Knaresborough Castle and Courthouse Museum

Knaresborough Castle is a medieval fortress with Norman roots, rebuilt in the 1300s and set on a clifftop above the River Nidd. The grounds are open throughout the year and give you sweeping views over the river and the famous railway viaduct below. Inside, the Courthouse Museum houses an original Tudor courtroom and displays that bring Knaresborough's royal and local history to life.

There is plenty to keep children occupied beyond the history itself. The newly renovated Castle Critters activity room has castle crafting workshops, foam building blocks, a play kitchen, a reading corner and LEGO building. For those who want to go a bit further, Sally Port tours take you into the secret underground tunnel once used for escapes and attacks during sieges. Putting and bowling are also available in the grounds.

Admission to the castle and museum costs £4.40 for adults, £2.50 for children up to 16, £3.40 for concessions, and £13 for a family ticket of up to five people. The grounds are accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs, though access to the historic buildings themselves is limited.

The castle is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 4:30pm during the summer season (April to October), with reduced hours Wednesday to Saturday in winter. Dogs are welcome in the grounds but not inside the buildings. It sits just a few minutes from Knaresborough town centre, so it pairs well with a walk down to the riverside or a visit to nearby Mother Shipton's Cave.