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Experience the best of Clifford’s Tower

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Clifford's Tower in York, England, surrounded by historic cityscape.
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Clifford's Tower Entry Ticket

Visit a surviving part of York Castle and enjoy 360 degree views from its rooftop.

  • Everything you get: Enter York Castle’s largest surviving structure, see the medieval garderobe, or toilet, built for Henry III, explore the chapel, hear historical stories, and access the timber roof platform for 360 degree views across York.
  • Why choose this: Pair York’s medieval history with distinctive interiors and a rooftop viewpoint, making the tower more than a quick photo stop.
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Explore at your pace

Visit a surviving part of York Castle and enjoy 360 degree views from its rooftop.

  • Everything you get: Enter York Castle’s largest surviving structure, see the medieval garderobe, or toilet, built for Henry III, explore the chapel, hear historical stories, and access the timber roof platform for 360 degree views across York.
  • Why choose this: Pair York’s medieval history with distinctive interiors and a rooftop viewpoint, making the tower more than a quick photo stop.

Inclusions #

  • Entry tickets to Clifford’s Tower

Exclusions #

  • Food and drinks

  • Guided tour

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes: Wear comfortable walking shoes, as you’ll be exploring the site on foot.

What’s not allowed

  • Large bags or backpacks: Avoid bringing large bags or backpacks, as these may not be permitted inside the site.

Additional information

  • Wet weather: Be careful when walking around the site, as surfaces may become slippery in wet weather.
  • Arrival time: Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled entry time to allow enough time for entry.
  • Get full refund if you cancel 24 hours before the experience start time.

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Quick overview

  • What you get: Enter Clifford’s Tower, York Castle’s largest surviving structure, and explore its medieval interiors at your own pace.
  • Roof deck: Climb to the timber roof platform for 360° views across York, including York Minster and, on clear days, the North York Moors.
  • Historic highlights: See the medieval chapel and garderobe, or toilet, built for King Henry III and now accessible to visitors.
  • How to explore: This ticket is self-guided. Displays, soundscapes, and audio features help tell the tower’s history as you move through it.
  • Timing: Your ticket is valid throughout the day of your visit, so you can arrive anytime during opening hours.
  • Booking: Online tickets booked by midnight the day before can cost less than buying on the day, while same-day tickets remain available.
  • Best booking move: Reserve online ahead of your visit if you know your date, especially if you want to make use of the advance-booking discount.

What to expect at Clifford's Tower

Clifford's Tower in York, England, with visitors ascending the steps.
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Arrive at York Castle’s surviving stronghold

From the base of the mound, make your way towards the Norman keep, with the tower rising above the surrounding streets of central York.

Move through medieval spaces

Follow the self-guided route through surviving stone rooms, restored staircases, and historic architectural details that reveal how the tower changed over centuries.

Hear York’s history as you walk

Audio benches and soundscapes bring stories of Norman York, the 1190 massacre of York’s Jewish community, Richard III’s reign, and the 1684 fire into the visit.

See unusual medieval details

Find the garderobe, or medieval toilet, built for King Henry III, alongside the chapel and other surviving features of the keep.

Reach the roof platform

Continue upwards to the timber roof deck for 360° views across York, with York Minster and other historic landmarks visible from above.

Take in the wider landscape

On a clear day, the elevated viewpoint stretches beyond York towards the North York Moors, giving the visit a distinctly different perspective on the city.

Things to know before booking Clifford's Tower tickets

  • Booking window: Book online by midnight the day before if you know your visit date. Same-day tickets are still available online or at the site, but you can't be too sure about getting the slot you want, on such a short notice.
  • What’s included: Your ticket covers entry to Clifford’s Tower only. You can explore the Norman keep, medieval chapel, garderobe, internal walkways, historic staircases, and timber roof platform.
  • Ways to explore: This is a self-guided visit, not a guided tour. Information panels, audio benches, soundscapes, and other interpretation help explain the tower’s history as you move through the building.
  • Allow around 1 hour for the visit: You can stay longer if you want more time with the displays or rooftop views; tickets remain valid throughout the day of your visit.
  • Getting to the roof: The roof platform requires stairs. There are 55 steps to reach the keep, followed by internal stairs and a spiral staircase to the roof deck. There is no lift.
  • Accessibility: Clifford’s Tower is not wheelchair accessible. The entrance and roof route involve multiple flights of stairs, although resting points are available and the base of the mound has interpretation for visitors unable to climb.
  • Facilities & practicalities: There are no toilets inside the tower. The nearest public toilets are around a five-minute walk away at Coppergate Shopping Centre. Charged public parking is available at the base of the mound, but it is not managed by English Heritage.

Explore Clifford's Tower

Timber Roof Platform

Location: Top of Clifford’s Tower

The timber roof platform sits above the medieval keep, offering 360° views across York. Look towards York Minster, historic rooftops, church towers, and the wider landscape beyond the city.

