Experience the best of Clifford’s Tower

Step into York’s Clifford’s Tower and experience its history like never before. Climb the distinctive four-lobed tower to uncover stories from York Castle’s 1,000-year history, from its role as a royal stronghold to its time as a prison. Take in views of York Minster, the city walls, and the surrounding cityscape from the rooftop deck.

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Slide 1 of 7, Clifford's Tower in York, England, surrounded by historic cityscape.

Visitors exploring Clifford's Tower in York, pointing at historical features.

Interior view of Clifford's Tower with visitors exploring the historic stone walls and modern walkways.

Clifford's Tower interior with stone walls and arched openings in York, England.

Aerial view of Clifford's Tower in York, showcasing its unique circular structure and surrounding green landscape.

Clifford's Tower on a grassy hill in York, England, with clear blue sky.

Clifford's Tower in York surrounded by autumn trees and a grassy park.

Clifford's Tower Entry Ticket

Explore at your pace

Climb Clifford’s Tower’s medieval staircase and reach the rooftop, where York’s historic streets, rooftops, and landmarks stretch out around you.
Walk through the Norman keep’s surviving stone rooms and arches, seeing remnants of York Castle while following the site at your own pace.
Step onto the timber roof platform for uninterrupted views across York, with the city’s historic skyline unfolding in every direction.
Pause along the tower’s battlements for photographs and city views, with no guided tour schedule dictating how you spend your visit.
Explore independently with a self guided entry ticket, giving you the freedom to decide where to linger and how long to stay.

More details

Climb Clifford’s Tower’s medieval staircase and reach the rooftop, where York’s historic streets, rooftops, and landmarks stretch out around you.
Walk through the Norman keep’s surviving stone rooms and arches, seeing remnants of York Castle while following the site at your own pace.
Step onto the timber roof platform for uninterrupted views across York, with the city’s historic skyline unfolding in every direction.
Pause along the tower’s battlements for photographs and city views, with no guided tour schedule dictating how you spend your visit.
Explore independently with a self guided entry ticket, giving you the freedom to decide where to linger and how long to stay.

from

£9.35

Pro tips to help you make a pick

Choose standard self-guided entry if you want the core visit: the keep, interpretation spaces, and roof deck are all covered by general admission.

Book by midnight the day before if you want the advance-booked discounted entry; it gives the same admission experience at a lower price.

Use York Pass when Clifford’s Tower is one of several paid York stops, as the pass includes the same tower admission within a broader city pass.

Do not choose a product expecting fast-track access at Clifford’s Tower; the site is sold as standard admission without a separate priority lane.

Advance booking may reduce ticket-purchase friction, but it does not remove the 55-step climb or the narrow single public entrance.

Same-day tickets are still available online or on arrival, but they do not qualify for the advance online discount.

Use the car-free travel discount only for walk-up tickets bought on site with proof of train, bus, or bike use. It is not a generic online discount.

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About Clifford's Tower

Clifford’s Tower combines a medieval keep, restored internal spaces, and a timber roof platform with panoramic views over York. Walk around and explore its history alongside features such as Henry III’s chapel and a medieval garderobe.

AddressTower St, York, UK

Also known asKing's Tower

Year opened1068

Founded byWilliam the Conqueror

Visitors per year150000

Expected wait time - Standard30-60 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

Did you know?

The present stone tower has looked over York since 1245.

The raised mound first held a timber keep built under William the Conqueror’s regime.

Audio benches cover specific episodes including the 1069 uprising and later explosion damage.

Tactile maps, Braille guides and signage, and an audio-described tour via QR code are available at base or interior levels.

Induction loops are built into the ground-floor audio seating, and rest points are available on all floor levels.

Why visit Clifford's Tower?

Get a 360-degree view over central York

The timber roof deck is the main visual payoff of the visit. From the top level, interpretation panels help identify landmarks including York Minster and St Mary Bishophill Junior, so the platform works as both a viewpoint and a way to orient yourself in the city.

Explore the keep through restored walkways

Raised internal walkways and restored historic staircases open more of the ruin than was previously accessible. They turn the visit into a staged route through the keep, making the architecture easier to read instead of leaving the tower as only a quick climb to the top.

See Henry III’s chapel inside the tower

The restored medieval chapel is one of the clearest signs that the keep formed part of a working royal complex, not just a military shell. It adds historical use and status to the visit, even though the space matters more for interpretation than for elaborate decoration.

Spot a medieval garderobe singled out as unique

The interior route includes a medieval garderobe associated with Henry III. English Heritage describes it as the only one of its type in England, which gives this practical feature unusual architectural interest within a short visit.

The surviving keep of York Castle

Clifford’s Tower condenses around 1,000 years of York Castle history into a small footprint. The site also carries the memory of the 1190 massacre of York’s Jews, giving the visit historical and memorial weight beyond its role as a city viewpoint.

Plan your visit

Top of mound steps entrance

The public entrance is at the top of the 55 steps up the mound and serves general visitors. Ticket validation takes place at or inside the entrance area after the climb. This route is not step-free and the tower is inaccessible to wheelchair users. Handrails and rest points are provided, and some areas have uneven surfaces.