Pickering Castle is a well-preserved Norman motte-and-bailey castle on the edge of Pickering market town in North Yorkshire, managed by English Heritage as a paid visitor attraction. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips for planning your visit.
This guide was last updated in March 2026 to reflect the 2026/27 admission prices, valid from 28 March 2026. Pickering Castle closes entirely from November to March. Parking at the castle is currently free for all visitors. Note also that the footbridge near Coleman’s Tower is currently closed for essential repairs; wheelchair users and those with restricted mobility should be aware that the alternative route is longer and includes uneven ground.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Castlegate, Pickering, North Yorkshire YO18 7AX |
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm (late March to late October only; closed November to March) |
| Adult ticket | £6.88–£8.50 depending on date and day |
| Nearest train | Pickering (North Yorkshire Moors Railway, seasonal) |
| Parking | Car park 75 metres from entrance; currently free for all visitors |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
Pickering Castle opening hours
Pickering Castle is closed from early November to late March. There is no winter weekend opening, no half-term opening, and no Christmas-period opening. The 2026/27 schedule is:
- 28 March – 24 October: daily, 10am–5pm
- 25 October – 1 November: daily, 10am–4pm
- 2 November – 27 March 2027: closed
Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Opening hours last updated in March 2026.
Pickering Castle ticket prices
At Pickering Castle the Super Saver rate applies on Fridays and Saturdays — the cheapest rate falls on Sundays to Thursdays outside peak summer, the reverse of most English Heritage sites. English Heritage members enter free. Concessions apply to visitors aged 65+, students with a valid ID, and jobseekers with relevant ID.
Super Saver — Fri–Sat, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily, 2 Nov–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £6.88 |
| Concession | £6.12 |
| Child | £3.40 |
Saver — Sun–Thu, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Fri–Sat, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £7.65 |
| Concession | £6.88 |
| Child | £3.82 |
Standard — Sun–Thu, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £8.50 |
| Concession | £7.65 |
| Child | £4.25 |
Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount. Not included in any city pass scheme. Ticket prices last updated in March 2026.
Is it worth paying for English Heritage membership?
Entry prices for English Heritage sites, including Dover Castle, Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle, can seem extremely expensive. This is clearly a deliberate ploy to push visitors towards taking out annual English Heritage membership.
Membership gives free access to more than 400 sites across the country, and costs £82. That is, unless you get a special deal – there was a 25%-off Black Friday deal in November 2025, for example.
Whether that £82 is worth it depends on how many sites are near you (there are lots in the south of the country, not so many near me in Yorkshire). And, critically, whether you’re going to visit them with children.
Each member can take up to six children with them free of charge. Given the steep one-time entry fees, an adult member with two children is likely to recoup the cost of their membership by visiting just two or three sites within the year.
For an individual without children, I’d say English Heritage membership is worth it only if you’re planning to blitz a few sites in one year. For an individual with children, membership is a smart investment that will likely pay itself back within one school holiday. To me, it’s a no-brainer.
The real question is whether it’s worth renewing English Heritage membership after a year. That’s debatable, as you’re unlikely to go to many of these sites twice. I eventually renewed after I was offered 20% off the price. I’ll probably recoup the membership price visiting two sites in summer next year, even if I’ve ticked off most of the best ones near me.
If you buy membership through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How to get to Pickering Castle
Pickering Castle is on Castlegate, a short uphill walk from Pickering market place, on the A170 between Scarborough and Helmsley.
By steam railway: Pickering station is the southern terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), an 18-mile heritage steam railway to Whitby. The NYMR is seasonal — not year-round — and connects to National Rail at Whitby. The station is ~10 minutes’ walk from the castle. Check nymr.co.uk for dates and timetables.
By bus: Services including Yorkshire Coastliner 840, Scarborough & District 128, and seasonal Moorsbus routes serve Pickering. Check traveline.info.
By car: Postcode YO18 7AX on the A170.
Parking at Pickering Castle
A car park with a loose gravel surface is 75 metres from the castle entrance. Parking is currently free for all visitors, including non-members — an unusual arrangement for an English Heritage site. There are no marked disabled bays, but some spaces for disabled visitors are available nearer the entrance. Disabled visitors can be set down at the entrance. Note that the gravel surface may affect wheelchair users and pushchairs.
How long to spend at Pickering Castle
Most visitors spend 1 to 1.5 hours. The motte climb, shell keep, curtain wall walk, chapel exhibition, and towers can all be seen within this time. The site’s wildlife — 45+ species of wildflower on site, and kestrels that sometimes nest here — adds interest for those who take their time.
