Best History Museum in The Stank

"When I said Jorvik was York’s best-known attraction I should probably have said its equal best-known attraction because the National Railway Museum is also very famous. And, because it’s just a five-minute walk from the train station, it’s an obvious first port of call for many people. Tracing the history of rail travel around the world, this museum holds over a million different exhibits and if your kids are train buffs they will absolutely LOVE it here."

"We ended our day in York at the National Railway Museum. Despite the small size of the city, York has one of the most important railway stations on the British railway network. This might sound surprising but York plays an important role as a key railway junction approximately halfway between London and Edinburgh."

"There are so many play spaces for kids scattered throughout. My two loved the Dinosaur area where they put on these cute little dinosaur backpacks which had a few bits in like magnifying glasses. They loved hunting for fossils in the fake soil, dressing up as knights, walking on the original medieval mosaic floor and playing with the wooden knight’s castle."

"Having parked right next to the museum gardens, our very first destination in York was the Yorkshire Museum. The Yorkshire museum is set within a ten-acre botanical garden, established in the 1830s by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. This garden is incredibly peaceful and the perfect place to walk around ."

"The Yorkshire Museum is located in the middle of York Museum Gardens. Yorkshire Philosophical Society opened the museum in 1830, making it one of the first purpose-built museums in the country. This museum was later reopened on 1 August 2010 following an extensive nine-month £2 million refurbishment project."

"Barley Hall is a timber framed medieval townhouse lying behind Stonegate, accessed by a narrow snicket. The 14th century house was concealed under the framework of a more modern building and was only discovered during renovation work in the 1980’s. Barley Hall, particularly its recreated banqueting hall, will provide visitors with an accurate experience of what life was like in medieval York."

"This restored medieval townhouse, tucked down an alleyway, includes a permanent exhibition of life in the times of Henry VIII. It was once the home of York’s Lord Mayor. The centrepiece is a double-height banquet..."

"Under the same management as Jorvik and housed in an atmospheric old church, Dig gives you the chance to be an 'archaeological detective', unearthing the secrets of York's distant past as well as learning..."

"This exhibition, housed inside York's most impressive city gate, explores the reign of Henry VII (r 1485–1509), the first Tudor king of England, who defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, the..."

"The Wars of the Roses, the Plantagenets, and Richard III are events and characters embedded in the history of York, so what better place to get to grips with one of the main players than inside the city walls?. Located in Monk Bar gatehouse, where the top floor was commissioned by Richard himself, the Richard III Experience takes you on a journey through the king’s short-lived reign, including what life was like in York during the late 15th century, and a selection of changing exhibitions. While there, don’t miss the chance to walk around the city walls, arguably York’s greatest monument, and make for the sister Henry VII Experience at Micklegate Bar, easily reached in around route that even includes a few pubs along the way."

"The best-preserved of York's medieval city gates houses this museum which explores the life and reign of Richard III (r 1483–85) and his impact on York, and sets out the case of the 'Princes in the Tower',..."

"Next we made our way up the hill to Scarborough Castle. This medieval keep is in a commanding location, it would have been a spectacle to behold and easy to defend. The castle is mostly ruined now, but it is great to walk around and learn about the 3000 year history of the site."

"Wonderful views of the bay, informative guides and very helpful staff. Lots of space to walk around and have a picnic or food from the tea room. There is a good cafe on the site with plenty of choice."

"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."

"Located in the center of the city, the Mansion House is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of York. But along with being a home, this historic house is popular with visitors. The Mansion House exhibits an impressive collection of paintings, silver and furniture."

"The Botanist is an absolutely beautiful venue, so if you’re looking for somewhere to have a luxurious bottomless brunch, then this is the one for you. Their bottomless brunch offer lets you choose whatever brunch dish you fancy, and then you can add bottomless drinks for ninety minutes for just £15 per person!. When you see this beautiful restaurant, you’ll be amazed that you’re getting such a fab deal on your bottomless brunch, trust me!"

"From The Botanist website: “Discover the origins and history of our botanists’ favourite tipple, as our experts guide you through our gin tasting masterclass. Enjoy a range of expertly selected gins, as you learn to identify the unique flavours and botanicals in every bottle.”. £25 each, minimum of six per party, maximum of twelve."

"An excellent vegetarian cafe, Goji is one of the city’s top-rated places to enjoy a vegan dish. This welcoming cafe is devoted to giving you healthy and sumptuous food, including vegan diets too. Having been providing the city with good food for a while now, this restaurant has a beautiful interior decor and a great atmosphere."

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. Goji Café is a vegetarian café that also offers plenty of vegan dishes. Chef Wendy used to be a painter and now has a personal goal to make the customers’ day better by providing healthy food."

"Goji Café is a vegetarian café and deli, just off the main square in York. They aim to bring you colourful, joyful and life-enhancing treats. The cafe is the place to meet with friends or work on your laptop."

"At the base of the cliffs on South Bay, the Spa is a 19th-century complex of performance venues erected at the site of Scarborough’s natural springs. The current Grand Hall opened in 1880 after the previous spa saloon burnt down in 1876. The complex is nearly half a mile in length and you can reach it via the magnificent Spa Bridge, dating to 1827, and the South Cliff Lift from 1873."

"VII) Visit York and the surrounding moors (3-5 days) A long drive will take you to the northern part of England. You could stop at a pick-your-own farm on the way. Pick your own fruit (choose from strawberries, raspberries, pears, and apples) farms lends a typical English edge to this road trip."

"Day 10, 11 & 12 – Kendal, Lakes District & Yorkshire Dales Drive: It’s just 1.5 hours drive to Kendal so feel free to spend the morning continuing to explore Liverpool before heading north after lunch."

"For a trip to York or Leeds, you would need just under four hours. With your car hire from Auto Europe there are no limits, only those which you set. Enjoy your holiday in the UK!"

"The York Roast Company is an incredibly popular place to eat and drink in York, amongst both locals and tourists. Their impressive range of meaty sandwiches, Yorkshire pudding wrap and Sunday dinner-esque meat boxes make the York Roast Co an incredibly popular place to eat. Due to its popular demand, there are now two stores in York; so you’re spoiled for choice on where to tuck into a hearty, meaty sandwich!"

"A family-run venture since 2004 and is one of the best places to eat in York. The York Roast Company has blown up all over the UK for its unique Yorkshire pudding wrap. Enjoy pork, turkey, ham or beef in a gigantic Yorkshire pudding wrap served with roasted veg, stuffing and gravy – messy but delicious!"

"Toby Carvery do a quick and easy all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. “Whether you fancy tea and toast or want to go all out with our unlimited breakfast buffet including eggs, bacon and our famous breakfast Yorkies — here at Toby Carvery, we’ve got everything you need to give you the perfect start to your day.”  We have eaten breakfast in our local Toby Carvery lots of times. It’s a help yourself buffet with all the usual full English goodies."