Bolton Castle near Leyburn, North Yorkshire, Opens 1 March 2025:
2025 Programme of Visitor Events
One of the country’s best preserved medieval castles, Bolton Castle in North Yorkshire, offers a great day out for visitors. The castle has remained in the same family’s ownership for over 600 years and bears the scars of its history. Just ten
minutes’ drive from Leyburn, a day out here includes five floors of castle, including a dungeon, plus beautiful gardens, maze and tea room, daily falconry displays and wild boar feeding. Bolton Castle also offers an extensive programme of events which bring the story of the castle alive, many free with entry, including its acclaimed re-enactor days, storytelling, trails, and open-air theatre. Perfect for families, history buffs and garden lovers, and those that just enjoy a day out in the fresh air. The castle opens
for the new season on Saturday 1 March 2025.
Tickets remain at the same price as 2024 at £15 per adult, £12.50 per child (children are 5 to 18 years old, children aged 4 and under are free) and £60 family for castle and gardens.
Concessions available for 67 year-olds and over. Tickets to the gardens only are £6 per adult and concessions £5 per person, family £25. Car parking is £5 per vehicle. Events are free with entry, 10am to 5pm, unless stated otherwise on the listing. The castle is open until
Friday 31 October 2025.
Most events are free with entry and take place from 10am to 5pm unless otherwise stated in- line with the garden and castle opening times. Please check the website ahead of visiting on a non-event day in case of castle closure for private events. Check out the new App and download here – it’s a free audio that you can take with you around the castle to hear all about the turbulent history that has created the castle as it is today.
Living History Tudor Weekend
Saturday 1 March & Sunday 2 March
The Tudor Weekend complete with appropriately dressed castle inhabitants, will show visitors just how life really was in the Tudor period. Tudor England was a time of great change. Come and join the ‘Living Historians’ and find out how life would have differed between 1485, the beginning of the reign of King Henry V11, and 1603 with the death of Henry’s granddaughter, the last Tudor monarch, Elizabeth 1.
Lord Scrope’s Living History Weekend
Saturday 5 April & Sunday 6 April
Come visit Lord Scrope’s household and learn about the turbulent time of the Wars of the Roses. It is the year 1461 after the battle of Towton, the biggest and bloodiest clash on English soil resulting in victory for the Yorkists. After recovering from wounds sustained in
the battle, Lord Scrope has gone north to assist in besieging the last Lancastrian outposts of Alnwick and Bamburgh. Visit the castle as the household prepares to finish off the Lancastrians. Experience the sights and sounds of a busy Medieval kitchen responsible for
feeding the garrison, see the work of the tradespeople who kept the castle running day in day out and learn how you would fight and survive as a common soldier during the Wars of the Roses.
Easter at Bolton Castle
Tuesday 8 April to Monday 21 April
Easter, with all its traditions, is something children often know little about and our castle trail is a great way to give your little ones some fun facts by taking part in a find and seek trail, ending with a chocolate reward and some Maundy money as a token. Our lovely friend the dragon Alfraeda has returned to her favourite castle. Having lost her egg, she needs help to find it.
Can you help?
Living History Towton 1461 Weekend
Easter Weekend Friday 18 April, Saturday 19 April, Sunday 20 April & Monday 21 April
On Palm Sunday, 29 March 1461, arguably the largest and bloodiest battle on English soil took place, fought by an estimated 50,000 men continuing throughout the day and into the night. Among the combatants was Lord John Scrope from Bolton Castle, and a contingent of
men at arms and archers from Wensleydale. Our ‘Living Historians’ are in residence at the castle to talk about the battle, its significance in the Wars of the Roses and the future of England’s monarchy. Come and try on some of the arms and armour and have a go at archery. Who would you have fought for and would you have made the grade as a Medieval soldier.
Lord Scrope’s Living History Medieval Weekend
Saturday 10 May & Sunday 11 May
Come visit Lord Scrope’s household and learn about the turbulent time of the Wars of the Roses. It is the year 1461 after the battle of Towton, the biggest and bloodiest clash on English soil resulting in victory for the Yorkists. After recovering from wounds sustained in
the battle, Lord Scrope has gone north to assist in besieging the last Lancastrian outposts of Alnwick and Bambrugh. Visit the castle as the household prepares to finish off the Lancastrians. Experience the sights and sounds of a busy Medieval kitchen responsible for feeding the garrison, see the work of the tradespeople who kept the castle running day in day out and learn how you would fight and survive as a common soldier during the Wars of the Roses.
Living History Civil War Siege 1645 Weekend
Saturday 31 May & Sunday 1 June
In August 1642, the long-standing dispute between King Charles 1 and his parliament erupted into open warfare. Seven years later, in January 1469, the king was executed and for the next eleven years Britain became a Republic. Bolton Castle was held for the king until November 1645 when the castle garrison ran out of food and was forced to surrender. The Bolton Castle you see today is mostly due to events once the castle had surrendered. Our ‘Living Historians’ are on hand to tell you more about the war of the ‘Three kingdoms’, and to give you the opportunity to handle the arms and armour of the period. In a war that split families in their loyalties, who would you have fought for?
An Audience with Mary Queen of Scots
Wednesday 11 June, 6.45pm to 8.30pm Tickets cost £14pp
Fantastically cast as Mary Queen of Scots, actor Jane Collier portrays the story of this major historical character who was held at Bolton Castle. Jane weaves history and facts, artfully bringing alive the queen as a person. The compelling performance portrays the queen after 18 years in captivity as she faces her imminent execution. The event is followed by a Q & A.
Suitable for 12 years and over.
