Essential Information

Contact Details:

Address: Pontefract Castle, Castle Chain, Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF8 1QH

Email: castles@wakefield.gov.uk

Enquiries: 01977 723440

School visits: 01924 302700

Christmas Opening Hours

• 20 December - 23rd December - open as usual
• 24 December Christmas Eve 8:30am - 1pm

Pontefract Castle will be closed from 25 December until Monday 3 January, reopening at 8:30am on Tuesday 4th January.

Opening Hours (From 1 October - 31 March 2022)

Grounds:

• Monday - Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm
• Saturday & Sunday: 9:30am - 4:30pm

Visitor Centre and Gift Shop:

• Wednesday - Sunday: 10am - 4pm
• Monday and Tuesday: Closed

Liquorice Cafe

The Liquorice Cafe is now closed for the winter and is due to reopen in April 2022.

Toilets:

• Monday - Sunday: 10am - 4pm (closed at 12 noon for cleaning)

Playarea:

• open daily 10am - 4pm

The toilets and play area will close at certain times to enable additional cleaning to take place

Please note the activity zone is currently closed except for booked activities.

Getting Here:

We are located on the edge of Pontefract, just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre. 

By Car and Coach:
Easily accessible from the A1 or Junction 32 of the M62. Follow the brown tourism parking signs for the castle or use WF8 2JF in your sat nav. There is a coach turning circle located here.

Public Transport:
The castle is 0.4 miles from Pontefract Bus Station, Baghill Railway Station and Monkhill Railway Station. Tanshelf Railway Station is approximately one mile away.  Visit wymetro.com for full details.

Parking:

Car Park:
Our car park is free and is located directly behind the castle. The postcode is WF8 2JF.

Disabled Parking and Drop-Off:
Our car drop-off point and two disabled parking bays are accessed via a different route on Castle Chain, located at the front of the castle. Please use WF8 1QH in your sat nav.

Please note... the disabled parking area at the front of the castle is a dead end with no turning space for coaches. There is a turning circle for coaches located opposite the castle car park, follow WF8 2JF.

Coach Parking:
Coach parking is available at Friarwood Car Park for a flat rate of £6 per day. Please use WF8 1QY in your sat nav.

Other Car Parks:
Please note the castle car park fills up quickly on events days. There is parking available nearby town centre car parks within easy walking distance of the castle (please note, there may be charges for these car parks). For more information on parking in Pontefract, click here. 

Dungeon Tours:

Dungeon tours are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday, charge applies. For more information please click here

Dogs:

Dogs are welcome but they must be kept on a lead at all times. Only assistance dogs are allowed inside the Visitor Centre and The Liquorice Cafe.
 

Smoking and E-cigarettes:

Pontefract Castle is a non-smoking site, which includes e-cigarettes.
 

Access:

Download our access statement here.
 

Download a map of the castle site here.