CATEGORY · A HUDDLEPIN LIST

Castles, Historic Houses & Heritage in York

York is thick with history minutes from the centre. Clifford's Tower gives you a steep climb up a Norman mound to a rooftop view over the whole city, York Castle Museum has that recreated Victorian street and two real prisons to poke about in for £8.60, and Museum Gardens are free, right by the river, with a squirrel and hedgehog trail between the ruins. Further out, Pontefract Castle offers free ruins to scramble round plus a playground, and out at Harewood there's a medieval castle ruin with three adventure play areas. For toddlers, Museum Gardens or Bedern Hall's squirrel trail are easy, low-cost mornings. Older kids who can walk a full circuit suit York Castle Museum or the York Dungeon, which is indoor and has jump scares from age five up. If you want grounds to roam, Nostell near Wakefield or Ripley Castle out at Harrogate mix castle tours with parkland and play. Allerton Castle near Knaresborough only opens one day a week, so plan around that.

25 places 3 upcoming events 7 free to visit

What's on: castles, historic houses & heritage

Grand stately home with formal gardens, manicured lawns and tree-lined grounds stretching into the distance.

WED 7 OCT · +17 MORE DATES

Dusting in the Old Library

Harewood Castle

Free

WED 7 OCT, 12:00 · +120 MORE DATES

Daily Talks

Harewood Castle

Ornate wooden hall with chandeliers, white chairs lining an aisle decorated with white and blue flowers leading to a grand staircase.

THU 3 DEC, 11:00

Christmas Open Day

Allerton Castle

Free

Places for castles, historic houses & heritage

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Two visitors stand outside a row of heritage shop fronts with vintage signage and hanging kitchenware.

Free

Abbey House Museum

Leeds

A free museum by Kirkstall Abbey with reconstructed Victorian streets to wander round.

Accessible toiletBaby changeChanging PlacesGroup bookings+2 more

Ancient Roman mosaic floor with geometric patterns and central medallion design in terracotta and stone tesserae.

Aldborough Roman Site

York

Wander a Roman town's remains with a chance to catch archaeologists mid-dig if your timing's right.

Allerton Castle

Knaresborough

A guided tour round a genuine North Yorkshire castle that only opens its doors one day a week.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredGroup bookingsFood on site+2 more

Historic stone building with pitched terracotta roof and iron railings, surrounded by trees on a sunny day.

Free

Bedern Hall

York

A free medieval hall near York Minster with a squirrel-themed activity trail and a courtyard café for afterwards.

CaféGroup bookingsIndoor seatingWheelchair accessible

Autumn parkland with golden and red foliage framing a grassy slope beneath clear blue sky.

from £8

Castle Howard Arboretum

York · ages 0-12

120 acres of trees to wander, red squirrels to spot, and gravel paths that actually work with a buggy.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBlue badge parking+7 more

Clifford's Tower, York

York

A steep climb up a Norman mound to a rooftop that opens up the whole of York in one go.

Harewood Castle

Leeds

A medieval castle ruin in the grounds with three adventure play areas outside and hands-on activities inside the house.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBirthday partiesCafé+13 more

Hazlewood Castle

Tadcaster

A pre booked history tour round an 11th century castle, plus woodland trails and trail bike hire outdoors.

Accessible toiletDog friendlyParkingRestaurant+3 more

Clear bright blue water with rippling surface.

Howsham Mill

York

An 18th century watermill on its own island, with a woodland riverbank walk and a barbecue spot for picnics.

EV chargingParkingPicnic areaWheelchair accessible

Aerial view of ruined medieval abbey surrounded by green lawns and trees, with residential areas visible in the distance.

Free

Kirkstall Abbey

Leeds

A ruined medieval abbey to wander round, with a café for tea and cake once the legs give out.

Baby changeCaféParkingToilets

Woman and two young children exploring a grand red dining room decorated with period portraits, candelabras and ornaments.

Lotherton

Leeds

Feed the Humboldt penguins, spot capybaras in Wildlife World, then poke round a historic house before cake in the café.

