Free Museums in Bishop Monkton

"Located just a short stroll from the city center is the National Railway Museum, which tells the story of rail transport in Britain. Home to more than a million artifacts, as well as over a hundred shiny steam trains, locomotives, and wagonway vehicles, it is remarkably the world’s largest railway museum. Established in 1975, the museum now occupies a series of gigantic railway sheds that were once the North York locomotive depot."

"We ended our day in York at the National Railway Museum. Despite the small size of the city, York has one of the most important railway stations on the British railway network. This might sound surprising but York plays an important role as a key railway junction approximately halfway between London and Edinburgh."

"Good news: the largest railway museum in the world is also open year-round!. This museums offers tons of free activities as well as a railroad-themed play area for the kids, which makes it a slam dunk for the entire family."

"The Jorvik Viking Centre is a historical visitor attraction in York displaying a reconstructed Viking city as it would have looked in approximately 975 AD. It features a selection of 40,000 well-preserved Viking items found by archaeologists between 1979 and 1981, and the remains of their city, once known as Jorvik. Excavations were undertaken by the York Archaeological Trust across the area now occupied by the Viking centre, and uncovered a wealth of information about the settlement that used to be there."

"Interactive multimedia exhibits aimed at bringing history to life often achieve exactly the opposite, but the much-hyped Jorvik manages to pull it off with aplomb. It's a smells-and-all reconstruction of the Viking settlement unearthed here during excavations in the late 1970s, experienced via a 'time-car' monorail that transports you through 9th-century Jorvik (the Viking name for York). You can reduce time waiting in line by booking timed-entry tickets online; there is almost always a queue to get in."

"Jorvik Viking Centre – Travel back 1,000 years to a traditional Viking village and learn about how Vikings lived in this time period. The displays even create the traditional sounds and smells of the time further immersing you into the Viking way of life."

"Situated in the city centre, Leeds Art Gallery offers a fun-filled experience for all age groups. It has been described as “probably the best collection of twentieth century British art outside London”. Its exhibits include:"

"This major gallery is packed with 19th- and 20th-century British heavyweights – Turner, Constable, Stanley Spencer, Wyndham Lewis et al – along with contemporary pieces by more recent arrivals such as Antony..."

"Art And Culture, Historical Site, Architecture , Specialty Museum. York Castle Museum isn’t just going to show you the past - it’s going to let you be a part of it. The museum stands on the site of York Castle, built in 1068 by William the Conqueror."

"This excellent museum has displays of everyday life through the centuries, with reconstructed domestic interiors, a Victorian street and a prison cell where you can try out a condemned man's bed – and it could be..."

"Take the family to the former Tetley brewery in Leeds, which is now home to an art gallery, a whole heap of children’s events and a very family-friendly restaurant. You can stop off for a quick drink after your culture vulture-ing or take your time with a proper sit-down. Their dedicated children’s menu, which doubles as a colouring sheet, offers brunch options like brioche eggy bread until midday, and thereafter it’s all about mains like cheese sarnies or crispy chicken with coleslaw."

"The Tetley, Hunslet Road, Leeds, Yorkshire, LS10 1JQ - Visit now. Housed in the 1931 art deco headquarters of the Joshua Tetley & Son brewery, The Tetley opened in 2013 and has sat at the very epicentre of the Leeds art scene ever since."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Chemical Engineer used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Just south of the city center in Leeds is where you’ll find The Tetley. This modern art gallery opened in late 2013 and stands on the former Tetley’s Brewery."

"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."

"Kitkat, Yorkie, Quality Street, Smarties, Chocolate Orange, Black Magic, All Gold.. the list goes on, all originating from York. York is famous for its Chocolate, with names like Rowntree's and Terry's now known all over the world."

"Part of the Jorvik group, this attraction is an introduction to archaeology for kids. It’s suitable for all ages. My toddler enjoyed the under 5’s play area on the second floor whilst my 5 year old did some stained glass painting."

"If you’re looking for a more intimate environment for a night of comedy in Leeds, look no further than the Carriageworks Theatre. The venue puts on a vast and diverse array of entertainment all year round – and they get more than their fair share of comedy too. They’ve had visits from the likes of Mitch Benn, The Reduced Shakespeare Company, Tape Face, Patrick Monahan and The Clean As Possible Comedy Show over the past few years."

"A 45 – 60 minute show packed with interactive fun and games for the whole family. This show is all about children’s ideas and stories…"

"Another set of magnificent gardens in Harrogate are these towards the western edge of town, which reflect the Yorkshire landscape with a selection of trails, a log maze and tea rooms. There's also a range of boutique shops and tours on offer at the 17 acre site which, as is the case with many parts of Harrogate, was formerly the location for a bath house and a spa. Harlow Carr Gardens are at Crag Lane, Harrogate HG3 1QB. The gardens are open from 9.30am throughout the year and close at 6pm from March to October and 4pm for the rest of the year."

"Left Bank Leeds is one of the city’s most unusual gallery spaces. Formerly St Margaret’s Anglican church, this grade II-listed building was transformed into a community space in 2002. It hosts art exhibitions on a regular basis."

"Nice café for breakfast and lunch with kids toys to keep them occupied. 482 Roundhay Road, Oakwood, LS8 2HU, Tel: 0113 3456319"