Quick answer
Wharram Percy is a free English Heritage site in the Yorkshire Wolds. Children can trace the outlines of a lost medieval village beside a ruined church. Entry is free, and English Heritage says it is open any reasonable time during daylight hours. A £2 parking charge applies to non-members. It is a long walk (about ¾ mile) from the car park, parts of which are steep and muddy. English Heritage says the site is not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies. The official pages do not mention toilets or a café. English Heritage does not suggest a visit length.
Is it right for my child?
This suits families happy with a muddy country walk. The reward is a ruined church and the earthworks of a village abandoned soon after 1500.
- A real lost village: English Heritage calls it the most famous of Britain’s 3,000 or so known deserted medieval villages.
- House hunting: you can trace the outlines of many lost houses on a grassy plateau above the church and the millpond. The outlines of several excavated buildings are marked out on the ground.
- Things to spot: the ruined church of St Martin, the millpond, and the grassed-over foundations of two manor houses and about 40 peasant houses.
- A story to tell on the walk: people lived here for about 600 years. By the early 16th century the village was almost deserted, after gradual abandonment and forced evictions as farmland turned to sheep pasture.
- Digging detectives: modern research here began in 1948. Excavations took place every summer from the 1950s until 1990.
- Who it suits: English Heritage gives no age guidance. Our own view is that it suits children who can walk about ¾ mile each way on rough ground.
Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist
- Wear sturdy, waterproof boots. English Heritage says sturdy and waterproof footwear is required.
- Leave the buggy at home. English Heritage says the site is not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies. The official pages do not mention baby carriers.
- Use a toilet before you set off. The official pages do not mention any toilets.
- Do not expect help on site. The official pages do not mention any staff at Wharram Percy, so come prepared.
- Pack food and drinks. The official pages do not mention a café or shop.
- Go in good daylight. English Heritage gives no closing time, only “any reasonable time during daylight hours”. Allow time for the walk back before dusk.
- Have £2 ready to pay by text, unless you are a member with a valid English Heritage car sticker on display.
- Download the audio tour first. English Heritage’s audio tour of the village begins at the Wharram Percy car park.
- Leave the barbecue at home. Smoking, vaping, barbecues and naked flames are not permitted.
Prices and tickets
Wharram Percy is free to visit. The venue page says “Free Entry”.
On 13 November 2026, we selected dates on the English Heritage opening times calendar, from 13 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. On every date we checked, each adult, child (5 to 17), concession and family ticket line showed as free, with or without a donation.
Parking: English Heritage says car parking is available near the site with a £2 charge for non-members, payable by text. Parking is free for members with a valid English Heritage car sticker on display. You can also pay in advance on its parking payment service website.
Pushchairs, babies and toilets
- Pushchairs: English Heritage says the site is not suitable for buggies.
- The walk: it is about ¾ mile from the car park, via an uneven track that is steep in places. Parts of it are muddy.
- On site: the site contains rugged terrain which can be challenging, and parts of it slope steeply.
- Toilets and baby changing: the official pages do not mention either.
- Animals: farm livestock is likely to be present on the site and the access path.
Food and drink
The official pages do not mention a café, kiosk or shop at Wharram Percy. Bring your own food and drinks.
English Heritage says Kirkham Priory is only a 25 minute drive away, with a small shop serving light refreshments and a picnic area.
Getting there and parking
The address is Centenary Way, Wharram-le-Street, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 9TD. English Heritage says the site is 6 miles south-east of Malton, on a minor road from the B1248. It is ½ mile south of Wharram-le-Street.
- No cars at the site: there is no vehicular access. Park in the car park, which is three quarters of a mile away, then walk.
- Park with care: English Heritage asks visitors to park considerately and not block driveways or access.
- Stay on the paths: keep to the paths and the deserted village, because the surrounding land is private.
- Sat nav: English Heritage gives the postcode YO17 9TD.
- On foot: the site can also be reached on the Wolds Way ramblers’ path.
- Bus: English Heritage names the Stephenson’s 190 to Wharram-le-Street, then a 1 mile walk.
- Train: Malton station is 8 miles away.
- Bikes: English Heritage points cyclists to the National Cycle Network on the Sustrans website.
When to visit
- 13 November to 23 December 2026: on 13 November 2026, the calendar showed “Open any reasonable time during daylight hours” on every date we checked, with free entry.
- Christmas and New Year: the calendar showed the same daylight-hours line on 24, 25, 26 and 31 December 2026 and 1 January 2027. It gave no separate holiday arrangement.
- Weather: English Heritage mentions no indoor space or shelter. Parts of the route are steep and muddy, so a dry day helps.
- Hunting season: English Heritage says hunting parties may be present on the access route during the hunting season.
Additional needs and disability support
English Heritage publishes no separate access page for Wharram Percy. These points come from its own pages for the site.
- Wheelchairs: English Heritage says the site is not suitable for wheelchairs.
- Walking: about ¾ mile from the car park on an uneven track, steep in places, with rugged terrain on site.
- Preparing ahead: English Heritage offers an audio tour and a downloadable plan of the village. Our own view is that these can help children know what to expect.
- Digital guide: the site is included in English Heritage’s digital guide on the Bloomberg Connects app.
- Not mentioned: the official pages do not mention toilets, accessible toilets or disabled parking spaces.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wharram Percy free?
Yes. English Heritage lists free entry. A £2 parking charge applies to non-members, payable by text, and parking is free for members with a valid car sticker on display.
Can you take a pushchair to Wharram Percy?
English Heritage says the site is not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies. The walk from the car park is about ¾ mile, and parts of it are steep and muddy.
Is Wharram Percy open in winter?
English Heritage says it is open any reasonable time during daylight hours. On 13 November 2026, its calendar showed that on every date we checked to 10 January 2027, including Christmas Day.
Are there toilets at Wharram Percy?
The official pages do not mention any toilets. Plan a stop before you arrive.
Are dogs allowed at Wharram Percy?
Yes. English Heritage says dogs on leads are welcome. Farm livestock is likely to be present on the path, so keep your dog close.
Is Wharram Percy safe for young children?
It needs close supervision. Parts of the site slope steeply, the terrain is rugged and livestock is likely on site. There is also a millpond, so keep children close to you near the water.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official English Heritage pages for Wharram Percy Deserted Medieval Village, its opening times, directions, history and audio tour, and its dog-friendly places list. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.
