Knaresborough Library

Is it right for my child?

• Babies: a free drop-in baby rhyme time runs every Friday from 2.15pm to 2.45pm.
• Under fives: there is a free drop-in storytime every Monday, 10.30am to 11am, and a free Imagine and play session every Tuesday, 2.15pm to 3pm.
• Children who find groups hard: a free drop-in relaxed storytime runs every Friday from 10.30am to 11am.
• Collecting rewards: Buzzy Bee’s Honey Hunt is a free scheme for under fives who borrow books. Children collect cards and bee stickers, then a certificate.
• Teens: a young volunteers group for 14 to 16 year olds meets on Wednesdays from 3.45pm to 4.45pm. Members help plan events and activities.
• Older children: there is a study area, free wi-fi and computers.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Check the day. Sunday is closed, and Thursday and Saturday finish at 1.30pm.
• Pick a session. Monday storytime and Tuesday Imagine and play are for under fives. Friday has relaxed storytime in the morning and baby rhyme time after lunch.
• No booking is needed for these sessions, because the council lists them as drop-in.
• Join while you are there. It is free, needs no ID, and children of any age can join.
• Avoid driving on a Wednesday if you can. Market day stops the two-hour parking on the marketplace.
• Phone 01609 533610 before travelling in late December. On 12 November 2026 the library’s council page gave no Christmas hours.

Prices and tickets

Membership and the four children’s sessions are free. The council lists no entry charge, and you do not have to be a member to visit. Books are usually loaned free of charge.

• Joining: free, with no ID needed. Children do not need a parent’s permission or a parent present to join.
• Children’s books: the council says there are no charges for lost or damaged children’s books.
• Children’s audiobooks and story CDs: free for three weeks. DVDs cost £2.60 per item for three weeks.
• Late books: children’s and teenage fines start at 15p. Adult fines start at 26p.
• Requesting books: £1.25 per book from library stock, or £15 for an item obtained from outside it. Children, teenagers and young adults are not charged for requesting children’s or teenage books or story tapes. That exemption covers only the young person, not their family.
• Computers: members get 60 minutes a day free, and can ask for up to one extra free hour for complex tasks. After that, anyone aged 18 or under in full-time education pays the £1.00 per 30 minutes concession rate.
• Printing: black and white A4 costs 25p per side, and colour A4 costs 50p per side.

Pushchairs, babies and toilets

• Baby changing: listed among the library’s facilities.
• Toilet: the library lists a toilet. Its page does not say whether it is accessible.
• Getting in: the library has automatic doors, and the council says all public areas are accessible to wheelchairs. The page does not mention pushchair parking.
• Feeding: the official page does not mention a breastfeeding or feeding space.

Food and drink

Tea and coffee appear on the library’s list of facilities. The page gives no prices and does not mention a café or food. It also does not say whether you can eat in the library. Plan snacks around your session.

Getting there and parking

The address is Knaresborough Library, Marketplace, Knaresborough HG5 8AG. The council says it is at the end of the marketplace near the phone boxes and post box.

• Bus: the bus station is a five-minute walk away. Services include the 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and 21.
• Train: the nearby station is on the York to Leeds line. The council does not give a walking time from it.
• Marketplace parking: up to two hours, except on Wednesdays, which is market day. Several disabled spaces are near the front of the library.
• Car parks: Castle Yard, Chapel Street and Fisher Street are a few minutes’ walk away. Each has a four-hour maximum stay.
• Car park prices: Castle Yard costs £1 for one hour. Chapel Street and Fisher Street cost 90p for one hour. All three charge £1.50 for two hours and £2.40 for four.
• Free parking: all three car parks are free for disabled users. Castle Yard and Chapel Street are also free for motorcycles.

When to visit

• Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday 9.30am to 5pm, Thursday 9.30am to 1.30pm, Friday 9.30am to 7pm, Saturday 9.30am to 1.30pm. Closed Sunday.
• Fridays pack in the most for little ones: relaxed storytime at 10.30am and baby rhyme time at 2.15pm. The library is also open latest on Fridays, until 7pm.
• Christmas 2026: on 12 November 2026 the library’s council page listed weekly hours only, with no Christmas or New Year closures or changed hours. Phone ahead for any visit between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.
• School holidays: the library offers holiday activity events. North Yorkshire’s community school Christmas holiday runs from Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027.
• Christmas reading challenge: the council says it runs a children’s reading challenge each Christmas. On 12 November 2026 its children’s page gave no 2026 dates, so ask at the library.
• The library’s page, checked on 12 November 2026, does not say whether weekly sessions run in school holidays. Contact the library to check.

Additional needs and disability support

North Yorkshire Libraries publishes some support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Frequently asked questions

Is Knaresborough Library free for children?

Joining is free, books are usually loaned free, and the storytime, rhyme time and Imagine and play sessions are free. The council lists no entry charge. Some extras, such as DVDs and printing, cost money.

What time is storytime at Knaresborough Library?

Storytime for under fives is on Mondays, 10.30am to 11am. Relaxed storytime is on Fridays, 10.30am to 11am. Both are free and drop-in.

Is there baby rhyme time at Knaresborough Library?

Yes. A free drop-in baby rhyme time runs every Friday from 2.15pm to 2.45pm.

Is there baby changing at Knaresborough Library?

Yes. Baby changing and a toilet are listed among the library’s facilities.

Where do you park for Knaresborough Library?

You can park for up to two hours on the marketplace, except on Wednesdays. Castle Yard, Chapel Street and Fisher Street car parks are a few minutes’ walk away, with stays of up to four hours.

Is Knaresborough Library open at Christmas?

On 12 November 2026 the library’s council page gave weekly hours only, with no Christmas or New Year hours. Phone 01609 533610 before visiting between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.

Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official North Yorkshire Council pages for Knaresborough library, libraries for children and young people, SEND library resources, joining the library, library charges and fines, the Castle Yard, Chapel Street and Fisher Street car parks, and school term dates. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.