List of museums in North Yorkshire


This list of museums in North Yorkshire, England contains museums which are defined for this context as institutions that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit art galleries and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace are not included.
NameImageTown/CityRegionTypeSummary
Aldborough Roman SiteAldboroughHarrogateArchaeologyOperated by English Heritage, excavated Roman fort and artifacts
Bar ConventYorkYorkReligious17th century Roman Catholic convent that was established and operated in secret, museum of its history
Barley HallYorkYorkHistoric houseExcavated and reconstructed medieval house
Beck Isle MuseumPickeringRyedaleHistoryPeriod shops displays, Victorian-era pub and parlour, historic costume gallery
Bedale MuseumBedaleHambletonLocal, local history, household and agriculture tools and items, located in Bedale Hall
Beningbrough HallBeningbroughHambletonHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust, late Georgian mansion with baroque interior, walled garden, home to over 100 portraits on loan from the National Portrait Gallery
Bolton CastleCastle BoltonRichmondshireHistoric houseMedieval fortress where Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned in 1569 after her defeat at the Battle of Langside
Captain Cook & Staithes Heritage CentreStaithesScarboroughBiographical, memorabilia and antiquities related to Captain James Cook, local history, fishing and mining
Captain Cook Birthplace MuseumMartonMiddlesbroughBiographicalHistory and memorabilia of explorer Captain James Cook
Captain Cook Memorial MuseumWhitbyScarboroughHistoric house17th-century house where the young James Cook lodged as apprentice, period rooms, exhibits on Cook, his voyages and their impact
Captain Cook Schoolroom MuseumGreat AytonHambletonEducation, reconstructed early 18th century schoolroom, exhibits about James Cook's early life and education, and his later achievements
Castle HowardCastle HowardYorkHistoric houseEarly 18th century stately home with of gardens and landscapes, collections of paintings, antiquities, bronzes, furniture and tapestries
Cleveland Ironstone Mining MuseumSkinningroveRedcar and ClevelandMining, also known as the Tom Leonard Mining Museum, ironstone mining, mine tours, skills, customs and life of the miners
Courthouse MuseumRiponHarrogateLaw enforcement, 19th century period courthouse, part of the "Yorkshire Law and Order Museums"
Craven Museum & GallerySkiptonCravenMultiple, local social history, archaeology, geology, art
Dales Countryside MuseumHawesHambletonLocalLocal history of the Yorkshire Dales, including school days, home life, leisure time, religion, transport, communication and tourism, farming, local crafts and industries
YorkYorkArchaeologyDiscovery centre about the science of archaeology and area excavations
Dorman MuseumLinthorpeMiddlesbroughLocalIndustrial designer Christopher Dresser, local Linthorpe Pottery, natural history, local history, pottery and decorative arts, Ancient Egyptian and Roman artefacts.
Eden Camp Modern History Theme MuseumMaltonRyedaleMilitaryFormer prisoner of war camp in World War II, themed barracks displays about the war
Fairfax HouseYorkYorkHistoric houseGeorgian townhouse with restored 18th century interior
Filey MuseumFileyScarboroughLocal, local history, culture, fishing, farming, period craft and room displays
Fountains Abbey and Studley RoyalAldfieldHarrogateMultipleOperated by the National Trust, include the ruins of the 12th century Cistercian monastery, Fountain Hall, Studley Royal Park, 12th-century Cistercian cornmill, water garden
Gayle MillGayleRichmondshireTechnologyRestored 18th-century cotton mill and now sawmill
Goddards House and GardenYorkYorkHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust, former home of the Terry's family with exhibits about the family and their chocolate business
Grassington Folk MuseumSkiptonCravenHistory, local history, lead mining, minerals, tools, farming, period costumes, Yorkshire Dales Railway, household items
Green Howards Regimental MuseumRichmondRichmondshireMilitaryHistory and memorabilia of the Green Howards
Guisborough MuseumGuisboroughRedcar and ClevelandLocal, local social, agricultural and commercial history
Henry VII Experience at Micklegate BarYorkYorkHistoric house, located in the Micklegate Bar, life of King Henry VII of England, Tudor life in York, history of the Micklegate Bar
