Venue Description

The Key to the North! Built after 1086 by Ilbert de Lacy, Pontefract Castle has many stories to tell. Explore the dramatic ruins and take in the views over Pontefract. Learn about the kings, queens and nobles that lived in and visited the castle. Discover the castle’s role in the English Civil Wars. Take a tour down in our dungeon – if you dare!

Accessibility

**Information for wheelchair users and mobility impaired visitors: You can move around the main castle site on the gravel and stone level access paths. The keep mound is unfortunately only accessible by a series of steps. However, you can view this from the main castle area. You can eat your picnic at benches around the site. We have two on the grassed area with adaptations to suit most wheelchairs. You will be able to learn more about the castle from our wheelchair-height information panels around the main site and Visitor Centre. There are 3 level access entrances to the Visitor Centre and toilets. The first two entrances are double doors which are kept open. The third entrance has automatic doors. You can take a rest on the benches around the main castle site. We can provide additional chairs in the Visitor Centre if you need to sit down during your visit. You can book onto our Castle Explorer Tours most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. These are accessible for wheelchair users and keep on the level access paths. You can join our friendly guide to learn more about the castle and its history. There is also an information panel in the main castle grounds with a replica of some of the graffiti in the dungeon. You can touch this. ** Information for blind and partially sighted visitors: Most castle staff have attended Visual Impairment Training and Sighted Guided Training. Our staff will be happy to help you get the most from your visit. You can move around the main castle site on the level access paths. These paths are made out of self-binding gravel and stone. The main castle bailey area is level access and grassed. The keep mound is very steep and only accessible by steps. There is a handrail alongside the steps. There is an information panel in the main castle site with a replica of some of the graffiti in the dungeon. You can touch this. You can take a rest on the benches around the main castle site. We can provide additional chairs in the Visitor Centre if you need to sit down during your visit. There are videos with audio in our Visitor Centre. These will tell you more information about the castle. The video screen is touchscreen. There are large text versions of the object captions in the Visitor Centre. Parts of the exhibition spaces in the Visitor Centre have low lighting levels. This is to protect the objects that are on display. You can explore the past in a multi-sensory way with our interactive wall in the Visitor Centre. There are smell boxes, an interactive to feel the weight of a lead shot, and large replica siege coins to make a rubbing of. ** Information for d/Deaf and hard of hearing visitors: There is a hearing loop in the Gift Shop. The Activity Zone has a built-in hearing loop. If you are attending a talk or workshop in the Activity Zone, please let us know if this will be helpful. We can make sure the presenters are using a microphone connected to the hearing loop. You can email us at castles@wakefield.gov.uk. All of the videos in the Visitor Centre are subtitled in English. We are working on future videos also having BSL. There is recorded music playing through speakers in the Gift Shop, toilets, and Visitor Centre. We test our fire alarms every Wednesday at around 3.30pm. There will be up to 3 different alarm soundings. ** Information for neurodivergent visitors: Most castle staff have attended Autism Awareness training. Some staff have also attended a course on Thinking Differently: Exploring Neurodiversity. Our staff will be happy to help you get the most from your visit. Generally the site is quieter during weekdays (Monday to Friday). It can be louder at weekends and on school holidays. We do also regularly have school visits attending during the week, which can be excitable and noisy. You can contact us in advance to find out when might be the best time for you to visit. We test our fire alarms every Wednesday at around 3.30pm. There will be up to 3 different alarm soundings. There is audio on the videos inside the Visitor Centre. These will only play when the buttons are pressed. Parts of the exhibition spaces in the Visitor Centre have low lighting levels. This is to protect the objects that are on display. You can explore the past in a multi-sensory way with our interactive wall in the Visitor Centre. There are smell boxes, an interactive to feel the weight of a lead shot, and large replica siege coins to make a rubbing of. There is recorded music playing through speakers in the Gift Shop, toilets, and Visitor Centre. You can borrow an Explorer Backpack from the Visitor Centre to support your visit. It’s full of tools and trails, including binoculars, sensory boxes, story trails and even a crown! Ask at the Visitor Centre to borrow, or book ahead by calling on 01977 723440. The backpacks are available Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm. ** Information for Learning Disabled visitors: Most Castle staff have attended Makaton Awareness training. There are Makaton signs next to some of our star objects inside the Visitor Centre and in the herb garden. These will help you communicate about what is on display. We test our fire alarms every Wednesday at around 3:30pm. There will be up to 3 different alarm soundings. ** Tours and maps: You can book onto our Castle Explorer Tours most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. These are accessible for wheelchair users and keep on the level access paths. These tours focus on explaining what the Castle used to look like and who used to live there. You can book at https://bit.ly/WMandCTickets Unfortunately our Dungeon Tours are not accessible for wheelchair users or mobility impaired visitors. The dungeon is only reachable by 44 steep steps. You can go on a virtual Dungeon Tour on our YouTube @WakefieldMuseums You can download floor plans and sensory maps of our Visitor Centre from our website: www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-castle/access-at-pontefract-castle

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-castle/access-at-pontefract-castle

Access Statement

Access Statement Link: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-castle/access-at-pontefract-castle

Awards List

TripAdivsor’s® Travellers' Choice® Award 2024, placing us among the top 10% of listings around the world on TripAdvisor. Green Flag Award 2024 – 2025 Green Heritage Site Accreditation 2024 – 2025 UK Museum Accreditation Sandford Award for Heritage Education 2020 - 2025

Toilets

An accessible toilet and baby changing space is available in the Visitor Centre entrance. These toilets are open until 4pm daily. The accessible toilet does not require a radar key. The level access entrance to the toilets is through a set of double doors. These doors are usually kept propped open, except for when it is very rainy or windy. Unfortunately, we do not have changing places facilities. The nearest changing places toilet can be found at Junction 32 Outlet Shopping Village, WF10 4FR, 3.5 miles away.

Staff

Our staff are happy to help you with anything you might need. Our staff wear a black uniform. There will always be a member of staff inside the Visitor Centre when it is open. The Visitor Centre is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Most castle staff have attended Makaton Awareness training. Most castle staff have attended Autism Awareness training. Some staff have also attended a course on Thinking Differently: Exploring Neurodiversity. Most castle staff have attended Visual Impairment Training and Sighted Guided Training. We often have volunteers on site. Our volunteers wear a green uniform. You can also ask them for help or with any questions.

Assistance dog facilities

Assistance dog exercise facilities

All dogs are welcome in the grounds at Pontefract Castle. Dogs must be kept on a lead. Assistance dogs are also welcome in the Visitor Centre.

Other assistance dog facilities

There are dog water bowls and poop bins in the grounds at the castle. There are also emergency poop bags available in the Visitor Centre.