Clifford's Tower
Clifford's Tower
3.8
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksObservation Decks & Towers
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Clifford's Tower is all that remains of York Castle. It's set upon a mound which was originally built by William the Conqueror. There is plenty of history to discover. We offer amazing 360 degree views from the top of the Tower over the City of York. Clifford's Tower is open 7 days a week, times vary throughout the year so it's advisable to check the website for details before you visit. There is an entry fee to visit the Tower.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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3.8
2,409 reviews
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BermondseyBob
Scarborough, UK124 contributions
Jan 2025 • Solo
While not a great deal to read once inside, what there is is very informative. The staff are very firendly too. You get a good view from up the top, but be aware, there are a lot and I mean a lot of stairs! Not only to get in, but once inside too and as some are original brickwork, some of it is uneaven too, but there are plenty of hand rails etc.
Try and visit on a warm and dry day becasue even inside, it's very wet and slippery when it's raining and can be very cold and blowy up top.
Try and visit on a warm and dry day becasue even inside, it's very wet and slippery when it's raining and can be very cold and blowy up top.
Written January 20, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul-Pope
Oakham, UK82 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
The restoration on the tower is amazing, it’s so nice to visit places you could never visit before. The ticket price was a-bit steep for what you get, i would recommend getting the pass so you skip the expensive entry free.
Inside is very nicely done, but you are left to yourself to wonder around and read some laminated A4 pieces of paper on concrete chairs or try to listen to speakers talking to you about back story’s.
The recommended one way system was poorly signposted, people squeezing past people on the small and cramped narrow stairways, one little slip and you are going to fall over, I did have a little panic when my foot slipped while letting a lady past, would recommend that if you have mobility problems I would air on the side of caution.
It’s good to also remember that this structure is an open top, so if it’s raining you are going to get wet, there is also pigeons inside but they did keep to themselves.
Once you reach the top the views are breathtaking, you can get some amazing photos of York, it really gives you a feel of what it would have been like without all the new towering structures.
After that you go back and go on your way. I think it will be the one and only time I go inside, but at least our money went to supporting the upkeep on this landmark.
Inside is very nicely done, but you are left to yourself to wonder around and read some laminated A4 pieces of paper on concrete chairs or try to listen to speakers talking to you about back story’s.
The recommended one way system was poorly signposted, people squeezing past people on the small and cramped narrow stairways, one little slip and you are going to fall over, I did have a little panic when my foot slipped while letting a lady past, would recommend that if you have mobility problems I would air on the side of caution.
It’s good to also remember that this structure is an open top, so if it’s raining you are going to get wet, there is also pigeons inside but they did keep to themselves.
Once you reach the top the views are breathtaking, you can get some amazing photos of York, it really gives you a feel of what it would have been like without all the new towering structures.
After that you go back and go on your way. I think it will be the one and only time I go inside, but at least our money went to supporting the upkeep on this landmark.
Written September 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ND F
Vancouver, Canada821 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
We went on a cold windy day and it was just as cold and drafty in the Tower. Since it is presented in its original form, don’t expect heat or air conditioning (LOL). It is a fairly reasonable admission fee (10 GBP per adult). 55 steps to walk up to the Tower and more steps inside. There are story boards that provide history and details so take your time viewing these. Pretty neat to see the King’s Loo. Who knew indoor plumbing could be so rough. The Tower has history that goes back a long way so it’s an interesting story to learn.
Written September 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iweinvanaalst
Lille, Belgium608 contributions
Oct 2024 • Solo
Clifford's tower is the most significant remnant of York castle, as completely rebuilt by king Henry III between 1246 and 1262 on the site of an earlier motte and bailey castle founded by William the Conqueror in 1068.
Its forebuilding was partly rebuilt in 1643 and bears the arms of king Charles I and of constable Henry Clifford.
Visitors can discover Clifford's tower with the help of an outstanding guidebook and a timetable. Seated on whispering benches (a brilliant idea !) you can listen to voices from the past reliving the most (in)famous moments in the history of the stronghold.
The ground floor of Clifford's tower houses a reception area, a lobby and service rooms (including the office of the exchequer) – all presumably originally located around an open court.
The first floor houses two appartments with a shared wardrobe (toilet) with running water (from a cistern on the roof) and a chapel preserving part of its original decoration and squinting holes.
