Museums and Castles events
Browse the exciting range of upcoming events and activities across our Museums and Castles sites!
To see What's On over the next month, click 'In the next 7 days' and change it to 'In the next 30 days'.
You can then filter by category, venue and age ranges.
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Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
1 Nov 2025
Family Fun at Castleford Museum
Castleford Museum
1 Nov 2025
Join the Castleford Museum team, rain or shine, for free fun craft activities every Saturday.
With different themed crafts and activities each week, what will you make?
All activities and materials are provided and they’ll even tidy up afterwards!
Free and no booking required
Family Fun at Wakefield Museum
Wakefield Museum
1 Nov 2025
Join the Wakefield Museum team, rain or shine, for free fun craft activities every Saturday.
With different themed crafts and activities each week, what will you make?
All activities and materials are provided and they’ll even tidy up afterwards!
Free and no booking required
Family Fun at Pontefract Museum
Pontefract Museum
1 Nov 2025
Join the Pontefract Museum team, rain or shine, for free fun craft activities every Saturday.
With different themed crafts and activities each week, what will you make?
All activities and materials are provided and they’ll even tidy up afterwards!
Free and no booking required
Dungeon Tours
Pontefract Castle
1 Nov 2025
Join us for a tour of the Castle dungeon!
Soak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space. Discover the many uses of the dungeon.
See where Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock.
Adults £4.40 Children £2.55 (not suitable for under 5s, visually impaired visitors or wheelchair users due to 44 steep historic steps)
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
1 Nov 2025
Witches and Wizards Week
Pontefract Castle
1 Nov 2025
It's the return of our frighteningly popular October half term Witches and Wizards week at Pontefract Castle!
Take part in witchy outdoor activities. Learn to mix magical potions. Magic up fun themed crafts.
Join our resident witches on the bandstand for potions demonstrations! Sessions at 11:15, 12:15 and 13:30.
Dressing up not required, but always encouraged!
It'll be spooktacular!
Free and no booking required.
There is also a relaxed SEND version of the Witches and Wizards activities each day at 10am. The SEND sessions need to be booked in advance.
Witches and Wizards Week (SEND families)
Pontefract Castle
1 Nov 2025
Enjoy a relaxed version of our Witches and Wizards activities at Pontefract Castle, designed for SEND families.
Take part in witchy outdoor activities. Learn to mix magical potions. Magic up fun themed crafts.
Meet at the bandstand on the bailey from 10am where the magic will begin.
SEND families are welcome at all of our sessions. We are also running this SEND session for those families who require a more relaxed atmosphere, with restricted numbers. The SEND sessions are free but booking is required.
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
2 Nov 2025
Dungeon Tours
Pontefract Castle
2 Nov 2025
Join us for a tour of the Castle dungeon!
Soak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space. Discover the many uses of the dungeon.
See where Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock.
Adults £4.40 Children £2.55 (not suitable for under 5s, visually impaired visitors or wheelchair users due to 44 steep historic steps)
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
2 Nov 2025
Toddler Tuesdays (Every Tuesday in term time)
Castleford Museum
4 Nov 2025
Join Charlie Bear every Tuesday during term time for a lively session of storytelling, crafts and rhymes!
We’ll be inspired by museum objects and a different theme each month. There's also a weekly Charlie Bear Challenge to try together!
Activities link to the following of your 50 Things to do Before You’re 5
#4 Make your Mark
#6 Rhyme Time
#10 Sharing books
#40 Happy History
Every Tuesday in term time, 10am – 11am
Free – No booking required
Ilbert's Dragon Tales (ages 2 to 5)
Pontefract Castle
5 Nov 2025
Join Ilbert the Dragon at Pontefract Castle for a fun and friendly afternoon of storytelling and hands on play!
Each month help Ilbert and his storyteller bring their books to life through music, props and actions. Then get stuck in with activities, crafts, games and rhymes.
These sessions are a great way to spend time together and discover new ways of learning with your child.
Wednesday 2 July – Summer dragons
Are you ready for some dragon fun? Get those wings flapping and practice your roar! This month is all about fiery, friendly dragons and their adventures.
Wednesday 3 September – Castles and bridges
Ilbert is building a tall castle and making a special bridge to keep the castle safe. Have fun building and making your own magnificent castles. Play with bridges and blocks.
Wednesday 1 October – Autumn colours
Autumn leaves are bright and colourful. This season is a magical time to experiment and explore. Join Ilbert on an autumn adventure with a great story and activities. Play with leaf boats and make your own bright leafy friend.
Wednesday 5 November – Spooky castles
Boo! It’s spooky season and Ilbert is having fun with witches and ghosts. Help him mix up a potion. Make some magic this November.
Wednesday 3 December – Christmas castle
Join Ilbert for a jolly story. Help him lay out a Christmas feast. Make some winter decorations and have fun with crafts and games.
