What to expect
Shortly before 9pm the hornblower arrives in Market Square and, at the obelisk, blows the horn at each of its four corners to 'set the watch'. It takes only a few minutes. Usually one hornblower does the job, sharing the duty with a small team, and they are often happy to chat with visitors and pose for photos afterwards. On special occasions, such as Yorkshire Day in 2025, all four hornblowers have turned out together.
The story behind it
The tradition is traced to 886, when King Alfred the Great is said to have given Ripon a Royal Charter and a horn to sound a warning. The town appointed a wakeman to keep watch from dusk until dawn, and the horn at 9pm showed he was on duty. The office of wakeman is long gone, but the horn is still blown each night, and the hornblowers are seen as keepers of one of the world’s longest-running continuous traditions.
Watching and joining in
Simply turn up at the obelisk a few minutes before nine and stand back so the hornblower can reach each corner. It is suitable for all ages and works well after dinner in one of the restaurants around the square. If you can, make a day of it and visit Ripon Cathedral and Fountains Abbey nearby. Staying overnight in Ripon avoids worrying about late transport.
Where to watch
Head for the obelisk — that’s your landmark for the ceremony — then find a spot that leaves the approaches to it clear. If you’re with a group, spread out in a shallow line rather than forming a tight circle that closes in behind the hornblower. Let them finish the duty before asking for a photo or a long chat. The council actually encourages visitors to ask the duty hornblower about the horn they’re using, so that’s a great question once the formal part is over.
The city has more than one horn. Ripon City Council describes several working instruments, plus older horns that have been retired or put on display — so the horn you hear on your evening isn’t necessarily the ancient Charter Horn. If you’d like to see the historic civic treasures, the council says the Charter Horn in the Town Hall can be viewed on application. Arrange that beforehand; standing in Market Place at night won’t get you into the Town Hall. It’s a small distinction, and one that makes the story richer rather than duller.
Practical bits
Getting there and home
Ripon has no railway station. Harrogate, about 11 miles south, has trains from Leeds and York, and buses run between Harrogate and Ripon; Thirsk, on the East Coast main line, is a similar distance east. Check the last bus back after 9pm before you set out. Ripon is just off the A1(M), and there are car parks close to Market Square.
Access and families
A short outdoor ceremony can be an easier evening out than a long performance, but plan the standing and the journey back around the people in your group. Pop into the square earlier, in daylight, to check out kerbs, surfaces and a good place to wait. No reserved accessible viewing area, seating or staffed visitor toilet has been announced for the nightly ceremony. If you have a particular requirement, ask the city council rather than expecting a brief free event to have the facilities of a proper venue.
With children, explain that there’ll be a loud horn and a short formal duty, followed perhaps by a chance to ask a question. Keep them close enough to see, but out of the hornblower’s path. If anyone finds loud noise difficult, stand a little further back and think about hearing protection, as you would for any loud outdoor sound. Have a toilet stop and a drink before gathering at the obelisk, especially after a day’s sightseeing. If you’re staying overnight, check the walk back to your accommodation after dark — it may feel different from how simple it looked in daylight.
Questions people ask
Is the horn being blown always the Charter Horn?
No. The council describes several working horns, plus older ones retired or on display. Ask the duty hornblower which one they’re using.
Can I see the Charter Horn?
Yes. The city council says it’s kept in the Town Hall and can be seen on application. Arrange that separately; the ceremony doesn’t include Town Hall entry.
Is there reserved accessible seating?
No ceremony seating or accessible enclosure has been announced. Ask the council about your needs, and check the approach to the square beforehand.
Is the cathedral crypt step-free?
No. The crypt is reached by stairs and a narrow passage, says Ripon Cathedral, though the cathedral’s main entrance is level and wheelchair accessible.
Plan your trip
Stay the night
Search places to stay in and around Ripon. Add your dates once the next one is confirmed. Rooms near popular events go early, so check cancellation terms.
Find a place to stay on Booking.comNearest station: Harrogate
Ripon has no station; Harrogate is about 11 miles away, with regular buses to Ripon, but check the last bus back after 9pm. Thirsk is a similar distance.
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Where it is
The pin shows the approximate area. Open in OpenStreetMap
Make a weekend of it
Ripon Cathedral makes a fine daytime companion, especially if you’re interested in the city’s long history. Its Anglo-Saxon crypt is the star, and you can take a guided tour or follow a self-guided leaflet. Access varies: there’s level entry into the cathedral, but the crypt involves stairs and a narrow passage. Check service times before you plan to look round, as worship can limit sightseeing. Pick the parts that suit your group, and keep the evening horn ceremony as a separate, unhurried appointment.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden make a bigger outing beyond the city, combining abbey ruins with a designed water garden and deer park. The National Trust gives detailed advice on entrances, parking and access. West Gate is the one for accessible parking and a level approach to the abbey and garden, but check the best route for the areas you want to explore. Give it a proper visit rather than squeezing the whole estate into the hour before dinner. Opening times, admission and transport have nothing to do with the free nightly watch, so check them before you combine the two.
Odd things nearby
- Great Knaresborough Bed Race 9 miles away, 12 June 2027
- Oxenhope Straw Race 29 miles away, First Sunday in July, starting at noon (4 July 2027 if the pattern holds)
- World Coal Carrying Championship 30 miles away, 29 March 2027
Featured in 12 Free Odd Days Out in the UK, Odd Yorkshire: 10 Strange Traditions.
About this guide
Check before you go. The ceremony runs nightly, but check local news or the hornblowers’ Facebook page if you are planning a special trip.
About the date. A nightly ceremony at 9pm; the Stray Ferret reported it continuing in August 2025. usualMonth is null because it happens all year.
Researched from the sources below and last checked on . We haven’t visited every event or tested every journey, and the organiser’s own information always wins.
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