The Castle

With shades of the past in each room and new discoveries waiting around every corner, dig deep into the Mount’s history. The winding corridors lead to fascinating rooms filled with artefacts, with the Chevvy Chase and Blue Drawing Room proving particular highlights.

Stoop through ancient doorways and glimpse the building’s changing faces – from priory to fortified castle and, since the mid-1600s, home to the St Aubyn family, who still live here today. As you wander centuries-old corridors and unpeel layers of history, look out for some extraordinary finds.

Knowledgeable guides are stationed throughout, ready to share fascinating insights, stories of myths and legends and details of how the building evolved into a cherished family residence.

Book tickets by midnight the day before your visit to save with the Advance Booking Rate.

The battlements

From the battlements of St Michael’s Mount, panoramic views stretch across Mount’s Bay and the west Cornwall coastline. Looking out over the bay and the sea beyond, visitors can take in landmarks including Newlyn and Mousehole, while gaining a sense of the Mount’s long history as a place of lookout, defence and connection to the wider world. The elevated position offers a striking perspective in every season, from calm summer waters to dramatic winter skies.

Highlights in the castle

A few of the many highlights include:

• A Samurai Warrior suit of armour.
• A clock that tells you the time of the tide as well as the hour of the day.
• A frieze with hunting scenes, including an ostrich munching on a horseshoe.
• A piece of Napoleon’s coat worn at the Battle of Waterloo.
• A statue of St Michael offering mercy to the Devil at his feet.
• The sofa where Queen Victoria sat as the housekeeper entertained her to a cup of tea.
• A rather unusual souvenir from a trip to Egypt: a mummified cat.

How to plan your visit

Castle tickets also include access to the harbour, gallery and village, the lawns, shops and café. Alternatively, you can purchase a combi ticket, which also gives you access to the garden.

Adult: £21 (£18 with Advance Booking Rate)
Child 5-15: £10.50 (£9 with Advance Booking Rate)
Under 5: free

Book tickets by midnight the day before your visit to save with the Advance Booking Rate. The castle is open Sunday-Friday and closed Saturdays, to allow the family to privately enjoy their home. Assistance dogs only in the castle.

Explore the rooms

Step inside the castle and explore a maze of winding corridors, where centuries of history unfold around every corner. Pause to admire the paintings and treasured objects that reflect generations of life on the island. Enter the elegant Blue Drawing Room, where members of the Royal Family once gathered. Continue on to the Chevvy Chase, a former monk’s refectory with origins dating back to 1620, offering a fascinating glimpse into the Mount’s monastic past.

Take in the views

Gaze out over the island’s ever-changing vistas from multiple vantage points around the castle. The East Terraces look towards Land’s End in the far distance, while the West Door offers views across Mount’s Bay to Newlyn and Mousehole.

As you explore, discover traces of the island’s history woven into the landscape, from the historic castle walls to the sundial that once marked the passing hours by the movement of the sun.

Pick up a guide book

The St Michael’s Mount guide book is written by James St Aubyn the fifth Lord St Levan. Blending historical detail with family recollections, it tells the story of the Mount’s evolution from a medieval monastery to a private family home. Lord St Levan draws on his unique perspective to share tales of its architecture, gardens, legends and the generations who have cared for it. The result is both an authoritative reference and a heartfelt invitation to explore the Mount’s beauty, heritage and enduring sense of place.

A Personal Tour of St Michael's Mount is available to purchase in the island shops.