Ilkley Manor House
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Ilkley
What it’s like
Free self-guided wander round an old manor house with a Roman fort panel to spot, open weekend afternoons.
There's no ticket desk here and no queue, just a self-guided potter round the house at your own pace. The interpretation panel on the Roman fort is the bit worth pointing out to a curious eight-year-old, and if you time it right there's the Autumn Owls event to catch too. It's free entry, which makes it an easy one to slot into a Saturday without committing the whole day to it.
It only opens Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 4pm, so this is a weekend plan rather than a rainy Tuesday one. The first floor is up 18 steps with no lift, which is a proper faff if you've got a buggy or anyone who can't manage stairs, so you may end up seeing half the house rather than all of it.
Roof works are running from early September 2026, and the pedestrian route between Riverside Gardens and Castle Yard gets blocked off while that's going on. The building itself stays open through the works, but it's worth knowing your usual way round might not be the one you get on the day. Parking is on-street on New Brook Street and Bridge Lane, or the main town car park if those are full, and that one charges.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Older kids who'll read the Roman fort panel and manage stairs
- Parking
- On-street parking on New Brook Street and Bridge Lane
- It's self-guided, so no set tour times to work around
- The Roman fort panel is a good spot for older kids who like a bit of history
- Group bookings can be arranged
- Weekend-only opening means no weekday visits
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
It's free entry.
What are the opening hours?
Weekends only, 11am to 4pm.
Is it buggy or wheelchair friendly?
The ground floor is fine but the first floor needs 18 steps with no lift, so that part isn't accessible if you can't manage stairs.
Where do we park?
On-street on New Brook Street or Bridge Lane, or the main town car park if you'd rather pay for certainty.
Will the roof works affect our visit?
The house stays open weekends through the works from early September 2026, but the path between Riverside Gardens and Castle Yard gets blocked off.
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