Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery Reviews Summary

Castle and Grounds

Pros:

• "Beautiful castle and grounds for wandering with a fascinating history told through exhibits and galleries."
• "The grounds are absolutely beautiful so many woodland walks, just fantastic."
• "There is beautiful park and woodlands around the castle with some benches to sit down and relax."
• "Absolutely outstanding outside area, with a beautiful lake with lots of ducks and swans to feed."
• "The ground is beautiful too. Lovely big lake and you can feed the birds."
• "Great castle. Based within fantastic grounds with amazing woodland walks."
• "A beautiful piece of history, it has outstanding gardens, a nice big lake to walk around and a children's playground."

Cons:

• "However, the castle is charging full price for the visit. I am elderly and disabled and I needed to use the toilet and I was not allowed to."
• "But my four stars is because there are 3 cafes on the site and none do decent food."
• "Great place for a wander, but disappointing that the childrens park was closed for maintenance."
• "However, the paths need to be cleared of brambles, stingy nettles and other similar types of greenery."
• "Also, the un-kept grounds are a disgrace to what they used to be kept, shame on you."
• "Went to park need few more benches plus the talking tube to high for kids if don't pick them up they can't use it."
• "The museum was shut when I went."

Museum Experience

Pros:

• "The museum is very informative, exhibitions range from the history of coal and steel work in the region to valuable China and stories about the family who built the castle."
• "An interesting place to visit and we enjoyed wandering around the museum area."
• "The museum and cafe is so reasonably priced so anyone can afford to visit."
• "The castle itself is a museum of local history."
• "It's only a small fee to get into the museum and it's worth it to show the kids the history of the area and even Egyptian antiquities."
• "Great value museum was £2-30 entrance very interesting lots of information about the family who lived in the house, and about Merthyr history as well."
• "Really interesting museum with lots of painting, information and artifacts from different time periods."

Cons:

• "I remember visiting the museum when I was young and I enjoyed it however recently I decided to revisit it for the nostalgia and was very disappointed with the exhibits a lot of them I remember nothing new and shocked to find out I had to pay £2.30 to get in its disgusting."
• "The museum is lovely but it starts off down some old stairs so you have to leave your pram upstairs."
• "Museum was great. Cafe was awful."
• "Museum has attempted to demonstrate the history of the town and business. It fails to cover the truths of the hardships endured by the true working class or the reality of the iron lords."
• "It was a fascinating place to visit but it took me virtually an hour on foot from the train station to get there."
• "Not a lot to see here, but you get what you pay for and it's only £2.20 for adults so it's worth a look round if you're in the area."
• "What a beautiful building, but the council should be ashamed of themselves leaving it to get as run down as it now stands."

Cafe and Food Services

Pros:

• "Super facilities, lovely café and good access for wheelchair users (they even have a stairlift!)."
• "The cafe has good views and has clean toilet facilities."
• "There's a tea room which smelt stunning."
• "The cafe at the children's play area has more choice."
• "The customer service is kind and friendly; me and my family has been very warmed welcomed in the cafeteria."
• "Excellent cafe with home made cakes."
• "There is also a friendly coffee shop with a good assortment of drinks and food."

Cons:

• "Waited 35 mins for 4 cheese toasties which they got wrong."
• "We ordered food but were told to wait 20 mins (the lady was overheard saying she couldn't be bothered at that time)."
• "The staff were obviously not trained in food hygiene...."
• "Disgusting way to prepare, serve and sell food."
• "Pity the tea room is cash only."
• "Cafe fairly basic."
• "Reason for losing a star was the toilets; needed cleaning and basic maintenance, unblocking and doors fixing."

Accessibility and Facilities

Pros:

• "You can also do geocaching here which is essentially like treasure hunting."
• "Free parking and toilets."
• "Miniature railway is good but check operating times."
• "Perfect for a day trip from Cardiff."
• "The staff were so helpful as there are a number of steep steps to the entrance but the staff were quick to point out the ramped access."
• "Lots of areas to explore and lots of toilets as a bonus."
• "Parking is free and a lot of it but all spaces out in different areas."

Cons:

• "They did have a stair lift on one set of stairs but didn't on the second set the steps were very steep not good for anyone who is disabled."
• "Only the public toilets right outside the coffee shop around the children's playground are all not open."
• "The only negative comments are that the ladies loos could do with some TLC."
• "Visitor centre & museum has a small charge to enter."
• "There is a small charge to go into the museum though."
• "The place area has 4 swings and sometimes on busy sunny days it isn't enough."
• "We got confused by the parking and parked by the entrance but there is more parking if you drive up the hill to the castle."