Clifford's Tower, York UK
It's not Clifford's and it's not a tower
Just to clear up a few things; it's not Clifford's and it's not a tower. It's a castle and Clifford was just executed here and hung in chains. Also his name was Roger de Clifford — so technically it should be called ‘Not Roger's Castle, but he did get executed here’. But thats not very catchy for the merch.
Clifford's Tower is now all that remains of York Castle and is well worth a visit, especially due to its most recent renovation by Historic England that has made it even easier to climb for its amazing 360 degree views of York.
Another interesting fact (I'm full of them) is that it was originally made of wood and has so far burned down twice. It’s currently made out of stone so perhaps Historic England is trying to keep the buildings insurance premiums down a bit.
So if you, like me, enjoy visiting towers that are really castles and walking up steps, then this is a great attraction to visit. And just for a Brucie Bonus (ask your parents), in the summer there is often a beautiful vintage carousel on the green in front of it.
Local Knowledge
The stairs to the top entrance and the inside stairs are quite steep and a bit of a workout — in fact some people do their workout there in the morning
The tower is mostly an open-air experience, so it’s best to visit on a clear day or bring a coat and umbrella if it looks like rain
It's one of the best spots in York for a photo, especially at sunrise or sunset
Its just a few minutes walk from Bishy Road which is York’s Notting Hill, packed with great restaurants and cafés. And it's where we live, so you could pop in for a coffee!
If you like the look of Not Roger's Castle, but he did get executed here, want to check out York and need a place to stay, then just visit our website www.houseofyork.org and book:
- one of our homes for up to six people
- two of our homes for up to 12 people
- or all three together for up to 18 people
Rather conveniently, all our houses are next door to each other!
If you are coming to York and need a place to stay then check out our 3 holiday homes at www.houseofyork.org
Want to read more for your next visit to York?
Then download a free copy of our book York Local Knowledge Must-do Top Tens & the vouchers to get them for less where you will discover the historic UK city of York like a local with tips, top tens, and guidance on where to find the best discounts and vouchers, so you can experience it all without breaking the bank!
You can download it for free from the Apple iBooks Store here
You can download it for free from the Google Play Books Store here
This isn’t your average guidebook—it’s a laugh-out-loud, down-to-earth companion, packed with top-ten lists covering everything from essential attractions and hidden gems to entertainment, dining spots, walks, tours, festivals, and shopping, all enriched with a local’s insider knowledge.
With insights, amusing anecdotes, and a sprinkling of puns and dad jokes, Alistair’s love letter to York will help you see the city in a whole new way. Grab a copy and start planning the York adventure you didn’t know you were missing!
With over 240 pages, this guide is ideal for families and groups of friends planning a trip to York and includes:
Up-to-date information on everything in the ever-changing city of York—this is the 2025 edition.
Top ten lists of York’s best tourist attractions, entertainment spots, food and drink, walks, tours, festivals, and independent shops.
Beautiful photography accompanying every recommendation.
Answers to visitors’ top questions, from “Where’s the best place for ice cream?” to “Where can I find a great takeaway curry?”
Recommendations on where locals go for up-to-date information about York.
The best places to stay, from five-star hotels to holiday homes and houseboats.
Details on where to find discounts and vouchers for York restaurants, attractions, and experiences.
Want to hear a great podcast about York?
A fab podcast for tourists and locals looking to find out more about York History, must do York Top 10's and money saving tips to do it all for less.
Just search your podcast app for York Must Do Top 10s or click on this link for the show on apple podcast here
Book one of our Holiday Homes for your next trip to York
Are you looking for a great place to stay for your next trip to York. All 3 of our holiday homes are next door to each other which means you can hire them individually for up to 6 people or together for up to 12 (107 & 109 together) or even 18 people (Spencer House & 107 & 109 together).
To check availability and book just visit www.houseofyork.org
We pride ourselves on being couples and family friendly and we try to take any of the stress out of your stay so you can focus on enjoying yourselves and magnificent York.