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Voykit pocket guide · United Kingdom
Tintagel
Spend a half‑day at Tintagel Castle and the coast; add a night if you want a beach café and a pub.
Tintagel is a small coastal village in North Cornwall, famous for its medieval castle linked to King Arthur. The sights cluster within walking distance, so a half‑day covers the castle, Merlin's Cave and the nearby coves. Overnight stays let you enjoy the beach café, a pub and a sunset walk.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Oct–Apr (wet, strong winds)
- Stay
- 0.5–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GBP
- Money
- Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; some places are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget £30–45 excl. bed · Mid £45–70 excl. bed · High £70+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines, no registration needed.
- Emergency
- Police 999 · Medical 111
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Three-pin Type G only; European, US and Australian plugs need an adapter. Bathrooms have two-pin shaver sockets only.
- Tipping
- Restaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.; Pub or bar: Not expected; 'and one for yourself' offers the bartender a drink.; Taxi: Round up or 10%.; Hotel porter: £1–2 per bag.; Tour guide: £5–10 per person for a day tour; free walking tours expect £10–15.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Free refills are common; restaurants will bring tap water if you ask.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 or are card-only. Stations, museums, department stores and pubs (if you buy a drink) are the fallback.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | £2–3 |
| Cornish cream tea | £4–6 |
| Tintagel Castle entry | £8.40 adult, £5 child |
| St Nectan's Glen entry | £9 adult, £5 child |
| Parking (all‑day) | £3 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NQY · Newquay Airport
- check
Typical fares
- First Kernow bus 94/95 Wadebridge–Bude
- about £5–7 each way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is compact; walk everywhere. Car parking is pay‑and‑display near the Visitor Centre (coins or app).
See and do
Known for
- Tintagel Castle
- Merlin's Cave
- St Nectan's Glen
- Tintagel Old Post Office
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Boscastle | Bus 94/95 from Tintagel to Boscastle, about 15 min; walk 5 min to harbour | ≈ 30 min total |
| Padstow | Bus 94/95 to Wadebridge (≈ 30 min), then First Kernow 19 to Padstow (≈ 25 min) | ≈ 1 h 10 min |
| Wadebridge | Bus 94/95 directly, about 30 min | ≈ 30 min |
| Camelford | Bus 94/95 to Wadebridge (30 min), then First Kernow 19 to Camelford (≈ 20 min) | ≈ 1 h |
| Bodmin Moor | Drive or join a local tour from Tintagel (≈ 20 km (12 mi), 30 min by car)Drive or join a local tour from Tintagel (≈ 12 mi (20 km), 30 min by car) | ≈ 45 min round‑trip |
Sleep
- Cornishman Inn
- Traditional inn in the village centre; 10 rooms.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Sorisaw-ree |
| Thank you | Diolchdee-och |
| How much is it? | Faint sut?faint soot |
| Where is the toilet? | Ble mae'r toiled?bleh myr toy-led |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake at first meeting; 'hi' and first names quickly; avoid: Cheek kisses with strangers
- Conversation: Weather is a safe opener; understatement and self-deprecating humour; avoid: Asking about salary or class
- Queues: Join at the back; avoid: Pushing onto buses or trains before others get off
- Apologies: 'Sorry' is said constantly, even when not at fault; avoid: Taking it as an admission of blame
- Pubs: Buy rounds in a group; wait at the bar without waving money; avoid: Clicking fingers at staff
- Nations: Call Scots Scottish and Welsh Welsh; avoid: Calling the whole UK 'England'
Scams and watch-outs
- Castle access involves steep stairs; a lift opened 2021 eases some routes but mobility remains limited.
- High winds can make the coastal paths slippery; bring a jacket.
- Parking spaces are limited; arrive early in summer.
Tintagel is low‑risk; watch for slippery cliffs in wind and keep valuables secure on busy beach cafés.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tintagel yet. Suggested stay: 0.5–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Tintagel Castle
- Merlin's Cave
- St Nectan's Glen
- Tintagel Old Post Office
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- English Heritage – Tintagel Castle: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/tintagel-castle/
- National Trust – Tintagel Old Post Office: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tintagel-old-post-office/
- St Nectan's Glen official site: www.st-nectansglen.co.uk/
- Wikivoyage: Tintagel, revision 5069043 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5069043
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tintagel). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.