Accessibility at Pickering Castle
Step-free access is available to the chapel exhibition. The rest of the site is grass and rough, uneven pathways. The motte stairway (~80 steps) is not accessible for wheelchair users. Castle buildings are reached by stone and wooden staircases. The Chapel and Diate Tower have areas of low lighting.
The footbridge near Coleman’s Tower is currently closed for essential repairs. Wheelchair users and those with restricted mobility face a longer alternative route including uneven ground. Check the English Heritage website before visiting. A wheelchair is available if booked in advance — call 01751 474989. Gravel paths run from the car park to the ticket office; the rest is grass. Dog bowls are at the ticket office. Dogs on leads are welcome. Toilets are on site.
Inside Pickering Castle: what to see
Pickering Castle was established by William the Conqueror around 1069–70 during the Harrying of the North. Its unusual design features two baileys — one north and one south of the motte — with the shell keep between them. The motte stands 20 metres high. Stone buildings replaced timber defences from c.1180, and the castle served as a base for managing the Royal Forest of Pickering and administering forest law, including imprisoning poachers.
The shell keep atop the motte is reached by approximately 80 steps and offers views across the Vale of Pickering and the North York Moors. The Coleman Tower served as the prison entrance to the inner ward; its ground floor had no windows or inner stairs. Rosamund’s Tower (a postern gate) was deliberately built without interior ground-floor stairs to prevent attackers from accessing upper levels. Mill Tower and Diate Tower are also accessible.
The chapel exhibition has new exhibits including medieval arrowheads, a knife blade, spurs, and manacles from the site. The site supports over 45 species of wildflower and kestrels sometimes nest in the castle walls. The shop sells hot and cold drinks, ice cream, gifts, and toys — the only refreshment on site, as there is no café. Picnic benches are around the grounds.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Closed November to March | No winter opening of any kind. The castle closes at the end of October and does not reopen until late March. |
| Parking is currently free | Unusually, the car park is free for all visitors including non-members. |
| Super Saver is Fri–Sat | The cheapest rate falls Sun–Thu outside peak summer — the reverse of most English Heritage sites. |
| Footbridge closed | The footbridge near Coleman’s Tower is closed for repairs. Wheelchair users and restricted-mobility visitors face a longer alternative route with uneven ground. Check the EH website for current status. |
| Combine with North Yorkshire Moors Railway | Pickering is the southern terminus of the NYMR steam railway to Whitby. The station is ~10 minutes’ walk from the castle (seasonal). |
| 80 steps to the keep | The motte stairway is steep and approximately 80 steps. Views from the top are a highlight of the visit. |
| Shop sells hot drinks | There is no café, but the shop sells hot and cold drinks alongside gifts and ice cream. |
Frequently asked questions about Pickering Castle
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Pickering Castle open in winter? | No. It closes at the end of October and does not reopen until late March. There is no winter opening. |
| Is parking free at Pickering Castle? | Currently yes — the car park is free for all visitors including non-members. Check the English Heritage website as this may change. |
| Is Pickering Castle accessible for wheelchair users? | The chapel exhibition is step-free. The rest of the site is grass and uneven terrain. The motte stairway is not wheelchair accessible. The footbridge near Coleman’s Tower is currently closed, adding a longer uneven alternative route for accessible visitors. Call 01751 474989 to arrange a tailored tour. |
| Is there a café at Pickering Castle? | No. The shop sells hot and cold drinks, snacks, and ice cream. Picnic benches are available around the site. |
| Are dogs allowed at Pickering Castle? | Yes. Dogs on leads are welcome. Dog bowls are at the ticket office entrance. |
| Is Pickering Castle free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free and can bring up to six children free. |
Things to do near Pickering Castle
North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs 18 miles from Pickering to Whitby via the national park — one of England’s busiest heritage steam railways, connecting to National Rail at Whitby. Helmsley Castle (English Heritage, ~14 miles west) is a ruined medieval castle with a walled garden; members free. Rievaulx Abbey (English Heritage, ~16 miles west) is one of England’s greatest Cistercian ruins in a spectacular valley; members free. Scarborough Castle (English Heritage, ~15 miles east) is a headland fortress above Scarborough Bay; members free. Ryedale Folk Museum in Hutton-le-Hole (~8 miles north) is an open-air Yorkshire rural life museum; charges apply.
More North Yorkshire travel
Other North Yorkshire travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- What to expect at Ripon Cathedral.
- Guide to visiting Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.
- The best bits of Byland Abbey.
- Practical visitor guides to Malham Cove, the Ribblehead Viaduct, Aysgarth Falls and Linton Falls in the Yorkshire Dales.
- Complete guide to visiting Stump Cross Caverns.