Baby changeBirthday partiesCaféGift shop+2 more

Medieval Walls

York

Climb a medieval tower's spiral staircase, work a model portcullis and sow wildflower seeds up on the ramparts.

Moth with mottled grey and white wings resting on moss-covered stone.

Free

Multangular Tower

York

Free Roman ruins to wander round in York Museum Gardens, with squirrels, birds and a picnic spot thrown in.

Accessible toiletBaby changeDog friendlyPicnics allowed+1 more

Free

Museum Gardens

York

Free gardens by the river where kids can hunt squirrels and hedgehogs on a trail quiz between the ruins and the museum.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféDog friendly+2 more

Grand Georgian stone mansion with columned portico set in spacious grounds with autumn trees and lawn.

from £7

Nostell

Wakefield

NT house and parkland near Wakefield - gardens, woodland play and tea-room for a full day.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféChanging Places+7 more

Medieval castle ruins with stone towers and fortified walls surrounded by grassed grounds under dramatic sky.

Pickering Castle

Pickering

A motte-top stone castle with three towers to explore and a trail that turns the ruins into a story to build.

A man carrying a young girl on his shoulders walks with a woman past a historic stone wall, all smiling.

Free

Pontefract Castle

Pontefract

Ruined castle ruins to scramble round for free, with a playground, dungeon tours and a café that lets dogs in too.

Accessible toiletBike parkingBreastfeeding friendlyCafé+4 more

Red Tower

York

A medieval brick tower on York's old walls that now doubles as a community café and occasional heritage open day spot.

CaféPicnic area

from £5

Ripley Castle

Harrogate

A castle tour, a deer park, a walled garden and a lake with rafts, archery and kayaking to try outside.

Accessible toiletCaféIndoor seatingParking+2 more

Modern waterfront museum building with distinctive tower beside moored narrowboats and leisure vessels on a city basin.

Free

Royal Armouries Museum

Leeds

Free armour museum by Leeds Dock - live combats, hands-on kits and a crossbow challenge.

Gift shopFood on siteToiletsWheelchair accessible

Historic stone buildings with domed and pitched roofs surrounded by mature trees and iron fencing in a parkland setting.

from £8

Sledmere Estate

Driffield

A working estate with a walled garden, farm animals, an adventure playground and a house full of family history to tour.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBooking requiredCafé+7 more

from £4.50

Sledmere House & Gardens

Driffield

Wide open parkland, an 18th century walled garden, farm animals and an adventure play area, with a grand house you can tour separately.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBooking requiredCafé+8 more

Man in period costume holding rope inside a dark dungeon setting.

from £19

The York Dungeon

York · ages 5+

Ten live-actor shows walk you through York's grislier history, dark rooms, jump scares and all, in a 75-minute loop.

Accessible toiletBooking requiredToiletsWheelchair accessible

from £8.60

York Castle Museum

York · ages 5+

A recreated Victorian street and two real prisons to poke about in, best tackled with kids who can walk the whole thing themselves.

CaféToiletsWheelchair accessibleBaby change+1 more

A bride and groom exchange vows during a wedding ceremony in an ornate green-walled hall with gilt columns, surrounded by seated guests.

from £3.50

York Mansion House

York · ages 0+

A working Georgian townhouse with puzzle trails and daily cooking demos, best tackled as a short indoor stop rather than a full morning.

Good to know: castles, historic houses & heritage in York

Are any of them free?

Yes, Abbey House Museum, Bedern Hall, Kirkstall Abbey, Multangular Tower and 3 more are free to visit.

What does a paid visit cost?

Paid entry starts from £3.50 at York Mansion House. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.

Which ones are indoor?

Royal Armouries Museum, The York Dungeon, York Castle Museum and York Mansion House are indoor, good to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day.

Whereabouts are they?

You'll find castles, historic houses & heritage in Leeds, York, Knaresborough, Tadcaster, Wakefield and 4 more. Every place we list is in or around York, and each listing has the full address and directions.