FAQs

Between 01 October and 30 April access to the harbour and village is free for everyone during opening hours. During the main season (May to September) access is by ticket for most people, and those who are not National Trust members will have to pay. We now offer a Locals’ Pass for permanent residents of west Penwith which provides free access to the harbour and village. We have also created a Mount Memories Pass which provides free access to the harbour, village, castle and garden subject to eligibility. 

People whose primary residence is within one of sixteen local postcode sectors in west Penwith. For further information and application details, please click here.

We know that the number of people wanting to visit west Cornwall and St Michael’s Mount has risen and will continue to rise. That increases pressure on facilities on the Mount, the town and our wider local community. Continuing to manage numbers and control access to the Mount is key to balancing the needs of local residents and visitors and therefore we have to be able to control numbers during the main season.
While the Locals’ Pass is restricted to residents of west Penwith, we hope that the Mount Memories Pass will provide access for those with strong connections to St Michael’s Mount who don’t live locally.

We know that the number of people wanting to visit west Cornwall and St Michael’s Mount has risen and will continue to rise. That increases pressure on facilities on the Mount, the town and our wider local community. Continuing to manage numbers and control access to the Mount is key to balancing the needs of local residents and visitors and therefore we have to be able to control numbers during the main season.
While the Locals’ Pass is restricted to residents within 16 local postcode sectors, we hope that the Mount Memories Pass will provide access for those with strong connections to St Michael’s Mount who don’t live in one of the sectors.

Yes, anyone who has special memories or links to St Michael’s Mount can apply for a Mount Memories pass. Click here for further information. 

No. This is not a first come first served initiative - an applicant will need to demonstrate that they have a strong tie to the Mount or are looking to celebrate a truly special occasion.

No. Mount Memories Passes are limited to 1,000 passes per year.

Please try to apply at least 2 weeks prior to your visit to allow us to process your request in a timely manner.

No, the applicant must be the person hoping to visit and proof of ID will be required on the day of a visit for successful applicants.

Yes, boat tickets and car park tickets must be paid for.

No. The Free Access Period for all and Locals’ Pass only provides access to the harbour and village. Tickets to the castle and/or garden still have to be purchased or booked with a valid National Trust membership and are subject to availability.

A Mount Memories Pass provides free access to the castle and garden as well as the village and harbour.

St Michael’s Mount is a rocky, rugged island surrounded by sea and accessed via an ancient, cobbled causeway. The cobbled paths around the island are often steep, slippery and uneven, and in some places there are no handrails, making it a very difficult route to navigate, even for the most able bodied. For this reason, wheelchairs and pushchairs cannot reach the summit and we strongly advise sensible footwear or sturdy walking boots for the climb.

To enquire about access for those with very limited mobility email enquiries@stmichaelsmount.co.uk and visit our accessibility page .

The steep island slopes aren’t navigable by pushchair, but we do have a pushchair park so that you can leave them until ready to collect again. However, the cobbled causeway can also be tricky to cross with a pushchair, so it’s best to leave anything with wheels in the car and opt for a hipster or baby carrier for the day instead.

Yes, there are baby changing facilities on the island. Take a look at our families page to find out more about what’s here.

Yes, you’ll find toilets next to the Island Shop and in the courtyard by the Mount Shop. We have an accessible toilet situated on the east side of the island and on the harbour front. Please ask a guide for directions to the nearest toilet when you are here.

There are two food outlets on St Michael’s Mount: the Island Café, The Harbour Loft, and during the summer season we have a number of pop-ups serving takeaway food and drinks.  Find out more about food and drink.

Our food is freshly prepared and we cater for different diets where possible – just let us know how we can help when ordering.

We’re passionate supporters of local producers, so we work with Cornish suppliers whenever we can. Our food and drink outlets use local vegetables, herbs, meat, fish, dairy and flour (to name just a few) and our shops stock local food, gifts and homeware. And of course, our plant sales shop offers island-grown plants to take home.

During the summer season, when our boats are running, you will be notified at the time of booking if your ticket requires a boat to go to and from the island, or whether you can walk across the causeway.
Causeway times may sound complicated, but there’s nothing you need to do –  you’ll automatically be notified about whether your time slot requires you to walk - you can also check the Causeway times here.

During the winter season we do not operate boats.  You will only be able to access the island by foot, when the causeway is open during normal business hours. Check opening times here.

