Located in the historic town of Pontefract, this once-fearsome fortress dominated Yorkshire and beyond earning itself the name of the Key to the North! Free Entry. Today, the castle is a place of family-friendly adventure, with wide open spaces, a play area and a fantastic view of the surrounding countryside. Ignite your imagination as you explore the ruins and discover fascinating stories of murdered Kings and secretive Queens before getting a tasty treat in the Castle Coffee Shop. If you're feeling brave enough, take a trip into the castle's dungeon on one of our guided tours (booking required). The Castle hosts a programme of events and activities throughout the year, including tours, talks, musical concerts and family workshops.
We took our kids here for the day as a new place to explore im glad we did. My 8 year old loved it. He's very into his history so walking around where there are boards with lots of information about the place itself was very enjoyable to him. I took my 17 month old in his pram and the only fault I had was the stairs to get down other then that it wasn't as bad as I thought before I showed up. The ladies in the gift shop were super helpful and enjoyed talking with my son
What a lovely place, I can't believe we haven't ever been before. Beautifully kept, lots to do, great views. The kids had a lovely time running around. Love the facts scattered around, the herbs and natural remedies, the bee spotting etc. The cafe looked lovely but we didn't eat, the park was great, the tipi was very much welcome with the heat. I can't recommend it anymore, definitely outshines sandal castle
Interesting place to visit, although much of the castle has gone they have managed to make the attracting quite interesting with information boards and an audio commentary system. The ground are well maintained and the cafe is just about right. Given that it's free to visit it's well worth a visit if you are in the area.
Kept in great condition by the local council. Cafe, shop and learning areas. Great views. Some of the past glory still visible.
Such a cool castle rooted with a lot of history. Famously being the place where Richard II was starved to death. The castle itself is free entry, I went on a tour of the dungeons which is well worth it, it dates back to the Norman times and contains graffiti from the 1640s during the civil war. Was PS2.00 per person, for so little it is very good. The cafe is lovely too, had a chocolate brownie and tea which was delicious. The castle also has events on including live music from time to time. Will definitely be coming back again
It's a lovely place with fascinating history and ample free parking. The site is well-maintained and clean. There's a cafe on-site; while the prices are somewhat high, the quality justifies the cost. It offers numerous photo opportunities, with many ruins to explore and stunning views to enjoy. I'm eager to visit again in the summer for even better weather. If you're seeking a day out, this is perfect. It's also family-friendly and dog-friendly.
On-site services
Assistive hearing loop
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Good for kids
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We took our kids here for the day as a new place to explore im glad we did. My 8 year old loved it. He's very into his history so walking around where there are boards with lots of information about the place itself was very enjoyable to him. I took my 17 month old in his pram and the only fault I had was the stairs to get down other then that it wasn't as bad as I thought before I showed up. The ladies in the gift shop were super helpful and enjoyed talking with my son
What a lovely place, I can't believe we haven't ever been before. Beautifully kept, lots to do, great views. The kids had a lovely time running around. Love the facts scattered around, the herbs and natural remedies, the bee spotting etc. The cafe looked lovely but we didn't eat, the park was great, the tipi was very much welcome with the heat. I can't recommend it anymore, definitely outshines sandal castle
Interesting place to visit, although much of the castle has gone they have managed to make the attracting quite interesting with information boards and an audio commentary system. The ground are well maintained and the cafe is just about right. Given that it's free to visit it's well worth a visit if you are in the area.
Kept in great condition by the local council. Cafe, shop and learning areas. Great views. Some of the past glory still visible.
Such a cool castle rooted with a lot of history. Famously being the place where Richard II was starved to death. The castle itself is free entry, I went on a tour of the dungeons which is well worth it, it dates back to the Norman times and contains graffiti from the 1640s during the civil war. Was PS2.00 per person, for so little it is very good. The cafe is lovely too, had a chocolate brownie and tea which was delicious. The castle also has events on including live music from time to time. Will definitely be coming back again
It's a lovely place with fascinating history and ample free parking. The site is well-maintained and clean. There's a cafe on-site; while the prices are somewhat high, the quality justifies the cost. It offers numerous photo opportunities, with many ruins to explore and stunning views to enjoy. I'm eager to visit again in the summer for even better weather. If you're seeking a day out, this is perfect. It's also family-friendly and dog-friendly.
