Clifford's Tower, York

We recently visited Clifford's Tower in York, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our family trip. I wasn’t sure how much a medieval tower would hold the attention of our five-year-old, but he absolutely loved it. The climb to the top is part of the adventure. The steps are manageable, and once you’re up there, the views across York are genuinely impressive. We spent a good while just pointing out landmarks and letting our son peer over the walls pretending he was guarding a castle. The way the interior walkways are laid out makes it easy to explore at your own pace, and there are plenty of information panels that bring the history to life without feeling overwhelming. What struck me most was the atmosphere. Even on a fairly busy day, it felt calm and open. The staff were friendly and happy to answer questions, which made the experience feel welcoming rather than rushed. It’s not a huge site, but that actually worked perfectly for us as a family — enough to explore and learn, without little legs getting too tired. A real bonus was being able to return in the evening for the light and sound show, which runs until 22 February. Seeing the tower illuminated against the night sky was something special. The projections and audio added a whole new dimension, and our son was completely captivated. It felt magical standing there together, watching the story unfold on the ancient walls. All in all, a brilliant, family-friendly visit and something we’d happily recommend to anyone spending time in York.

Do it! Get in! Enjoy the views and the wonderful staff! Ask any questions, enjoy the self guised tour! Spread some nice smiles! Really great maintenance of the place! You can enjoy the rooftop (bring your coffee, gaze around, make some nice photos and memories)!

Cliffords Tower looks impressive perked up on a hill! For the admission price its probably just as much value to stay outside, walk around and look at it. Inside's a mix of original building with retro fitted stairs, walkways and top floor which is unique. The view from the top is not overwhelming but you get a reasonable view of the surrounding York and Castle Muesum. If you're interested but not interested enough to pay the entry fee there's more than enough photos on the internet available. Depends if you want the experience for yourself or not.

Great views of the town from this place. There are gantries and stairs to climb up and explore. Clifford's Tower is the central remaining structure of the medieval York Castle in York, England, a landmark with a history spanning nearly a thousand years. Built by William the Conqueror, the tower has evolved from a royal residence to a treasury, mint, and prison, and is known for housing the 1190 massacre of the Jewish population of York in a predecessor building. Today, it is a protected monument offering visitors panoramic views of York and an immersive experience into its complex and often tragic past.

Really worth a visit, especially on a nice day with ... the viewing terrace at the top. One star taken only as I thought it would be great to be able to have some kids activities and perhaps a little shop too. Overall the views were worth the steps up. I really enjoyed it!

Brilliant, visited for the first time in 38 years. The floor and roof access was amazing. The view was out of this world. To see York from high up was really cool and would definitely recommend going there.

Up a steep set of wooden steps but worth the effort. Though you will have further steps to climb, some quite narrow , in order to access the roof and enjoy the fresh air and the panoramic views of York. Good informative boards. If a member of English Heritage it's a bargain.. at £11 for an adult it is not.

Fortunately, we had a barcode giving us free entry to the tower. Imho it isn’t worth the entry price, unless you are an English Heritage member already. The castle itself has minimal features & the view is ok but nothing amazing, you can get a decent elevated view of York Minster from the city walks for instance.