Mother Shipton’s Cave
A magical win for Mother Shipton’s Cave – again!
There’s plenty to celebrate at Mother Shipton’s Cave after being crowned Best Magical Experience for the second year running at the Little Vikings – York for Kids Awards.
What makes this win extra special?
It was decided by families, through a public vote, recognising the places they truly love to explore together.
A word from the owner
Fiona Martin, owner of Mother Shipton’s Cave, said:We’re incredibly proud to be named Best Magical Experience for a second year running.
To receive this recognition through a public vote means so much to us, as it comes directly from the families who visit and enjoy what we do.
Our team is passionate about creating memorable experiences that spark imagination, while carefully preserving the history and character of this uniquely magical place.”
Why families keep coming back
Visitors love Mother Shipton’s Cave for its unique blend of history, nature, and storytelling:
England’s oldest visitor attraction, welcoming guests for nearly 400 years
The birthplace of England’s most famous prophetess
Home to the fascinating petrifying well
Immersive experiences for families, schools, and explorers of all ages
Seasonal events that change throughout the year
Standing out among the best
Mother Shipton’s Cave was shortlisted alongside some of York’s best-loved attractions, including:
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The Wizard Walk of York
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The Potions Academy
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The Hole in Wand
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The Puzzling World of Professor Kettlesing
Plan your visit
Location: Prophecy House, High Bridge, Knaresborough
Opened: 1630
Perfect for: Families, school groups, day-trippers, and curious minds
What’s coming in 2026?
The team is already hard at work preparing a full calendar of themed events, including:
Easter adventures
May Half Term fun
Summer magic
Spooktacular Halloween experiences
The ever-popular Magical Christmas Experience
Whether it’s your first visit or a family tradition, Mother Shipton’s Cave continues to cast its spell—one magical experience at a time.
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The Story of England’s Most Famous Prophetess
Mother Shipton is England’s most renowned prophetess, a woman whose legend has echoed through the centuries. Credited with foretelling the fates of rulers in her own time and beyond, she is also associated with visions of iron ships, the Great Fire of London in 1666, and the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Whether prophecy or poetic hindsight, her words captured imaginations—and still do today.
Beyond her reputation as a seer, Mother Shipton was a skilled maker of traditional remedies. Her gift of foresight began with small premonitions, growing stronger with practice and confidence. Over time she became known as Knaresborough’s Prophetess—a witch in the eyes of many—earning a living by telling fortunes and warning those who sought her counsel. She lived a long life, dying in 1561 at the age of 73.
Born Ursula Sontheil in 1488 during the reign of Henry VII, father of Henry VIII, her early life is steeped in legend. Tradition says she was born during a violent thunderstorm in a cave on the banks of the River Nidd in Knaresborough. Her mother, Agatha—just fifteen at the time—refused to name the father, even when brought before the local magistrate.
With no support, Agatha raised Ursula alone in the cave for two years before the Abbot of Beverley intervened. Ursula was taken in by a local family, while Agatha was sent to a distant convent, where she later died—never to see her daughter again.
Growing up around Knaresborough, Ursula was considered an outsider. Unusual in appearance and temperament, she was teased and shunned, learning to rely on herself. She returned often to the cave of her birth, studying the forest’s plants and herbs, crafting remedies and potions from what nature provided.
At twenty-four she married Tobias Shipton, a carpenter from York. Though Tobias died a few years later and they had no children, Ursula kept his surname. The name “Mother Shipton” came later, bestowed as she aged and her reputation grew.
While the truth behind every prophecy may never be known, one fact remains certain: over 500 years ago, a woman called Mother Shipton lived in Knaresborough, spoke with conviction, and was believed. Her story—part history, part folklore—has been passed down through generations, becoming inseparable from the landscape itself.
Come and see for yourself the cave where she was born and the ancient forest where she grew up—places where legend and landscape meet, and England’s most famous prophetess still whispers her story.