Access at Pontefract Castle

Please note: from Monday 9 September 2024 there will be roadworks on North Baileygate. These will last for an estimated 10 weeks.
Our car park will remain open as normal during this time. There may be slight delays moving around the surrounding area.


About

Pontefract Castle is committed to being accessible and welcoming for everyone. 
Here you can find information about accessible facilities and resources across our site. 
We look forward to seeing you soon!

Entrance to the sallyport at Pontefract Castle, with the remains of the keep looming in the background

Contact us

You can contact us in advance of your visit with any questions. You can email us at castles@wakefield.gov.uk and we will get back to you during office hours. These are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

You can also ring the Visitor Centre on 01977 723440. The Visitor Centre is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. We can usually pick up the phone during opening hours. Please leave us a message with your contact number if we cannot pick up at the time. 

Accessible parking

We have two disabled parking bays on Castle Chain, at the front of the Castle. Please use WF8 1QH in your sat nav to reach these.

Our car drop-off point is in the same place as the disabled parking bays. This will give you easy, level access to the Castle entrance.

The two disabled parking bays outside the main entrance to Pontefract Castle. Level access path into the main site is to the left of the parking bays.

Our coach drop-off point is located opposite the main car park. Use WF8 2JF in your sat nav for the coach drop-off point.

Our main car park is at WF8 2JF. The path leading from here to the Castle site is step-free, but it is cobbled and uneven in places. It is 122m from the main car park to the site with a 1 in 13 gradient.

Assistance

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.

One of our Visitor Experience Assistants in their black uniform behind the Welcome Desk in the Visitor Centre.

We often have volunteers on site. Our volunteers wear a green uniform. You can also ask them for help or with any questions.

Our Volunteer John pushing a wheelbarrow full of plants outside the Visitor Centre. He wears a green polo shirt.

Toilets and baby changing

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.

The entrance to the toilets The entrance to the toilets
The accessible toilet inside the Visitor Centre The accessible toilet inside the Visitor Centre
The baby changing table inside the accessible toilet The baby changing table inside the accessible toilet

Pontefract Castle is a breastfeeding-friendly location. You are welcome to breastfeed your baby here.

Information for wheelchair users and mobility impaired visitors

You can move around the main Castle site on the gravel and stone level access paths. 

Part of the level access gravel paths around the main Castle site. There is also a bench just off the path.

The keep mound is unfortunately only accessible by a series of steps. However, you can view this from the main Castle area.

Old stone steps leading up to the keep mound. They are steep and uneven. There is a handrail to the right of the steps.]

You can eat your picnic at benches around the site. We have two on the grassed area with adaptations to suit most wheelchairs.

A wooden picnic table with extended table space, allowing for a wheelchair user to sit at the table

You will be able to learn more about the Castle from our wheelchair-height information panels around the main site and Visitor Centre.

An information panel about the dungeon at wheelchair height, positioned in the main Castle grounds

You can download a floor plan of the Visitor Centre here.

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 is automatic doors. You can reach the Castle Coffee Shop from inside the Visitor Centre.

Outside of the Visitor Centre, with two sets of double doors kept open. There is level access into these entrances.

You can take a rest on the benches around the main Castle site. We can provide additional chairs 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.

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.

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.

Replica of dungeon graffiti on an information sign which you can touch.

Information for blind and partially sighted visitors

All 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 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 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. These tours focus on explaining what the Castle used to look like and who used to live there.

You can download a floor plan of the Visitor Centre with alt text here. 

You can download a sensory map of the Visitor Centre with alt text here. 

There are videos with audio in our Visitor Centre. These will tell you more information about the Castle. The video screen is touchscreen.

Video touchscreen built into a panel, and a pouch holding a booklet with large print object captions

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.

Our friendly Castle Coffee Shop staff will be happy to talk you through our tasty food and drink options. 

Information for deaf and hard of hearing visitors

You can download a floor plan of the Visitor Centre here.

There is a portable hearing loop available in the Gift Shop. You can ask our staff for this and they can show you how to use it.

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, Castle Coffee 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

All 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.

You can download a sensory map of our Visitor Centre before your visit here. 

You can download a floor plan of the Visitor Centre here.

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.

2 of 4 smell sensory boxes fitted to a wall. These two contain the scent of 14th century latrines and 18th century liquorice growing
A pair of large replica siege coins that you can touch and make a rubbing of.]

There is recorded music playing through speakers in the Gift Shop, Castle Coffee 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.

Contents of the explorer backpack: multi-sensory tools including smell boxes, a felt crown, binoculars, a magnifying glass, story trail cards and a materials wheel

You might also be interested in our Relaxed Openings at Pontefract Museum, which is in Pontefract Town Centre. The Relaxed Openings at Pontefract Museum are every Tuesday, 2pm to 4pm.

Information for learning disabled visitors

All Castle staff have attended Makaton Awareness training. Some of our staff also have completed their Level 2 Makaton qualification.

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.

You can download a floor plan of the Visitor Centre here.

Makaton sign for leaf in the herb garden

We test our fire alarms every Wednesday at around 3:30pm. There will be up to 3 different alarm soundings.

You might also be interested in our Relaxed Openings at Pontefract Museum, which is in Pontefract Town Centre. The Relaxed Openings at Pontefract Museum are every Tuesday, 2pm to 4pm.



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