Helmsley Castle Reviews Summary

Castle Grounds and Maintenance

Pros:

• "The ruins and earthworks are quite impressive."
• "The internal grounds are grassy and well cut with wall remains outlining the internal Castle Buildings."
• "The castle ruins cover a quite large area which is mostly flat."
• "A tranquil & beautifully preserved setting to let your imagination run wild or to just sit in peace."
• "The grounds are very well maintained and the shop/visitor centre is OK."
• "The moat filled with wild grasses & flowers."
• "Wonderful historical site filled with beautiful fields and steams, centuries-old skeletal buildings that soar into the air, colorful vistas and gardens."

Cons:

• "Went into the walled gardens..£8:50 pp entrance no concessions..only saw one gardener and plants needed deadheading and weeding."
• "Unfortunately the tudor house was wrapped in scaffolding due to work on the roof to save the building."
• "Unfortnately the grass cutting was underway and slightly spoiled the atmosphere as quite noisy."
• "It's also not safe for little kids as there are plenty of places where they could fall down and hurt themselves."

Accessibility and Facilities

Pros:

• "Picnic tables are dotted around the site."
• "Long stay car park next to the castle or can park in the short stay in town (must pay) and is an easy walk."
• "Motorhome spaces but get there early cuz cars park in them."
• "Its possible for wheelchair and pushchairs to access main castle."
• "The castle wasn't too busy when I visited, and there is plenty of space for social distancing."
• "Place is dog friendly."
• "Most of the castle ruins are accessible to wheelchairs with a bit of thought."

Cons:

• "It lacks a cafe, obliging you to get fed and watered in the town either before or after your visit."
• "Didn't get to see it because we couldn't find parking anywhere .. they have the smallest car park and even the overflow car park is tiny."
• "The castle carpark is pretty limited though, so you may have to use a public carpark in Helmsley (and likely pay)."
• "Not all of the grounds are suitable for wheelchair and pushchairs."
• "The upstairs bit of the castle museum is not accessible to wheelchairs."
• "The site may not be suitable for people with mobility issues due to uneven ground and steep stairs."

Staff and Customer Service

Pros:

• "Staff very friendly and helpful on arrival."
• "The staff wer friendly and informative, we explored for over an hour and will definitely revisit when in the area again."
• "Thank you to Kim (the volunteer guide) for making our visit so special and memorable."
• "The gentleman who welcomed us at the ticket office was very friendly and helpful, he did go the extra mile."
• "The staff were so friendly at the castle, and were very ready with suggestions of where to walk."
• "The staff reminded me of what the old guards must of been like except without armour and swords."
• "Staff lovely as always."

Cons:

• "Additionally, the castle's audio guides could be more engaging and informative."
• "Nothing to do with English Heritage but the Council are scraping a lot of money in car parking fees."
• "Also they did a bit of a hard-sell on membership at the entrance which was a frustration."

Local Area and Amenities

Pros:

• "The local town is also a place to visit and spend some money in the local shops."
• "Including a Bakery which seeks insane mince pies!"
• "One of the prettiest towns ive ever been to."
• "Pretty village & shops beside castle."
• "It’s a fabulous location & Helmsley itself is a lovely little ‘chocolate-box’ village."
• "The quaint village of Helmsley. Spotlessly clean and the shops and tea places all had a charm of their own."
• "Helmsley is a beautiful little market town."

Cons:

• "The town of Helmsley gets very busy and the carpark which is council owned gets full very quickly."
• "I always visit Helmsley once or twice a year but yesterday day I was disappointed it was very busy and all the car parks were full including the overspill so I just went on my way will call back another day."

Value and Experience

Pros:

• "If you want to know more about the place and it's history the guide book is worth buying."
• "One of the most interesting castles I've visited, with lots of information available - comprehensive audio guides invaluable."
• "Our visit lasted about 90 minutes and we were pleased to see how much of the castle remains."
• "Loads of history and very informative. Medieval castle, then Tudor mansion..."
• "This has been our favourite EH site in the N. York region so far."
• "The free audio devices loaned out by English Heritage really added to the experience."
• "A fantastic castle to explore, audio guide helps bring the history alive... extensive grounds are great to explore."

Cons:

• "However, I have noted that the castle's admission fee can be relatively high."
• "I found the entrance fee a bit expensive (£9) but it was still worth to see."
• "Note there is no free parking for English Heritage members but there is large carpark literally next to the site."
• "You have to pay even if you are a member."
• "Castle has not altered over the 30 years we have visited - just the price."
• "A great castle to visit but would recommend wandering around the back and climbing the fence rather than paying £9 to gain entry."
• "The castle and grounds are really only half a days entertainment for younger kids."