Clifford's Tower, York, UK, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Clifford's Tower is the stone keep of York Castle in York, England, standing on a steep grassy mound close to the River Foss. It is best known as the place where York's Jewish community died in March 1190, and today it works as a place of remembrance as much as a medieval monument.

The story behind it

In the twelfth century Jews in England lived under the direct protection of the Crown and were shut out of most trades, so a number of them worked as moneylenders, including to the landed gentry. After the coronation of Richard I in 1189, violence against Jewish communities spread through several English towns. In March 1190 around 150 members of York's Jewish community took refuge in the wooden keep of the castle, and a mob besieged it.

Most of those inside chose to die by their own hands rather than be killed or forcibly baptised. Those who surrendered were killed, and the wooden tower was destroyed by fire. The events are recorded by William of Newburgh, Roger of Howden and the Chronicles of Meaux, but no eyewitness account survives, and every chronicler was hostile to the victims. The chronicles also say the crowd went to the Minster and destroyed the records of debt kept there. The stone tower you see now was built later on the same mound.

What to look for

• The unusual lobed shape of the stone keep, which is built to a quatrefoil plan rather than a simple square or round tower.
• The steep climb up the mound itself, which shows how much height the castle builders gained before a single stone was laid.
• The mound planted with daffodils, which is worth seeing in spring and is a quiet reminder of what happened here.
• The view over the rooftops of York from the top of the tower, if you go up.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 30 to 45 minutes if you climb the tower and read the displays, or around 15 minutes for a look from the mound.
• The climb involves a steep path and stairs, so wear sensible shoes. Check current opening hours and entry details before you go.
• Morning is usually calmer, and the light on the stone is good earlier in the day.
• The York Castle Museum and the riverside streets are close by, so it pairs easily with other stops on foot.

See it on a quest

Clifford's Tower is one stop on Ghosts of York - The UK's Most Haunted City. You walk to it as part of a longer route through the city, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like.

It also features on The Haunting File: York, UK - The Most Haunted City in Europe. Playing it lets you reach the tower on foot between other places in the area, hear its story at the site, and work through a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.