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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Book tickets for outdoor theatre at Pontefract Castle on Ticketsource

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Toddler Tuesdays (Every Tuesday in term time)
Castleford Museum
15 Jul 2025
Details:

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

Start time: 10am
End time: 11am
Age range: Families, Under 5s
Free: Yes
Booking required: No
Location: Castleford Museum
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Castleford Crafts (Over 18s, Monthly)
Castleford Museum
15 Jul 2025
Details:

Pop along for a relaxed hour's crafting with our friendly team.

Explore Castleford's colourful and crafty past and try out a different activity each month (during term time).

All materials provided.

Free and no booking required.

Start time: 1:30pm
End time: 2:30pm
Age range: Adults
Free: Yes
Booking required: No
Location: Castleford Museum
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Talk: The Snailman of Pontefract, and other recent discoveries
Pontefract Castle
16 Jul 2025
Details:

From the surreal ‘Snailman of Pontefract’ to Bronze Age axes and fake coins made by the Romans, find out about recent discoveries handed in to the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme.

The British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) has recorded over 1.4 million archaeological finds since it began – each one a unique discovery made by a member of the public.

This talk is part of the Festival of Archaeology. The talk is for adults aged 16+.

This event will take place in the Activity Zone at Pontefract Castle. 

Book Talk: The Snailman of Pontefract

Start time: 2pm
End time: 3pm
Age range: Adults
Free: Yes
Booking required: Yes
Location: Pontefract Castle
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Museum Minis (Ages 2 to 5)
Wakefield Museum
17 Jul 2025
Details:

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.

Start time: 10:30am
End time: 11:30am
Age range: Under 5s, Families
Free: Yes
Booking required: No
Location: Wakefield Museum
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Find Your Passion - Felted soap (16+)
Wakefield Museum
17 Jul 2025
Details:

Felted soap? Yes you heard us correctly! Ditch your plastic soap bottles and discover eco-friendly bathroom solutions in this workshop.

Felted soaps are a fabulous combination of cleansing soap and wool flannel. Even better, you’ll be left with a lovely custom piece of felt to reuse in other crafting projects when the soap is all gone! It’s like nature’s own 3-in-1 personal care accessory.  

Tickets £7 per person, including all materials and instruction.

Book Find Your Passion - Felted soap

Start time: 1:30pm
End time: 3:30pm
Age range: Adults
Free: No
Booking required: Yes
Location: Wakefield Museum
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Find Your Passion - Felted soap (16+)
Wakefield Museum
17 Jul 2025
Details:

Felted soap? Yes you heard us correctly! Ditch your plastic soap bottles and discover eco-friendly bathroom solutions in this workshop.

Felted soaps are a fabulous combination of cleansing soap and wool flannel. Even better, you’ll be left with a lovely custom piece of felt to reuse in other crafting projects when the soap is all gone! It’s like nature’s own 3-in-1 personal care accessory.  

Tickets £7 per person, including all materials and instruction.

Book Find Your Passion - Felted soap

Start time: 4:30pm
End time: 6:30pm
Age range: Adults
Free: No
Booking required: Yes
Location: Wakefield Museum
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Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
18 Jul 2025
Details:
Join us every Friday, Saturday and Sunday* at 2pm for a guided tour of the Castle site.
In years gone by, Pontefract Castle was one of Britain’s most important castles and was known as The Key to the North!
Discover who built and lived in the castle and listen to stories of unfaithful Queens, imprisoned Kings as well the castle’s role in the English Civil Wars.
Find out what the Castle looked like in its heyday and how it has changed over time.
Tour is suitable for wheelchair users and visitors with pushchairs.
Suitable for all ages.
Adults £3.20, Children 5+ £2.15
Under 5s Free
*Some exceptions due to occasional site closures - these will not be available to book online
Start time: 2pm
End time: 2:45pm
Age range: Families, Teenagers, Adults, Under 5s
Free: No
Booking required: Yes
Location: Pontefract Castle
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Dungeon Tours
Pontefract Castle
18 Jul 2025
Details:

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) 

