Address: Ripley, Harrogate, HG3 3AY, United Kingdom
Phone: +441423770152
Rating: 4.5
based on 254 reviews.
Parking
Pros:
"Free parking for everyone. Blue badge parking very close to the castle."
"Parking was okay but very busy, we paid 2.50 for 4 hours."
"Free parking available in nearby, within 500 yards, car park."
"Car parking is in village and free."
"What a treat, free parking in the village car park, but a short walk from the castle."
"Well worth the visit and free parking too."
Cons:
"The car park is shockingly badly maintained with huge (and some VERY HUGE) potholes filled with rain water."
"The parking is pay and display, maximum 40-50 spaces so if you don't end up finding any spots you'll need to go to the larger car park in the village."
"The parking that there is, is totally unsuitable and unacceptable for people who have physical disabilities."
"The newly installed parking meter which is computer controlled is a big turn off now for us."
"They have a ripoff plan for people who are using the parking."
"There's a pay and display car park on the outskirts of the castle."
"AVOID THIS PLACE FOR PARKING just like you’d avoid Rose West on the streets!!"
Customer Service
Pros:
"Special mention needs to be made of the most friendly & helpful gift shop Lady."
"All the staff did everything they could to make our day perfect."
"The grounds are stunning, the food was better than I've had in any restaurant and the staff were incredible."
"Everything was perfect, the food amazing and the staff was such a delight to work with."
"We were impressed by the customer service."
"All the staff were fantastic, and very friendly."
"Excellent, we were shown around the historic castle by two very informative ladies."
Cons:
"They showed no remorse. Their behavior showed poor customer service."
"The coffee shop runner person was also the ticket purchaser from, I feel the coffee shop should be separated so you're not waiting in line behind people who only want coffee."
"However I was extremely disappointed to have a peaceful walk repeatedly disrupted by a quad bike lesson."
"We went to the cafe/restaurant, where one staff member, was very rude, and arrogant."
"Bob, our guide, made it very interesting however I wasn't impressed by how he spoke to one lady who asked some additional questions."
"Change your signage or do some customer service training, it's completely put us off returning."
"No updates on their personal website or any of their social media and nobody answering phones. Exceptionally poor customer experience."
Value for Money
Pros:
"Admission to the grounds and gardens only £5."
"Admission to the gardens was £5. I'll tell you it was £5 well spent."
"Reasonably priced entrance fee."
Cons:
"Same price! Rip off, don't go."
"The £8 admission fee represents poor value for money in their current state."
"Pretty but way overpriced for what it is!!!"
"Very overpriced entry for what it is."
"though I said the garden was lovely it isn't worth £5 for per person."
"OVERCHARGED made us pay £20 for 4 people when 2 of the 4 were children!!!"
"Drove all the way there to arrive at 12.45. Was informed that castle is tours only and last one is 12.30. Website does not state this fact clearly and as such I won't waste my time or money bothering to go again."
Accessibility
Pros:
"Easily reached by a 20 minute bus ride from Harrogate and Ripon."
"Definitely worth a day trip from Harrogate."
"Recommend if you’re in the area and it’s a nice day."
Cons:
"The parking that there is, is totally unsuitable and unacceptable for people who have physical disabilities."
"Not recommended for people with mobility issues, quite a few aristocratic thinking old ladies that flooded the venue certainly lacked common courtesy to those less able."
"Great place to visit but not wheelchair friendly."
"The Riverside walk was really heavy with mud, I couldn't even reach the weir for how slippy it was."
"Not enough social distancing today."
"Advertised as Open 10am-5pm today on their website. Travelled by taxi to get there and were told it was closed for a wedding."
"Went to the homes and gardens fair in their grounds. There was no consideration for pedestrians from the village."
Grounds and Gardens
Pros:
"The grounds and scenery here are gorgeous!"
"A pretty little place with vast, stunningly picturesque surroundings."
"A great place to take the family for a day out to enjoy the gardens and big lake."
"The views of the castle from the other side of the lake were outstanding."
"The castle itself is really well preserved. Beautiful gardens."
"The tearoom is beautiful, grounds are stunning."
"The gardens are huge, with many different things to see."
Cons:
"The walk itself was bland, and gardens quite small and bare."
"The gardens and grounds were rather disappointing, they look like they have been neglected."
"We were disappointed with finding very little flower displays in the gardens some flower beds empty with weeds growing."
"Several of the beds in the allotment/walled gardens need a good weed and overhanging trees trimming back."
"This review is for the castle not the village. After reading other reviews I was looking forward to this visit. i was so disappointed! The gardens were a let down they need some TLC."
Wedding Venue
Pros:
"What a wonderful Wedding venue."
"All the staff did everything they could to make our day perfect."
"The grounds are stunning, the food was better than I've had in any restaurant and the staff were incredible."
"A beautiful venue for our wedding, with Rebecca and the team taking so much care of us."
"Ripley Castle was the perfect venue for our wedding - the grounds are stunning."
"Our wedding day ran smoothly and there’s plenty of room for dancing!"
"Ripley Castle is a stunning wedding venue."
Cons:
"However I was extremely disappointed to have a peaceful walk repeatedly disrupted by a quad bike lesson."
"Really nice clean place BUT they advertise they are dog friendly and when we arrived we were told they could only stay in the room and could not even go in the bar area."
"Not recommended for people with mobility issues, quite a few aristocratic thinking old ladies that flooded the venue certainly lacked common courtesy to those less able."
"Advertised as Open 10am-5pm today on their website. Travelled by taxi to get there and were told it was closed for a wedding."