A truly amazing museum. Lots of exhibits, demonstrations, and re-enactments for all ages. The…read moreartifacts displayed go from primitive times to modern day. The gift shop stocks tons of books, toys, and of course, tee/ sweatshirts. We are museum nerds so we needed two days to explore the Royal Armouries. Most people can probably do it in one. It's a don't miss when in Leeds.

This is a huge exhibit so be prepared to have information overload, and maybe sore feet! The way…read morethey present the Armouries from all over the world is incredible! Pieces of art work in themselves! The collection is beyond extensive and beautifully displayed. I highly recommend attending the daily scheduled talks, they are engaging and informative, with a chance to ask questions and handle relevant items. During the weekday is less busy with general public, but can get busy and a bit loud with school visits, but we actually took advantage of this and listened to the teachers giving talks to the children! This is a free exhibition that does welcome donations. There is plenty of bathroom facilities, lifts as well as stairs for moving throughout the floors. Also, there Is a cafe on the ground floor. They do like you to book in advanced even though it's free, that way they have an idea of numbers.

I was so very impressed with this museum! It's not just a history of the castle and prison within…read morebut also a history of Britain through the times. Enjoy each "decade" of British history between window exhibits , a Victorian street you can walk through (and in and out of shops , sit in a school classroom and sit in a prison cell) and enjoy tons of interactive exhibits such as a room full of vintage arcades and a WWI trench. The prison is really neat - from getting a sense of how it was Luis to be locked in one of the cells to the ability to watch/listen holograms of famous prisoners - very interesting and a highlight in York!!

This place was full history and it is set to tell a different story in every room. It was a nice…read moreinteractive museum with plenty of staff giving speeches to inform the audience of different perspectives of history. It was a nice experience but it did smell a bit funky in there. Pro Tip, use your London Pass for "free" entrance and you will ultimately save yourself a few bucks.

This is actually quite a hidden gem in Keighley. Beautiful grounds that you can walk round. Lovely…read moreon an autumn day with all the leaves on the trees being golden brown. There's good exhibitions - some that change regularly but others that are interesting to see time and time again. Definitely worth a visit

This is a lovely place within walking distance of Keighley bus and train station. The museum is…read morebigger than it looks, with some exhibits that are there for a short period and some, like the stuffed birds and small mammals, have been there as long as I can remember. They have child friendly exhibitions and there is plenty of room to push a buggy or wheelchair around. Once you've been in the museum, you can spend hours in the lovely grounds. There's also a playground nearby.

My wife and I visited Barley Hall in September 2024. It was an afterthought, having bought tickets…read moreto the Jorvik Viking museum, this was a small additional fee. But it was worth it. Not a long visit, probably an hour or so. There are several rooms to explore, each with laminated info cards to pick up and read the history and purpose. Interactive games for kids learning too. Along with the Jorvik museum, this gave us a really good insight to medieval life in York. It makes sense to get the package, even though we did not have time to visit the other 2 attractions in the package. Finding the Hall was an adventure in itself, tucked away down a narrow lane, under an archway into a courtyard. We were there on a weekday, at the end of the day, and it was not busy. We were able to take our time and enjoy the exhibit.

Coffee Yard is a snickelway that runs between Stonegate -- a very fashionable address in the later…read moremiddle ages a site tucked away in one of its back alleys--Barley Hall, a fifteenth-century townhouse in Coffee Yard. A house occupied by one of Richard III's urban supporters. One of the emerging middle class that gave such strong allegiance to the Yorkists. Barley Hall is a stunning medieval townhouse, once home to the Priors of Nostell and the Mayor of York. Until the 1980s the house was hidden under the relatively modern façade of a derelict office block. Only when the building was going to be destroyed was the amazing medieval building discovered and its history uncovered. Barley Hall's medieval origins had been long forgotten by 1980, when it appeared to be a jumble of brick structures. Ironically, millions of tourists had literally walked right through what was originally an internal corridor of the L-shaped house as they used the Coffee Yard snickelway (an alley-like passageway from one street to another) to travel from busy Stonegate to Swinegate and Grape Lane. I am not sure but I think I stood in a coutyard, that I ten realised wasn't, that may have been a part of this. It was a roofless room and I was looking at interior walls. The building has now been lovingly restored to its original splendour with stunning high ceilings, beautiful exposed timber frames, and possibly the only horn window in England. It has been decorated to replicate what it would have looked like as the Snawsell home around 1483 and boasts a magnificent Great Hall. It is a hands-on living museum, letting visitors experience life in a 15th century house in the centre of York. This is one historic attraction where you are encouraged to touch and pick up exhibits. Sit on the chairs, open chests, and generally explore the house as you choose,and experience what it would have been like to live in Medieval England.. They also have many events. In July and August medieval summer schools for children and coming up: Thu 27 - Sun 30 Nov 2008 St Nicholas Fayre Medieval Market Wed 3 - Sat 6 Dec 2008 Deck the Hall A Medieval Christmas Thu 4 Dec 2008 Barley Hall by Candlelight Sat 6, Sun 7 Dec 2008 Barley Hall Christmas Fayre Wed 10 - Sat 13 Dec 2008 Deck the Hall A Medieval Christmas Thu 11 Dec 2008 Barley Hall by Candlelight Sat 13, Sun 14 Dec 2008 Barley Hall Christmas Fayre Wed 17 - Sat 20 Dec 2008 Deck the Hall A Medieval Christmas You can follow costumed guides as they escort groups through the hall, or hire an audio tape tour. On summer weekends there are special period events, such as mystery plays and medieval markets. Great place to visit.

