There really is something for everyone at Cliffe Castle in Keighley. You can see sparkling Victorian rooms, overflowing with paintings, furniture and art of every style. But there are also rooms dedicated to nature, the district’s archaeology and a display of stained glass by Morris and Co.
It’s an absolute feast for the imagination.
Cliffe Castle was originally built in the 1880s as the home of Victorian millionaire and textile manufacturer, Henry Isaac Butterfield and was a showpiece of international art and French decoration. It was the scene of many glittering parties and society events.
In the 1950s the Castle was bought by Sir Bracewell Smith, who commissioned architect Sir Albert Richardson to turn Cliffe Castle’s gardens into a grand public park and remodelled the Castle to be a free museum for the people of the district. That continues to this day, winning (and retaining) a coveted Heritage Green Flag award – the first in the district!
In recent years Cliffe Castle has had a glow-up, inside and out, with Victorian features in the park reinstated, and the breathtaking stained glass Butterfield Window on the Grand Staircase restored. The Castle also hosts changing exhibitions from our collections and the community, as well as a fantastic café.
Toilets
Parking
Disabled Access
Cliffe Castle Museum has a feast for your eyes with their new virtual reality tour.
Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Friday: 10am – 4pm
Saturday – Sunday: 11am – 4pm
All Bank Holiday Opening Times: 11:00 – 4:00 except Bolling Hall
All sites closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday
There is a small amount of free parking on Spring Gardens Lane and within the museum car park. Please note this is allows for 3 hours parking and no return within 2 hours. These parking places are managed by Bradford Council Parking Services.
There are two Blue Badge parking spaces down the slope from the museum car park which are offered on a first come first served basis. The gates to these car park spaces close at 4.30pm”
Approximately 12-25 minutes walk from the railway station, 6-15 minutes walk from the bus station. Buses (for example Bradford to Skipton) pass the lower main gates. The 903 bus service operates from Keighley Bus Station and serves Cliffe Castle on a limited basis.
12 August 2025 11:00 am – 12 August 2025 3:00 pm
13 August 2025 11:00 am – 13 August 2025 3:00 pm
Explore the Ice Age Art now exhibition and make your own cave paintings using natural pigments.
13 September 2025 11:00 am – 13 August 2025 3:00 pm
Explore Ice Age life & communication in this drop-in family workshop
17 August 2025 11:00 am – 17 August 2025 3:00 pm
Making Ice Age inspired jewellery.
28 August 2025 10:30 am – 28 August 2025 12:30 pm
6 September 2025 11:00 am – 6 September 2025 3:00 pm
Help create a modern version of cave art on fabric.
21 June 2025 – 14 September 2025
Travel back in time at this British Museum Partnership Exhibition with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and encounter works of art dating back thousands of years.
20 June 2025 10:00 am – 21 September 2025 4:00 pm
Celebrating historic collections through sustainable design
25 September 2025 10:30 am – 25 September 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
23 October 2025 10:30 am – 23 October 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
27 November 2025 10:30 am – 27 November 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
6 December 2025 11:00 am – 7 December 2025 4:00 pm
Make a note of the date
Find out everything you need to know before you visit us. Including opening times and how to find us.
Bradford District Museums & Galleries’ Learning Team offers schools a wide range of curriculum-linked workshops at our inspiring sites.
The Cliffe Castle Support Group (CCSG) is a small charity made up of supporters who work with Cliffe Castle Museum and Park in the engagement of visitors, particularly those from the local community, by providing free participative, experiential and informative activities.
Your donations are really important to us and we welcome any support you can offer.
Bradford Museums & Galleries’ Learning Team offer a range of exciting, hands-on, curriculum-linked workshops at Cliffe Castle Museum.
Learning & Outreach Team
learning@bradford.gov.uk
Volunteering
07976 747341
bmgvolunteers@bradford.gov.uk
Events
01274 436027
events@bradford.gov.uk
Collections
collections@bradford.gov.uk
registry@bradford.gov.uk
Exhibition Programming
programming@bradford.gov.uk
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