Free Museums in Linton-on-Ouse

"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."

"Things to Do, Attractions"

"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."

"An absolute must for anyone interested in history, the fantastic Jorvik Viking Centre sheds a light on what life was like in the city during Viking times. Located in the city center, the state-of-the-art museum has a reconstruction of a Viking settlement to explore and is built atop archaeological excavations. Opened in 1984, the center is one of York’s most popular attractions as it does succeed in transporting you back over a thousand years into the past."

"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."

"Part of the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle, tie in a visit to the Henry Moore Institute with a walk around Leeds Art Gallery. The gallery is currently undergoing repairs to the roof and will reopen in October this year, when visitors will be treated to a series of interesting exhibits."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"Things to Do, Attractions"

"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."

"There’s an easy, relaxed vibe at Giraffe which makes it an ideal place to take the kids to eat. The self-claimed ‘World Kitchen’ offers a great selection of international dishes for the grown-ups, but there’s more traditional fare on their dedicated kids menu, including breaded fish fingers and grilled chicken breast. There’s a Katsu curry and a cheesy quesadillas to keep the global tagline going, however."

"Had the Hoisin duck noodle salad and it was tasty, loving the new options on the menu I'll be back again for sure. 26/05/2021: New menu is amazing!. Finally some flavoursome decent vegan options!!"

"A lot of the venues on this list are all about unique nights out, but The Warehouse is the premier spot for a classic student night on the town. Newly renovated and fit with all the equipment a DJ needs to put on a perfect show, head to one of the oldest clubs in the city for your Underground hit. This post has been written by Matteo Everett"

"The Warehouse is pretty much the place for underground club nights in Leeds, attracting amazing talent from around the world. But music alone isn't enough – there's Funktion One Dance Stack towers, CO2 jets, laser lights and lighting rigs to create one of the best shows around."

"Yates serve a value breakfast until 12 noon, with options like the Full English (Two sausages, two rashers of bacon, two fried eggs, baked beans, two hash browns, mushrooms, half a grilled tomato, toast and butter), Breakfast Wrap (Flour tortilla wrap, with a burger cheese slice, filled with sausage, bacon, fried egg and hash browns)or their Even Bigger Breakfast (Four sausages, four rashers of bacon, three fried eggs, two hash browns, baked beans,two flat mushrooms, grilled tomato, two slices of toast and a portion of chips.)"

"Back to the centre of Leeds and we find Leeds Docks where the renowned Royal Armouries Museum is situated. The Docks are surrounded by high rise modern flats but with plenty of canal boats nestled into the moorings. Stand on the bridge at the end of Armouries Way and wait for the iconic little yellow water taxi to glide past transporting people from the docks to Granary Wharf near the train station."

"The Leeds Dock area is home to some new chic developments, but is also packed with history. It was constructed in 1843, initially built to transport coal into the city centre. Nowadays, there are considerably less coal shipments entering the docks, but it's still one of the most picturesque spots in the city."

"A sunny spring day, walking next to the river, stopping on the way. for some shopping or at one of the cafes and restaurants.The docks are accessible by free water taxi."

"This homely cafe just across Leeds Bridge is small but perfectly formed – a little like sitting down for a cuppa and snack in your friend’s living room. While not vast, it’s still a prime place to eat with kids. There’s plenty of space between tables to fit a buggy through, and they have high chairs and baby changing facilities too."

"You can fill your belly with a huge buttermilk pancake at Cha Lounge. There are three indulgent options to choose from. You can get yours topped with bacon and syrup or slathered in Nutella with sliced banana and a sprinkling of toasted cashews."

"It’s a laid back venue that offers a little bit of peace amidst the hustle and bustle of the city centre. You can choose from a huge range of organic teas here, like the green tea with rose petals, or simply get a good cup of coffee."