Free Museums in Bugthorpe

"When I said Jorvik was York’s best-known attraction I should probably have said its equal best-known attraction because the National Railway Museum is also very famous. And, because it’s just a five-minute walk from the train station, it’s an obvious first port of call for many people. Tracing the history of rail travel around the world, this museum holds over a million different exhibits and if your kids are train buffs they will absolutely LOVE it here."

"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."

"The Jorvik Viking Centre is one of the most popular museums in York, so much so that you’ll often find a long queue out the door!. The Viking Centre provides visitors with an immersive experience of 10th century York, where you’ll get to know the sounds, sights and even smells of Viking England. It really is an incredible experience, just make sure you book in advance to avoid the queues!"

"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."

"One of the best York photography spots is the Victorian street recreated in the York Castle Museum. Head there towards the end of the day, maybe 30-40 minutes before the closing time, so you can get the street empty and take some stunning photos there. York Castle Museum is one of my favourite Instagrammable spots in York."

"If you’re a chocolate addict, York’s Chocolate Story is the place for you. Discover the history of the city’s rich, chocolatey past and even learn how to make chocolate yourself. There’s also plenty of chocolate to choose from in the museum’s shop."

"While the York’s Chocolate story itself isn’t an Instagrammable spot, if you take a tour, you’ll have a chance to create your own chocolate lollypop as well as decorate it as you’d like and then take a photo of it in front of some famous landmark."

"This 18th-century townhouse offers a glimpse into the tastes, fashions, and daily life of Georgian-era nobility. It began as the home of Viscount Charles Gregory Fairfax and then enjoyed brief stints as a gentlemen’s club, cinema, and dancehall before being restored to its Georgian-era glory."

"Fairfax House is one of the finest 18th century houses in the North of England. It was designed by John Carr of York, and has the best 18th century rococo decoration. Fairfax House is owned by York Civic Trust who have restored the house to its former glory."

"Things to Do, Attractions"

"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."

"Things to Do, Attractions"

"Set inside a large and elegant building, an £8 million development back in 2015 has seen York Art Gallery rise to one of the best regional galleries in the country. Boasting 7 exhibition spaces across 2 floors and an outdoor Artist’s garden, there’s plenty to see for the art lovers visiting York, including an internationally significant collection of ceramics spreading across 2 galleries and temporary exhibitions that mean there is always something fresh to see. Keep your eyes out for works by hugely famous artists such as Turner and Hockney."

"Ed’s Easy Diner is an American 1950’s style diner specialising in burgers, shakes and hot dogs. They also do breakfast!. The menu includes Ed’s Big Breakfast (Three rashers of smoked bacon, two sausage patties, two griddled eggs with chilli seasoning, three hash browns, baked beans, mushrooms and two slices of buttered toast), The Full American (Two rashers of smoked bacon, two griddled eggs with chilli seasoning, sausage patty, two fluffy pancakes, two hash browns, maple flavoured syrup and baked beans), Freshly Made Pancakes (Two pancakes stacked with a sausage patty, two rashers of smoked bacon, two hash browns, griddled egg with chilli seasoning and drizzled with maple flavoured syrup) and Fried Chicken and Waffle (Fried chicken breast between two waffles with maple flavoured syrup and icing sugar)."

"Set inside a shopping mall – “Come join in the fun and take a well deserved rest-bite from shopping at Ed’s Easy Diner, McArthurGlen York. Set against the beautiful landscape of the Vale of York, the centre is completely covered, providing the perfect day out no matter what the weather brings. The restaurant will seat up to 80 and is located in the heart of the well-loved Designer Outlet so be sure to stop by, be it for breakfast, lunch or dinner!"

"Ed’s Easy Diner is a 1950’s American inspired diner near Monks Cross serving a range of classic American meals from burgers to hot dogs. 3 mile(s) from the Minster.Kiosk 1 & 2, Vangarde Retail Park, York, North Yorkshire YO32 9AE, United Kingdom"

"Chiquito is a lively, family friendly Mexican chain restaurant. They serve breakfast, available every day until noon. Breakfast items include the Breakfast Sizzler, Breakfast Chimichanga plain tortilla, Mexican eggs benedict and the Breakfast feast."

"Blossom Street Gallery, which makes its home in the historic Micklegate quarter of the city, was conceived to bring local artists and creatives together in a central space and provide an opportunity for Yorks’ residents and visitors to enjoy local artwork. Blossom Street hosts regular exhibitions with notable artists, predominantly from Yorkshire but sometimes from a little further afield. They aim to offer art which everybody can enjoy – from original pieces, to prints, to handcrafted and design-led gifts and cards, and innovative framing options and supplies."

"Spark is a relatively new addition to the city of York but it’s certainly one that’s been welcomed with open arms (at least by me). Offering a vast selection of different cuisines, as well as gorgeous seating areas and unique shipping containers disguised as shops and food stalls, Spark is a great place to grab some pictures."

"Sparks is a relatively new addition to York and it has quickly become known as a local hotspot. Popular with everyone, Sparks has loads of different food spots but if you’re vegan or veggie, head straight to Donner Summer’s for kebabs, hot dogs and more."

"It is a pleasant Sunday afternoon at Quirky Ales and Monkey is starting his afternoon off with a Hip Hop. Is that wise Monkey?"

"Sited at the top of Micklegate a few yards from the city walls this bar from independent Scottish brewing giants Brewdog opened after a protracted court battle with a local trader – much to the relief of their loyal following of fans in the York area. I say fans because Brewdog as a company have so far attracted investment in their crowdfunding equity scheme from over 100,000 loyal drinkers. The multi-roomed bar is huge."