From the top of Clifford's tower you can enjoy fine views of the surrounding area, including the old bailey (where originally a second motte guarded the other side of the river), York minster and the former inner bailey of York castle (now occupied by eighteenth century buildings but backed by a section of medieval curtain wall with two towers and a drawbridge pit).
The museography of Clifford's tower has been recently rethought and redone. The result is both educational and engaging. Honor and praise to English Heritage for their exemplary conservation of this York monument.
Its forebuilding was partly rebuilt in 1643 and bears the arms of king Charles I and of constable Henry Clifford.
Visitors can discover Clifford's tower with the help of an outstanding guidebook and a timetable. Seated on whispering benches (a brilliant idea !) you can listen to voices from the past reliving the most (in)famous moments in the history of the stronghold.
The ground floor of Clifford's tower houses a reception area, a lobby and service rooms (including the office of the exchequer) – all presumably originally located around an open court.
The first floor houses two appartments with a shared wardrobe (toilet) with running water (from a cistern on the roof) and a chapel preserving part of its original decoration and squinting holes.
From the top of Clifford's tower you can enjoy fine views of the surrounding area, including the old bailey (where originally a second motte guarded the other side of the river), York minster and the former inner bailey of York castle (now occupied by eighteenth century buildings but backed by a section of medieval curtain wall with two towers and a drawbridge pit).
The museography of Clifford's tower has been recently rethought and redone. The result is both educational and engaging. Honor and praise to English Heritage for their exemplary conservation of this York monument.
Written October 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emma A
12 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
The tower itself is beautiful and we love a good bit of history. However, it was expensive for it was- we appreciate these things need upkeep and staffing, but once at the top, there is not too much to see- the views are ok but better from areas on the wall which is free. We spent around 20 minutes in there and as a couple it cost us £21.
Written November 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wakefieldj
Durham, UK111 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
Great medieval tower right in the centre of York. Access is up some very steep steps so I’m afraid it’s not accessible to everyone.
Would recommend that you join English heritage which includes entrance for several children included as it can work out quite expensive paying for viewing individual sites.
The tower is right in the centre of York only a short walk from all of its attractions.
Would recommend that you join English heritage which includes entrance for several children included as it can work out quite expensive paying for viewing individual sites.
The tower is right in the centre of York only a short walk from all of its attractions.
Written April 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S J
5 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
After having lived in York 12 years ago I used to take my son to Clifford’s tower on the way home from fishergate school and it was free to enter the tower.
I returned to York today 12 years later with my youngest son and the tower has been modernised creating a roof terrace made out of wood. I think although they have done a good job it has taken away the character and looks very modern. It just doesn’t look right. You could still walk around the top of the tower years ago so all they have done is made it bigger on the top and have added lots of modern looking stairways and chunky wooden beams and columns inside the tower. It hasn’t really added anything different to justify an entry fee. I think if you are going to restore an ancient site at least use similar stone and materials to add to the structure so that it correlates to the original tower.
Could have just restored the original stairways inside the tower which were around the main structure on the inside. But they gave added lots of stairs walkways and chunky wooden support beans everywhere taking up a lot of space inside the tower. Ruined it
Over priced and had to pay a donation as well which I didn’t really feel like I had a choice with. Altogether it cost £16 for myself and son including donation.
I returned to York today 12 years later with my youngest son and the tower has been modernised creating a roof terrace made out of wood. I think although they have done a good job it has taken away the character and looks very modern. It just doesn’t look right. You could still walk around the top of the tower years ago so all they have done is made it bigger on the top and have added lots of modern looking stairways and chunky wooden beams and columns inside the tower. It hasn’t really added anything different to justify an entry fee. I think if you are going to restore an ancient site at least use similar stone and materials to add to the structure so that it correlates to the original tower.
Could have just restored the original stairways inside the tower which were around the main structure on the inside. But they gave added lots of stairs walkways and chunky wooden support beans everywhere taking up a lot of space inside the tower. Ruined it
Over priced and had to pay a donation as well which I didn’t really feel like I had a choice with. Altogether it cost £16 for myself and son including donation.
