Cliffe Castle in Bradford

Great museum and estate, always our go to place in Keighley

I've been here a few times, it's always ok but it could do with a little refreshing. Sometimes you have to wonder what the theme is here as it's a bit of a rag tag collection of things. You can find exhibits like some of the rooms kept in the original style, and see some of the antique features. Then you wander further and find an extensive collection of original chimney pots, ceramic sanitary ware, old photos of the area, old coins found in a field, dinosaur information, rock and mineral samples, a huge taxidermy collection of British wildlife (very interesting) and upstairs is mainly clothing, toys and otherwise everyday stuff from the last couple centuries. It's free to enter and you can donate whatever you want. The staff are mainly very helpful. There's a small free parking lot, but you can find free street parking. There's no lift so wheelchair users won't be able to visit the second floor.

Great museum. Didn't get to see all of the exhibitions will definitely have to back. I recommend going early as they shut at 4 and there is alot to see

A great place to take the kids and adults, museum is great lots of things to attract your attention, the grounds are great to just wonder around and there is a children’s playground. A cafe is in the grounds for a great coffee also it’s free a rare thing today.

Excellent walk with a fantastic FREE museum

Can't believe I've never been here before in all my 44 years on this planet.

Lots of improvement here recently. New greenhouses, cafe and avaries (no birds yet) well worth a visit if you've not been for a while.

It looked great and looked like a nice museum although I only went in for the toilets as I came to do the Parkrun which is very good and hilly. The park is nice and clean and well looked after.

Excellent for children. Educational and fun

It is so much better than Bolling Hall

I was pleasantly surprised by this museum’s grand and beautifully designed interior. Despite its relatively small size, it packs an incredible amount of history and charm into its space. The layout is thoughtfully arranged with distinct rooms, each filled with fascinating historic artifacts, period decor, and even intricate diorama set pieces that bring the past to life. From fossils to unique collections, every corner had me wondering, “How do they have something like this here?!” It’s deceptively spacious inside, with so much to explore that it feels like a treasure trove of discoveries. The experience doesn’t end indoors—the museum grounds are equally impressive, offering plenty to see and enjoy. One of the highlights was the charming aviary, home to a delightful assortment of small birds like finches and budgerigars, which added a lovely touch to the visit. For a short day out, this museum offers an unexpectedly rich and immersive experience. It’s perfect for history enthusiasts, families, or anyone looking for a unique and engaging outing.

Discoverd this place by chance,and was not disappointed. Would definitely recommend.

From the moment you step onto the grounds of Cliffe Castle in Keighley, you're transported to a world where Victorian grandeur meets modern museum excellence. This spectacular mansion, once home to Victorian millionaire and textile manufacturer Henry Isaac Butterfield, has been lovingly restored and transformed into one of West Yorkshire's most impressive attractions. The admission is FREE which I could not believe once I had entered and left the castle... a perfect day out for the family! I would recommend getting there as soon as it opens, as it will take all day just to look at everything!

Cafe and museum closed Monday but nice park

Visited when visiting museum. Good service. Tasty jacket potatoes. Gets busy so bag a table first (need table no. when ordering). Small car park for cafe and museum.

A very interesting combination of a castle and a museum. Lots to see. Beautiful park with fountains. A good place to visit with children. The advantage is that the tour is free. The only minus is the small parking lot. I highly recommend it.

Fabulous place great walk, café and views highly recommend it!

Just stopped off looking for a picnic place. Unfortunately the museum and displays were closed on a Monday but the grounds were open. Very nice park.

Free entry and some really interesting exhibitions. Would suit all ages.

Cliffe Castle is a grand Victorian mansion in Keighley, West Yorkshire, originally built in the early 19th century as Cliffe Hall. It was later transformed by Henry Isaac Butterfield, a wealthy textile manufacturer, into an opulent home reflecting the Gothic Revival style. The mansion became known for its lavish interiors, elaborate stained glass, and beautifully landscaped gardens. In 1950, the building was purchased by Keighley Borough Council and turned into a public museum, now known as Cliffe Castle Museum. It houses a rich collection of exhibits showcasing Victorian life, local history, and the industrial heritage of Keighley. Visitors can explore restored rooms furnished with period pieces, as well as displays of fine art, decorative objects, and ancient artifacts. The museum also features a fascinating geological collection with minerals, fossils, and gemstones. Surrounding the mansion, Cliffe Castle Park offers beautifully maintained gardens, walking paths, and a children’s play area. The park includes an aviary, a glasshouse, and a café, making it a popular destination for both history enthusiasts and families looking for a relaxing day out.

very nice and peaceful. good for kids.

