This magnificent castle is one of the most imposing and intact in Britain and is an excellent place to go with kids if you’re visiting North Yorkshire. Lots of the castle is indoors, making it a good day out in both rainy days and sunny days. There’s enough to do to spend a couple of hours here, especially if your little ones have a budding history interest.
Tickets and Opening Times:
This castle is open 10am-4pm every day of the year except the 23rd to the 25th December.
Tickets can be bought at the castle or in advance online. Click here for more information on ticket prices.
Parking and Travelling:
There are multiple car parks in Skipton within walking distance of the Castle, but the closest one is the Bailey car park. Tickets can be booked online or paid on arrival.
Skipton has its own train station located in the centre of town, and connects travellers to Leeds, Bradford, Morecambe, Carlisle and other places.
Prams and Accessibility:
I do not recommend prams at Skipton Castle. The ground is mainly cobblestones and the are lots of winding, steep staircases. Instead, we used a sling. Visit your local sling library to get advice on such sling/ carrier would suit you best and how to wear it.
There is no wheelchair access at Skipton Castle.
Things to do with kids at Skipton Castle:
- Explore the Castle
Over 900 years old, Anne Clifford renovated the castle in the 1600’s. Because of this, you can explore so many rooms, such as the kitchens, great hall, dungeon, the ladies withdrawing chamber and more. To make it even more exciting for kids, you can buy them an activity book at the ticket office on entry.
2. See the Courtyard
The centrepiece of this beautiful courtyard is the yew tree planted by Lady Anne Clifford over 400 years ago! I remember visiting as a child and being in awe at this magnificent tree. There are also lots of things to spot in this courtyard.
3. Have a picnic or visit the Tea rooms
There is a large open grassy space that overlooks Skipton which is the perfect place for a picnic. There is plenty of room for the kids to run around playing knights and jesters as well as picnic tables. Also at the castle is a tea room, serving home made cakes and a selection of hot and cold drinks.
4. Visit the Gift Shop
An excellent castle gift shop, there is a whole corner dedicated to kids. There is a good mix of fiction and non-fiction books about knights, dragons, castles, Tudors and more, as well as colouring books, stickers and other activities.
Nearby things to do with kids:
In this free museum about Skipton and the local area of Craven, there are a lot of interactive displays for children to get involved in. They can have a go at weaving, dress up in historical costumes, guess what objects are through touch and much more. It is also a very accessible museum with room to push a pram around.
You can take a cruise down the Leeds/Liverpool canal on a boat in Skipton. There are lots of different options to suit you and your family, from 30 minute cruises to a whole day of hiring out a boat yourselves. Some of the cruises offer afternoon tea, fish and chips or a Sunday dinner, and you are provided with a commentary by the comedian Dave Spikey. You can enjoy a drink at the bar and admire the countryside as you sail past.
This is a fairly easy walk through the woods behind the castle, from which you can see lots of sheep in the field beyond and you might manage to catch sight of more wildlife, such as woodpeckers or robins. Some parts, indicated by a yellow arrow, are pram friendly, while other routes have lots of steps. There are also some steep drops into the valley below on this walk, so keep any toddlers close.