Book tickets for Pontefract Castle Dungeon Tours

Start time: 10:45am
End time: 11:30am
Age range: Families, Teenagers, Adults
Free: No
Booking required: Yes
Location: Pontefract Castle
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Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
18 Jul 2025
Details:
Join us every Friday, Saturday and Sunday* at 2pm for a guided tour of the Castle site.
In years gone by, Pontefract Castle was one of Britain’s most important castles and was known as The Key to the North!
Discover who built and lived in the castle and listen to stories of unfaithful Queens, imprisoned Kings as well the castle’s role in the English Civil Wars.
Find out what the Castle looked like in its heyday and how it has changed over time.
Tour is suitable for wheelchair users and visitors with pushchairs.
Suitable for all ages.
Adults £3.40, Children 5+ £2.30
Under 5s Free
*Some exceptions due to occasional site closures - these will not be available to book online
Start time: 2pm
End time: 2:45pm
Age range: Families, Teenagers, Adults, Under 5s
Free: No
Booking required: Yes
Location: Pontefract Castle
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Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
19 Jul 2025
Details:
Join us every Friday, Saturday and Sunday* at 2pm for a guided tour of the Castle site.
In years gone by, Pontefract Castle was one of Britain’s most important castles and was known as The Key to the North!
Discover who built and lived in the castle and listen to stories of unfaithful Queens, imprisoned Kings as well the castle’s role in the English Civil Wars.
Find out what the Castle looked like in its heyday and how it has changed over time.
Tour is suitable for wheelchair users and visitors with pushchairs.
Suitable for all ages.
Adults £3.20, Children 5+ £2.15
Under 5s Free
*Some exceptions due to occasional site closures - these will not be available to book online
Start time: 2pm
End time: 2:45pm
Age range: Families, Teenagers, Adults, Under 5s
Free: No
Booking required: Yes
Location: Pontefract Castle
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Family Fun at Castleford Museum
Castleford Museum
19 Jul 2025
Details:

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

Start time: 11am
End time: 3pm
Age range: Under 5s, Families
Free: Yes
Booking required: No
Location: Castleford Museum
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Family Fun at Wakefield Museum
Wakefield Museum
19 Jul 2025
Details:

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

Start time: 11am
End time: 3pm
Age range: Under 5s, Families
Free: Yes
Booking required: No
Location: Wakefield Museum
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Family Fun at Pontefract Museum
Pontefract Museum
19 Jul 2025
Details:

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

Start time: 11am
End time: 3pm
Age range: Under 5s, Families
Free: Yes
Booking required: No
Location: Pontefract Museum
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Volunteer talk: The Medieval Herb Garden
Pontefract Castle
19 Jul 2025
Details:
Join Carole, one of our volunteer gardeners as she talks about the plants in our Medieval Herb Garden.
See unusual and familiar plants in a new light. Find out how they were used throughout history.
Discover what’s in a name, and why some of those names have changed over time.
This talk takes place outside by the herb garden.
Suitable for ages 16+
Start time: 1pm
End time: 2:30pm
Age range: Adults
Free: Yes
Booking required: Yes
Location: Pontefract Castle
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Dungeon Tours
Pontefract Castle
19 Jul 2025
Details:

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) 

Book tickets for Pontefract Castle Dungeon Tours

Start time: 10:45am
End time: 11:30am
Age range: Families, Teenagers, Adults
Free: No
Booking required: Yes
Location: Pontefract Castle
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Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
19 Jul 2025
Details:
Join us every Friday, Saturday and Sunday* at 2pm for a guided tour of the Castle site.
In years gone by, Pontefract Castle was one of Britain’s most important castles and was known as The Key to the North!
Discover who built and lived in the castle and listen to stories of unfaithful Queens, imprisoned Kings as well the castle’s role in the English Civil Wars.
Find out what the Castle looked like in its heyday and how it has changed over time.
Tour is suitable for wheelchair users and visitors with pushchairs.
Suitable for all ages.
Adults £3.40, Children 5+ £2.30
Under 5s Free
*Some exceptions due to occasional site closures - these will not be available to book online
Start time: 2pm
End time: 2:45pm
Age range: Families, Teenagers, Adults, Under 5s
Free: No
Booking required: Yes
Location: Pontefract Castle
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Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
20 Jul 2025
Details:
Join us every Friday, Saturday and Sunday* at 2pm for a guided tour of the Castle site.
In years gone by, Pontefract Castle was one of Britain’s most important castles and was known as The Key to the North!
Discover who built and lived in the castle and listen to stories of unfaithful Queens, imprisoned Kings as well the castle’s role in the English Civil Wars.
Find out what the Castle looked like in its heyday and how it has changed over time.
Tour is suitable for wheelchair users and visitors with pushchairs.
Suitable for all ages.
Adults £3.20, Children 5+ £2.15
Under 5s Free
*Some exceptions due to occasional site closures - these will not be available to book online
Start time: 2pm
End time: 2:45pm
Age range: Families, Teenagers, Adults, Under 5s
Free: No
Booking required: Yes
Location: Pontefract Castle
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Dungeon Tours
Pontefract Castle
20 Jul 2025
Details:

