Free Museums in Beningbrough

"We love the railway museum not least because Rebecca’s dad is a train enthusiast and could spend hours in here reading every tiny detail on every sign next to every exhibition!. Great for kids with live shows and hands-on activities. Entry is free, but if you can afford it, it’s nice to make a small donation to keep this attraction thriving in York for years to come."

"The world’s largest railway museum, from the Japanese Bullet Train to Queen Victoria’s favourite carriage, The Rocket and The Mallard. This is one giant museum with free entry!"

"Learn about the history of Vikings in York on the very site where the excavations had taken place. Different to most historical exhibitions or museums, at the Jorvik Viking Centre you are transported abound in what they call a “ride experience” (a bit like a very slow cable car, but only inches off the ground – nothing to be scared of!) – really good fun!. This attraction got a big thumbs up by an excited 4 year old (Rebecca’s friend’s son) – it was his second favourite thing that we did in York when he visited – and we did a lot!"

"The Jorvik Viking centre is built on the site of the Coppergate dig (1976-1981) which revealed 1000 year old houses, workshops and backyards from the Viking age. The exhibit starts with a glass floor over the Coppergate dig so you can see what is left of the site for yourself. After this, you can go on a ride through a replica Viking village made using the information they found from the Coppergate dig site."

"The undisputed home of contemporary art in the region, Leeds Art Gallery is the go-to place for a little artistic stimulation in the North. The building is one of the most recognisable in the city, and its Victorian clock tower remains synonymous with Leeds’ historic skyline. Dubbed a collection of “national importance,” the museum displays work from award-winning artists labelled a stroke of genius, to understated masterpieces from emerging talents with considerably less exposure."

"Modern and contemporary British art is on the menu as the excellent gallery in the centre of Leeds, one big homage to the work of men and women from the 20th …"

"The images in the Britain from the Air exhibition offer an exhilarating perspective of some of the UK’s most breathtaking and thought provoking landscapes and…"

"This award-winning museum attempts to bring 400 years of the city’s history together in one place. The interactive style of this museum is full of loyal recreations that accurately imitate how life would have been; a street plucked straight from the Victorian era, a row of iconic shops straight from the 1970s and much more. Children enter for free with a paying adult and there is enough variety to keep all ages happy."

"The Tetley is a gallery like no other as a former brewery that’s now become three floors of art and workshops. They showcase emerging artists and show their work to a wider audience, from cool prints to boundary-pushing, immersive installations. Over the years, they’ve presented work by the likes of Jonathan Trayte, Joseph Buckley and Dora García, as well as big shows that sees local artists come together to collaborate."

"The Mercer Art Gallery is home to Harrogate district's art collection which consists of some 2,000 works of art, mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection includes works by William Powell Frith, Atkinson Grimshaw, Sir Edward Burne-Jones, Dame Laura Knight and Alan Davie. A changing exhibition programme for the main and North galleries ranges from national touring exhibitions of painting, photography, sculpture and crafts to exhibitions from the permanent collections to displays by local artists."

"The Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate has a collection of over 2000 19th and 20th-century fine art pieces, along with temporary exhibitions running throughout the year. There are paintings, photography, sculptures and crafts on exhibit, including displays from local artists. Open 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday, 2pm to 5pm Sunday, open on Bank Holidays, closes 4pm November to March."

"In a city with the biggest student population outside of London, it would be absurd for the prevailing university culture not to have some influence on the art scene. Housed within the University of Leeds campus in the Grade II listed Art Deco Parkinson Building, The Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery showcases a mix of contemporary art as well as works from the university’s special collections department spanning over 200 years. The gallery expectedly supports and promotes its students’ and its graduates’ work, in addition to displays from local artists and those from further afield."

"You don’t have to be a student to enjoy the art of The Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery at the University of Leeds. Since 1970, it’s been home to the University Art Collection, which features ceramics, photographs and sculpture. That’s not all – you can see an incredible selection of British and European paintings, drawings and prints from 17th century to the present day."

