Ripley Castle
ENTRY
from £5
WHERE
Harrogate
What it’s like
A castle tour, a deer park, a walled garden and a lake with rafts, archery and kayaking to try outside.
The deer park is the obvious place to start, oak trees old enough to have seen a few centuries of Ingilby family history, fallow deer wandering about, herons and woodpeckers if you keep quiet and look up. It's a proper wander rather than a quick loop, and the ornamental lake and waterfall give younger legs a reason to keep going.
Beyond the park there's the Walled Garden, restored to its old design but planted up with modern colour, and the Hot Houses with tropical plants and cacti, though the site's upfront that most of the hothouses aren't accessible if you're pushing a wheelchair or a buggy that doesn't fold small. For the kids who'd rather do than look, there's archery, bushcraft, orienteering, body zorbing and kayaking or canoeing on the lake, plus the properly good idea of building your own raft and trying to cross the water in it. That last one is the bit to save for the end of the day, because nobody's getting back in a car quietly after that.
The castle itself is a guided tour rather than a wander round at your own pace, £19.50 for an adult and £5 for a child aged 6 to 18, and tours run Tuesday to Saturday. On the last Sunday of the month there's a Real Market in the courtyard, gardens and grounds go free to enter, and the tour shifts to Sunday instead of Saturday, with a discount code knocking half off the tour price too. Gardens and grounds are open 10am to 4pm every day regardless.
Food-wise you've got Grindhus Coffee from 9:30am and the Castle Tearoom from 10am, both with indoor and outdoor seating, though the Tearoom tables are first come first served and you can't book ahead. Parking charges apply round the clock and, a bit annoyingly, that includes Blue Badge holders too, because of the ANPR cameras. The first hour's £1 and can be redeemed in the shops if that softens the blow.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Charges apply 24/7. First hour (£1) can be redeemed in outlets
- Food
- Grindhus Coffee Shop (9:30am-4:30pm daily) and Castle Tearoom (10am-4pm daily) with indoor and outdoor seating
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair-accessible Tearoom with disabled toilets
- Worth knowing
- Gardens & Grounds free to enter on Market Days (last Sunday of each month)
- The raft building and lake crossing is the one to leave until last, wet kids are happy kids on the way home
- Blue Badge parking still gets charged, the cameras don't make exceptions
- Tearoom tables can't be pre-booked so turn up early if you want a seat
- Most hothouses aren't accessible but the Palm House is passable
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Gardens and grounds are covered by parking, but the Castle Guided Tour is £19.50 for an adult and £5 for a child aged 6 to 18, with £16 for over-60s and members. On Market Days gardens and grounds are free to enter and there's a 50% off code for the tour.
Do we need to book the castle tour?
The site doesn't mention a booking link, tours run Tuesday to Saturday, shifting to Sunday on Market Days instead of Saturday.
Is there parking?
Yes, but it's charged 24/7, even for Blue Badge holders because of the ANPR cameras. The first hour is £1 and can be redeemed in the outlets.
What time does everything open?
Gardens and grounds run 10am to 4pm every day. Grindhus Coffee opens a bit earlier at 9:30am and runs to 4:30pm, the Castle Tearoom is 10am to 4pm.
Is it OK for wheelchairs and buggies?
The Tearoom, disabled toilets and parking near the entrance are set up for it, and the gardens have level stone paths. Most hothouses aren't accessible though, and the park walk isn't recommended for wheelchair users.
Can we get food there?
Grindhus Coffee Shop and the Castle Tearoom both do indoor and outdoor seating. Tearoom tables are first come first served and can't be booked ahead.
What can the kids actually do outside?
Archery, bushcraft, orienteering, body zorbing, kayaking or canoeing on the lake, and building your own raft to cross it. Plus the deer park and walled garden if you want something calmer.
Is there a discount on Market Days?
Gardens and grounds are free to enter on the last Sunday of each month, and there's a code (MARKET50) for half off the Castle Guided Tour that day.
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