Richmond Castle is an 11th-century Norman fortress above the River Swale in Richmond, North Yorkshire, managed by English Heritage. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was last updated in March 2026 to reflect the 2026/27 admission prices, valid from 28 March 2026. Richmond Castle has no café — only a vending machine for hot drinks plus snacks — and no on-site parking. However, free parking for coaches (4–5 coaches) is available in the town, and ball games and kites are permitted in the castle grounds.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Riverside Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire DL10 4QW |
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm (summer); reduced days in winter (see below) |
| Adult ticket | £8.50–£10.79 depending on date and day |
| Nearest train | Darlington (~17 miles); bus connections to Richmond |
| Parking | No on-site parking; town car parks within walking distance (charged) |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
Richmond Castle opening hours
The 2026/27 schedule (28 March 2026 – 16 March 2027): 28 Mar – 24 Oct, daily 10am–5pm; 25 Oct – 1 Nov, daily 10am–4pm; 2 Nov – 23 Dec, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 24–26 Dec, closed; 27 Dec – 1 Jan, daily 10am–4pm; 2 Jan – 5 Feb, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 6–14 Feb (half-term), daily 10am–4pm; 15 Feb – 16 Mar, Wed–Sun, 10am–4pm. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Opening hours last updated in March 2026.
Richmond Castle ticket prices
English Heritage members enter free. Concessions apply to visitors aged 65+, students with a valid ID, and jobseekers with relevant ID.
Super Saver — Mon–Fri, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily, 2 Nov–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £8.50 |
| Concession | £7.65 |
| Child | £4.25 |
Saver — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Mon–Fri, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £9.26 |
| Concession | £8.50 |
| Child | £4.59 |
Standard — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £10.79 |
| Concession | £10.03 |
| Child | £5.35 |
Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount. Ticket prices last updated in May 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 Richmond Castle
Richmond Castle is on Tower Street at the north end of Richmond’s market place, in the town centre of Richmond, North Yorkshire.
By train and bus: The nearest mainline station is Darlington (East Coast Main Line from London Kings Cross ~2 hrs 10 min). From Darlington, Arriva services 75 and 76 run to Richmond market place, a short walk from the castle entrance. Check traveline.info for current timetables.
By car: Use postcode DL10 4QW. Richmond is reached via the A6108 from Catterick or the A66 from the A1(M).
Parking at Richmond Castle
There is no on-site parking. Town car parks within walking distance include:
- Richmond Market Place — charged pay-and-display; two hours free for Blue Badge holders; short walk to the castle over cobbles
- Nuns Close — pay-and-display, all-day parking option
- Fosse Car Park (Riverside Rd) — 39 spaces, 4-hour maximum
- Station Road Car Park — 83 spaces
None of the above are managed by English Heritage. Free coach parking (4–5 coaches) is available in the town — group operators should contact English Heritage in advance.
How long to spend at Richmond Castle
Most visitors spend 1 to 1.5 hours. The keep climb, curtain walls, exhibition, Cockpit Garden, and courtyard can all be seen within this time. Richmond itself is a fine historic market town worth additional time after the castle visit; Easby Abbey (English Heritage, free) is approximately 1 mile away on foot via the river path.
Accessibility at Richmond Castle
Access to the main courtyard and main ward is over mown grass with some gravel around the base of the keep. The first-floor visitor centre and exhibition are accessible via a staff-operated stair lift. Access to the keep, Cockpit Garden, and cell block roof are by original steps only and are not accessible for wheelchair users. The ground around the castle is cobbled in places and can be slippery when wet.
There is one accessible/unisex toilet in the visitor centre. Seating is available around the site perimeter, in the garden, and upstairs in the exhibition. An all-terrain wheelchair is available to loan (contact the site in advance). A portable induction loop is in the shop area. Dogs on leads are welcome. A dog bowl is at the entrance. Ball games and kites are permitted but visitors should be considerate of others. Seven picnic benches are on site.
