Best History Museum in Leavening

"For fun-filled free attractions you’re on the right track with the National Railway Museum. This is the largest railway museum in the world and is open year round. There are lots of free activities as well as a railroad-themed play area to keep kids entertained so it is a good choice for the whole family."

"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."

"Blending natural history with archaeology and more, it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by how much there is to see and take in. Everything from Roman artefacts and detailed descriptions of the history of the region, to Iron Age jewellery, extinct species, fossils, and star pieces including the Viking sword and York Helmet reside here. Take a stroll through the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey in the Museum Gardens, and don’t miss the oldest working observatory in Yorkshire, hidden by trees in front of the museum, with an engaging astrology exhibition of its own."

"The last museum we visited was one we stumbled on by accident, escaping the rain while walking in the lovely Museum Gardens. And I was really glad we did because it turned out to combine what Charlie was learning about at school right then: Romans, with his greatest passion, Virtual Reality dinosaurs!. Again it started with the chance to practise some archaeological skills, brushing sand and dirt off artificial dino bones and fossils, something younger kids will love."

"As the name implies, York’s Merchant Adventurers were merchants. They traded along the English coast, northern Europe and sometimes as far as the Baltic and Iceland, bringing back an assortment of desired goods to York. The city was an important river port and the wealthiest city in Northern England, second only to London for most of the Middle Ages, allowing the merchants to make enough money to build the Hall between 1357 and 1361."

"Merchant Adventurers’ Hall on Fossgate is one of the finest medieval guild halls in existence. A fascinating museum also available for weddings and events (great vintage fairs take place here), the venue’s centrepiece is the Great Hall where medieval merchants once gathered. A collection on display inside includes a range of fine silver, paintings and furniture."

"Another excellent photography spot and Instagrammable place in York is the Merchant’s Hall. The Merchant’s Hall has one of the most impressive guildhalls in the world, and sometimes you can get it empty – it’s incredible for photos."

"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."

"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."

"At DIG, you get to discover only the most exciting archaeological artefacts from the 2000 years of history hidden under the streets of York. Our four excavation pits are filled with Roman, Viking, Medieval and Victorian finds, so you can grab a trowel and dig up the clues that show how people lived in these times. DIG, St Saviour's Church, St Saviourgate, York YO1 8NN"

"Occupying the 91-metre promontory between the north and south bays are the remnants of Scarborough’s Medieval castle. This indomitable roost over the North Sea was a hill fort in the Bronze Age, and in the fourth century was used as a signal station by the Romans. You can now locate the ruins of an Anglo-Saxon chapel, built around 1000 on the site of the signal station."

"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 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',..."

"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..."

"This pink facade building on St. Helen’s Square (near Betty’s Tea Rooms) is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of York and has only recently opened to the public. The grand, 800 year old house showcases collections of silverware and ceramics, ceremonial items used by the Lord Mayor as well as recreated 18th century bedrooms and dining rooms. The downstairs kitchen has interactive exhibits and equipment to learn about Georgian cooking ."

"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."

"As the name implies, York’s Merchant Adventurers were merchants. They traded along the English coast, northern Europe and sometimes as far as the Baltic and Iceland, bringing back an assortment of desired goods to York. The city was an important river port and the wealthiest city in Northern England, second only to London for most of the Middle Ages, allowing the merchants to make enough money to build the Hall between 1357 and 1361."

"Merchant Adventurers’ Hall on Fossgate is one of the finest medieval guild halls in existence. A fascinating museum also available for weddings and events (great vintage fairs take place here), the venue’s centrepiece is the Great Hall where medieval merchants once gathered. A collection on display inside includes a range of fine silver, paintings and furniture."

"Another excellent photography spot and Instagrammable place in York is the Merchant’s Hall. The Merchant’s Hall has one of the most impressive guildhalls in the world, and sometimes you can get it empty – it’s incredible for photos."

"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!"

"One of the Best Bottomless Brunch destinations in York, located along the city’s busy Stonegate street. Stumble into the Botanist and you would be forgiven for thinking you had walked into a secret garden. Their menu is short and as sweet as their triple-layered french toastie, with veggie and vegans also looked after."

"The Botanist have a fresh new offering for brunch that you can upgrade to bottomless brunch if you would like (and what’s not to like?). You choose a dish from six different sections of the menu – each section has three options."

"Their breakfast/brunch menu is completely unique, with fresh fruit chia puddings, banana, blueberry and almond loaves, rissoles, frittatas and crumpets. Not ideal if you’re after a bit of bacon, but having tried their Tofu Nourish Bowl on their lunch menu, I can vouch for the food here. OPENING HOURS: Breakfast/brunch is served until 12pm"

"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."

"Step back in time at this beautifully restored, fully operational windmill. This Grade II listed icon has been lovingly brought back to life by the Holgate Windmill Preservation Society, a collection of local residents who rallied together to secure its future and rescue it from disrepair. Dating back to the late 18th century, the windmill supplied flour from Holgate to York, just over a mile from the city centre."

"28/02/2021: I bought a triple chocolate brownie, which I can affirm as a local is the best brownie you'll get in any of Pickering's many teashops. And the roasted tomato soup (complete with basil oil and garlic crutons) was not only punching way above the averaage for takeaway soup - they'd also put real effort into not packaging it all up in a bunch of plastic, was all wood and cardboard.I'd have been happy to see them open whatever food they had come up with, but this was really, really good, high end and delicious, sold by jolly staff who were obviously taking considerable pride in their stuff."

"King’s Manor is a stately house in York city centre that has played host to some of British history’s most important visitors. In the days before the Reformation, it was the home of the Abbot of St Mary’s, before becoming the headquarters of the Council of the North in Henry VIII’s time. The Tudor king himself stayed there, giving rise to its current name."