Flamborough Head Lighthouse Visitor Centre
Trinity House lighthouse on Flamborough Head with a visitor centre and tower tours; currently closed to visitors, with no reopening date announced.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
A lighthouse was first planned on the Flamborough headland in 1669, but that tower was never lit. The present lighthouse was built in 1806 to a design by Samuel Wyatt and shone for the first time on 1 December that year. It acts as a waypoint for deep-sea and coastal shipping and marks the headland for vessels heading for the ports of Scarborough and Bridlington.
The light was electrified in 1940, and the tower was automated in 1996, when the last keepers left. Today it is monitored remotely from the Trinity House planning centre in Harwich. In a recent modernisation project, new LED lanterns replaced the earlier lighting equipment, and the redundant optic is now displayed at the foot of the tower.
Trinity House, the charity that acts as a general lighthouse authority, ran a small visitor centre here and offered climbing tours of the tower. Visitors had to be at least 1.1 metres tall and able to manage the staircases unaided. By May 2025 the lighthouse had closed to visitors, and no reopening date has been published since.
Highlights
- Lighthouse tower of 1806 designed by Samuel Wyatt
- Clifftop setting on the Flamborough headland
- Former lighthouse optic displayed at the foot of the tower
- Climbing tours of the tower when open (minimum height 1.1 m)
Permanent exhibition
- Former lighthouse optic – The old optic, replaced by LED lanterns during a modernisation project, is displayed at the bottom of the tower.
- Operated by
- Trinity House
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £5.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £4.50Child ticket for up to 15 years; minimum height 1.1 metres to climb the tower. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Out-of-hours group bookings: minimum charge £85. Groups of 10 or more book by telephone in advance. |
| Families | £182 adults and up to 2 children; additional child £2. |
These are the last prices published (2025) while the lighthouse was open. The visitor centre accepted cash payment only.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
All visitors, including children, must be able to climb and descend the tower staircases unaided. Visitors should wear sensible footwear.
Kids & families
| Family ticket | £18 · 2 adults and up to 2 children; additional child £2. |
|---|
Children were welcome but had to be at least 1.1 metres tall and able to climb and descend the stairs on their own.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
A car park is next to the lighthouse.
The lighthouse stands 1.2 miles from Flamborough village on the B1259.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The lighthouse is currently closed to visitors and no reopening date has been published.
Events & venue rental
The lighthouse is currently closed to visitors and no reopening date has been published.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Tower tours were taken in small groups. Prompt arrival at the visitor centre was essential. Groups of ten or more booked by telephone in advance. |
