Best Museums in Balne

"Located just a short stroll from the city center is the National Railway Museum, which tells the story of rail transport in Britain. Home to more than a million artifacts, as well as over a hundred shiny steam trains, locomotives, and wagonway vehicles, it is remarkably the world’s largest railway museum. Established in 1975, the museum now occupies a series of gigantic railway sheds that were once the North York locomotive depot."

"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."

"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."

"Opened in 1888, Leeds Art Gallery is a museum that houses an extensive collection of British art from the 19th and 20th centuries. Beautiful sculptures and paintings presented here often reflect the prominent characters and significant events of British history. The modern and spacious gallery also organizes exhibitions, learning program activities, themed displays and other events for all ages."

"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."

"Situated in the city centre, Leeds Art Gallery offers a fun-filled experience for all age groups. It has been described as “probably the best collection of twentieth century British art outside London”. Its exhibits include:"

"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."

"I didn’t feel this one captured the interest of my two young children as much as some of the other attractions mentioned but I think older children would get more out of it. Neither the less there were bits that my two enjoyed. One area was the play area but I felt this area could be improved compared to the quality of play areas in the other museums."

"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."

"The former headquarters of the Tetley Brewery at Leeds’ South Bank is now a creative space for art, events and workshops, and also houses a bar serving Yorkshire fare. The art gallery, open daily, offers regularly changing exhibitions, while live music, yoga, guest speakers and family art workshops are also on the calendar. The Tetley, Hunslet Road, Leeds LS10 1JQ, gallery open faily 10am-5pm and Wednesdays 10am-8pm, admission free."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Chemical Engineer used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Just south of the city center in Leeds is where you’ll find The Tetley. This modern art gallery opened in late 2013 and stands on the former Tetley’s Brewery."

"Tetley Brewery's defunct 1930s offices have been converted into a contemporary-arts venue with a restaurant and pub on the ground floor, spilling out onto an outdoor terrace. Upstairs the old meeting rooms have..."

"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."

"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 one of the finest 18th century houses in the North of England. It was designed by John Carr of York, and has the best 18th century rococo decoration. Fairfax House is owned by York Civic Trust who have restored the house to its former glory."

"Things to Do, Attractions"

"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."

"If you want to take a photo wearing a traditional medieval cape in some beautiful surroundings (as well as learn more about the relationship of science, religion and chemistry in the Middle ages in York), head to the Barley Hall, where you can do all that."

"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..."

"Located about 10 miles from Sheffield, the Elsecar Heritage Railway is dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and expansion of one of the area's oldest railway lines. Highlights include an impressive collection of historic locomotives and rolling stock that once belonged to the South Yorkshire Railway. Budding engineers can even learn to drive a steam train through one of the railway's "footplate" courses (they also offer a number of fun themed excursions)."

"Impressions Gallery, Aldermanbury, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 1SD - Visit now. As the leading gallery of photographic arts in the UK, Impressions is making photography accessible, inspiring and approachable for everyone."

"The Victoria Quarter of Leeds is a series of Victorian shopping arcades whose opulent style and extravagance have led them to house some of the most expensive retail stores in Leeds. The County Arcade is perfect for an Instagram shot with its wonderful mosaic floor, gilt designs and marble columns…"

"Built in 1897, Grand Arcade is a stunning building with a one-off William Potts and Sons clock, but that’s not the only reason to visit the Leeds Landmark. It’s an independent haven, full of shops, bars and restaurants worth checking out. Nip over to Our Handmade Collective for jewellery and crafts or try The Traditional Shaving Company for everything you need to stay well groomed."

"If you love eating while shopping then Grand Arcade is a destination for you. It is a place where you will find more cafes than shops to serve your mouth-watering cuisine. This shopping destination features much local collection including handmade items, creative paintings and handicrafts that you can consider taking with you as a souvenir."

"The Grand Arcade is one of the oldest shopping Arcades in Leeds City Centre, and it is well worth a visit…"

"Catch is a modern fish restaurant with a menu of tasty classics and creative twists. Of course, you can get all your battered favourites to takeaway – their whopping king-sized haddock fillet is a must-try for all fish & chip fiends – but they also do a medley of more refined seafood dishes in the restaurant. Expect plates of crisp tempura tiger prawns, aromatic monkfish curries and smoky seafood grills."

"Wild caught haddock, cooked in a secret recipe batter and paired with fresh, hot chips fried in beef dripping. If that doesn’t make your mouth water, nothing will. The Skyliner fish and chip shop is a firm favourite with locals."

"29/05/2021: Brought my Nanny for her first meal out after the lockdown at the grand age of 90 years!. What a wonderful experience!. The food was incredible and we were served by Ella who was an absolute delightfull young lady!"