One of the largest if not largest railway museums in the world. Focuses on trains in Britain…read more(although they do have a Japanese bullet train you can sit in and watch a video) The trains are in two main buildings - one is a former train station. It's a little bit of a walk from the main part of York - especially since they are doing work on a new addition to the museum. Free - donations recommended!

It is a very cool place and a must visit place in York UK So…read moremuch rail history and so many things to do . You can sit in a bullet train see various old and new engine models and what not If you are into train this is the place . They also have a sit down restaurant and a VR experience

Whether you fall into the resident or visitor category on your trip to Leeds, this visitor centre…read moreis an excellent resource to rely on. The amount of information on offer is staggering, any location or venue of cultural significance is available to take away in leaflet form. I frequently take a detour through the shop so that I can pick up a few current programmes for theatres and art-house cinemas within the area. The entire Yorkshire region is catered for, so any trip can be thoroughly organised with their guidance. The shop also has a range of Yorkshire and Harrogate teas, Grandma Wild's biscuits and other such twee goodies. I am referring to their presence because I have hastily purchased these items on a couple of occasions, ran around to neighbouring Paperchase and successfully presented a relative with a gift, as though it had been wrapped for weeks. This is not advisable, but sometimes unavoidable! Another excellent reason to remember the services of Leeds Visitor Centre is, they are an official vendor of local Ticketmaster events. I am often more popular with some friends and relatives around the end of March, when it is possible to purchase a Leeds Festival weekend ticket without the queues, panic or extortionate booking fees. Their presence in centrally located Leeds train station makes the shop incredibly convenient. With such helpful staff, they are worth investigating if you have lived in Leeds for years, or you are merely visiting for a few days.

The first place most people will see as they walk out of the train station and turn left. Then most…read moreprobably, walk right past. There's a stigma attached to visitor centres, tourist information places and for want of a better example, guidebooks, isn't there? "No way man, I don't need a guidebook, I'm a free spirit, let me wander freely," maybe? Well, even if you're a resident of Leeds, the visitor centre can be a handy little place. Tickets, from theatre to Leeds Festival, are available here - free for the most part, of the extortionate booking fees you find at the established online ticket giants. As well, they cover all bases from places to stay, what's on, help with shopping, eating out tips, nightlife recommendations and information on the local sporting clubs. Go have a gander if you're a visitor or not, find out what's going on underneath the surface of our great city!

The York Observatory is located inside the Museum Gardens, and on spring and summer evenings is…read moreoccasionally open to the public for viewing the stars. I've gone on numerous occasions- unfortunately it's normally overcast and the telescope is not used. However, there are helpful volunteers who are on hand to explain the antique equipment (fascinating) and to show photographs of what you would be seeing if the atmospheric conditions didn't ruin the views! A visit here is like stepping back in time, the building has not been changed substantially since the 19th century. Unfortunately it is rarely open during the daytime, and open evenings are not well publicized- the only way to be sure of catching one is to walk past the observatory itself and look for signs in the windows!

I can't believe I've never reviewed this amazing gothic cathedral. During my first ever visit to…read moreYork, I took a tour which was fascinating. I highly suggest a tour for first-time visitors. Now, I enjoy going by for a walk when I'm back visiting. The cathedral is so big and beautiful. The stained glass is just incredible. This is the type of architecture that adds to the medieval atmosphere that is still prominent in York today. Fun fact: it took over 250 years to build it!

My wife visited York Minster to pray and light a candle for her deceased mother and the anniversary…read moreof the outbreak of World War 1, which she has done on many previous occasions when we visit York. She suffers from severe mental and physical disabilities and quiet prayer and reflection brings her comfort. On previous occasions we were directed to a quiet side chapel. On this occasion she was told to sit in an area cordoned off with red rope right near the entrance. It was an exposed, noisy area with a constant flow of visitors passing on both sides. No was no one praying in this area. My wife politely asked a member of staff if there was a quieter more appropriate area where she could pray and the member of staff said he would fetch someone. Eventually a young girl with straight blonde hair appeared wearing an apron and yellow marigold gloves. This young woman failed to introduce herself and was very aggressive in her tone and body language. This woman told my wife "this is the only area available to pray and you do this or leave!". My wife started to become stressed, said that she couldn't pray there and asked "Am I in church?" This woman raised her voice, was waving her arms covered in the long yellow gloves and repeatedly told my wife "this is the only area available to pray and you do this or leave!" and tried to justify this by saying that "we make things to look nice". Faced with this verbal tirade my wife became extremely upset, covered her ears and burst into tears and told this woman she was unwell. She left the Minster in a very distressed state. My wife emailed a complaint to York Minister but received a response from the Head of Audience Operations claiming that she had carried out a full investigation and stated that she "found no evidence of aggression, hostility or disrespect on her part, and I am satisfied that she sought to handle the situation calmly and professionally." Based on what evidence because she didn't speak to my wife and presumably this full investigation soley entailed talking to this unprofessional young woman? We have never experienced such shocking treatment before, especially in a place of worship. Clearly York Minister is just a money making machine and not a safe place of worship or comfort. The fact that staff with such a poor and unsensitive manner are employed in a church is unbelievable.