Living History Medieval Weekend
Saturday 14 June & Sunday 15 June
Bolton Castle was one of the last Medieval castles to be constructed. In truth, it was one of England’s first big country houses, with numerous innovative ideas; glass windows, a garderobe (toilet) in nearly all the major rooms, and eight bedrooms, all ensuite, at a time
when few people had a bed, let alone a room to put one in. In 1415, shortly after the castle’s completion, Lord Scrope with men of his retinue travelled to France as part of the army of King Henry V, and in October of that year fought in one of the most famous battles of the Hundred Years War with France, the Battle of Agincourt. Join us and find out what life would have been like for the people who lived and worked in the castle, many of whom followed their lord to war in a turbulent period of our history.
Lord Scrope’s Living History Tudor Weekend
Saturday 21 June & Sunday 22 June
Come visit Lord Scrope’s Tudor household and learn about the turbulent time of the Border Reivers, infamous raiding families including Armstrongs, Elliots, Grahams, Johnstones, Maxwells, Scotts, Nixons and many others who terrorized the Anglo-Scottish borderland. It is the year 1596 and trouble is brewing between England and Scotland. The notorious Scottish reiver, Kinmont Willie has been broken out of Carlisle castle after being captured under dubious circumstances on a day of truce. Lord Scrope of Bolton, responsible for keeping order on the West March is furious at having a prize prisoner snatched from him and has ordered a raid into Scottish territory that threatens to “shake loose the border”. Visit the castle as the household prepares for the foray. Experience the sights and sounds of a busy Tudor kitchen responsible for feeding the garrison, see the work of the tradespeople who kept the castle running day in day out and learn how you would fight and survive as a common soldier in Britain’s debatable lands.
Captain Savile’s 15th Century Re-enactment Weekend
Saturday 28 June & Sunday 29 June
Come join Sir John Savile and his retinue as they visit Bolton Castle and see the everyday workings of the household during a visit from the Sheriff of Yorkshire. The day is brought alive with re-enactors demonstrating archery, combat with swords and pollexes, and the
castle inhabitants showcase life amidst combat and peace. A great day out for all the family, Bolton Castle is abuzz with history, activities and a chance for visitors to have a go too.
Living History Tudor & Mary Queen of Scots 1568 Weekend
Saturday 2 August & Sunday 3 August
‘En ma fin git mon commencement’ … ‘In my end is my beginning’ is the motto to one of the most enigmatic characters in British history, Mary Queen of Scots. Having fallen out with her lords and being defeated by them at the battle of Langside, Mary fled Scotland to England, coming ashore near to Workington on the Cumbrian coast on 16 May 1568; she was eventually brought to Bolton Castle on 15 July that same year. Visit the rooms she occupied and join our Living Historians to find out more about life in a Tudor castle, especially one that played host for six months to the captive Queen of Scotland.
Mary Queen of Scots Family Event
Tuesday 5 August, Wednesday 6 August &Thursday 7 August
‘Back by popular demand! Our Mary Queen of Scots event was such a hit ‘the… atmosphere & setting were perfect. The knowledge & passion of the actor exceptional’ we’ve decided to put on another date! We are also doing two day time events for children and families. At these times ‘Mary’ will talk about Mary and the Scrope family living at Bolton Castle whilst she was in residence. Please see our website for times.
Outdoor Theatre with the renowned HandleBards theatre touring company:
Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
Wednesday 13 August 6.30pm to 9pm
Early bird ticket £17.50 per adult or £20.50 per adult on the day, £13 21 years old and under, £5 12 years and under
The HandleBards theatre troupe are pedalling from venue to venue with all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, and they arrive at Bolton Castle in August! The HandleBards are a four-strong troupe of actors who are spending the summer bringing
environmentally sustainable Shakespeare to venues across the UK. Join the troupe for a bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ like you’ve never seen before.
And what’s the play about? Well – a group of soldiers return from the war to a household in Messina, kindling new love interests and re-kindling old rivalries. The parallel love stories of Beatrice, Benedick, Claudio and Hero quickly become entangled with scheming, frivolity and melodrama in Shakespeare’s famous comedy. This is an outdoor production, so please bring a chair or blanket to sit on, a picnic to dig into, and dress for the weather!
Book tickets here Much Ado About Nothing - The HandleBards
Lord Scrope’s Living History Tudor Weekend
Saturday 16 August & Sunday 17 August
The year is 1588. The Spanish Armada has been sighted in the channel and the beacons lit. Come visit Lord Scrope’s Tudor household and learn about this turbulent time as they prepare to meet the invaders should they land… Part of the reason for their coming is to avenge the death the previous year of an ex-prisoner of Bolton Castle, Mary Queen of Scots. The castle garrison is on full alert although there is no news of how the battle is going. Have the invaders been defeated, or is a Spanish army already on its way to take the castle? Lacking modern communications, news could take many days to filter through, especially in more remote regions such as Bolton Castle. Come and train as a soldier so you would be able to defend the castle. Experience the sights and sounds of a busy Tudor kitchen responsible for feeding the garrison, see the work of the tradespeople who kept the castle running day in day out.
Bank Holiday Living History Civil War Siege Weekend
Saturday 23 August, Sunday 24 August & Monday 25 August
In August 1642, the long-standing dispute between King Charles 1 and his parliament erupted into open warfare. Seven years later, in January 1469, the king was executed and for the next eleven years Britain became a Republic. Bolton Castle was held for the king until November 1645 when the castle garrison ran out of food and was forced to surrender. The Bolton Castle you see today is mostly due to events once the castle had surrendered. ‘Living Historians’ are on hand to tell you more the arms and armour of the period. In a war that
split families in their loyalties, who would you have fought for?
Photo credit Gareth Buddo