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) 

Book tickets for Pontefract Castle Dungeon Tours

Start time: 10:45am
End time: 11:30am
Age range: Families, Teenagers, Adults
Free: No
Booking required: Yes
Location: Pontefract Castle
calendarIcon
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
20 Jul 2025
Details:
Join us every Friday, Saturday and Sunday* at 2pm for a guided tour of the Castle site.
In years gone by, Pontefract Castle was one of Britain’s most important castles and was known as The Key to the North!
Discover who built and lived in the castle and listen to stories of unfaithful Queens, imprisoned Kings as well the castle’s role in the English Civil Wars.
Find out what the Castle looked like in its heyday and how it has changed over time.
Tour is suitable for wheelchair users and visitors with pushchairs.
Suitable for all ages.
Adults £3.40, Children 5+ £2.30
Under 5s Free
*Some exceptions due to occasional site closures - these will not be available to book online
Start time: 2pm
End time: 2:45pm
Age range: Families, Teenagers, Adults, Under 5s
Free: No
Booking required: Yes
Location: Pontefract Castle
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Big Butterfly Count at the Castle
Pontefract Castle
20 Jul 2025
Details:

We’re doing our part to support the Big Butterfly Count.

With fun days planned, come along to Pontefract Castle and help us count the butterflies.

Pick up a spotter sheets from the visitor centre to help you identify the different butterflies.  

Take part in colourful butterfly themed crafts in the Activity Zone.

Plus, there are some special paper butterflies hiding around the Visitor Centre – can you find them all?

The Big Butterfly Count is the world's biggest survey of butterflies, and it happens every year. 

Start time: 11am
End time: 3pm
Age range: Under 5s, Families, Teenagers, Adults
Free: Yes
Booking required: No
Location: Pontefract Castle
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Creative Castleford: Mysterious marks
Castleford Museum
21 Jul 2025
Details:

Follow in the footsteps of legendary local artists! Let your creativity fly free and get stuck in with our family crafts. 

Be inspired by pottery, sculpture, photography and more! Join us for a different theme each week. 

Week 1: Mysterious marks. Investigate mysterious marks on bronze age pots and Roman artefacts. Try your hand at scratch writing sgraffito style, and using simple stamps and tools.

*Fridays are relaxed SEND sessions. These will have more open-ended activities and a relaxed atmosphere.

All sessions free and no booking required. 

Start time: 10am
End time: 3pm
Age range: Families
Free: Yes
Booking required: No
Location: Castleford Museum
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Toddler Tuesdays (Every Tuesday in term time)
Castleford Museum
22 Jul 2025
Details:

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

Start time: 10am
End time: 11am
Age range: Families, Under 5s
Free: Yes
Booking required: No
Location: Castleford Museum
calendarIcon
Creative Castleford: Mysterious marks
Castleford Museum
22 Jul 2025
Details:

Follow in the footsteps of legendary local artists! Let your creativity fly free and get stuck in with our family crafts. 

Be inspired by pottery, sculpture, photography and more! Join us for a different theme each week. 

Week 1: Mysterious marks. Investigate mysterious marks on bronze age pots and Roman artefacts. Try your hand at scratch writing sgraffito style, and using simple stamps and tools.

*Fridays are relaxed SEND sessions. These will have more open-ended activities and a relaxed atmosphere.

All sessions free and no booking required. 

Start time: 10am
End time: 3pm
Age range: Families
Free: Yes
Booking required: No
Location: Castleford Museum

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