Cawood Castle
North Yorkshire, England
Photo: Chris Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Chris Morgan, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Jonathan Thacker, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Landmark Trust
- Condition
- Partial ruin
- Access
- Hotel guests only
- Nearest station
- Ulleskelf, 3.7 miles (straight-line)
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
- Note
- Gatehouse holiday let
Pinpoint
Castle Gatehouse, Cawood, Selby YO8 3SG
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
A gatehouse - virtually all that survives of what was once a palace of the Archbishops of York - now run by the Landmark Trust as a self-catering holiday let, so the interior is only accessible to guests actually staying there. Cardinal Wolsey stayed here in 1530, in the months before his arrest for treason under Henry VIII; everyone else can walk the public footpath alongside to see the medieval features from outside.
At a glance
Who to know
Cardinal Wolsey · stayed here in 1530 before his arrest for treason
Worth the trip
Staying overnight, if you can book it - reviewers who've done so call it a genuine Landmark Trust highlight, not just a novelty.
Before you go
There's no public access inside unless you're a paying guest; non-guests should stick to the footpath along the side of the building, and the small number of reviews here reflects how few people actually get to experience the interior.
What visitors say
Cawood Castle reviews · 4.6 / 5 across 9 Google reviews
With only a handful of reviews on file, it's hard to draw a strong consensus, but the available accounts are positive.
One visitor explains that public access is limited to the footpath alongside the historic gatehouse and banqueting hall, since the building itself is a private Landmark Trust holiday let; two others, who stayed there, describe an enjoyable week in a lovely village setting.
There isn't enough data here to point to any recurring criticism.
“Stayed here as its a Landmark trust property so its private. Really had a nice week. Village is lovely and did plenty of walking.”- Emma Dickson, visitor review
Within reach of Leeds (17 miles) - see what else is nearby.
Getting in - what Landmark Trust says
The property is accessed directly from the main road, with two car parking spaces adjacent to it. Inside there is an extremely steep, narrow, spiral staircase, with stairs between the bedrooms and bathrooms on each floor. There is a small garden which is not enclosed, and roof access is permitted but must be avoided during active Met Office weather warnings.
Taken from Landmark Trust’s own website and read 28 July 2026 - check the current version. Access can change with building work, weather and staffing - if the visit depends on it, ring ahead.
Walks at Cawood Castle
Cawood Castle is on our walks roll because a visitor described a walk here in their own review:
“No access to the gatehouse, but you can walk along the public footpath at the side where the medieval features are.”- Cath, visitor review
Also worth knowing: dogs are reported welcome.
Comparing options? See every UK castle with a walk visitors describe.
One visitor's account, not a route guide. We hold no distances, waymarks or start points. For the actual route, check the operator's own site and an Ordnance Survey map before you set out, and treat coastal and clifftop paths as weather- and tide-dependent.
History
Archbishops of York · 12th century
Originally built as a medieval palace for the Archbishops of York around the twelfth century, this fortified residence evolved over centuries. A fifteenth-century gatehouse survives as the main structure, its construction overseen by Archbishop John Kemp. The castle hosted prominent figures including King John, Cardinal Wolsey in 1530, and later saw damage during the English Civil War before being dismantled.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Common questions about Cawood Castle
Where is Cawood Castle?
Cawood Castle is in North Yorkshire, England, at Castle Gatehouse, Cawood, Selby YO8 3SG.
Can you visit Cawood Castle?
Cawood Castle operates as a hotel, so access is normally for staying guests rather than day visitors. Contact the hotel directly about staying or visiting.
Can you stay overnight at Cawood Castle?
Yes - Cawood Castle offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the castle itself or within its grounds. See the Castles You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
Are there walks at Cawood Castle?
Visitor reviews describe walking here - one reviewer wrote: “No access to the gatehouse, but you can walk along the public footpath at the side where the medieval features are.”. That is one visitor's account rather than a route guide, so check the operator's own site and an Ordnance Survey map for distances, paths and start points before setting out.
What is the highlight of visiting Cawood Castle?
Staying overnight, if you can book it - reviewers who've done so call it a genuine Landmark Trust highlight, not just a novelty.