Tickets £2.50 per child, accompanying adults free. Book Ilbert's Dragon Tales
Meet the Curator
Wakefield Museum
6 Nov 2025
Do you have an interesting object that you’d like to show us or a story to tell us?
Our monthly Meet the Curator sessions are your chance to chat with our team.
No appointment required - just turn up with your questions, your stories or your objects!
Museum Minis (Ages 2 to 5)
Wakefield Museum
6 Nov 2025
Meet Alphabet Cat and take part in activities, rhymes and more!
Each month there's a new theme to help you explore Wakefield Museum.
Have fun learning and playing together and tick off the following on your 50 Things to do Before You’re 5:
#6 Rhyme Time, #7 Making Music, #11 Making Connections, #39 Talking Signs, #40 Happy History
Every Thursday morning from 10.30am to 11.30am during term time.
Free and no booking required
These sessions are designed for toddlers aged 2 to 5 and their families.
Please note: The fire alarms in Wakefield One are tested at 11am on Thursdays. We have ear defenders you and / or your children can borrow.
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
7 Nov 2025
Dungeon Tours
Pontefract Castle
7 Nov 2025
Join us for a tour of the Castle dungeon!
Soak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space. Discover the many uses of the dungeon.
See where Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock.
Adults £4.40 Children £2.55 (not suitable for under 5s, visually impaired visitors or wheelchair users due to 44 steep historic steps)
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
7 Nov 2025
Richard Holmes’ Dark History of Pontefract Castle
Pontefract Castle
7 Nov 2025
Dark deeds, grizzly tales and gruesome ends… Pontefract Castle has seen it all!
Join our costumed guide (Chris Cade) as he takes on the role of local Victorian historian Richard Holmes. ‘Richard’ will lead you on a lantern-lit tour of the castle, illuminating its dark history.
Richard Holmes was the leading historian of Pontefract in the 1800s. Using Holmes’ original publications, Chris Cade has created an entertaining and educational tour of the castle.
Book your tickets now for a terrific night out – if you dare!
The Pontefract Castle grounds close at 4:30 pm daily for general visitors. On the evenings of the Richard Holmes tours, the castle grounds will reopen at 6 pm.
The Keep Café will also be open 6 pm to 8:30 pm for pre-tour hot drinks on these days.
Please note: this tour involves steps around the site and going into the dungeon. The dungeon can only be accessed by a series of steep historical steps. If you cannot comfortably reach the dungeon, we can show you a video of the dungeon tour on a tablet while the rest of the group are below ground.
The tour is not suitable for under 5s.
Tickets £8 per person, booking required. Book Richard Holmes' Dark History of Pontefract Castle
Richard Holmes’ Dark History of Pontefract Castle
Pontefract Castle
7 Nov 2025
Dark deeds, grizzly tales and gruesome ends… Pontefract Castle has seen it all!
Join our costumed guide (Chris Cade) as he takes on the role of local Victorian historian Richard Holmes. ‘Richard’ will lead you on a lantern-lit tour of the castle, illuminating its dark history.
Richard Holmes was the leading historian of Pontefract in the 1800s. Using Holmes’ original publications, Chris Cade has created an entertaining and educational tour of the castle.
Book your tickets now for a terrific night out – if you dare!
Please note: this tour involves steps around the site and going into the dungeon. The dungeon can only be accessed by a series of steep historical steps. If you cannot comfortably reach the dungeon, we can show you a video of the dungeon tour on a tablet while the rest of the group are below ground.
The tour is not suitable for under 5s.
Tickets £8 per person, booking required. Book Richard Holmes' Dark History of Pontefract Castle
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
8 Nov 2025
Family Fun at Castleford Museum
Castleford Museum
8 Nov 2025
Join the Castleford Museum team, rain or shine, for free fun craft activities every Saturday.
With different themed crafts and activities each week, what will you make?
All activities and materials are provided and they’ll even tidy up afterwards!
Free and no booking required
Family Fun at Wakefield Museum
Wakefield Museum
8 Nov 2025
Join the Wakefield Museum team, rain or shine, for free fun craft activities every Saturday.
With different themed crafts and activities each week, what will you make?
All activities and materials are provided and they’ll even tidy up afterwards!
Free and no booking required
Family Fun at Pontefract Museum
Pontefract Museum
8 Nov 2025
Join the Pontefract Museum team, rain or shine, for free fun craft activities every Saturday.
With different themed crafts and activities each week, what will you make?
All activities and materials are provided and they’ll even tidy up afterwards!
Free and no booking required
Dungeon Tours
Pontefract Castle
8 Nov 2025
Join us for a tour of the Castle dungeon!
Soak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space. Discover the many uses of the dungeon.
See where Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock.
Adults £4.40 Children £2.55 (not suitable for under 5s, visually impaired visitors or wheelchair users due to 44 steep historic steps)