Scarborough Castle
North Yorkshire, England
Photo: Stephen Montgomery from Kallangur, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Dr John Wells, CC BY 4.0 ยท Neil Theasby, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- English Heritage
- Condition
- Partial ruin
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Entry pass
- English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass
- Nearest station
- Scarborough, 0.9 miles (straight-line)
Pinpoint
Castle Rd, Scarborough YO11 1HY
Telephone 01723 372451
Opening Hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
Open daily, 10am-5pm (last entry at 4.30pm)
Checked against the official page on 13 August 2026.
Visitor essentials
- Parking
- No on-site parking; use the Park and Ride or the pay-and-display Marine Drive car park, with disabled spaces reservable by phone.
- Access
- Grass, cobbles and bound gravel underfoot; steps lead to the Keep with an alternative route available, and a Tramper mobility scooter can be hired.
- Facilities
- A coffee shed and ice cream van operate on site; the shop has ramp access, and toilets include baby-changing facilities.
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on lead; assistance dogs welcome.
- Safety
- Remains are hazardous due to unfenced ditches, moat and ramparts.
A headland fortress with roughly 3,000 years of activity behind it - Iron Age hillfort, Roman signal station, Viking and Anglo-Saxon presence, then the 12th-century great tower built by Henry II that still dominates the skyline. The clifftop position gives views over both the North Sea and the town below, and on a clear day reviewers say you can see for miles along the coast.
At a glance
Who to know
Henry II · built the 12th-century great tower that dominates the skyline
Worth the trip
The sheer depth of history on one headland - few sites in England layer this many periods, from prehistoric to WWII, on a single site.
Before you go
The audio tour covers most areas well, but reviewers wish it went deeper on specifics like the well's depth; some of the keep's higher walkways involve exposed walking, so it's not one for anyone uneasy with heights.
What visitors say
Scarborough Castle reviews · 4.6 / 5 across 8,836 Google reviews
Reviewers consistently rate the views from Scarborough Castle as spectacular, taking in both bays of the coastline, and praise the informative audio tour and the small museum of artefacts.
A couple of reviewers mention the cafe stand can close early in bad weather, leaving little option for a hot drink, and one describes an unpleasant encounter with a single staff member, though this appears to be an isolated incident against otherwise consistently friendly service.
“The castle and the surrounding ruins are simply stunning. They certainly knew which strategic point to occupy back then-the view of both sides of the peninsula is breathtaking, and on a clear day, you can see far into…”- Peter Erdelyi, visitor review
History
Henry II · c. 1150
Founded around 1130 and rebuilt in stone by Henry II from 1157, this fortress sits on a headland with 3,000 years of activity. The site hosted an Iron Age hill fort, Roman signal station, and Anglo-Saxon chapel before the medieval castle. Henry II's investment created a northern stronghold; subsequent monarchs including King John further strengthened it.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Plan your visit
- Tickets & opening times
- Check current prices and hours with the operator before travelling - details change more often than any directory can track.
- Data checked
- Ratings, review counts and the visitor-note quotes above were drawn from publicly available Google reviews. Castles change hands and adjust hours faster than any directory can track in real time.
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Guided tours
- “They have a guided tour, but we didn't stick around for it, since nothing warm to drink.” - Mel Angier
- Facilities
- “Due to the driving drizzle and strong winds, the little cafe stand closed early.” - Mel Angier
Common questions about Scarborough Castle
Where is Scarborough Castle?
Scarborough Castle is in North Yorkshire, England, at Castle Rd, Scarborough YO11 1HY.
Do you need a ticket to visit Scarborough Castle?
Yes - Scarborough Castle is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by English Heritage. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
What is the highlight of visiting Scarborough Castle?
The sheer depth of history on one headland - few sites in England layer this many periods, from prehistoric to WWII, on a single site.
Is Scarborough Castle a ruin or still intact?
Scarborough Castle is a partial ruin.
