Wakefield Museums and Castles

A group of adults on a tour around Pontefract Castle

Group tours at Pontefract Castle

Get one of our knowledgeable tour guides to yourselves! We offer private tours at Pontefract Castle for groups.

Explore over 950 years of history at Pontefract Castle. Uncover its secrets. Ask all the questions you like.

Read on for the private tours currently available at Pontefract Castle. There is a booking enquiry form at the bottom of the page.

Please note: this information is for private groups. If you are looking for our weekly public Pontefract Castle tours, head to our What's On page. For Schools enquiries, head to our Schools information page.

A group in the dungeon listening to a tour guide

Pontefract Castle Dungeon Tour

Step into history on a private Pontefract Castle dungeon tour. Walk back in time as you descend the dungeon steps. Discover how this eerie underground space has been used over the years. See centuries-old graffiti from Civil War prisoners.

Group size: Maximum 20 people per tour. Groups of more than 20 people can book multiple tours to run back-to-back. You could also book a private Explorer Tour to occupy a split group.

Access: This tour involves going underground using 40 steep historic steps. There are low levels, uneven ground and damp conditions in the dungeon. Sensible footwear is strongly recommended.

Dungeon tours are not suitable for under 5s, blind / partially sighted visitors or wheelchair users. For an accessible tour of Pontefract Castle, see the Explorer Tours also on this page.

A group and a tour guide looking at the remains of the brewhouse at Pontefract Castle

Pontefract Castle Explorer Tour

Enjoy an accessible above-ground tour of Pontefract Castle. Learn about history where it happened. Our expert guide will bring the past to life, explaining how the castle has changed over time. Hear stories of royal scandals and Civil War sieges.

This tour is outside and will continue in most weather conditions. Please bring clothing suitable for the weather.

Group size: Maximum 45 people per tour.

Access: This tour follows a step-free route. It is accessible for mobility scooters and wheelchairs. All ages welcome. Well-behaved dogs on leads also welcome.

Private tour prices

During normal opening hours: £70 per tour

After opening hours: £115 per tour

All tours will receive a refreshment voucher or hot drink for your coach driver.

You can also pre-book a hot drink and cake combo. Enjoy a cup of tea or filter coffee and generous slice of cake for £6 per person.

Opening hours and travel information (including coach information) for Pontefract Castle

Pontefract Castle group tour enquiry form

Use this form to enquire about booking a private group tour at Pontefract Castle.

Please note: submitting this form does not mean your booking is confirmed. We will get in touch with you to arrange your booking.

Any questions? Email us at castles@wakefield.gov.uk 

Please read our enquiry forms privacy notice. It explains how the data you submit in this form will be used.

We ask for this information so that we can contact you about your enquiry and for our collection records. All data is stored securely and we will not use it for any other purposes or share it with anybody else.
Your details
Your group
If you are booking on behalf of a designated group (e.g. U3A, scouts) please tell us your group's name.
Please tell us how many people will be in your group. If there are more than 20 (for a Dungeon Tour) or more than 45 (for an Explorer Tour) you will need to be book multiple tours.
Are any members of your group under 16? * Under 16s are welcome on our tours. They must be accompanied by a responsible adult. (Dungeon Tours however are ages 5+ only)
What category is your group in? *
Your tour
Which tour(s) are you interested in? * Please tell us which tour(s) you would like to book. You can enquire about both Dungeon Tours and Explorer Tours.
Do you want your tour to be in opening hours or after hours? * Find current opening hours on the Pontefract Castle visitor information page. After hours tours can run until 10pm.
Would you like to add on the hot drink and cake offer for your group? * For an extra £6 per person, you can enjoy a hot drink and cake from our café.
Please tell us what dates / days you would prefer. We will confirm a date and time at the next stage of the booking process.

Contact information

Pontefract Castle, Castle Chain, Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF8 1QH Car Park: WF8 2JF

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