Clifford's Tower Guide: Tickets, Hours & History

Clifford's Tower is a 13th-century quatrefoil (four-lobed) stone keep atop a Norman motte (mound), one of York's most recognizable landmarks and managed by English Heritage.

Standard adult admission is £9.00, with no reservation required — entry is walk-up only, though advance online booking can save up to 15%. The compact site includes the tower's interior chambers and a parapet with panoramic views over York.

The mound was built in 1068 under William the Conqueror; the original wooden fortress was rebuilt in stone in the 13th century. The site is also marked by the tragic 1190 massacre of York's Jewish community, who took refuge in the tower during an antisemitic mob attack — a significant and sobering part of the site's history that English Heritage's own interpretation addresses directly.

The artificial mound was raised in 1068 following the Norman Conquest, initially topped with a wooden fortress. It was rebuilt in stone in the 13th century, producing the distinctive quatrefoil tower visible today — a royal fortress and symbol of Norman power in northern England.

In March 1190, York's Jewish community took refuge inside the tower during a violent antisemitic mob attack; many died in the ensuing tragedy, one of the worst instances of antisemitic violence in medieval England. English Heritage's own on-site interpretation addresses this history directly as part of the tower's significance.