Pickering Castle

Pickering Castle is located in the heart of Pickering in North Yorkshire. It is a spectacular part of the country for its scenery and quaint little villages. Pickering is a bustling market town and it is certainly picturesque.

Pickering Castle review

The castle sits high on the hill and overlooks the town. It’s not somewhere you will spend more than 1-2 hours and the price reflects that. It is, however, somewhere that is worth a visit and perfect for stretching little legs.

There are plenty of information signs dotted around the grounds of the castle. Pickering Castle was built back in the 13th Century and it was used in many different ways. Such as a royal hunting lodge, holiday home and a stud farm by a succession of medieval kings. The large central mound of the motte dates back to the 12th Century. They have a few garden games dotted around which you are welcome to try out. In the past, the grassed areas have been used to house buildings for living or working in. There are still signs of some of these buildings to be found today.

The towers are now too dangerous to go up to the top floor. But there are a couple of towers that you can look inside. You can also still go inside the chapel that remains the most intact part of Pickering Castle. It has had some quite recent renovations. There are a few things to look at inside the chapel including a big book all about life back when the castle was in use.

There are no paths as such at Pickering Castle. Most of it should be accessible to buggies but not so much for wheelchairs. You will not be able to get up to the highest point of the motte though as that has a lot of stairs to walk up. It’s well worth the effort of getting up there as there are some lovely views to be seen. If you want to extend your visit there is a relatively rough path that goes all the way around the outside of Pickering Castle. This takes around 20 minutes to walk.

Looking towards the chapel and motte at Pickering castle

Pickering Castle English Heritage Review | Cedar Barn Miniature railway

Important Information Pickering Castle

Is there food and drink available?

There is no cafe on-site but there are places to eat in Pickering.

What are the main things to do?

Ruined castle run by English Heritage perfect for exploring. There are toilets in the car park.

What are the ticket prices?

Free for members of English Heritage. An adult ticket without donation is £5.90 and children aged 5-17 are £3.50. Under 5s are free, other pricing options are available including family tickets.
Prices are subject to change and/or discounts online.