When you book a ticket to the castle or garden terraces, you’ll be allocated a particular arrival time for your visit. We ask that you aim to arrive at the first island checkpoint (at the island end of the causeway) at this time. To do this, you’ll need to be at the boat departure point in Marazion approx 30 minutes before your island arrival time. Boat crossings take approx 10 minutes, depending on which landing you are heading to. Please note: boats do not run during the winter months.

Depending on your mobility and numbers of people crossing, walking across the causeway can take up to 15 minutes.

If you are running late and our boats are still operating, we will try our best to get you onto another boat.

We will try our best to get you onto the island, but this is not guaranteed.

Please park in our St Michael’s Mount and Long Stay Marazion car park. The postcode satnav reference for this carpark is TR17 0EG and may be marked as Folly Field on your map. Parking tariffs apply to all visitors. Please visit our car parking page to find out more. 

When our boats are running, boat tickets can be purchased from our website or from our tour guides stationed on the relevant boat landing on the day (subject to availability). 

No, you must buy a boat ticket to coincide with your garden, Afternoon Tea or castle visit. Boat tickets are not available for boat trips only.

To find out causeway opening and closing times on the day you visit please use our very simple Causeway Calculator.  Just click on the date of your visit and you will see the opening and closing times of the causeway.

During the summer season, when our boats are running, our boats will depart from the mainland from one of three landing points depending on the height of the tide – Chapel Rock, Gwelva and Top Tieb.  Return boats will run from the island harbour to one of these landings, depending on the height of the tide. You can buy return boat tickets on the island. You will be directed to your boat landing by our guides on the day. Approximate walking times to the landings from the main visitor/overflow car parks:

Chapel Rock - the little rock on the beach, opposite the Mount - allow at least 5-10 minutes

Gwelva - head into the town and past The Godolphin, turn right just after Out of the Blue, follow the Orange signs -  allow at least 10-15 minutes

Top Tieb - go through the town, turn right just before the Copper Spoon and head down Leys Lane, following the Green signs - allow at least 15-20 minutes

Please take these times into account when paying for parking.

We recommend you bring layers as you may leave the mainland in full sun and return to the mainland in pouring rain (and vice versa!)
You must wear full clothing and footwear in the castle and church. As the terrain is steep and uneven, walking shoes/boots or trainers are recommended to navigate the cobbled causeway, paths and the rocky climb up to the castle.

Our shops are open when the island is open.

Yes, we encourage contactless payments where possible.

A ticket to the castle will also provide you with access to the island itself, as well as the gun batteries, shops, cafés, harbour village and lawns. Your ticket will show a time to arrive at the island, and you should aim to arrive at this time (not before). Once you’re here, you can visit the castle whenever it suits you. A castle ticket does not give you access to the garden (including the walled garden and terraces); if you’d like to visit these areas, you will need to book a combi ticket. There is enough time to visit both the castle and garden in one day.

A ticket to the garden will also provide you with access to the island itself, as well as the gun batteries, shops, cafés, harbour village and lawns. Your ticket will show a time to arrive at the island, and you should aim to arrive at this time (not before). Once you’re here, you can visit the garden whenever it suits you. A garden ticket does not give you access to the castle; if you’d like to visit these areas, you will need to book a combi ticket. There is enough time to visit both the garden and castle in one day.

You can book a ticket easily and quickly through our online booking system. If your preferred date and time is not available, you’ll need to try an alternative date. 

If you’re a National Trust member, you won’t need to pay for a ticket, but you’ll still need to book one. You will be asked to present both your ticket and National Trust card at the first checkpoint. Car parking and boats to/from the island are not National Trust services and are therefore charged separately. 

Depending on availability, you may be able to book a ticket on the same day that you’d like to visit. However, numbers are limited, so wherever possible we advise that you book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Tickets should be booked online in advance to avoid disappointment. However, tickets can be purchased on the day if spaces are available. 

Refunds on tickets are given in certain circumstances. Please email enquiries@stmichaelsmount.co.uk if you wish to discuss a refund.

Dogs are welcome to visit the harbour and village only at certain times of the year. Assistance dogs are welcome at all times. Please read more about our dog policy here.

Please make a note on your booking if you will be bringing an assistance dog with you. 

To some extent this depends on which ticket type you have, but to experience everything our island has to offer, including the walk there and back, a visit to the shops and cafés, the castle and the gardens, it will take, on average, around four hours. You can of course leave earlier or later, but be aware that last entry to the castle and the garden is at 4pm and you must make sure you can either walk back on the causeway, or boat back across the sea, before we close at 5pm.