Inside Richmond Castle: what to see
Richmond Castle is one of the earliest stone castles in England — built by Alan ‘the Red’ Rufus from approximately 1071, in stone from the outset at a time when timber palisades were standard Norman practice. Unusually, the original castle had no central keep, relying instead on high curtain walls and an impressive gatehouse. The 30-metre keep — topped by four square turrets — was added in the 12th century by converting and heightening the original gatehouse. Associated figures include Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III) and Edmund Tudor (father of Henry VII).
The keep offers panoramic views over Richmond, the River Swale, and Swaledale. Information boards on the roof identify surrounding landmarks. The interactive exhibition on the first floor covers nine centuries of history, including the conscientious objectors — largely Dales Quakers imprisoned here during the First World War. A reconstructed mock-up of the cells and an audio strand allow visitors to engage with the graffiti carved on the cell walls; the virtual tour of this graffiti is particularly detailed.
The Cockpit Garden is a tranquil enclosed area where excavations found evidence of 18th–19th-century flower beds and pathways. The gift shop sells cold drinks, snacks, and Brymor ice cream in summer; a vending machine provides tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. There is no café. Seven picnic benches are available.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| No café — vending machine only | Tea, coffee, hot chocolate from a vending machine; cold drinks, snacks, and summer ice cream from the shop. Bring a picnic — seven benches are provided. |
| No on-site parking | Park in the market place or Nuns Close; Blue Badge holders get 2 hours free in the market place. Free coach parking in town for groups. |
| Walk over cobbles from market place | The route from the market place to the castle entrance is over cobbles. Allow extra time and take care in wet weather. |
| Ball games and kites permitted | Unlike most English Heritage sites, ball games and kites are welcome — be considerate of other visitors. |
| Combine with Easby Abbey | Easby Abbey (English Heritage, free, unstaffed) is ~1 mile via the riverside path — a worthwhile extension with large surviving refectory and chapter house remains. |
| Stair lift for exhibition | The first-floor exhibition is reached via a staff-operated stair lift. Ask at the entrance on arrival. |
Frequently asked questions about Richmond Castle
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is there parking at Richmond Castle? | No on-site parking. Market place and Nuns Close car parks are within walking distance; Blue Badge holders get 2 hours free in the market place. |
| Is there a café at Richmond Castle? | No. A vending machine provides hot drinks; the shop sells snacks and summer ice cream. Bring a picnic or eat in Richmond town centre. |
| Is Richmond Castle suitable for children? | Yes. The keep climb, open courtyard, ball games, kite flying, and interactive exhibition all suit children. |
| Is Richmond Castle accessible for wheelchair users? | Partially. The main courtyard and exhibition (via staff stair lift) are accessible. The keep, Cockpit Garden, and cell block roof require stairs. An all-terrain wheelchair is available to loan. |
| Are dogs allowed at Richmond Castle? | Yes. Dogs on leads are welcome. A dog bowl is at the entrance. |
| Is Richmond Castle free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free and can bring up to six children free. |
Things to do near Richmond Castle
Easby Abbey (English Heritage, ~1 mile via the riverside path) is a ruined 12th-century Premonstratensian abbey; free to visit. Middleham Castle (English Heritage, ~14 miles south) is Richard III’s childhood home; members free. Barnard Castle (English Heritage, ~14 miles west) overlooks the Tees Gorge; members free. Aysgarth Falls (~15 miles west) is a famous Yorkshire Dales waterfall with free access. Richmond town centre has a Saturday market and independent shops.
More Yorkshire travel
Other Yorkshire travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to expect at Ripon Cathedral.
- Guides to North Yorkshire abbeys and priories: Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, Rievaulx Abbey, Byland Abbey, Mount Grace Priory.
- What to see and do at Helmsley Castle, Middleham Castle, Pickering Castle and Scarborough Castle.
- 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.
