Best Museums in Hirst Courtney

"The National Railway Museum in York is home to some of the country’s greatest feats of engineering, and tells the story of Britain’s railway innovation. The museum was founded in 1975 on the site of the former North York locomotive depot, where it still stands today. In the early days of locomotive transport, York was revered as the heart of the rail networks of the north."

"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."

"Things to Do, Attractions"

"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."

"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."

"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 is one of the city’s finest attractions with a grand architectural presence punctuated by Henry Moore’s Reclining Woman. Head inside to see one of the best collections of twentieth-century British art in the UK, with everything from paintings to sculptures and photography from the likes of Henry Moore, Francis Bacon and Jacob Kramer, to name but a few. They will also have a brand new piece of art – Arena (2000) is a major work by Alison Wilding and will be showcased under the newly restored barrel vaulted glazed roof."

"Leeds Art Gallery boasts a stunning glass roof, one of the most impressive collections of 20th Century British art and a colourful new wall painting commission for the Victorian staircase by Lothar Götz – the perfect selfie backdrop. The Headrow, LS1 3AA"

"This major gallery is packed with 19th- and 20th-century British heavyweights – Turner, Constable, Stanley Spencer, Wyndham Lewis et al – along with contemporary pieces by more recent arrivals such as Antony..."

"Step back in time with York Castle Museum, an informative, interactive destination that will charm history-buffs and families alike. Unique in its depictions of everyday life, both past and present, York Castle Museum is best-known for period reconstructions of historic streets—like the Victorian Kirkgate—and costumed actors who help bring the past to life."

"York Castle Museum is a museum located in York, North Yorkshire, England, on the site of York Castle, which was originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068."

"The Tetley is a contemporary art gallery in what was the headquarters of the former Tetley Brewery. The art deco building is in central Leeds features a gallery space, function, rooms, a public bar, and carefully preserved rooms from the old Tetley offices. We hope you enjoyed seeing some of our most treasured buildings from our home city."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"Barley Hall is a (somewhat controversial) restored medieval townhouse and hospice dating from 1386. The building was built by the monks of Nostell Priory and was once home to the Lord Mayor of York. The house is decorated to recall the late 15th century home of William Snawsell."

"The Hepworth Wakefield is also an amazing place to visit, with free entry, you can look at the works of many contemporary artists. The Hepworth Wakefield was built in honor of Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975), one of the few female artists to reach international fame in the early to mid 20th-century. By coming here you can view some of Hepworths rarely seen works."

"One of the most impressive exhibition spaces outside of London, The Hepworth’s architecture is just as spectacular as the collections housed inside. View rare pieces by famed local sculptor Barbara Hepworth, alongside a series of visiting exhibitions."

"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."

"Fairfax House is a Georgian town house open to the public between February and December. The house displays a collection of eighteenth-century furniture and shows how Georgians lived in their day. 901 metres from the Minster.Castlegate, York, North Yorkshire YO1 9RN, United Kingdom"

"Art And Culture, Historical Site, Architecture , Specialty Museum. When you visit the castles and cathedrals of York, you see places where the rich and famous of old Yorkshire worked and prayed. But where did the nobility of Yorkshire live?"

"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."

"Regrann from @theveganmcr – Texas jack hotdog @fat_annies @grubmcr #veganmanchester #vegan #vegans #plantpower #plantpowered #veganfood #veganfoodie #veganlunch #veganpower #veganlife #veganism #vegangirl #veganbreakfast #veganeats #veganlove #plantbased #plantbaseddiet. A post shared by Fat Annie's (@fat_annies) on Jul 31, 2018 at 11:34am PDT. Fat Annie’s lives in the Food Hall of the wholesome Kirkgate Market."

"When it comes to hot dogs, there’s only one place you need to visit – Fat Annie’s. They’ve been cooking up brilliant bangers since 2014 and they’re really ruddy good at it. The Classic is a locally made pork and beef dog, but if you fancy mixing it up a little you’ve got options, like The Cheese One, which is a Big Melt sausage, with pork, beef, bacon, garlic and cheese."

"You can get meaty burgers, kebabs and curries, just like most takeaways, but it’s their meat-free menu that’s made them one of the best in Leeds. The Soya Delight pizza comes topped with roasted tofu, mushrooms, peppers and vegan cheese, or you can go for one of their curries like the Daal Tarka, a mix of lentils, onions, garlic and ginger. Grove Cafe, 133 -135 Cardigan Road, Hyde Park, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 1LJ."

"Grove Café is a premier cafe in Leeds that serves a wide variety of menu that contains vegetarian, vegan and halal options. Celebrating good food, they are dedicated to bringing joy through the different fine meals that they prepare from scratch. Serving the community since 1994, they guarantee that all their vegan and vegetarian meals have no traces of meat in any form and are 100% meat-free and dairy-free."

"If you just want a low-key, no-frills meal, then Grove Café is one of the best vegan restaurants in Leeds for you. Their varied vegan offering means you won’t be short on choice, either, making it even more of a perfect spot for a casual dinner with friends. Their vegan and vegetarian menus are genuinely huge, and they include things like pizzas, burgers, curries, and so much more."

"Since opening in 1990, West Yorkshire Playhouse has become one of the city’s most cherished cultural institutions. They have a well deserved reputation as one of the best repertory theatre companies in the UK, but the theatre itself also welcomes an exciting calendar of touring shows. From modern greats like To Kill a Mockingbird and Alan Bennett’s Untold Stories to classics such as Othello, The Grapes of Wrath and Dracula, it’s always worth checking what’s on at the Playhouse."

"Situated close to Leeds city centre, West Yorkshire Playhouse is one of Britain’s most exciting production theatres. The playhouse was opened in 1990 and since then has established both a national and an international reputation for its great shows and high quality service. The theater offers its visitors such cultural events as classic drama, comedy, modern European plays and fantastic children’s shows."

"Bradford Cathedral, 1 Stott Hill,, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 4EH - Visit now. Bradford Cathedral has been a place for Christian workshop since the 8th Century, today it feeds the community artistically and spiritually."