Free Museums in Hessay

"York's National Railway Museum – the biggest in the world, with more than 100 locomotives – is well-presented and crammed with fascinating stuff. It is laid out on a vast scale and is housed in a series of giant railway sheds – allow at least two hours to do it justice. The museum also now includes a high-tech simulator experience of riding on the Mallard (£4), which set the world speed record for a steam locomotive in 1938 (126mph)."

"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."

"York's National Railway Museum – the biggest in the world, with more than 100 locomotives – is well presented and crammed with fascinating stuff. It is laid out on a vast scale and is housed in a series of giant... Top ChoiceMuseum in York"

"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!"

"One of the UK’s most popular attractions, Jorvik Viking Centre in York is a favourite with families. At the heart of the museum is an amazing archeological discovery – The Coppergate Dig. Excavations under an old sweet factory between 1979 and 1981 unearthed numerous Viking artefacts and the remains of 10th century Viking buildings preserved within particularly spongy earth."

"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."

"Leeds Art Gallery showcases modern and contemporary art with its permanent collection and temporary exhibits. It hosts a range of events, such as art spaces for children, lunchtime talks and special exhibitions. It is also home to the Tiled Hall Cafe, a Victorian Hall with magnificent architecture, full of columns and a beautiful ceiling design."

"Leeds Art Gallery is free to visit and this summer has two current temporary exhibitions from artists Zadie Xa and Georgina Starr. Families can download learning and activity packs from home including Mindful Creatives fact sheets and colouring-in."

"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 …"

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"Fairfax house is a grand, immaculately presented Georgian townhouse. Visitors can explore the elaborate dining room, elegant drawing room and the richly decorated bedrooms, though I think the museum’s highlight is the excellent basement kitchen. An adult ticket costs £7.50 with £3.00 for children."

"Things to Do, Attractions"

"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."

"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."

"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."

"Enjoy chocolate samples, learn how its made and explore three floors of interactive exploration. Book Tickets: York’s Chocolate Story >>>"

"Located down on Kirkgate, Doghouse is the second venture from the owners of 212 Cafe and Bar, but this time they’re taking the music from the DJ booth and turning it into a full-blown record store. On offer here is three floors of stripped back, vintage-style decor where families can kick back on old Chesterfield sofas. Spend the day playing a retro Super Nintendo console, working your way through the tempting bar snacks on offer (pork pies with piccalilli, heck yes) and browsing Paula’s Record Store on the third floor."

" Made to order liquid nitrogen ice cream with a variety of changing specials and vegan flavours. Currently open for takeaway. 15 Fossgate, York, YO1 9TA"

"If city centre restaurants have traditionally been the least enthusiastic about anything paw-based entering their establishments, The New Conservatory is the exception. For one, situated just off Albion Street, it’s as central as it gets. Secondly, staff here love dogs so much that they even have a house doggo–a handsome black Lab called Max, who’s been known to dress up for visits by sporting shades and a sports kit."

"This stylish outfit is a great brunch location, in a cosy underground location. It also has some outside seating if you fancy watching the world go by in the city centre. Avocado and poached eggs is one of their most popular options, served on sourdough bread."

"There’s good reason why Bradfordians are so welcoming of the building site currently taking up the eastern side of the city centre. After much of the area was razed to the ground several years ago to make way for a new development, the proposed shopping centre was abandoned amid the recession. With the loss of the city’s nerve centre and the subsequent proliferation of pound shops, the derelict site poignantly become known as “the hole in the heart”."

"A few minutes’ walk away from the museum is Bradford’s newest shopping centre, with 70 shops and eateries under one roof. Visit the Broadway Bradford website"

"The Core Shopping Centre offers a wide variety of facilities that are created for the delight and pleasure of all its visitors. Combining different retail shops, dining facilities and health and wellness centre, they offer all necessary and essential items that you may need as well as luxurious pieces that are a perfect reward to treat yourself of serves as a wonderful gift for your loved ones. Some of the restaurants that they have are Subway, Burger Kind, Kaspa’s Desserts, Graveley’s Fish and Chops, Mooboo Bubble Tea and many other delicious deli and shops."

"You can’t miss The Core – it’s got a prime position on The Headrow right in the heart of Leeds. Sneaker freaks will love the Footasylum here, one of the best places in the city to grab some new footwear. The same goes for those who love the great outdoors, with branches of Blacks and Cotswold Outdoor."

"Crown Point Shopping Park is a fun place to visit if you are looking to unwind and have a leisurely trip to shop or dine. This is also a go-to place to complete your errands and buy some essentials that you need at home or your office. Housing a wealth of shops from drugstore, gadgets and appliance store, furniture, pet store, toy store, clothing shop, optician and travel and tour agency, they certainly offer comprehensive solutions to the different needs that you may have."

"Just on the south side of Leeds, Crown Point is the closest retail park to the city centre. It’s a great place to visit, with a variety of well-known names lined up for you to explore. Book a holiday at Tui, browse the Wren Kitchens showroom and see how you stand up to the pester power of your kids when you take them along to Smyths Toy Superstore."

"Rodley Nature Reserve is a nature reserve dedicated to bringing wetland wildlife back in the area of Leeds. With regular sightings of different birds like owls, kingfishers, kestrels, lapwings and many others, you would certainly enjoy traversing the different paths that they have and be closer to nature through the amazing sights that they offer. A hidden gem, this wetland reserve can be considered a haven that offers a relaxing tour and walks around the area."

"Four miles west of the city centre, on the banks of the River Aire is this wetland nature reserve. With a lagoon, scrubland, wet grassland and reed beds it's a great place to stroll and spot waterfowl, birds of prey and other nature. Access it via Moss Bridge Road, Rodley, Leeds LS13 1HP."

"Here’s one of the best farms in Leeds for kids, but with a difference. Hope Pastures is all about rescuing and rehabilitating horses, ponies and donkeys. After they’ve managed to do that, they let people come and visit the animals seven days a week, learning all about them and how tp look after them as you go."