Nice place. Not really a castle, but interesting museum and worth a visit.

One of my favourite places. Extensive grounds. Interesting Museum. Playground. Aviary and Guinea pigs. Glass house. Cafe

Fantastic museum housing some interesting local social history. Entry is free but you can make a voluntary donation in a box near the door. There is a fine example of a Lawson of Bingley longcase clock along with another local clock by John Prior. The clock at the foot of the stairs that incorporates a bronze figure by Carrier and was exhibited at the Paris Exhibition is outstanding. A good collection of natural history is also to be found here. It's surrounding gardens which includes a cafe is also well worth exploring.

Has got a nice museum and a good park too. The cafe has good food and there are some small but cute collection of animals&birds.

This is a great, local museum. Some galleries are a little old fashioned but the rock collection is really impressive and it's great as a showcase of local history. Well worth a visit both indoors and outdoors.

Lovely staff and very nice food at the cafe! Museum is 2nd to none

Free to enter but you can always make a donation at the door the museum has a multitude of exhibits from history of keighley and area to rocks and minerals to stuffed animals and more excellent stuff Has a cafe and greenhouse as well.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cliffe Castle is like stepping into a Downton Abbey episode… if Downton Abbey had free entry, taxidermy galore, and swans with serious attitude problems. The house itself is stunning—grand rooms, intricate stained glass, and enough history to make you feel wildly underdressed in your hoodie. The museum? Amazing. Where else can you see ancient fossils, Victorian fashion, and a stuffed badger that looks like it’s plotting world domination? But let’s talk about the café. Lovely staff, great coffee, and cake that tastes like it was baked by Mary Berry herself. Only downside? The swans outside. Do not make eye contact with them. One of them sized me up like I owed it rent, and I’m 90% sure it tried to follow me home. The highlight, though, was the kids’ area, where grown adults (read: me) were elbowing toddlers out of the way to try the hands-on exhibits. Judge me all you like—those Victorian kitchen gadgets are fascinating. In summary: history, cake, and mild bird-based terror. A perfect day out.

Beautiful place to visit with friends and family. This is Keighley treasure.

Go most days to walk dogs ground are great and different types of walk depending on fitness or how lazy you feel

Lovely.park and interesting museum with a combination of art and natural history. The café has plenty of options and great views. Dog friendly too

Always interesting for the geological information.

Once inside, you'll be amazed at the beautiful, ornate decor, artwork, and stained glass. So much to see, you might need longer than you think! Also a lovely cafe with delicious homemade cakes. A very worthwhile day out, it exceeded our expectations.

Great look round today. Nice cafe

Great museum, some lovely exhibits. And FREE to enter though donations welcomed.

Great museum and well worth a nosey - free entry and a little gift shop was a bonus! They truly have everything here from the life of the original owners to all about space and working life in the olden days. Toilets too. Plus it not being too big makes it all the more worth while.

A nice place to chill out,I had 20 min walk round grounds, then quick warm up in museum, while puroosing canveses and displays, at side of park is small wood well worth a look, shame about the Peacocks...

A fantastic museum with a very diverse collection

Was closed on the Monday we went. But the gardens were impressive. Will go back when the Castle and cafe are open

Beautiful place for family and lover spot

Very friendly helpful staff lovely castle and amazing grounds

A beautiful park and pavilion. With a play area, paths and a display of birds and small animals. The cafe is comfortable and has a good selection.

A good place to hang out with kids.

Absolutely stunning place to visit. The rooms and exhibits will keep you entertained for a good few hours...and its all free ( but do make a donation)

So good that I'm planning a return visit very soon.

I have visited before but always had cold food. This time I tried the meat lasagna. It was overcooked and crunchy (burnt) almost inedible not to mention a very small portion on a very small plate. The salad it came with was better. Not impressed as it was the most expensive on the menu.

Totally unexpected and well worth a visit and unless you donate it's free. There is the house itself to see with some of the ground floor rooms decorated in the style of earlier owners. Quite spectacular. Then it's a museum which I found quite unique with its displays nicely done. There is parkland and gardens. The food outlet is well worth a visit, great food which is well priced. If you like this sort of thing then you'll have a great visit.

Surprisingly interesting place with a wide variety of exhibitions and collections. Lovely park too!

Great place to visit, amazing house and artifacts, you can spend all day there reading and looking at all the displays, lovely gardens to walk round, small aviary and great cafe,staff very friendly and helpful, would definitely recommend

Great museum. Plenty of food on offer in cafe.