Holgate WindmillHolgateYorkMillLate 18th-century tower windmill under restoration
Hovingham HallHovinghamRyedaleHistoric house18th century Palladian-style country house, childhood home of Katharine, Duchess of Kent
Jorvik Viking CentreYorkYorkArchaeologyPreserved remains of the Viking city of Jórvík, reconstructed 10th century settlement with living history enactors
Kiplin HallScortonRichmondshireHistoric house17th century Jacobean house, exhibit on George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore and family
Kirkleatham MuseumKirkleathamRedcar and ClevelandMultiple, local history, art including works by the Staithes group, toys, mining, culture
Knaresborough CastleKnaresboroughHarrogateHistoryRuins of medieval fortress, Courthouse Museum of local history, royal residents, medieval life exhibit, Tudor courtroom
Kohima MuseumFulfordYorkMilitary, located within Imphal Barracks and dedicated to the 1944 Battle of Kohima in India and the British and Indian soldiers who fought there
Malton MuseumMaltonRyedaleArchaeology, local Roman-era artifacts, reconstructed village home and artifacts from Wharram Percy, a deserted medieval village
Mansion HouseYorkYorkHistoric houseEarly Georgian townhouse, official home of the Lord Mayor of York
Markenfield HallRiponHarrogateHistoric house14th century medieval country house
Mercer Art GalleryHarrogateHarrogateArt, municipal art gallery for Harrogate district's fine art collection which consists of some 2000 works of art, mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries
Merchant Adventurers' HallYorkYorkHistoryMedieval guild hall, almshouse and chapel with art, furniture and furnishings from different periods
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern ArtMiddlesbroughMiddlesbroughArtContemporary art gallery
Moulton HallMoultonRichmondshireHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust, 17th-century manor house, open by advance arrangement
Museum of Victorian ScienceGlaisdaleScarboroughScience, early scientific equipment and electrical instruments, open by appointment
National Railway MuseumYorkYorkRailwayHistory of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society, locomotives, rolling stock, equipment, artifacts and memorabilia
Newby HallRiponHarrogateHistoric houseLate 17th-century house with interior by Robert Adam, gardens
Newham Grange Leisure FarmCoulby NewhamMiddlesbroughAgricultureFarm park and rare breed conservation centre, reconstructions of a 19th-century veterinary surgery and an early 20th-century agricultural merchants shop, history of farming since the 17th century
Nidderdale MuseumPateley BridgeHarrogateHistoryRural life, period rooms and trades, costumes, agriculture tools and equipment, local industries and transport vehicles
North Yorkshire Moors RailwayPickeringRyedaleRailroadHeritage railroad, exhibits in the Pickering railway station
North Yorkshire Motor MuseumThornton-le-DaleRyedaleTransportation, commercial vehicles, automobiles, motorbikes, memorabilia, operated by Mathewson's North Yorkshire
Nunnington HallNunningtonRyedaleHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust, country house with 17th and 18th century period rooms, art and photography exhibits
Ormesby HallOrmesbyRedcar and ClevelandHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust, 18th-century mansion house with Victorian kitchen and laundry, gardens, weekend living history enactors
Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire MuseumYorkYorkMilitaryHistory and artifacts of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire; located in the same building as the Royal Dragoon Guards Museum
Prison & Police MuseumRiponHarrogatePrison, 19th century prison and later police station, includes prison cells, pillory, stocks, whipping post, police box, history of policing, uniforms, insignia, part of the "Yorkshire Law and Order Museums"
Queen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry MuseumYorkYorkMilitary, history and artifacts of the Queen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry, open by appointment
Quilt Museum and GalleryYorkYorkArtHistory of British quilt making and textile arts
Richard III Experience at Monk BarYorkYorkPrisonLocated in the Monk Bar, historic prison with exhibits of Richard III, last king of the Plantagenet dynasty
