Bebra Gardens, Knaresborough

Is it right for my child?

• Summer paddlers: the council runs a free paddling pool at the lowest point of the gardens. It is open in summer only, and both council pages give a season that ends in September.
• Little explorers: sloping, meandering paths wind through mature trees and conifers, down to the pool and Waterside.
• Castle add-on: the council’s park page says the gardens are close to Knaresborough Castle. It says the pool sits in a garden attached to the Castle Gardens.
• Toddlers and wobbly walkers: the gardens were built on quite a steep slope. Our own tip: hold small hands on the paths.
• Ages: the official pages give no age guidance for the gardens or the pool. The pool rules say children must be supervised by an adult at all times.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Do not plan a pool visit outside summer. The season starts at the Spring bank holiday. Council pages end it in the first week of September or on 27 September.
• Come in through the main entrance on Brewerton Street. The council rates access from there as fair.
• From Waterside car park, be ready for steep steps up to the gardens.
• Plan toilet stops around the Castle Yard toilets. The council lists 8am to 6pm from 1 November to 31 March, though the castle page says 8am to 8pm daily.
• In summer, pack shoes for the pool. The council asks for appropriate footwear, and there are no lifeguards or first aiders.
• Bring your own snacks and drinks. The official pages do not mention a café in the gardens.

Prices and tickets

The council lists no entry charge for the gardens, and it calls its summer paddling pools free. The official pages mention no booking. Parking charges are in the parking section below.

Pushchairs, babies and toilets

• Slopes: the council says the gardens were built on quite a steep slope. It warns this may cause difficulties for wheelchair users or the elderly.
• Way in: access is fair from the main entrance on Brewerton Street. From Waterside, the gardens are signposted up steep steps.
• Pushchairs: the official pages do not mention pushchairs. Our own suggestion: avoid the Waterside steps.
• Toilets: the park page says there are disabled toilets in the castle yard. The council’s Castle Yard toilet record lists disabled facilities and baby changing facilities.
• Toilet hours: the council’s record gives 8am to 6pm from 1 November to 31 March, and 8am to 8pm from 1 April to 31 October. Culture North Yorkshire’s castle page says 8am to 8pm daily. Plan for the earlier council time in winter.
• Waterside toilets: the council also runs toilets at Waterside, with disabled facilities. They open 8am to 6pm from 1 November to 31 March, and 8am to 8pm from 1 April to 31 October. Their record does not mention baby changing.
• Changing Places: the official pages do not mention a Changing Places toilet.

Food and drink

The official pages do not mention a café, kiosk or picnic area in the gardens. Bring your own food and drinks. In summer, remember the pool rule: no glass in or around the pool area.

Getting there and parking

• Address: Bebra Gardens, off Brewerton Street, Knaresborough HG5 8AZ. The council’s paddling pool list gives HG5 8DF, the Waterside postcode at the bottom of the gardens.
• Street parking: the council mentions a small amount of on-street disc zone parking immediately outside the park. Check the street signs for the rules.
• By the castle: the park page mentions a small pay and display car park alongside the castle grounds, without naming it. Culture North Yorkshire says Castle Yard car park is just outside the castle grounds.
• Castle Yard car park, HG5 8AS: the council lists 70 spaces and a maximum stay of 4 hours. It costs £1 for 1 hour, £1.50 for 2 hours and £2.40 for 4 hours.
• Waterside car park, HG5 8DF: the park page says all-day parking is available here. Charges apply from 8am to 6pm.
• Waterside prices: 1 hour £0.60, 2 hours £0.90, 4 hours £1.40, and all day Saturday or Sunday £2.70. The record lists 70 spaces and AppyParking as the way to pay.
• Free parking: the council says parking is free for motorcycles and disabled users at both car parks.
• Train and bus: Culture North Yorkshire says the castle is a 10 minute walk up a steep hill from Knaresborough station. It puts the castle 5 minutes’ walk from the bus station.

When to visit

• Gardens: the council says they are open all year round. It does not publish gate times.
• Paddling pool season: the park page gives the Spring bank holiday to the first week in September. The council’s games in parks page gives a later end date of Sunday 27 September.
• Next summer: the official pages do not publish 2027 pool dates. Check the council’s pages in late spring.
• Christmas and New Year: the official pages list no closures or changed arrangements for the gardens. Check before you travel.

The paddling pool: how it works

The pool is free, and it is not staffed by lifeguards or first aiders. The council says it sits in a landscaped garden attached to the Castle Gardens.

It is emptied, cleaned and refilled at least twice a week, usually on a Monday and a Friday. This can take up to six hours, so plan around it. The council may also empty it at short notice for cleaning.

Staff visit twice a day, morning and afternoon, seven days a week. They test chlorine levels, check for broken glass and collect litter. You must leave the pool while staff test the water.

The council’s pool rules are:

• children must be supervised by an adult at all times;
• wear appropriate footwear;
• no running, jumping or diving in the pool;
• no dogs in the pool;
• no glass in or around the pool area.

Why it is called Bebra Gardens

The council says the gardens are named in honour of the town’s links with Bebra, in Germany. The pool looks over the valley towards the River Nidd.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bebra Gardens free?

The council lists no entry charge for the gardens, and it calls the summer paddling pool free. The nearby car parks charge, except for motorcycles and disabled users.

When is the Bebra Gardens paddling pool open?

Only in summer. The park page says from the Spring bank holiday to the first week in September. The games in parks page gave an end date of Sunday 27 September.

Can you take a pushchair or wheelchair to Bebra Gardens?

The gardens are on quite a steep slope, which the council says may cause difficulties for wheelchair users. Access is fair from Brewerton Street. From Waterside there are steep steps.

Are there toilets at Bebra Gardens?

The park page points to disabled toilets in the castle yard, and the council lists baby changing there. Winter hours differ between official pages, so plan for 8am to 6pm.

Where do you park for Bebra Gardens?

There is a little disc zone parking outside, and a small pay and display car park alongside the castle grounds. Waterside car park, HG5 8DF, offers all-day parking, with steep steps up.

Is Bebra Gardens open at Christmas?

The council says the gardens are open all year round. It lists no Christmas or New Year closures. The paddling pool is closed in winter.

Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official North Yorkshire Council pages for Bebra Gardens, games in parks and paddling pools, Castle Yard toilets, Waterside toilets, Castle Yard car park and Waterside car park, and the Culture North Yorkshire Knaresborough Castle page. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.