TL;DR
Bolton Castle is full of wonder, offering a full family day out. Daily activities include bird of prey demonstrations, archery and boar feeding. There’s a tearoom serving delicious homemade food, including Annie’s famous pasties. Visitors love exploring five-floors history, especially learning about the six-month imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots in 1568 and her impressive entourage. The garden tours offer visitors an insight into horticultural heritage along with a maze and the best views across the Yorkshire Dales you’ll ever see.
Bolton Castle is full of wonder – I’ve been General Manager here for seven years and still, every day is different. The castle was completed in 1399 by Sir Richard le Scrope, Lord Chancellor to King Richard II. Built to rival the finest homes in the land, it was a luxurious residence.
And so much of this luxury abode has been brilliantly preserved that it’s easy to get a feel for life at this fine castle across the centuries. I love speaking with visitors who are here for the first time, those who return time and time again, from close to home and overseas – one thing they all say is ‘those views!’.
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Daily activities at Bolton Castle
Of all the castles in Yorkshire, we believe Bolton Castle offers a full family day out with five-floors of history, beautiful gardens to explore, falconry, amazing views, a maze, have-a-go archery, boar feeding and of course a tearoom with delicious homemade food.
Ou daily schedule looks like this, with events throughout the year and children’s activity packs available to buy in the shop:
11.30 – Bird of prey demonstration (garden)
13:45 – Archery demonstration (castle courtyard)
15.00 – Bird of prey demonstration (garden)
16.00 – Wild boar feeding (boar park)
“We had a great time at Bolton Castle, there is so much to see, and we spent 3 hours there. The views are absolutely stunning, and the castle is wonderfully preserved. We had some delicious cakes in the café. We loved the archery session, and the bird of prey display was so well presented and very exciting!” – Natasha, TripAdvisor Review
Mary Queen of Scots
One of our most fascinating historical connections is the six-month imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots in 1568. We like to think she received a warm Yorkshire welcome and was made comfortable here at the castle with her entourage – cooks, grooms, hairdresser, embroiderer, apothecary, physician and even a surgeon – there really was a support crew staying both in and near to the castle.
I’m so excited to see the history of Mary come to life when we host the Mary Queen of Scots: The Exhibition here at Bolton Castle in March 2027.
Delicious tearoom treats
My top favourite tearoom order is our Millionaire’s shortbread, delicious! We’re proud that food is freshly prepared on-site including dietary options for gluten-free, vegetarian and vegans. We want anyone to pop in for a cup of tea and a slice of cake, so I love it that you don’t have to buy admission to the castle and grounds to come in and enjoy the delicious tearoom treats – and the blazing fire on colder days.
Afternoon tea is a popular choice, and afternoon tea vouchers make a wonderful gift especially for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, as a wedding present idea or as a Christmas gift.
Garden Tours
We have many visitors to Bolton Castle who come for the beautiful historic gardens – some enjoy at leisure whilst others choose to book on guided garden tours led by our head gardener and garden historian. The private tours trace the gardens from medieval origins to the beautiful landscapes visitors enjoy today, celebrating the rich horticultural heritage that surrounds our historic castle.
The gardens have been restored along medieval lines and include a well-stocked herb garden, rose garden, walled vineyard, bowling green and maze as well as the birds of prey.
Conclusion
I love being General Manager here at Bolton Castle, everyday is unique, I work with such a fantastic team, and nothing beats seeing visitors leave with huge smiles. It’s a real medieval castle so it’s a workplace with quirks, including being late home because the portcullis was stuck! Whilst the castle gets old, the views never do. Honestly, I often catch myself thinking how lucky I am to work somewhere so beautiful.
Frequently Asked Questions
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- One of Yorkshire’s best preserved medieval castles is Bolton Castle, originally built by Sir Richard Le Scrope. Still The Castle has been preserved in outstanding condition with many interesting rooms and features to discover including the Old Kitchens, Dungeon, Solar, Nursery, Armory, Great Chamber and Mary Queen of Scots’ bedroom.
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Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned at Bolton Castle in the Yorkshire Dales in 1568. Held there for six-months, you can still visit Mary’s bedroom and imagine what life was life for her in a comfortable castle prison.
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From 6th March 2027 to 5th September 2027, Bolton Castle will host an immersive experience telling the story of Mary Queen of Scots. Visitors can step back in time and discover the story of Mary Queen of Scots at Bolton Castle, where she was imprisoned in 1568, and learn about the tragic story through a rare collection of priceless artefacts and images.
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Bolton Castle is worth visiting, offering fun for all the family. Daily activities on offer include a birds of prey demonstration, archery, boar feeding, as well as a castle to explore, gardens, annual events, afternoon tea, a maze, tea room, shop, audio app and children’s activity packs.
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Completed in 1399, Bolton Castle’s scars bear testament to over 600 years of fascinating history including involvement in the Pilgrimage of Grace, Mary Queen of Scot’s imprisonment and a Civil War siege.