Castleford - Market town with history

Discover Castleford

Welcome to historic Castleford. Once the home of Roman legions, today a hub of Rugby League (through the iconic Castleford Tigers), this market town has loads to offer.

Uncover the town’s story from the Celtic Iron Age, through the growth of coal mining to the present day at Castleford Museum.

So what are you waiting for?

Places to Stay

The proximity to major arterial roads and motorways means major hotel chains are nearby for convenience and good availability. Also see our page on apartments in Castleford.

Being close to a number of towns and cities, you’ll find many more accommodation options in the local area too.

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Things to Do

Castleford is conveniently located for a number of nearby attractions including Lotherton Hall, Diggerland and Xscape. There are also some little gems nestled in the West Yorkshire countryside for local produce and coffees after a walk.

Enjoy a day browsing the colourful stalls of the local market, and then get yourself a cup of something hot from one of the town’s independent coffee shops, tearooms and cafes.

Take a walk through nature at RSPB Fairburn Ings, or carve up the earth at Diggerland.

Stroll along the waterfront by Queen’s Mill, and get your next adrenaline rush at Xscape.

There’s more than meets the eye at Castleford.

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Castleford Essentials

There’s more than meets the eye in historic Castleford. Discover the town’s 2,500-year-old story at Castleford Museum, from an Iron Age chariot to a Roman fortified town, the birth of Rugby League and a snapshot of the vanished way of life of the pit villages. 

Head to the waterfront and visit Queen’s Mill, thought to have been the largest stone grinding mill in the world with twenty pairs of grinding stones. Explore the fascinating 900-year old history of the mill on special open days throughout the year. Then take a well-earned break at Queen’s Mill Tearooms and enjoy a coffee, or treat yourself to afternoon tea!

Love to shop? Browse a range of independent boutiques and the town centre’s colourful market to find those perfect gifts, then head to Junction 32 Outlet Shopping Village to explore over 80 high street favourites. Just across the road you’ll find your next adrenaline rush at Xscape: will it be the climbing wall? Or will you take on the real snow slope at Snozone? Then round off your adventure with a movie and a game of tenpin bowling – lovely stuff. 

Head to the outskirts of town and be a kid again at Diggerland – this ode to diggers, dumpertrucks and other earth-movers lets you get hands on and have a go yourself – be honest: where else in Yorkshire are you going to drive a massive digger?

Want a quieter day? Head out of town to RSPB Fairburn Ings nature reserve for a spot of birdwatching and an invigorating walk around the lakes.

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Images of Castleford

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Castleford on the Map

Castleford is just to the South East of Leeds, within the wider Wakefield region. It’s closest towns are Normanton, Featherstone, Pontefract and Knottingley.

Being placed right next to the junction of the M1 and M62, the town is very accessible by road, and having a train station at Glasshoughton, you can also get the Castleford by rail easily, too.

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Castleford FAQs

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Where’ next?

Discover More: Castleford & West Yorkshire.