Such a diverse & interesting collection of artefacts, some related to the house and family and some connecting with the history of the local area. The furnished rooms are opulent & beautiful. Friendly, helpful staff. The park is also very pleasant and it has a café. We spent a good 3 hours there but you could easily spend longer. Car park quite small but you can park in surrounding streets. It's free entry but well worth making a donation.

Excellent cafe. Great children's playground. An all round great place to spend a few hours. Not yo mention the rabbits & birds

A beautiful places to visit with amazing wildlife, lovely gardens & walks. We were really pleased to see the cafe stocks herbal teas without plastic & a separate vegan menu. Edit. Disappointed to later see rabbits & guinea pigs in a very confined area that desperately needed cleaning. They looked unhappy, not moving. Really they need a bigger space & some stimulation.

Great place, much bigger than it looks so allow half a day if you want to see everything and read the information!

Fantastic museum - plenty to see and it was free. There is a lovely cafe on site too. Will visit again

Love place to visit, no charge to enter but they do ask for donations

Beautiful, well maintained Glasshouses and gardens. Plus a first class museum and stately home.

A very nice and pleasant place. We went to the cafe and enjoyed a really nice coffee and scones under a covered outdoor area.

Cliff castle , Keighley it is very nice place It is totally free

Excellent, last time I went sadly they were bo bees, the bees have returned

Wow what an amazing free museum with such great views too. We popped in on wet windy Sunday to get out of the weather. What a treat. Beautiful architecture and features of the house. Interesting exhibits too and all for free.

Had a lovely time. Visited 3 times during the summer holidays from Accrington. Lots to do. Cafe, greenhouse. Lovely and beautiful gardens. Play area overlooking keighley.

A Cliffe Castle museum visit will be like no other museum visit you've ever experienced. Normally museums are very formal and maybe even a little oppressive, but Cliffe Castle museum is exactly the opposite! The exhibits are set out over several floors with the top level being a galleried level with exhibits all around the walls. The museum has very varied subjects set out in an almost random manner which means a surprise lies around almost every corner. The best entertainment I've ever had for free! Well worth a visit with a first class cafe in the conservatory area. Well worth a visit.

Pleasantly surprised by the amount of things to see and great made displays.

As an American citizen and a devoted fan of Texas Wranglers, I have had the unfortunate experience of visiting Cliffe Castle. Unfortunately, my visit left me thoroughly unimpressed and disappointed. Here's why Cliffe Castle is truly terrible: Lackluster Atmosphere: Upon entering Cliffe Castle, I was struck by the lack of energy and enthusiasm that permeated throughout the premises. The atmosphere felt flat and uninspired, completely failing to capture the vibrant spirit that I've come to associate with American entertainment venues like Texas Wranglers. Poor Customer Service: The customer service at Cliffe Castle left much to be desired. Staff members seemed disinterested in providing adequate assistance or addressing concerns, leaving me feeling neglected and unvalued as a patron. Limited Options: Compared to the vast array of options available at Texas Wranglers, Cliffe Castle's offerings felt limited and uninspiring. The menu lacked variety and creativity, and the selection of drinks was similarly disappointing. Outdated Infrastructure: Visually, Cliffe Castle appeared dated and worn out. The decor and furnishings seemed to have seen better days, and the overall aesthetic was lackluster compared to the modern, well-maintained facilities I've enjoyed at Texas Wranglers. Expensive Prices: Despite the subpar experience, the prices at Cliffe Castle were significantly higher than what I'm used to paying for similar experiences in America. As an American citizen, it felt like a significant waste of money. Unpleasant Surroundings: The general surroundings of Cliffe Castle left much to be desired. The location lacked the charm and character that I've come to expect from unique venues in Texas, instead feeling generic and unremarkable. Inefficient Operations: During my visit, I noticed several inefficiencies in the operations at Cliffe Castle. Lines were long, service was slow, and there seemed to be a general lack of organization and coordination among staff members. Limited Entertainment Options: While Texas Wranglers offers an incredible variety of performances and entertainment options, Cliffe Castle fell short in this regard. The limited selection of acts and activities available made for a dull and uneventful experience. In conclusion, my visit to Cliffe Castle was a letdown on multiple fronts. As an American citizen and a fan of Texas Wranglers, I hold high standards for entertainment venues, and unfortunately, Cliffe Castle failed to meet them in many ways. From its lackluster atmosphere and poor customer service to its outdated infrastructure and expensive prices, there are much better options available for those seeking a memorable experience.

Very good museum with a range of quirky exhibitions. Lovely gardens too!

Such a lovely but underrated museum, I assume Keighley team needs help for marketing this lovely museum.

Wonderful place for family day out Good ambiance and maintained area Rides for younger children and scenic walking track Toilets are not available and hard to find. cafe closes earlier so if staying late come prepared!

