Pontefract Castle

Discover a place where kings were feted, and killed. Explore the remnants of ferocious sieges, and Victorian pleasure grounds. Imagine loyal Royalist soldiers, and enterprising liquorice farmers. Visit Pontefract Castle.

Since its construction in 1070 until its destruction nearly six centuries later, this once-fearsome fortress dominated the politics and power balance of the entire Yorkshire region and beyond, earning the nickname, “Key to the North”.

So great was its infamy that Shakespeare included Pontefract Castle in two of his plays, Richard II (who was murdered at the castle) and Richard III.

During the Civil War, the castle endured three bitter sieges. Eventually, the Royalists were forced to concede defeat. Cromwell ordered the castle demolished, and it fell into disrepair.

Afterwards, the site was employed for a variety of unusual uses, including as a Victorian pleasure ground, as well as growing and storing Pontefract’s most famous crop – liquorice!

Today, the castle is a place of family-friendly adventure, with wide open spaces to explore and play, and fascinating ruins to investigate.

Discover the captivating stories of the castle in the History of Pontefract Castle displays. Be bold, and take a chilling tour of the dungeons – see where prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock. Stand in the remains of the bread ovens, and be transported to a time when the castle was equipped for lavish banquets, hosting some of England's most famous monarchs.

The Key to the North project was completed in the summer and on Yorkshire Day Historic England announced to hundreds of castle visitors that it would be removing the castle from its Heritage At Risk register when it is published in October.

This was one of the key aims of the project and is an acknowledgement of the commitment by Wakefield Council to protect the heritage for future generations. The £5 million project, which included a stunning new visitor centre, extensive conservation of the monument, a viewing platform, new paths and a bandstand, was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, the Council, the Wolfson Foundation and landfill charity EpaC.

If you haven't been for a while, now is the time to visit. We look forward to welcoming you soon!

Limited parking is available on site and in nearby town centre car parks.