Written March 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hayley E
London, UK21 contributions
Nov 2024 • Solo
The tower itself is really interesting and informative, though it did get a bit confusing understanding what the tower was used for at different points in history (this may also just be me being a bit dumb). Was definitely worth the entry fee
What made this trip even better was the customer service - I've been going to English Heritage sites for years and never seen any advertisement for membership so always assumed the fees would be extortionate. Cliffords tower not only had a little desk with pamphlets but super helpful staff who refunded my ticket to the tower for that day and helped me sign up. Wonderful ladies 🥰
What made this trip even better was the customer service - I've been going to English Heritage sites for years and never seen any advertisement for membership so always assumed the fees would be extortionate. Cliffords tower not only had a little desk with pamphlets but super helpful staff who refunded my ticket to the tower for that day and helped me sign up. Wonderful ladies 🥰
Written November 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HelenWanderlust
Singapore, Singapore2,285 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
This is an interesting attraction which is historical and nearly 1000 years, in York. Their staff are extremely polite and friendly. You need to take stairs up to get an Adult ticket at £11.50. And then climb further up to the roof top. There is a nice roof top with seats, to soak in the paranomic view and take beautiful pictures 360 degrees around York. The weather was wonderful, so I could bask in the sunshine for a while.
Helen
Helen
Written April 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John A
Brentwood, UK472 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Entering the tower, after getting your breath back from climbing the mound, one is struck by how well they have melded the new access stairs into the medieval stonework - the contrast works!
The listening benches are good but the soundtrack in the centre is a little loud and it can be a challenge to hear them clearly.
Climbing to the top one gets a good view of the rooftops of York although it is quite hard to see some of the landmarks clearly (not their fault that other buildings and trees are in the way).
A definite fail, in our view, are the boards on the top which have panoramic drawings of what you can see and details of a few things. They are almost impossible to orientated because they go too far to left and right (meaning the view you are looking at is only the middle third), there are a few obvious features missing (and many not labelled) and the centre of the display is not where you are naturally looking at when standing at the board.
Staff were helpful and engaging.
The listening benches are good but the soundtrack in the centre is a little loud and it can be a challenge to hear them clearly.
Climbing to the top one gets a good view of the rooftops of York although it is quite hard to see some of the landmarks clearly (not their fault that other buildings and trees are in the way).
A definite fail, in our view, are the boards on the top which have panoramic drawings of what you can see and details of a few things. They are almost impossible to orientated because they go too far to left and right (meaning the view you are looking at is only the middle third), there are a few obvious features missing (and many not labelled) and the centre of the display is not where you are naturally looking at when standing at the board.
Staff were helpful and engaging.
Written September 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How long should we plan to stay at clifford tower?
Written March 23, 2025
Sorry, no. The only access I could see was up a very steep and long set of steps.
Written June 20, 2023
Do they sell the Clifford's Tower, York guidebook at the tower itself?
Written July 8, 2018
As part of a family of Jewish descent, I am really confused by your review. I have visited Clifford's Tower many times and feel that it(and the original tower) are part of my heritage - history is not always "pleasant". It is not a "nice" bit of history but for decades, I have taken pictures of it and discussed it with family members - both before and after my own generation. Why couldn't you bear to enter an historic site that is less than "wholesome"? In various ways that is true of most historic sites. I am also descended from industrial workers who rioted in the streets - history is what it is. My Jewish great grandmother took my grandmother - who was then only a teenager but who was about to marry "in" to a suffragettes' rally - telling her to shout, History isn't nice most of the time. Our family remained a very religious and very political family. We will be going to York this summer and will be again visiting the tower. It is part of our history.
Written July 6, 2017
Not sure what you are asking me to answer. There is a plaque at the bottom of the tower that tells how the Jews were persecuted and took their own lives. When I write a review I try not to be political rather explain what I see
Sad to say but almost every medieval castle in Europe has had a part some form of atrocity that is up to the visitor to delve into on their own level.
Written July 16, 2017
Just wondering how long we should allow for a visit to Clifford's Tower??
Written November 22, 2015
Hi, you should allow at least 20mins for your visit to Clifford's Tower. We have interpretation panels, a model showing what the Castle used to look like and a medieval chapel. You can also walk up to the battlements and take in the amazing views over York. Look forward to seeing you soon!
Written November 23, 2015
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