Very big place . You would need at least 1 to 2 hours to see everything . Lovely cafe , very friendly staff

Really nice day out, I recommend it

Keighley's jewel 💖. Absolutely love Cliffe Castle and everything it has to offer. Most especially the cafe which is set out beautifully overlooking the gardens. Excellent food and lovely staff. There most weekends as I love it so much.

What a breath of fresh air. An aviary, tropical greenhouse ponds and lovely walks for the dogs. The castle was extremely interesting

Another underrated gem of a museum with fascinating exhibits and stories.

Beautiful park and gardens, great location for the Eco Festival and excellent band stand for events.

This place is fantastic so much to see and do the staff are lovely everything is free but they ask for a donation

Closed Monday but the gardens were open lots of space.

Visited sunday 28th July. Weather was very nice and it was the first time visiting. Lovely place and grounds were well kept. Bit of a struggle if you can't walk very well because it's on a hill which gets quiet steep. Good park for the kids to go on. Inside the castle itself was very interesting because it showed you what it was like back in the days how they lived ( rich lived). Also they had a lot of other stuff for kids etc to look and learn from like animals ( stuffed) rocks ( minerals) etc and they also had classes for people to learn things which was very good. Overall well worth a visit.

Very interesting place for Children and adults.

A beautiful garden and an interesting museum

Really good here and also very dog friendly went here as a child and now as an adult great food and just managed to park so you may need to come early

Not a castle but a stately home or manor house. Well worth a visit as it has lots of exhibits not all related to the house. The rooms downstairs are spectacular especially the Russian fire place. (Apparently the only other place to see this fireplace is Moscow!). Entrance is free, but you can leave a donation if you wish; there is absolutely no pressure to donate.

Beautiful park with a lovely cafe and friendly staff. Plus toilets on site and a good size car park. Lots to see.

Lovely gardens to explore, happily spent 3 hours here mucking around in the gardens and lunch at the cafe. Free parking and free entry.

Great park, very well kept. The cafe is very nice too. Museum is fairly big, easily takes over an hour to walk round.

Free place to visit .amazing place . Highly recommend. Huge Museum, kids park, cafe, loos, car parking, birds, ponds and much more. Spent about 3.5 hours here.

Lovely well kept park with free to visit museum. Walk through greenhouse that leads to the cafe. On site aviary. Ponds, seating great for a relaxing afternoon.

Free admission. Donations are welcomed. Lots of green space with a playground and a cafe too.

What a find can't believe this is free to get into would have happily paid staff very friendly

Nothing there to see other than the birds. Would be nice if more investment is made.

McDonald's 1st then up to cliffe castle to eat had lovey day

Great place to take the family, no matter what the weather is doing.

Cliffe Castle is a beautiful park . I often visit with my dog. The volunteers who keep this park going do an amazing job.

The cafe is lovely inside and the staff are friendly. The outdoor seating is so nice on a warm day. The staff are happy for you to bring your dog in where they provide water for them. We had cake and it was very tasty. We will definitely be going back.

So much fun you can see budgie and rabbit

What a fabulous hidden gem. The museum you could spend hours or do multiple trips too. Such fabulous artifacts and such a wide range. No photography inside but you can purchase a guide book, highly recommended. Staff very friendly. Grounds lovely. Tea room had fantastic food well priced and great portions. Cakes lunch scones icecream great variety. Would definitely recommend and will return. Little aviary onsite too and small on site free car park.

Cliffe castle museum is set in beautiful grounds, the museum is an Aladdin’s cave of beautiful architecture, paintings and antiquities. There’s thousands of items to look at and feel, we spent hours there and most likely missed a lot. Make sure to check out the grounds and the animals that live there.

Beautiful building but inside is rammed with such a random collection of exhibits it hurts. WW2 items next to stuffed alligator is a norm. Stuffed animals were brilliant though

Full of interest and a large variety of things to see. Also a great place to take kids

Cliffe Castle itself is a nice museum, it's free with donations and has lots of different things to look at. We don't really read the boards as we have a young kid that wants to move to the next bit quickly. I'm not quite sure if or how everything connects, it's a bit random, for example you have some rooms with furniture from the house, then a little bit about how the land has changed over time and industries throughout time, but then there's dead animals, rocks and minerals, stained glass windows, and a mummy? The grounds are good, great for picnics and playing out. Fairly decent play area for children. Cafe is nice too, sensibly priced for where it is and the foods not too bad. Parking is a massive problem, car park is tiny and often full, all around is no parking on the roads until you're a bit of a distance away, you may have to do a bit of dodgy parking still though.