Pontefract Castle

Visit Pontefract Castle, Key to the North!

Built in 1070 by Ilbert de Lacy, it has many stories to tell. It was a prison for Richard II, immortalised in Shakespeare’s plays, and an important fortress during the English Civil Wars.

 

Discover the captivating stories of the castle – and the people who lived there. Take a chilling tour of the dungeons and see where prisoners scratched their names into the dungeon walls.

Stand in the remains of the bakehouse and be transported to a time when the castle held lavish banquets, playing host to some of England’s most famous kings and queens!

Enjoy the sights and smells of our medieval herb garden and let the kids loose on the castle-themed play area featuring a battering ram swing, drawbridge, ramparts, and more! Round off your visit with a trip to our Gift Shop and a tasty treat from the Castle Coffee Shop.

 

We host lots of exciting events throughout the year, from our Easter Ilbert’s Dragon Egg Hunt, to the sensational summer Proms at the Castle and a range of Home Education workshops. Check https://bit.ly/WMandC-Events for the latest information.

For full visitor and access information, visit https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-castle

 

Castle Garth, Pontefract, WF8 1QH (SAT NAV WF8 2JF)


01977 723440
castles@wakefield.gov.uk
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