Pontefract Castle (official)

Pontefract Castle (official) Pontefract Castle, Key to the North! Built around 1086 by Ilbert de Lacy, it has many stories to tell... The principal royal castle in the North of England.
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Described by Edward I as "the key to the North". The ruins are now open to the public to enjoy. Free entry and booking not required. Visitor Centre and Gift Shop open Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 4pm. Toilets open daily. Children's play area open 10-4pm daily. Events, workshops, tours, talks and family activities take place throughout the year. For further details please go to https://experiencewakefield.co.uk/venue/pontefract-castle/

Fancy trying something new? There's some spaces left on our upcoming Have a Dabble - Pressed flowers (16+) workshops!📅 T...
29/05/2026

Fancy trying something new? There's some spaces left on our upcoming Have a Dabble - Pressed flowers (16+) workshops!

📅 Tuesday 2 June, 1:30pm and 4:30pm
🎟 £10 per person, booking required at https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/whats-on/had-pressed-flowers/

Make a flower press and use pressed flora to create a delicate lantern. Be inspired by the magical medieval herb garden at Pontefract Castle, and the gardens of the past.

Use a variety of materials to make your own spellbinding lantern, including pre-pressed flowers. Give your new flower press a go and capture some of our herb garden specimens.

All materials, skilled instruction and light refreshments included.

Just taking a moment to admire the beautiful symmetry of our woad plants! 🌿Woad is one of over 160 varieties of historic...
28/05/2026

Just taking a moment to admire the beautiful symmetry of our woad plants! 🌿

Woad is one of over 160 varieties of historic plants we grow in our Medieval Herb Garden.

From alexanders to yew (no z, sorry) our fantastic volunteers keep the garden in tip-top condition.

They also write a weekly blog full of facts, folklore and gardening guidance! Have a browse at https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/visit/pontefract-castle/medieval-herb-garden-blogs/

What wild weather - don't worry, we're not on fire! 😶‍🌫️That huge downpour followed by the sun coming back out has the w...
28/05/2026

What wild weather - don't worry, we're not on fire! 😶‍🌫️

That huge downpour followed by the sun coming back out has the water steaming off the roof of the Visitor Centre. It's quite the sight!

We're open as normal today, come rain or shine. It's Discovery day: powerful pollinators and there's the Pontefract pollinators trail. All free!

Did you get any photos of the thunderstorms near you? Bonus points if you got the castle in your photos! Show them off in the comments 📸⛈️

🐝 Today Thursday 28 May - Discovery day: powerful pollinators 🐝11am to 3pmBeekeeping has existed for thousands of years....
28/05/2026

🐝 Today Thursday 28 May - Discovery day: powerful pollinators 🐝
11am to 3pm

Beekeeping has existed for thousands of years. Find out more about beekeeping from Wakefield and Pontefract Beekeepers Association. Learn how people look after bees, and meet the bees!

Test your bug spotting skills. Learn how to survey nature. Join in a mini bioblitz.

It'll be the bee's knees.

Free and no booking required!

Cheaper kids' theatre tickets with Great British Summer Savings! ☀🎭Thanks to the Government’s Great British Summer Savin...
27/05/2026

Cheaper kids' theatre tickets with Great British Summer Savings! ☀🎭

Thanks to the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme, VAT on children’s tickets has been reduced this summer.

We’re passing this saving on. There's now lower prices on children’s tickets for performances from 25 June to 1 September 2026.

This covers our two awesome outdoor theatre peformances:
⚔ The Three Musketeers - outdoor theatre (Saturday 8 August)
💕 Shakespeare’s As You Like It - outdoor theatre (Thursday 20 August)

Book now at www.ticketsource.com/pontefract-castle

Wakefield Council Experience Wakefield Yorkshire Tots to Teens Wakefield Mumbler Wakefield Libraries The HandleBards Illyria

🌸Today Wednesday 27 May: Plants for pollinators 🌸 11am to 2pmLearn about the marvellous medieval herb garden at Pontefra...
27/05/2026

🌸Today Wednesday 27 May: Plants for pollinators 🌸
11am to 2pm

Learn about the marvellous medieval herb garden at Pontefract Castle! Discover the many different plants and flowers that grow here.

Make a paper plant pot. Plant some bee-friendly flowers in it to grow through the summer.

All activities free and no booking required!

26/05/2026

Proms at the Castle returns on Saturday 20 June!

It's a wonderful evening of orchestral music and fireworks, but don't just take our word for it, hear from last year's attendees about what makes Proms at the Castle so special ✨

Buy your tickets now at: https://wmandc.co/proms

What a glorious bank holiday Monday - perfect for exploring your local castle 🏰☀Join us for:🏰 Historic adventures☕ Catch...
25/05/2026

What a glorious bank holiday Monday - perfect for exploring your local castle 🏰☀

Join us for:
🏰 Historic adventures
☕ Catching up over a cuppa at The Keep Café (open everyday in half term)
🥪 Picnics on the bailey
🏃‍♀️ Running off steam in the castle playground
🌸 Exploring nature on the Pontefract pollinators trail

Free entry, no ticket needed.
Castle grounds open 8:30am to 5pm (last entry 4:30pm)

There's some rare spaces left on our SEND half term sessions 💜🌱 SEND session: Plants for pollinators 📅 Wed 27 May, 10am ...
24/05/2026

There's some rare spaces left on our SEND half term sessions 💜

🌱 SEND session: Plants for pollinators
📅 Wed 27 May, 10am to 11am
🎟 Free, booking required

Learn about the marvellous medieval herb garden! Discover the many different plants and flowers that grow here.
Make a paper plant pot. Plant some bee-friendly flowers in it to grow through the summer.

🐝 SEND session - Discovery day: powerful pollinators
📅 Thu 28 May, 10am to 11am
🎟 Free, booking required

Test your bug spotting skills. Learn how to survey nature. Join in a mini bioblitz.
Meet local beekeepers and the RSPB. Discover what local organisations are doing to help nature thrive.

Book our free SEND sessions at www.ticketsource.com/wakefield-museums-castles

Address

Castle Chain
Pontefract
WF81QH(PARKINGWF82JF)

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

01977 723 440

Website

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