9 lovely things to do in Knaresborough, Yorkshire

Lovely Knaresborough is one of the prettiest towns to visit in Yorkshire, and an easy day trip from both York and Leeds. I’ve been visiting since I was little, and I keep coming back for its gorgeous riverside walks, stunning viewpoints, and a well which turns everything it touches to stone. Here’s my guide to the best things to do in Knaresborough – I hope you fall in love with it as much as I did!

1. See the railway viaduct over the River Nidd

The railway viaduct that still carries trains from Harrogate to York over the Nidd Gorge appears on every postcard of Knaresborough and is impossible to miss. The viaduct opened in 1851, replacing one which collapsed just as the railway was about to open.

The ‘new’ viaduct is 24 metres high and has four arches stretching gracefully across the river, and the picture-perfect views from the riverbank or High Bridge are just gorgeous. Head up to Knaresborough Castle for an even better view and make sure you hang around long enough to see a train going past.

2. Visit Mother Shipton’s Cave

Mother Shipton’s Cave describes itself as England’s oldest visitor attraction – it’s been open to the public since 1630. Set in the last remaining part of the Royal Forest of Knaresborough along the banks of the river, it’s still one of Knaresborough’s top attractions.

Mother Shipton was a prophetess said to have been born in the cave in the late 15th century during a violent thunderstorm. She predicted all kinds of events, including the Great Fire Of London, the defeat of the Spanish Armada and the fates of various political figures, including Cardinal Wolsey, Anne Boleyn, and Mary, Queen of Scots.

Next to Mother Shipton’s Cave, the Petrifying Well is spectacular. Water drips over a rock overhang and turns anything hung in the well to stone by slowing coating them in a layer of minerals.

I have a bit of a gripe with the Petrifying Well because I remember on previous visits there was a wider variety of things being turned to stone. There’s still a hat, a shoe, a teapot and some other interesting items, but a lot of the space now is taken up with teddies and witch figurines destined for sale in the shop.

The shop has a display of items that have been left by celebrities to be turned to stone. The celebrities and their petrified items are a real mixture, from a handbag once owned by Agatha Christie to Sarah Lancashire’s shoes and a teabag left by Sir Terry Wogan – sadly the Petrifying Well’s waters didn’t work on the teabag!

Don’t leave without making a wish in the little well behind the Petrifying Well. To make a wish, dip your right hand in the Wishing Well, think about your wish and let the water dry naturally on your hand.

In 2026, Mother Shipton’s Cave is open from 28 March to 1 November and then for special Christmas events during November and December. Allow around an hour and a half to two hours for your visit, and book online if you’re going on a bank holiday or during Halloween or Christmas events.

3. Take in the views from Knaresborough Castle

Knaresborough Castle sits on a rocky hill above the river and has been a ruin for centuries. It was built by a Norman baron in around 1100 and was an important stronghold in the north of England until it was taken by Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War. It was largely destroyed in 1648 to stop it being used as a fortress – the stone from the ruins was reused in buildings throughout the town.

Today you can visit the castle grounds for free, including the gardens which have drone-like views over the river and viaduct. There’s a small charge (£4.40 in 2026) to go inside the old keep and to visit the Courthouse Museum which tells the story of the castle and the town, with a Tudor courtroom, Civil War costumes and information about castle life and Knaresborough’s past.

4. Walk beside the River Nidd

Along with visiting the castle grounds, the riverside walk is the best free thing to do in Knaresborough. Take the steps down from the town to the water and follow the narrow street along the river, walking under the viaduct and alongside the steep cliffs of the gorge.

The appropriately-named Waterside street is short, paved and fairly flat, and takes you past some of Knaresborough’s most beautiful houses. Don’t miss cute Manor Cottage at the bottom of Water Bag Bank – it’s the last thatched cottage in Knaresborough.

If you want a slightly longer walk, carry on along Abbey Road to see the Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag which is built into the cliff-side. It’s only open on summer Sunday afternoons (2-4pm, April to September) but you can catch a little glimpse from the road below. Keep going for another 20-30 minutes to see St Robert’s Cave and the Chapel of the Holy Cross, another sacred cave.

5. Take a rowing boat out on the river

Between March and October, one of the loveliest things to do in Knaresborough is to take a rowing boat out on the river. It’s a tradition which dates back to 1882; you can imagine Victorian ladies and gentlemen enjoying a bit of boating during their romantic day out in Knaresborough!

There are two boat hire places:

• Blenkhorn’s Boats have offered boat hire in Knaresborough for over 100 years. You can find them across the river from the Mother Shipton’s Cave ticket office. An hour’s hire costs £10 per person.
• Marigold Cafe and Boat Hire is a little further along Waterside, at the foot of the castle. An hour’s hire costs £9 per person. Marigold offers online booking on their website.

6. Go shopping at Knaresborough’s markets and independent shops

Knaresborough is a market town and it still has a traditional market on Wednesdays from 7.30am to 3pm. If you can, it’s well worth planning your trip to Knaresborough for market day as you’ll get to see the town criers doing their thing at 11am and 12 noon. Oh yay indeed!

There’s a monthly artisan market at the castle and a Christmas market in early December – in 2026 it’ll take place on 5 and 6 December.

There are lots of really lovely independent shops in Knaresborough, including a bookshop, knitting shop, gallery, award-winning chocolate shop, music shop, crystal shop and an antiques shop. The market place has what claims to be the oldest chemist shop in England (now a gift shop and tea room).

