castle’s Curtain Wall encircles the ruins of many buildings which are a testimony to the site’s religious and secular importance in Manx history. These include St. Patrick’s Church and the Round Tower from the 10th to 11th centuries, the 13th century Cathedral of St. German, and the later apartments of the Lords of Mann. The importance of the Isle as a centre of Manx Christianity was established in the 6th century and this role was to survive the arrival of the ‘pagan’ Norse Vikings at the end of the 8th century. In the 11th century it became the ruling seat of the Norse Kingdom of Man and the Isles, first united by Godred Crovan.

A major six year programme of archaeological excavation commencing in 1982 emphasised the prime importance of the site. The most dramatic find was the Norse-period grave of a lady of high social status; the jewellery and effects buried with her can be seen on display with other excavation finds in the Manx Museum.

After 1333, the construction of the best preserved building, the Gatehouse, was followed by the completion of the Curtain Wall and later by the emplacement of artillery. St German’s Cathedral was remodelled and the adjoining residential block of the Vicars Chorale became the ‘Lords House’, the apartments of a succession of Lords of Mann installed at this time.

The Revestment of the Sovereignty of the English Crown in 1765 found the importance of Peel Castle in decline and its buildings were allowed to decay through a period of limited military use which ended in the latter half of the 19th century.

Today, the House of Manannan provides an exciting introduction to St Patrick’s Isle, while ‘Manannan’s Tour of Peel Castle’ provides each visitor to the Castle with a personal electronic guide. The voice of Manannan himself explains the great stories in the stones which still stand here.