Access: Yes

Medieval Chapel

Location: Inside the tower

The restored chapel retains medieval stonework and offers a glimpse into the religious life of York Castle. Its compact interior sits among the tower’s surviving historic spaces.

Access: Yes

Henry III’s Garderobe

Location: Inside the tower

See a rare medieval garderobe, or toilet, built during the reign of Henry III. English Heritage describes it as the only example of its type in England.

Access: Yes

Historic Staircases

Location: Throughout the tower

Restored historic staircases and internal walkways reveal parts of the tower that had been inaccessible for centuries. They also help visitors understand the keep’s original layout and changing use.

Access: Yes

Audio Benches & Soundscapes

Location: Inside the tower

Sit on the audio benches to hear stories connected with York’s turbulent past, while soundscapes recreate moments from medieval life and the tower’s later history.

Access: Yes

York Castle Mound

Location: Outside the tower

The tower stands on the mound of York Castle, giving you a sense of its defensive position before you even enter the keep. Resting points are available on the route up.

Access: Yes

Plan your visit to Clifford's Tower

Visitors exploring Clifford's Tower in York, pointing at historical features.
  • Open: 10am–5pm until 24th October, 2026, then the Tower closes by 4pm from 25th October 
  • Closed on: Christmas Day & Christmas Eve
  • Last entry: 30 minutes before closing.
  • Ticket validity: Tickets are valid throughout the day of your visit, so you can arrive anytime during opening hours.
  • Best time of day: Visit earlier in the day for more time inside the tower and clearer chances of getting uninterrupted rooftop views.
  • Best season: Spring and early autumn offer a good balance of milder weather and daylight for exploring York on foot and viewing the city from the roof.

Note: Opening hours can vary for scheduled closures or special events, so check the official calendar before travelling.

Clifford’s Tower stands on York Castle’s mound on Tower Street, close to York’s historic centre and within easy walking distance of several major attractions.

Address: Tower Street, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9SA

Getting there

  • By train: York railway station is around a 20-minute walk from Clifford’s Tower.
  • By bus: Several city bus services stop close to York Castle and the city centre.
  • By car: Charged public parking is available at the base of the mound. It is not operated by English Heritage.
  • By bicycle: Cycling is an option for reaching the tower, and English Heritage participates in a car-free travel offer for eligible walk-up visitors.
Guide dog assisting a blind man in a park.
  • Toilets: No toilets are available inside Clifford’s Tower. The nearest public facilities are about five minutes away at Coppergate Shopping Centre.
  • Parking: Charged public parking is available at the base of the mound, although it is not managed by English Heritage.
  • Audio features: Audio benches and soundscapes are available inside the tower, with an audio-described tour available for blind and partially sighted visitors.
  • Seating: Resting points are available at different levels and around the route.
  • Photography: Amateur photography is welcome. Commercial photography and filming require permission.
  • Dogs: Assistance dogs are welcome, but other dogs are not permitted inside.
  • Pushchairs: Pushchairs are allowed, although the steep steps make them impractical for much of the visit.
Fingers reading Braille on a tactile sign for accessibility.
  • Wheelchair access: The tower itself is not wheelchair accessible because the entrance involves 55 steps followed by further staircases to the roof.
  • Lift access: There is no lift inside Clifford’s Tower.
  • Resting points: Seating is available on the different floor levels and along the route.
  • Visual accessibility: A tactile map with Braille is available at the base, while handheld tactile maps can help visitors understand the tower and surrounding area.
  • Audio description: An audio-guided tour can be accessed via QR code inside the tower.
  • Surfaces: Some areas have uneven surfaces, narrow walkways, and steep or uneven stairs.
  • Assistance dogs: Assistance dogs are welcome.

Tips & guidelines

  • Book ahead if your date is fixed: Online bookings made by midnight the day before can qualify for English Heritage’s advance-booking discount. Same-day tickets are available at full price.
  • Allow about an hour: English Heritage lists the average visit as around one hour, though you can stay within opening hours for longer.
  • Wear shoes with good grip: You’ll tackle 55 entrance steps, internal stairs, and a spiral staircase, with some uneven or potentially slippery surfaces.
  • Check the weather: The roof platform is exposed, and wet conditions can make steps and walkways slippery.
  • Leave large bags behind: Large bags or backpacks may not be suitable for the narrow internal route.
  • Plan your facilities stop: There are no toilets inside the tower, so use facilities before entering or allow time for the five-minute walk to Coppergate Shopping Centre.
  • Keep to the paths: Do not climb the mound, walls, or other restricted areas. Running is also not permitted inside the tower.
  • Skip the drone: Drone flying from or over English Heritage sites is prohibited unless specifically authorised.
  • Bring your phone: The audio-described tour is accessed through a QR code, so a mobile device is useful if you need this feature.

Frequently asked questions about Clifford's Tower tickets

Your ticket includes entry to Clifford’s Tower, its medieval interiors, chapel, garderobe, historic staircases, and timber roof platform.