Information for neurodivergent visitors

$Pontefract Castle$ Pontefract Castle

Information for neurodivergent visitors

Floor plans and sensory maps

You can download a floor plan of the Visitor Centre.

You can download a sensory map of the Visitor Centre.

Assistance

Most castle staff have attended Autism Awareness training. Some staff have also attended a course on Thinking Differently: Exploring Neurodiversity.

All of our staff will be happy to help you get the most from your visit.

A pair of large replica siege coins that you can touch and make a rubbing of

Hands-on elements

You can explore the past in a multi-sensory way with our interactive wall in the Visitor Centre.

There are smell boxes, an interactive to feel the weight of a lead shot, and large replica siege coins to make a rubbing of.

Audio elements and fire alarm testing

We test our fire alarms every Wednesday at around 3:30pm. There will be up to 3 different alarm soundings.

There is audio on the videos inside the Visitor Centre. These will only play when the buttons are pressed.

Sometimes we have grounds work on site during visitor hours. The tools used can generate noise.

Quieter times to visit Pontefract Castle

Generally the site is quieter during weekdays (Monday to Friday). It can be louder at weekends and on school holidays.

We do also regularly have school visits attending during the week, which can be excitable and noisy.

There is a café inside the Visitor Centre. It can get noisy when busy. It has coffee machines that can make loud noises.

You can contact us in advance to find out when might be the best time for you to visit.

You might also be interested in our Relaxed Openings at Pontefract Museum, which is in Pontefract Town Centre. The Relaxed Openings at Pontefract Museum are every Tuesday, 2pm to 4pm.

Contents of the explorer backpack: multi-sensory tools including smell boxes, a felt crown, binoculars, a magnifying glass, story trail cards and a materials wheel

Explorer backpacks

You can borrow an Explorer Backpack from the Visitor Centre to support your visit. It’s full of tools and trails. These include binoculars, sensory boxes, story trails and even a crown!

Ask at the Visitor Centre to borrow, or book ahead by calling on 01977 723440.

The backpacks are available Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm.