Free Museums in Yorkshire

"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."

"The world’s largest railway museum, see the full history of trains including The Rocket, The Mallard, Queen Victoria’s favourite carriage and the Japanese Bullet."

"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."

"First stop was probably the best-known attraction in York, the Jorvik Viking Centre. York was ruled by the Vikings for around a century, between the Roman and Norman periods, and evidence of their civilization is still being dug up to this day. A visit to the Jorvik Centre and memories of its authentically smelly mock-up village have been a rite of passage for British schoolchildren for years."

"A visit to the Jorvik Viking Centre will send you on a trip back in time to the days of York under Danish rule. Way back in 866, York was invaded by the Danes. The Jorvik Viking Centre gives visitors a snapshot of what Viking life would have been like."

"Leeds Art Gallery reopened in October 2017 following an extensive refurbishment, including works on its original Victorian roof and renovation of the Central Court - meaning visitors can now see the stunning glass ceiling as part of the gallery. As well as the gallery’s main collection, artist room feature regular exhibitions. The Headrow, Leeds,LS1 3AA, open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sundays 11am-3pm, closed Mondays."

"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"

"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."

"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."

"This excellent museum has displays of everyday life through the centuries, with reconstructed domestic interiors, a Victorian street and a prison cell where you can try out a condemned man's bed – and it could be..."

"The Tetley is a gallery like no other as a former brewery that’s now become three floors of art and workshops. They showcase emerging artists and show their work to a wider audience, from cool prints to boundary-pushing, immersive installations. Over the years, they’ve presented work by the likes of Jonathan Trayte, Joseph Buckley and Dora García, as well as big shows that sees local artists come together to collaborate."

"A unique experience is discovering the contemporary art offered in the former Tetley Brewery. Explore the latest collections, participate in a workshop or if that’s not your thing, enjoy a pint of Tetley’s or something to eat from their kitchen. If you choose to eat here, 100% of the profit goes to support their artistic programme."

"Just a minute or two walk from the hotel (turn left out of our front door and walk until you get to King’s Square). Hear about York’s chocolate history, get lots of samples to try, and make a chocolate lolly to take home – really good fun for adults and children. VISIT THEIR WEBSITE >>"

"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."

"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."

"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."

"Steaks and cocktails are the order of the day at Blackhouse - and we're not just talking about any old steaks and cocktails. Grill on the Square is the perfect place if you fancy really treating yourself. When the sun is shining, there are two gorgeous outdoor dining areas - one at the front looking out to East Parade, the other an all-year-round conservatory looking out onto Bond Square and the Dakota hotel."

"Blackhouse serves up prime steakhouse fare in classy surrounds. Slide into your private leather booth and get to grips with the short but sweet menu made especially for young diners. It’s meat-centric, as you might expect from a grill restaurant, but alongside the roast chicken dinners and mini Blackhouse burgers – you’ll find a welcome cheese spiral pasta dish."

"Eating out at Art’s is a little like eating at the smallest gastropub you’ve ever seen. The rustic charm and dark wood panelled bar are the first thing to hit you upon entry, but take a seat and you’ll soon be charmed by the intimate space and international menu. It makes for an exciting browse, with everything from confit duck to curried cauliflower on a menu that changes every month."

"Local art on the walls and a bohemian vibe make this a popular place for quiet reflection and a really good cup of coffee. The dinner menu is a cut above your average fare, with inventive dishes such as rib-eye... Modern British in Leeds"

"This lively little street food stall is filled with the sounds of Jamaican music, but it’s the smell of jerk chicken that will really draw you in. They serve up BBQ chicken wraps, filled with veggies and jerk sauce, or how about a tray full of curried goat?. It comes with a big pile of rice and salad on the side, so you won’t leave hungry."

"Jenny’s Jerk Chicken is the place to go for proper Caribbean food that won’t cost you the earth. Follow your nose to their Kirkgate Market home, where you’ll find them cooking up jerk chicken every day. For a fiver, you can get a salad box filled with jerk BBQ chicken, jerk saltfish cakes or a veggie bean cake on a bed of fresh salad."

"This buzzing, Moortown local gets absolutely packed out on the weekend and once you’ve been you’ll understand why. They serve traditional Chinese food, with flair in a rather swish environment. The 120-cover restaurant upstairs feels modern and serves up such popular favourites like crispy aromatic duck, but they also cater for special occasions with extravagant dishes like braised lobster with ginger and aubergine stuffed with delicate prawn meat."

"The G-Wu Restaurant Bar Takeaway is one of the best options for those with special dietary requirements. Not only are there plenty of options for those who follow a gluten-free diet, but there is also a separate menu for vegetarians and vegans. The freshly prepared food is always tasty and well presented."

"The north Leeds suburb of Moortown boasts a great array of local restaurants – but it’s G-Wu that we’re featuring in this list of great Chinese restaurants in Leeds. The restaurants pretty big, with 120-covers set over two floors. It’s rare that diners leave G-Wu feeling anything less than satisfied."

"Slap bang in Leeds city centre, Red Chilli Chinese restaurant deserves a medal for the sheer variety of dishes available. Seriously, give yourself a good 10 minutes to flick through their ample menu (complete with pictures) which features the best of Beijing and Sichuanese cuisine. On offer are dishes like punchy king prawns with green and red chillies, shredded pork in a red pepper stew and the regional favourite that is spicy mapo tofu with minced beef."

"More than 500 people have rated Red Chilli on TripAdvisor and it is another restaurant that has had glowing reviews for its accuracy to truly East Asian dishes. "Huge portions, very tasty, more authentic than most," said one person. Another said: "The food was delicious and full of flavour."

"You really can’t miss Red Chilli if you’ve wandered the streets of Leeds for any number of time. Their prime, city centre location means that they’re often busy. With an enormous selection on offer, there’s something on the menu for all tastes."