You don’t need to go to the coast to find fossils, the hills of West Yorkshire are full of them! Come to Cliffe Castle this half term to learn about the ancient coal swamps of Bradford!
Palaeontologists from local science outreach group Fossils in t’Hills will be exploring the strange plants and animals that inhabited Bradford over 300 million years ago! We’ll have drop-in activities for all ages as we work together to build a fossil forest and explore the bones of Cliffe Castle’s famous amphibian Pholiderpeton.
Don’t forget to bring your fossil finds along for identification!
Christmas Opening Times
24 December – Early close at 2.30pm
25 & 26 December – Closed
27 – 30 December normal opening hours apply
31 December – Early close at 2:30pm
1 & 2 January – Closed
3 January Normal opening resumes
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 allows for 3 hours parking, with 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.
1 February 2026 11:00 am – 1 February 2026 3:00 pm
14 December 2025 12:30 pm – 14 December 2025 3:30 pm
25 January 2026 1:00 pm – 25 January 2026 3:30 pm
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