Skipton Castle
Well-preserved, fully roofed medieval castle in Skipton with a Tudor courtyard, banqueting hall, medieval kitchen and a self-guided tour.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Skipton Castle was begun soon after 1090 by the Norman baron Robert de Romille as a timber fort. It was replaced by a stone castle on a rocky bluff above Eller Beck, which gave it a strong natural defence against Scottish raids. In 1310 Edward II granted the castle to Robert Clifford, and his family held it for centuries. Robert Clifford began to strengthen it heavily but was killed at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
During the English Civil War the castle was the last Royalist stronghold in the north, and it surrendered in December 1645 after a siege of about three years. Parliament ordered it to be made unusable, and its roofs were removed. Lady Anne Clifford, the last of her family to own it, later had the building repaired and planted a yew tree in the central courtyard in 1659 to mark the restoration. The tree still stands in the Conduit Court.
The castle remained with the Clifford family until 1676 and then passed through the Tufton family, the later Lords Hothfield. The Fattorini family bought it in 1956, and it is now run as a visitor attraction. It is fully roofed and unfurnished. Visitors follow a one-way route past the gatehouse, the Tudor Conduit Court, the banqueting hall, the medieval kitchen and the former chapel, with an illustrated tour sheet in ten languages.
Highlights
- Gatehouse, towers and Tudor Conduit Court with the yew tree planted in 1659
- Banqueting hall and medieval kitchen
- Shell grotto in the gatehouse tower
- Self-guided route with free tour sheets in ten languages
- Skipton Castle Woods behind the castle
- Founded
- 1090
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £12.80 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £11.80Visitors aged 65 and over |
| Children & teens | £8.60free up to age 4 · Children aged 5 to 17; under-5s are free. |
| Seniors | £11.80Aged 65 and over. |
| Groups (15+ people) | £11.80 per personReduced rate per adult for pre-booked adult groups of 15 or more; guides for pre-booked parties are included at no extra cost. |
| Families | £41.80Two adults and up to three children over 5. |
The published prices are for online booking, which guarantees a time slot and saves money; tickets can also be paid for on arrival by card only (no cash), and the on-the-day price is not published. All visitors under 18 receive a free Castle Explorer's badge. The Friends of Skipton Castle scheme gives repeat entry and a 10% discount in the shop and tearoom.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: not available
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
There is no wheelchair access into the castle: it has 27 steps up to the courtyard, spiral staircases, uneven floors and low doorways, and no lift can be installed. The grounds, the shop and the tearoom can be reached by wheelchair over a cobbled surface. Handrails are provided on stairways. Toilets are in the grounds, up a small footpath, and there are no accessible toilets. Dogs are allowed on a short lead in the castle but not in the shop or tearoom.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
| Family ticket | £41.80 · Two adults and up to three children over 5. |
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Baby changing facilities: not available
Children receive a Castle Explorer's badge, and the website offers printable colouring sheets, paper models and a wordsearch. Because of the many steps, prams are best left at reception. There are no baby changing facilities.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Skipton bus station · 5-min walk
The bus station is a five-minute walk and Skipton railway station a 12-minute walk from the castle. Bus X84 runs hourly from Leeds, with more frequent buses from Bradford and Keighley, and trains run regularly from Leeds and Bradford.
By car
Paid parking · 300 m to the entrance
The castle car park (satnav BD23 1UA) is about 300 metres beyond the gateway, with a short walk down to the entrance and no roads to cross. All-day parking is 4.80 pounds on weekdays; it can be booked online with the castle ticket or paid to the attendant by card.
The castle is at the top of Skipton High Street. Vehicles cannot drop visitors off at the gatehouse forecourt.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Clifford Tearooms serve cakes and light meals with vegetarian and gluten-free options. The shop sells books on the castle, prints, cards and souvenirs. There is a picnic area with views over the town.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
Ceremonies can be held in the ancient chapel, banqueting hall or granary for up to 80 guests. Several rooms can be hired for meetings, conferences and private events with advance booking.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | no |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The route is self-guided and one-way, with free illustrated tour sheets in ten languages (English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and Esperanto). Guided tours are offered to pre-booked groups of 15 or more. Schools can book interactive guided tours linked to the National Curriculum. |