Unlike the majority of other National Trust properties the ownership of St Michael’s Mount is shared between the National Trust and the St Aubyn family. This follows a gift of a large part of the island to the National Trust in 1954.
As part of that gift to the National Trust, the St Aubyn family continues to live in the castle under a 999-year lease, as well as running the visitor business under licence from the National Trust. The St Aubyn family also retain freehold ownership of parts of the island, including the garden which they allow National Trust members to visit for free.
To achieve a safe, enjoyable experience for all our visitors, there is a limit on the number of visitors on the island at any one time. We achieve this through controlling how many tickets are issued and spreading these out through the day. The number of tickets per day is allocated evenly between paying visitors and National Trust members. There will be certain days, particularly during the main season, when one allocation books out before the other and we are sorry for the disappointment that this may cause.

Unlike the majority of other National Trust properties the ownership of St Michael’s Mount is shared between the National Trust and the St Aubyn family. This follows a gift of a large part of the island to the National Trust in 1954.
As part of that gift to the National Trust, the St Aubyn family continues to live in the castle under a 999-year lease, as well as running the visitor business under licence from the National Trust. The St Aubyn family also retain freehold ownership of parts of the island, including the garden which they allow National Trust members to visit for free.
To achieve a safe, enjoyable experience for all our visitors, there is a limit on the number of visitors on the island at any one time. We achieve this through controlling how many tickets are issued and spreading these out through the day. The number of tickets per day is allocated evenly between paying visitors and National Trust members. There will be certain days, particularly during the main season, when one allocation books out before the other and we are sorry for the disappointment that this may cause.

To ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for all our visitors, there is a limit on the number of visitors that we can welcome on the island at any one time during the busiest times of the year.

During the winter season anyone can access the harbour, village, café and shop free of charge. No ticket is required. 

St Michael’s Mount has a resident population that also works on the island. It is important that resident staff have time off from work without visitors being present on the island so that they can enjoy their homes and have family time.

Filming with drones is not permitted on the beach, causeway, car parks, or anywhere on the island as this area is covered by a Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ). 
In addition to the consent that is required under the FRZ status to fly a drone, consent in writing is also required from St Aubyn Estates.

To seek permission, please contact: press@stmichaelsmount.co.uk

During the summer season, last entry to both Castle and Gardens is at 4:00pm. For combination tickets, you must be at the last checkpoint of your visit before this time. Late arrivals may not be able to enter and refunds will not be given.

During the winter season last entry is one hour and fifteen minutes before the causeway closes. This is weather dependent.

Dwell time on St Michael’s Mount will vary depending on ticket type and how long you decide to stay on the island. For a combination ticket, dwell time is generally between two to four hours on the island. For a single ticket, dwell time is generally between one and two hours on the island. Late time slots need to be mindful that last entry to garden and castle is at 4pm and the island closes at 5pm.

Our garden is fragile and as a consequence the number of days that it is open to the public has to be carefully managed to limit wear and tear. We continually review the condition of the garden with our Head Gardener.

The island will only close due to very strong winds or very rough seas and when we deem it unsafe to open - we call these ‘Black Flag’ days. If this happens, you will be informed in advance by email and you will receive a full refund to your bank account within seven working days. We will also update on any bad weather closures on our website and across all of our social media channels. We will not close just because it is raining.

St Michael’s Mount is one of the UK’s most popular visitor destinations. We sell tickets in limited capacity timed slots to manage visitor numbers on the island and spread footfall throughout the day.

No, during the summer season, when our boats are running, you can buy a boat ticket back to the mainland at any time during your visit. They can be purchased from our shops and cafés. As we don’t limit your time on the island, you may choose to walk back if the causeway is open, or boat back if the causeway is closed.

Tickets are released 8 weeks in advance and normally become available on Mondays.

The Garden is not always open. “Combination” and “Garden” tickets are only available on days when the Garden is open. Please try booking “Castle” tickets if you cannot see any availability on your preferred day (please be aware that we are always closed on Saturdays).

Yes, the Mount is closed every Saturday to allow those who live and work here to have a day of rest and relaxation with their families.

Yes, please book all tickets using the ticket platform online.  Book now.

Yes, family tickets are available and an automatic discount is applied at the checkout stage of your booking.

Please visit our Groups Information page

It should be quicker and easier to book your tickets online. However, if this isn’t possible, please call us on 01736 887822 or email tickets@stmichaelsmount.co.uk

Overseas visitors with National Trust Touring passes should book a National Trust ticket. Please bring the National Trust Touring pass with you on the day and present it to the guides with your tickets on arrival.