I am a history nut and was delighted to see that was a tour included in the price of admission. It starts at 10.30 am. I would really recommend it. Our wonderful guide, Charlie, was not only knowledgeable, but passionate. His family are from Guernsey; his great grandparents left to escape the occupation and returned in 1945. The island has seen it all. The castle is an absolute treasure trove of history and a stark reminder of what the islanders suffered during the war. There is a very loud gun salute at midday. Also the cafe served homemade walnut cake, which was delicious, and a very good pot of tea - as someone who drinks a lot of tea (it really is the answer to every problem), this is the true mark of a great cafe. I bought delightful hand painted Christmas baubles depicting Guernsey in the gift shop. If you are visiting Guernsey, you must go.

So much to see with three museums within the castle walls. The history stretches across centuries with significant evidence of the German occupation. Do allow at least 5 hours here taking in the canon firing at noon.

The place is big, but I was rushing a little in my visit being the last hour so didn't see everything but thankfully I only paid half price being close to closing time, I'm gutted i misses the afternoon gun but still always another chance to see again. Really great views and tonnes of history.

Brilliant place to visit. A must see if you are interested in the his of Guernsey, Castle Cornet's own history, the Guernsey RAF, 201 Squadron and much more. Get there for the mid-day gun for a unique experience.

A visit to the castle while exploring St. Peter Port is certainly recommended. Originally an English castle built on a tidal island in the 13th Century, its jumbled nature reflects fortification design changes over the centuries to meet evolving military technology (the castle was joined to the shore in 1859 when the harbour walls were extended). We took an excellent walking tour with Nev, an energetic gentleman with a wry sense of humour who showed us several of the castle’s nooks and crannies. He mentioned that during the English Civil War the castle was a Royalist stronghold on a Parliamentary island, and that the two sides halfheartedly traded cannon shots and skirmishes for nine years. We learned that the Governor of Guernsey lived there until lightning blew up the magazine in 1672, killing several members of his family and his staff. Nev showed us Witches Seats on the chimneys, the tall posts offshore that mark rocks that lurk under Guernsey’s high tides, several lovely gardens, the location of the noon day gun (cannon), and the utilitarian additions made by the occupying Germans in WW2. He also spoke about the three military museums within the walls (we later visited the excellent 201 Squadron RAF museum). Practical info: the castle is not wheelchair accessible, it has its own info page on the Guernsey Museums and Galleries website, the walk down the pier from the bus terminal takes about 10 minutes, and there is a café and gift shop onsite. Allow 2 hours if taking a tour; more if exploring the museums.