Castle Cornet

About the museum

Castle Cornet stands on a rocky islet at the entrance to St Peter Port harbour and has guarded the town for some eight centuries. Building began soon after 1204, when the loss of Normandy made the defence of the Channel Islands against France a priority. For a long time the castle could be reached on foot only at low tide; later harbour works joined it to the shore.

French forces captured it in 1338 and held it for seven years before the English retook it. In the 16th century, under Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, new outer walls and bastions designed for artillery gave the castle much of the outline seen today. During the Civil War the garrison stayed loyal to Charles I and held out under siege until 1651, the last Royalist stronghold to surrender. In 1672 lightning struck the keep and destroyed the governor's quarters, the great hall and the chapel, and no governor lived in the castle afterwards.

Barracks were added in the 18th century, but by 1800 the castle had lost its role as the island's main garrison. German troops fortified it again during the Occupation of 1940–45. After the war the British government handed it over to the people of Guernsey, and from the early 1950s it was open to the public. Today it houses four museums and four period gardens, and a noonday gun is fired daily in season.

Highlights

• Four museums within the walls, all included in the ticket
• Daily noonday gun ceremony with gunners in scarlet uniform
• Battlements with views towards Herm and Sark
• Four period gardens, including the Lambert Garden
• Guernsey Falcon, an artillery piece cast in 1550

Permanent exhibitions

• The Story of Castle Cornet – Models, reconstructions and original objects in the Lower Barracks follow the castle through the sieges of the Hundred Years’ War and the Civil War. A tableau shows the explosion of 1672.
• 201 Squadron Museum – A small museum on the history of 201 Squadron, the RAF unit known as Guernsey’s Own, its pilots and the aircraft they flew.
• Royal Guernsey Light Infantry Museum – Displays on the island regiment raised in 1916 and on Guernsey people in the First World War, with weapons, uniforms, medals, letters and diary extracts.
• Royal Guernsey Militia Museum – The story of the island militia from its first mention in 1331, told through uniforms, weapons, standards and medals.

Founded

1206

Operated by

Guernsey Museums & Galleries

Admission & discounts

Prices for the 2026 season. The ticket includes all four museums and the daily castle tour.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchairs cannot go beyond the shop because of steps, steep staircases and uneven surfaces, and there are sheer drops, so children need close supervision. Assistance dogs are welcome if they wear a tabard or harness; other pets are not allowed. An access guide and a route plan from Albert Pier are published on the AccessAble website.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly: not available

Children can follow trails around the castle, use activity sheets in some of the museums and dress up in costumes. Pushchairs are difficult to use because of the steps and uneven ground, so backpack-style baby carriers can be borrowed from the gift shop.

Getting there & parking

On foot, follow the raised walkway along the harbour emplacement. The castle is about 15 minutes from the main town car parks and the Visitor Information Centre.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café Maeva in the centre of the castle is open daily from 10:30 to 16:30 with outdoor seating and views towards Herm and Sark; it is open to ticket holders only. The gift shop at the entrance sells souvenirs, local food and crafts and local and historic books, including the castle guidebook.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The Royal Battery beside the noonday gun is available for drinks evenings, parties, team building and seminars, and the Hatton Gallery offers an indoor space. Catering is provided by an in-house caterer. The castle has steps and uneven surfaces and no lift.

Plan your visit