"Impressions Gallery, Aldermanbury, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 1SD - Visit now. As the leading gallery of photographic arts in the UK, Impressions is making photography accessible, inspiring and approachable for everyone."

"Just off City Park, this free photography gallery aims to show contemporary photography that gets you looking, thinking and talking. There’s also a diverse education and events programme. Visit the Impressions Gallery website"

"Pairings is an independent wine bar in York run by sisters, located on historic Castlegate. Serving fine wines by the glass, local ales, signature cocktails and great coffee alongside cheese, charcuterie, deli foods and desserts, this cosy bar caters for everyone. If you’re not a wine connoisseur, don’t worry, the friendly staff are very knowledgeable and will pair your wine to the dish you choose."

"Pairings is a relaxed wine bar with impressive sharing boards, charcuterie platters and small plates to match the accessible wine flights and list. The tapas include whole basil burrata, Iberico Bellota ham and a cheeseboard. Save room for the chocolate and wine pairing for dessert."

"A beautifully designed bar with a large selection of food and wines. They have a wine selection that is complemented by information about wines. Highly recommend for wine lovers and people just starting to love wine."

"I was actually intending to spend a couple of hours in the Tiled Hall Cafe (see above) but it was closed for a private event, so I wandered into The Light centre and spotted this pink, flowery, instagram-perfect wonderland!. Haute Dolci has eight locations, so it’s a much larger operation that the other Leeds’ coffee shops I’ve included here, but it’s so pretty that I just had to include it. I would say it’s more of a dessert restaurant than a coffee shop, serving up the most elegant looking desserts, but I had a cappuccino and a couple of macarons which were intensely sweet (in a good way)."

"Although Haute Dolci isn’t a cafe, I couldn’t skip this dessert restaurant. You’ll find this beautiful restaurant inside The Light leisure centre. Their menu is all about desserts which is the dream for anyone with a sweet tooth."

"Puddings to die for from Haute Dolci in The Light - now delivered on UberEats. Choose from chocolate fudge brownies, banana split sundaes, stacked American pancakes and plenty more."

"They’re currently running a reduced menu, but still have loads of different sundaes to tempt you in, from classics like the Banana Split, with strawberry slices, vanilla ice cream, syrup and sprinkles, to the Mango Mania, with Alphonse mango ice cream, fruit pieces and mango syrup."

"This lively little street food stall is filled with the sounds of Jamaican music, but it’s the smell of jerk chicken that will really draw you in. They serve up BBQ chicken wraps, filled with veggies and jerk sauce, or how about a tray full of curried goat?. It comes with a big pile of rice and salad on the side, so you won’t leave hungry."

"Jenny’s Jerk Chicken is the place to go for proper Caribbean food that won’t cost you the earth. Follow your nose to their Kirkgate Market home, where you’ll find them cooking up jerk chicken every day. For a fiver, you can get a salad box filled with jerk BBQ chicken, jerk saltfish cakes or a veggie bean cake on a bed of fresh salad."

"Toby Carvery do a quick and easy all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. “Whether you fancy tea and toast or want to go all out with our unlimited breakfast buffet including eggs, bacon and our famous breakfast Yorkies — here at Toby Carvery, we’ve got everything you need to give you the perfect start to your day.”  We have eaten breakfast in our local Toby Carvery lots of times. It’s a help yourself buffet with all the usual full English goodies."

"A classic bowling alley for the whole family, there are 28 lanes to choose from, as well as arcade games, laser quest and birthday party options. Visit the Tenpin York website"

"Knaresborough Castle was once a medieval stronghold, overlooking the River Nidd. When visiting the castle, you can explore on your own or join tours to learn about the king’s chambers, dungeons and the secret underground exit. Knaresborough offers amazing insight into the medieval life and its residents throughout history."

"Walk along the picturesque riverside, or row a boat out under the viaduct’s soaring arches, or simply wind your way through narrow lanes to Knaresborough Castle. Our pit-stop in Knaresborough certainly was the perfect end to the day."