Knaresborough is also one of my favourite places in Yorkshire to go charity shopping. There are seven charity shops on and around the Market Place, so if you like a good rummage, you’re in for a treat.

7. Relax in a cafe

You’re sure to work up a bit of an appetite with all these lovely things to do in Knaresborough, so it’s a good job there are loads of nice cafes spread out around the town.

On the riverside, the Marigold Cafe has one of the best views in town, looking out over the river, viaduct and their rowing boats to rent.

Nord is a Scandi-inspired coffee house with a menu full of delicious Danish-style open sandwiches, brunch dishes, cakes and bakes. The croissants are particularly epic! You can find Nord on the Market Place, and there’s a small takeaway coffee place by the river at weekends.

The Lavender Tea Rooms is a traditional cafe on the first floor of the Ye Oldest Chymist Shoppe in England on the Market Place. The 17th century building is a big part of the experience, but they’ve also got afternoon teas, full English breakfasts and traditional English dishes like sausage and mash.

Lupins, on Castlegate, is a retro-inspired, eco-conscious cafe specialising in coffee and cakes, with a selection of light lunches. It’s particularly good if you’re looking for somewhere serving vegan or gluten free dishes.

8. Wander through the Bebra Gardens

The Bebra Gardens are a small public park, just below Knaresborough Castle, and they’re a nice place to wander either on your way up to the town from the riverside or back down from the castle and Market Place. It’s a steep climb so the benches in Bebra Gardens are very welcome!

The gardens are obviously at their best in spring and summer, but they’re very pretty in autumn too. I loved this red acer tree with a carved wooden bench in the shape of a butterfly.

9. Street art and murals

This is probably one of the most surprising things about Knaresborough, but it’s absolutely full of street art and beautiful murals. The ‘Town Windows’ are a public art project, bringing Knaresborough’s history to life through a series of 10 murals.

The Town Windows are mostly found in the streets around the Market Place and castle, but there’s public art all over the town. My favourite was a heron mural painted onto the side of someone’s house on Waterside.

How long do you need in Knaresborough?

So now you’ve read about the best things to do in Knaresborough, how long do you actually need to see them? You can see the highlights in half a day, but I’d recommend a full day so you’ve got enough time to really enjoy all Knaresboroughs’ attractions. I spent two hours just at Mother Shipton’s Cave on my most recent visit.

The exception is if you visit Knaresborough during the winter, when you can’t rent a boat or visit Mother Shipton’s Cave. The castle, Courthouse Museum and Heritage Centre are all open though, along with the shops and cafes, so there’s still enough to fill at least half a day.

When is the best time to go to Knaresborough?

To see Knaresborough at its best, I recommend visiting on a sunny day between mid April and mid October. The boats will be available for hire on the river and Mother Shipton’s Cave will be open for visitors.

Spring and summer are lovely, but I have a real soft spot for Knaresborough in autumn. The trees around the river are starting to change colour, the historic woodland paths at Mother Shipton’s Cave are covered in russet leaves from the beech trees and the softer light makes everything look even more magical.

How to get to Knaresborough

Knaresborough is in North Yorkshire, 18 miles west of York, 4 miles east of Harrogate and 18 miles north of Leeds.

The nicest way to arrive in Knaresborough is by train, across the viaduct, but that’s only an option for trains from Leeds or Harrogate. The train journey takes 26 minutes from York, 32 minutes from Leeds and 9 minutes from Harrogate. Knaresborough railway station is right in the middle of town, only 5 minutes’ walk from the Market Place.

If you’re driving, Knaresborough is 4 miles from the A1(M) motorway. There are car parks all over the town, but they do get full. Your best bet, particularly at weekends, is to park at the Conyngham Hall car park near Mother Shipton’s Cave – the main car park gets full but there’s a large grassy overflow area at the back which might be muddy if it’s been rainy in the days before your visit.

Places to stay in Knaresborough

While Knaresborough is a lovely day trip from York, Leeds or Harrogate, it’s also a great base for day trips to all those places. Here’s where I’d stay for a leisurely weekend or a few days in Knaresborough.

The Knaresborough Inn is a cosy hotel with an on-site bar, lounges with real fires and outdoor terrace. The hotel is close to the station and has on-site parking – a real plus in Knaresborough.

Waterside Cottage Bed and Breakfast gets great reviews for the hosts’ warm welcome, the breakfast and the cosy rooms.

Teardrop Cottage Bed and Breakfast has a great location next to the viaduct and river. The Deluxe King room has a private outdoor hot tub.

More places to visit near Knaresborough

Knaresborough is a quick journey from the lovely spa town of Harrogate, where you can visit the Turkish Baths, visit the famous Betty’s Tea Rooms and spend time in Valley Gardens.

Harewood House is 10 miles from Knaresborough. The grand house has beautiful gardens, regular special events and is one of my favourite stately homes to visit at Christmas.

If you’re looking for more day trips from York, I highly recommend visiting Whitby. Whitby is a gorgeous seaside town with a rich history and a Gothic heart – the Abbey up on the hill featured in Dracula. Read more about things to do in Whitby.

For more spooky vibes with a literary angle, Wycoller is worth the 1 hour 13 minute drive. Wycoller Hall is a ruined and very haunted mansion that inspired Charlotte Brontë. You can combine it with a trip to the Brontë sisters’ home in Haworth on the way back to Knaresborough.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park is 40 miles south of Knaresborough but it’s an easy drive straight down the motorway. It has one of the world’s best collections of Henry Moore sculptures and is a particularly nice trip on a sunny day.

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