Free Museums in Cowthorpe

"Step inside the only bullet train outside of Japan, peer into royal carriages, and watch model trains chug around a small-scale landscape at the National Railway Museum. With over one million pieces of railway memorabilia—including steam locomotives and vintage posters—the museum provides an immersive insight into the British rail industry."

"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."

"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 Yorvik Viking Center was inspired by the Coppergate dig of 1978 which lasted 5 years and revealed York's Viking heritage. The 2017 reopening introduced a new multilingual ride experience featuring animatronic Viking era residents replete with authentic smells. Moreover, all new galleries feature the collection of 1000 year old Viking artifacts."

"Focused on modern and contemporary art, there’s still plenty which makes the Leeds Art Gallery family-friendly – this summer, for example, there were creative activity bags to take away, ideal for inspiring your kids. Another of the string of free places to visit in Leeds with kids, you’ll find exhibits to get everyone thinking – a Damien Hirst sculpture, as well as works by Anthony Gormley, between bright contemporary art and Victorian paintings. There are also regular temporary exhibitions, and don’t miss Artspace, a creative space in the heart of the gallery, which is designed to be family-friendly."

"Leeds Art Gallery offers you the chance to see work by some of the most important national and international artists all for free. It is home to one of the most signi¬ficant collections of 20th century British art in the country and offers a changing programme of exhibitions and displays throughout the year. Only 5 minutes walk from the arena"

"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…"

"Kirkgate, at York Castle Museum, is the oldest, most famous Victorian Street experience in Britain. Since 1938 it has been visited by more than 30 million people. Now a massive makeover means that you can discover even more about Victorian Life."

"A 20th century Art Deco building is the quintessential location to house an art space; high ceilings and streaming light make for the perfect exhibiting set-up. Formerly the Tetley Ale headquarters and now a protected heritage building, The Tetley opened its newly-renovated doors in late 2013. The venue is curated by Project Space Leeds, a charity which facilitates the space to couple the appreciation of the contemporary arts with learning."

"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."

"Tetley Brewery's defunct 1930s offices have been converted into a contemporary-arts venue with a restaurant and pub on the ground floor, spilling out onto an outdoor terrace. Upstairs the old meeting rooms have..."

"One of the UK’s finest Georgian townhouses, Fairfax House on Castlegate was designed by John Carr. Originally the winter retreat of Viscount Fairfax, the house was converted into a dance hall and cinema in the 20th Century. The York Civic Trust however restored it to its former Georgian glory, and today it’s open to the public with the Noel Terry collection of furnishings, ornaments, decorative arts and paintings on display inside."

"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."

"At DIG, you get to discover only the most exciting archaeological artefacts from the 2000 years of history hidden under the streets of York. Our four excavation pits are filled with Roman, Viking, Medieval and Victorian finds, so you can grab a trowel and dig up the clues that show how people lived in these times. DIG, St Saviour's Church, St Saviourgate, York YO1 8NN"

"Things to Do, Attractions"

"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."

"The Georgian-style Mansion House in York is the home of the city's Lord Mayors during their term in office. This is the earliest purpose-built house of this sort still in use – it predates the Mansion House in London by at least 20 years. The foundation stone for the building was laid in 1725, and it was completed seven years later, in 1732."

"Cosy Club is actually my favourite place to eat in the whole of York and for that reason alone, I think it deserves a place on this list. The outside seating area that resides on Fossgate is a beautiful place to people watch while sipping a delicious fruity cocktail during the summer months. When the temperatures become cooler however, Cosy Club opens itself up to the most gorgeous, cosy retreat."

"The inside of this bar and restaurant is full of grandeur and eccentricities – and the food tastes as good as it looks!. Serving brunch until 5pm every day, here you can just keep going, and going, and going."

"Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as having dedicated kids, vegan and gluten free menus. 19-22 Fossgate, York YO1 9TAT: 01904 395056"

"York Business Park, White Rose Cl, Nether Poppleton, York YO26 6RL. Beefeater’s breakfast offering at is excellent value especially if you have kids as one child eats free and they count kids as 15 and under. Breakfast is a set charge but is unlimited and you can help yourself to all the components of a full English breakfast as well as continental items like pain au chocolat, cinnamon and raisin bagels, sourdough crumpets, fruit and yoghurt and cereal."

"Great, children eat free with a paying adult and it’s set out like a buffet so can choose whatever you want, they have things for a full English, cereal, yogurts, croissants, fruit, unlimited drinks."

"Fancy Hanks is a new and welcome addition to York serving American deep South good mood food. They serve classics such as a Double Cheese Burger, Blackened Cajun Chicken as well as a Vegan Corn Burger. They also do some excellent buttermilk fried chicken!"

"Eat & Drink, Cafés & Tearooms"

"This one’s for the pizza lovers, you’re going to love it here!. San Carlo Leeds is one of the city’s star attractions, offering classic Italian dishes with a modern aesthetic. Whether you got there for lunch or dinner, they’ve got plenty of meals to choose from to suit all tastes."

"Wild caught haddock, cooked in a secret recipe batter and paired with fresh, hot chips fried in beef dripping. If that doesn’t make your mouth water, nothing will. The Skyliner fish and chip shop is a firm favourite with locals."

"29/05/2021: Brought my Nanny for her first meal out after the lockdown at the grand age of 90 years!. What a wonderful experience!. The food was incredible and we were served by Ella who was an absolute delightfull young lady!"

"There is a great deal on Groupon currently for a hot drink and all day brunch for two at Patisserie Valerie for £14.95. Options include the Farmhouse breakfast: two free-range eggs, back bacon, Cumberland sausage, tomatoes, a flat mushroom, baked beans and bloomer toast, Brioche French toast: a choice of frosted mixed berries and maple syrup or sweet-cure bacon with maple syrup or banana and cinnamon, Eggs Benedict served on a brioche bun and many more. See the Groupon deal here."