Knaresborough’s Painted Windows

In the town of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, there are some old houses with very unusual windows...

Look Up! Discover Knaresborough’s Trompe l’Oeil Murals

Knaresborough is one of those towns that rewards you for slowing down. Yes, the river views are stunning and the castle is a showstopper but some of the town’s loveliest details are hiding in plain sight.

Scattered around the streets are a series of trompe l’oeil murals, paintings so cleverly done they trick your eye into thinking they’re real. Fake windows, historic scenes and everyday moments from the past appear on otherwise ordinary walls, adding layers of character and storytelling to the town.

If you love exploring somewhere with curious kids, a camera in hand or simply enjoy noticing the little things, this is such a fun way to experience Knaresborough.

The windows aren’t really there.

The paintings were called trompe l’oeil (pronounced tromp loy), or “deceive the eye,” because they were meant to fool people into thinking there was a real window there. The idea is simple but effective; artists paint scenes so realistically that flat walls suddenly look three dimensional.

In 1786, King George III raised taxes to help pay for a war against France. One of the taxes was a window tax. This tax was supposed to be paid by everyone who owned property with windows, but it created problems because many people couldn’t afford to pay it. It was also difficult for landlords and tenants to agree on how much the windows would cost.

A lot of people decided not to pay the tax at all so they painted their windows black instead!

Since most houses didn’t have many windows, having a painted one helped make your house look nicer and also allowed you to avoid paying extra taxes on windows.

In the present day you’ll see the windows have become more like pieces of street art featuring famous faces such as Mother Shipton, Guy Fawkes, Marilyn Monroe and even Harry Potter. Who do you recognise?

A Fun Way to Explore With Kids

These murals are perfect if you’re exploring with children who don’t fancy a long history lesson.

Try turning it into a mini challenge:

• How many “fake windows” can you find?

• Which mural looks the most realistic?

• Can you spot the little details like shadows, bricks or objects that give the game away?

It’s an easy win for getting kids walking without realising they’re doing it.

Have You Spotted Them All?

Next time you’re in Knaresborough, take the scenic route, wander the quieter streets and see how many murals you can find. You might be surprised how many you’ve walked past before without ever noticing.

💚 Let me know which one you love most – or tag me in your mural finds so I can share them!

Have fun!

Claire x