Location: Knaresborough
Top Things to do in Knaresborough
10 Sights & Landmarks in Knaresborough That You Shouldn't Miss
Knaresborough (/nɛərzbrə, -bərə/ NAIRZ-b(ə)rə) is an historic market town, spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is located on the River Nidd, 4 miles (6.4 km) east from the centre of Harrogate.
Restaurants in Knaresborough
1. Allerton Waste Recovery Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Allerton Waste Recovery Park brings together state-of-the-art technologies to make the most of rubbish from homes in York and North Yorkshire. The new facility is reducing the amount of household waste going to landfill in the county by 90%. Together, the technologies are increasing the amount of recyclable materials which are removed from the waste stream.
Reviewed By MikeG448 - Ripon, United Kingdom
Excellent visitor centre & group leader 'Emily'. information telling us about recycling correctly, followed by visiting viewing galleries around Waste Recovery Plant (slightly smelly at times) to see our North Yorkshire bin waste being processed for recovery or incineration into energy. Amazing process. My skeptical mind hopes that this facility maintains efficiency in future. Our rubbish!?! Good car park/toilets at visitor centre + wheelchair access, but stairways on plant.
2. Knaresborough Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,264 reviews
Knaresborough Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument which is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster and maintained by Harrogate Borough Council. While the castle is open seasonally, the grounds are open as a public park all year round and provide a haven in the centre of the town. The castle stands on top of a high cliff and has dramatic views across to the viaduct and the River Nidd. The grassed areas are enhanced with mature trees and flowerbeds.
Reviewed By neebee2018 - Chester, United Kingdom
A well laid out and interesting museum though small it tells the civil war history of the area it also houses an original oak Court room from the 12century great castle ruin to explore too well worth a visit.
3. Allerton Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 79 reviews
Reviewed By GerryCD - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
WOW..this castle and the victorian gems inside are awesome. The recent painstaking restoration leaves you gobsmacked. The rare automaton music machines are out of this world. The carved elephant is outstanding and the guided tour was fabulous.
4. River Nidd Waterside Walk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 337 reviews
Reviewed By dwilk
Easy walks along the river with a range of differing length. Paths maintained to a high standard. Plenty of parking available close to where walks begin and Lao easy to walk to town centre and castle from here.
5. Church of St John the Baptist
6. Knaresborough Viaduct
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By ian_dempster - Wigan, United Kingdom
Great piece of engineering over the river which carries the railway. Makes the view over the gorge even more appealing.
7. Mother Shipton's Cave
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,654 reviews
Mother Shipton was born in 1488, in a cave on the banks of the River Nidd, and grew up around Knaresborough. As she grew older, her prophecies became known throughout England. She foretold the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 and the Great Fire of London in 1666. Beside Mother Shipton’s cave is the famous Petrifying Well, a unique geological phenomenon. Over hundreds of years curiosity has drawn millions of visitors to the well to see cascading water turn everyday objects to stone - as if by magic. Visitors from all over the world have been enchanted by the park’s natural beauty, mesmerised by the Petrifying Well and fascinated by Mother Shipton’s story. The park has several scenic picnic areas, an adventure playground and museum and gift shop. Dogs are welcome in all areas, apart from the playground, and must be kept on a lead. Themed events run during school holidays, for more information and to book tickets visit the website.
Reviewed By 19laura93 - Bourton-on-the-Water, United Kingdom
I went with my girlfriend and it’s amazing. For the £2 parking you have to pay, it’s definitely worth it as you can leave the car there all day and walk around the town. The £7 entry is reasonable as the walk through the woods is gorgeous, and there’s lots of interesting boards to read as you go through. The cave and petrifying well themselves are fascinating and it’s great to hear the history that comes with them. The £1 guide book is definitely worth it, as there’s more history about each part of the walk, cave, well and nearby town. We had a lovely picnic beside the weir before we left. As two adults not having to cater for any children, I would fully recommend it and would go again.
8. St Robert's Cave
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By Rossergruffydd - Glasgow, United Kingdom
The town map is very vague as to where the cave is and some of the locals had never heard of it. Don't expect any of the signs to tell you where it is. It's easy to miss as it lies right next to the river very close to a weir and an old mill, not on the crags as you might expect. The interpretation boards give you a good break down of the history and the new statue adds to the site's feel and significance. In a lovely spot and sadly prone to flooding. Well worth a look and the long walk was a pleasure given the scenery.
9. Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 40 reviews
The Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag is a 'Marian' shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary and her son, Jesus Christ. The Chapel was built by someone known as 'John the Mason' in 1408. A Royal Charter attests to the date, but the rest of the founding story is either legend or conjecture! John the Mason probably worked to obtain stone for Knaresborough Castle from the nearby quarry. The story goes that his son was almost killed by a rock fall in the quarry. John fervently prayed to the Virgin Mary to save him. When he emerged, miraculously unscathed, from the rubble, John built this chapel in thanksgiving. There are two other reasons that might have prompted him to have hewn the Chapel out of the rock. Firstly, the Chapel is a wayside shrine, and in 1408 it was en route to Knaresborough's priory (destroyed at the Reformation). Secondly, John would have loved to have displayed his skills to the people of his day; the Chapel is the work of a master craftsman, with a carved altar, vaulted ceiling, roof bosses and gargoyles, looking every bit like an erected building, but with a special quality, created from the crag itself. A volunteer group look after the site and open the Chapel to visitors and pilgrims, they raise funds for the upkeep of the Chapel and minor site maintenance projects. The chapel is open 2pm - 4pm on Sundays from Easter until the end of September (weather permitting). To arrange a visit outside of these times please contact us at
Reviewed By NurseMel50 - Harrogate, United Kingdom
Had been here before and wanted to show my kids as they had not seen before. Hadn’t realised it was only open on Sundays so sadly the chapel was closed. We still managed to walk up to it and took some pics. Very interesting place .
10. Market Cross
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By olibot - Bishop Auckland, United Kingdom
The market cross is a great little spot to sit with either Mother Shipton or Blind Jack and watch people go about their business.
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