Clifford's Tower, York

Schools

Follow in the footsteps of William the Conqueror who ordered the building of this mighty fortress mound in 1068. Clifford's Tower was a symbol of his power and today is a lasting remnant of the medieval castle. Let your students experience what life was like in medieval York.

Please note, between 16 September - 6 December, there will be essential conservation assessment and maintenance works happening at Clifford’s Tower. The site will be open as normal, however there will be some areas with limited access and scaffolding in place. During this period the site may have to close at short notice for essential works to take place. These works will be dictated by the conservation assessment and weather conditions so unfortunately we are unable to plan the closures and they will occur at extremely short notice.

Welcome back

We’re looking forward to welcoming you back this September.  We'd like to reassure you that we're following Government guidance to make your trip as safe and enjoyable as possible. 

A trip to one of our sites will inspire and motivate your students, and get the new academic year off to a great start.

To keep everyone safe we’ve introduced limits on visitor numbers and school groups, so please bear this in mind when booking your trip. Please also note that some sites will be very limited in their capacity, and they may not be able to offer visits for large groups.

Find our more about what to expect on your school visit, which also includes our Covid 19 Risk Assessment.

We want to make the planning process for your school trip as easy as possible.  Make sure you check our Plan Your School Trip section, for updated information on the facilities at the site as well as our free resources.

As usual, you’ll need to book your visit at least 14 days in advance. Please check our Terms and Conditions for full details.

 

Curriculum Links

Support your teaching in the classroom by stepping out of it. A visit to Clifford's Tower  will help you bring learning to life, covering multiple topics across the curriculum and key stages.

  • KS1-3 History: Local History Study
  • KS1 History: Significant historical events, people and places
  • KS2 History: Extending chronological knowledge beyond 1066
  • KS3 History: The development of church, state and society in medieval Britain 1066-1509

Free self-led visits

Book a free self-led visit and lead your day in your own way. Let your students climb to the top of the tower and enjoy the panoramic views over the city of York from the wall walk. View the model of the motte and bailey castle, demonstrating what the area around the keep would have looked like after it was rebuilt in stone between the 13th and 16th centuries. We also offer free planning visits for group leaders once you have made a booking. 

Find out more

Plan your visit

We have a wide range of materials to support your visit and make school trip planning easy. Download our free resources to help you make the most out of your visit and create unique learning experiences before, during and after your trip.

We also offer free planning visits for group leaders once you have made a booking. Our Education Booking Team is on hand to advise and help you create the best possible school trip to suit your needs and area of study.

  • Facilities
    • TOWER: The tower remains open as usual for you to enjoy. The little chapel is currently closed. Please note there is a one way system in place at this site.
    • PARKING: A large car park is located at the bottom of the steps up to the castle. This is operated by the local council and is usually very busy. Charges apply. There are many car parks dotted around the town, and a Park and Ride scheme.
    • TOILETS: There are no toilet facilities on-site. The nearest toilet is a five minute walk to Coppergate Shopping Centre with a small charge. These facilities are not managed by English Heritage.
    • ACCESSIBILITY: The tower has 55 entrance steps and then spiral stairs to the wall walk with uneven surfaces and hazardous walkways. Wheelchair access is very limited. 
    • LUNCH: There is no designated lunch space within the site but there are several small parks nearby suitable for picnics. There is no café on-site, however, you will find a vending machine selling hot drinks, sweets and chocolate.
    • SHOP: The shop is open as usual, with a limited number of people allowed at any given time. 
    • FACE COVERINGS: Face coverings must be worn in Clifford's Tower's indoor shop and all other indoor spaces. We won't be able to give you a face covering so please come prepared so you don't miss out.

  • Enquire now

  • School visits from September 2020

    Education bookings for learners of all ages and abilities are now open and you’ll be able to make provisional bookings for visits from September 2020 to March 2021. Please be aware that it may take us a little longer than usual to come back to you as we continue to review and update our offer. 

    In the meantime if you have a query related to an existing booking or would like more information please email bookeducation@english-heritage.org.uk

    We look forward to seeing you again soon.

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