Richmondshire MuseumRichmondRichmondshireLocalLocal history, transportation, lead mining, period chemist's shop, grocer's shop and post office, set from the All Creatures Great and Small TV series
Robin Hood's Bay and Fylingdales MuseumRobin Hood's BayScarboroughLocal, local history, smuggling, fishing, shipping
Royal Dragoon Guards MuseumYorkYorkMilitaryHistory and artifacts of the regiment
Royal Pump Room MuseumHarrogateHarrogateLocalLocal history, culture, artifacts from Ancient Egypt, sulphur well, spa town heritage, Victorian home life
Rotunda MuseumScarboroughScarboroughNatural historyJurassic fossils and minerals, geology
Ryedale Folk MuseumHutton-le-HoleRyedaleOpen air, historic buildings from different eras, trades and types, art gallery
Scampston HallScampstonRyedaleHistoric house1690 country house, remodeled in the late 1700s, decorated in 1860 and 1910, collection of paintings, porcelain and furniture, known for contemporary walled garden
Scarborough Art GalleryScarboroughScarboroughArt
Scarborough Fair CollectionLebberstonScarboroughAmusementMechanical organs, steam engines, fairground rides, vintage cars, miniature vehicles and model railways
Shandy HallCoxwoldHambletonHistoric houseHome of the Rev. Laurence Sterne, who is famous for his novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
Skipton CastleSkiptonCravenHistoric houseMedieval fortress castle with six drum towers
Sutton ParkSutton-on-the-ForestHambletonHistoric house18th century Georgian country house
Swaledale MuseumReethRichmondshireLocalLocal history, geology, lead mining, trades, farming, culture
Thirsk MuseumThirskHambletonLocal, local history, culture, 19th century period cottage kitchen, Victorian bedroom, early 20th century period sitting room, period shop displays, archaeology, cricketing memorabilia
Tockett's MillGuisboroughRedcar and ClevelandMill, restored water-driven corn mill and restaurant
Treasurer's HouseYorkYorkHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust, reflects different periods from the Roman to Edwardian eras, collection of antique furniture, ceramics, textiles and paintings from a 300-year period
Whitby AbbeyWhitbyScarboroughReligiousOperated by English Heritage, remains and artifacts of the Benedictine abbey, visitor centre in Cholmley House
Whitby Lifeboat MuseumWhitbyScarboroughMaritime, lifesaving history and artifacts, a lifeboat, models, paintings, medals, photographs, lifeboat kit, items from famous rescues, famous coxswains Henry Freeman and Tom Langlands
Whitby MuseumWhitbyScarboroughMultipleLocal history, social history, Pannett Art Gallery, costumes, Whitby jet, Captain James Cook and HM Bark Endeavour, whaling industry, natural history, jewellery,
Winkies Castle Folk MuseumMarske-by-the-SeaRedcar and ClevelandLocalLocal history, culture
Workhouse MuseumRiponHarrogateHistory, 19th century workhouse, part of the "Yorkshire Law and Order Museums"
World of James HerriotThirskHambletonBiographicalLife and works of veterinarian and author James Herriot, 1940s period house with veterinary science exhibits
York Art GalleryYorkYorkArtCollection includes paintings from 14th century to contemporary, and 20th century ceramics
York Castle MuseumYorkYorkHistoryRecreated Victorian street with shops, period rooms including a Victorian parlour and Jacobean dining room, displays of everyday life, 1960s memorabilia, wartime experience in World War II, York Castle Prison
York Cold War BunkerHolgateYorkMilitarySecret Cold War bunker to monitor nuclear explosions and fallout in the event of nuclear war
York MinsterYorkYorkReligiousCathedral, tower, stained glass window conservation centre, exhibits of art and history of the cathedral
York St. Mary'sYorkYorkArtContemporary visual art space in a deconsecrated medieval church, operated by York Museums Trust
Yorkshire Air MuseumElvingtonYorkAviationHistoric aircraft, history of RAF Elvington, military vehicles, exhibits on air gunners, RAF Bomber Command
Yorkshire MuseumYorkYorkMultipleNatural history, geology, archaeology and astronomy
Yorkshire Museum of FarmingMurtonYorkAgricultureAgriculture equipment, rural life, changes in farming, small section of the Derwent Valley Light Railway, live animals
Zetland Lifeboat Museum and Redcar Heritage CentreRedcarRedcar and ClevelandMaritime, houses the Zetland lifeboat, exhibits about lifesaving rescues, replica fisherman's cottage, area maritime heritage

Defunct museums