Scarborough Castle is a ruined medieval fortress on a spectacular headland between Scarborough’s two bays in 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. Scarborough Castle has a unique pricing structure: the Super Saver rate applies on Fridays only — not across all weekdays as at most English Heritage sites. There is also no general parking; disabled parking must be pre-booked on 01723 372451.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Castle Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO11 1HY |
| 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 | Scarborough station (~1.6km); Park and Ride (Bus 165) or taxi |
| Parking | No general on-site parking; Marine Drive pay-and-display recommended; disabled parking on site (pre-book) |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
Scarborough 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; 6–21 Feb, daily 10am–4pm; 22 Feb – 16 Mar, Wed–Sun, 10am–4pm. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Opening hours last updated in March 2026.
Scarborough Castle ticket prices
Scarborough Castle has a unique pricing structure: the Super Saver rate applies on Fridays only — not across all weekdays. English Heritage members enter free. Concessions apply to visitors aged 65+, students with a valid ID, and jobseekers with relevant ID. A free audio tour is included with admission.
Super Saver — Fri only, 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–Thu, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Fri, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £9.26 |
| Concession | £8.50 |
| Child | £4.59 |
Standard — Sat–Thu, 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 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 Scarborough Castle
Scarborough Castle is on Castle Road on the headland above Scarborough’s North Bay and South Bay. The entrance is via the gatehouse on Castle Road.
By train: Scarborough station (TransPennine Express from York ~50 min; from Leeds ~1 hr) is approximately 1.6km from the castle. A taxi or a walk uphill through the town centre reaches the castle in around 20 minutes on foot.
By Park and Ride: The Park and Ride at Seamer Road (postcode YO12 4EH) has 600 spaces. Bus 165 runs from Seamer Road to the town centre, from where the castle is a short uphill walk. This is the recommended approach by car. Park and Ride charges apply.
By car: Use postcode YO11 1HY. The nearest pay-and-display for visitors arriving by car is the Marine Drive car park, adjacent to the seafront below the castle headland. Bikes can be locked at racks near the entrance.
Parking at Scarborough Castle
There is no general parking at Scarborough Castle. The recommended options are the Park and Ride at Seamer Road or the Marine Drive pay-and-display car park on the seafront below the headland. Disabled parking on site is available in a small number of informal grass-surface spaces, but must be pre-booked by calling 01723 372451. Arrive at the gate and speak to a member of staff on arrival to be directed to the accessible parking area. There is no coach parking on site; group operators should contact English Heritage in advance.
How long to spend at Scarborough Castle
Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours. The headland is larger than 12 football pitches and includes the keep, inner bailey, viewing platforms, Roman signal station, museum, and the vast wildflower meadow. The coastal views and the grounds alone reward a long, unhurried walk.
Accessibility at Scarborough Castle
This English castle and grounds are accessed mainly via grass and cobbles with some bound gravel. Steps to the castle keep can be avoided using alternative routes around the site. A Tramper — an electric all-terrain mobility scooter designed for rough outdoor terrain — is available to hire at the site and makes more of the headland accessible; pre-book by calling 01723 372451 or emailing [email protected]. Disabled parking must also be pre-booked (see Parking). Accessible toilets with baby-changing are on site. The closest Changing Places toilet is at St Nicholas Gardens, Foreshore Road, Scarborough, YO11 1NU (approximately 15 minutes’ walk). Seating is available throughout the grounds. Dogs on leads are welcome. The coffee shed also serves dog treats. Assistance dogs welcome.
Inside Scarborough Castle: what to see
Scarborough headland has been occupied for around 3,000 years, layering a Bronze Age settlement, Iron Age fort, Roman signal station, Viking stronghold, and medieval royal castle. The Great Tower — built for Henry II between 1157 and 1169 — still stands around 30 metres high, though ruined following Civil War slighting. The inner bailey offers lofty viewing platforms over the town, harbour, and both bays.
On the eastern cliff edge are the fragmentary remains of a 4th-century Roman signal station and the foundations of a 6th-century Anglo-Saxon chapel built on the same site. A modern sculpture nearby, part of the ‘Wild Eye’ project, addresses climate change.
The museum covers artefacts from prehistoric times to the First World War, including the naval bombardment of December 1914 — the first attack on a British mainland settlement since the Napoleonic Wars, when German warships shelled Scarborough and hit the Great Tower. The wildflower meadow across the headland covers over 12 football pitches and supports diverse wildflowers and invertebrates. A free audio tour is included. Free activity sheets, a story box, and seasonal holiday quests are available for children. The coffee shed serves hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, toasties, cakes, and ice cream; dog treats are also available. A gift shop is on site.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| No general parking | Use the Park and Ride (Seamer Road, Bus 165) or Marine Drive pay-and-display. Disabled parking on site must be pre-booked on 01723 372451. |
| Book the Tramper in advance | The electric all-terrain scooter makes the headland significantly more accessible. Call or email to reserve before visiting. |
| Allow time for the full headland | The site is over 12 football pitches in size. The Roman signal station and cliff edge are at the far end — allow time to walk there and back. |
| Coffee shed has dog treats | Dogs on leads are welcome and the coffee shed specifically caters for four-legged visitors too. |
| Seasonal quests for children | Holiday quests run during school holiday periods. Check the English Heritage website for dates and details. |
| Views are the main draw | On clear days, the twin-bay views from the keep and headland are exceptional. Visit in good weather if possible. |
Frequently asked questions about Scarborough Castle
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is there parking at Scarborough Castle? | Not for general visitors. Use the Park and Ride at Seamer Road or Marine Drive pay-and-display. Disabled parking on site must be pre-booked on 01723 372451. |
| Is there a café at Scarborough Castle? | A coffee shed serves hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, toasties, cakes, and ice cream. It is not a full tearoom but offers substantial food options. |
| Is Scarborough Castle suitable for children? | Yes. The vast open headland, story box, activity sheets, holiday quests, keep climb, and Roman signal station all suit children. |
| Is Scarborough Castle accessible for wheelchair users? | Partially. The grounds are mainly grass and cobbles with some accessible paths. A Tramper electric scooter is available to hire — pre-book in advance. Disabled parking must be pre-booked. |
| Are dogs allowed at Scarborough Castle? | Yes. Dogs on leads are welcome throughout. The coffee shed serves dog treats. |
| Is Scarborough Castle free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free and can bring up to six children free. |
Things to do near Scarborough Castle
Pickering Castle (English Heritage), ~15 miles inland, is a well-preserved motte-and-bailey castle and the southern terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway; members free. Helmsley Castle (English Heritage), ~22 miles west, is a ruined medieval castle with a walled garden; members free. Scarborough town centre has the Rotunda Museum (geology, charges apply), the Stephen Joseph Theatre, and the seafront. Flamingo Land (~18 miles west) is a large theme park and zoo; charges apply. Robin Hood’s Bay, ~15 miles north, is a picturesque fishing village with free access to the beach.
More Yorkshire travel
Other Yorkshire travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What first time visitors need to know about visiting Whitby Abbey.
- A practical guide to visiting the Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Whitby.
- 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 and Pickering Castle.
- Practical visitor guides to Malham Cove, the Ribblehead Viaduct, Aysgarth Falls and Linton Falls in the Yorkshire Dales.
