Free Museums in Harrogate

"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."

"This part of the UK often conjures up thoughts of the great age of the railway. York’s National Railway Museum does the train-era serious justice, and you’ll get some cracking old-school photos when here. View this post on Instagram"

"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!"

"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."

"Another excellent museum experience that will keep the kids entertained, this interactive Viking experience even includes a theme-park-Esque ride!. Alongside 1,000 year old artifacts, you’ll find displays that aim to show you the sights, sounds and smells of 10th century Viking York in vivid detail. Actors in full period dress help illuminate and add depth to the experience."

"Leeds Art Gallery is one of the city’s finest attractions with a grand architectural presence punctuated by Henry Moore’s Reclining Woman. Head inside to see one of the best collections of twentieth-century British art in the UK, with everything from paintings to sculptures and photography from the likes of Henry Moore, Francis Bacon and Jacob Kramer, to name but a few. They will also have a brand new piece of art – Arena (2000) is a major work by Alison Wilding and will be showcased under the newly restored barrel vaulted glazed roof."

"Free to visit and in the city centre, Leeds’ premier Art Gallery is the perfect location for a relaxing afternoon trip or an escape from the rain. A collection of 19th century works and 20th century British Art, the government declared the site ‘of national importance’ in 1997, and it’s easy to see why. On top of its permanent displays, a regular cycle of temporary exhibitions brings world-class displays of surrealism, woodwork, and anything imaginable to the city."

"Leeds Art Gallery boasts a stunning glass roof, one of the most impressive collections of 20th Century British art and a colourful new wall painting commission for the Victorian staircase by Lothar Götz – the perfect selfie backdrop. The Headrow, LS1 3AA"

"Situated in the shadow of Clifford’s Tower, York Castle Museum is home to a wealth of exhibits surrounding the rich history of York and wider Great Britain, where historical sights from Georgian gowns to Dick Turpin’s prison cell may be found. Its standout exhibit however is a fully-recreated Victorian street, dubbed Kirkgate after the museum’s founder, complete with horse and cart, costumed guides and cobblestones. Though opening as a museum in 1938, the site on which it stands holds an important place in York’s history."

"Offering a fascinating look into the everyday life of the English over the ages is the superb York Castle Museum. Built on the same site where the original York Castle once stood, the museum is in the south of the city center and has countless artifacts and exhibits to explore. While the museum was founded in 1938, its colossal collection is housed in various buildings that used to serve as a prison."

"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."

"Founded in 1822, Tetley was once the biggest brewery in the North, and for a while, it was the largest producer of cask ale in the world. Its reign ended when the brewery was taken over by the Carlsberg Group, and the brewery closed in 2011, before being demolished a year later. Thankfully, out of its ashes, a new venue was born."

"Sunny Bank Mills was once a key part of the city’s industrial past, but since being restored by the Gaunt family, it’s been turned into a multi-purpose creative space with a 3,000-square-foot art gallery at its heart. It’s one of the best galleries in Leeds to find exhibitions by local artists, as it gives them a platform to show their work, from Mel Davies’ colourful landscapes to Kate Kenney’s oil paintings of Yorkshire. It’s also home to Spinning Mill Studios, where local artists and makers create and display their work."

"As well as an impressive collection of Old Masters, York Art Gallery possesses works by LS Lowry, Pablo Picasso, Grayson Perry, David Hockney, and the controversial York artist William Etty who, in the 1820s, was..."

"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."

"No trip to Harrogate is complete without a visit to Bettys – the popular tearoom has been part of the town since 1919. As well as the traditional afternoon tea and fat rascals, you can also get food ranging from fish and chips to eggs benedict."

"Okay, so it’s debatable whether a huge, novelty donut is an essential element of a picnic but when they’re this good (and this fun), why not?. Rainbow, cream-filled, seasonal, chocolatey, fruity, vegan and veggie, Doe has an array of homemade donuts to choose from right in the heart of the city. Prepare to queue at peak times, but it’s worth the wait."

"Resident on Coldbath Road, Manna Bakery recently extended its premises to a few doors down from its original location, transforming their grab ‘n go bakery to a lovely cafe. Manna Bakery have the best fresh produce and exciting breakfast menu items – the smell of freshly-baked bread and brownies hits you before you even walk through the door!. They have their own take on a few breakfast classics, and the flavours definitely don’t fall short."