York
Museums in York
By Jon Cosson · Updated 28 October 2026
Checked 28 October 2026
York has more than a dozen museums, most of them within walking distance of each other in the city centre, from the National Railway Museum, which is free, to Georgian and medieval houses you can walk round in an hour. This page lists them with adult prices from each museum's own website, checked 28 October 2026, and what changes over the winter.
At a glance
| Museum | What it covers | Adult entry | Opening notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Railway Museum | The national rail collection | Free (Wonderlab charged) | Daily 10am to 5pm; closed 24 to 26 December |
| York Castle Museum | 400 years of everyday life, including Kirkgate and the prison cells | £18, valid 12 months | Monday 11am to 5pm (10am in school holidays), Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm |
| Yorkshire Museum | Archaeology and natural history, in Museum Gardens | £10, valid 12 months | Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm |
| York Art Gallery | Paintings and the Centre of Ceramic Art | Check the website | Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm |
| JORVIK Viking Centre | Viking-age York on the Coppergate dig site | Check the website; booking essential | Closed 2 to 8 November and 4 to 10 January for maintenance |
| DIG | Hands-on archaeology for families | Check the website | Check the website |
| Barley Hall | Medieval townhouse | £9.50 | Last admission 3.30pm until 19 March |
| Merchant Adventurers' Hall | Medieval guildhall on Fossgate | £7.50, return visits free for 12 months | Check the website |
| Fairfax House | Georgian townhouse and furniture collection | £9.50, valid 12 months | Closed 2 to 13 November; Christmas display from 14 November |
| Treasurer's House | National Trust house behind the Minster | Check the website; free to National Trust members | Christmas visits 14 November to 20 December, Saturday to Wednesday, 11am to 4pm |
| Bar Convent | Heritage centre in a working convent | £9.50 | Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm; closed Sundays and bank holidays |
| York Army Museum | Regimental museum on Tower Street | Check the website | Check the website |
| York Cold War Bunker | English Heritage, guided tours only | Check the website | Pre-booked tours only |
Adult prices from each museum's own website, checked 28 October 2026.
A combined ticket for JORVIK, DIG and Barley Hall costs £25. At York Castle Museum, the Yorkshire Museum and York Art Gallery, under-5s and children aged 16 and under with a City of York Council postcode go free.
Getting round in a wheelchair
- The National Railway Museum has step-free access to all areas.
- The Yorkshire Museum has a lift to all three floors; staff can help if it is out of action.
- York Art Gallery has ramps, two lifts and accessible toilets on both floors.
- York Castle Museum has a lift to the upper floors on one side, but the upper floors on the other side, including the Period Room displays, are not wheelchair accessible.
- Merchant Adventurers' Hall has a ramped entrance on Fossgate and a platform lift.
- Fairfax House is not wheelchair accessible.
Also worth knowing
- York's Chocolate Story is a guided tour rather than a museum.
- Holgate Windmill opens on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings.
- The Richard III Experience at Monk Bar and the Quilt Museum have closed.
FAQs
Which museums in York are free?
The National Railway Museum. General entry is free, though Wonderlab is charged. Most other York museums charge, but several tickets let you return free for 12 months.
What is the best museum in York for children?
The National Railway Museum has the most space, and DIG and JORVIK are built around families.
Can you buy one ticket for several York museums?
A combined ticket covers JORVIK, DIG and Barley Hall.
Are York museums open in winter?
Most are, some with shorter hours. JORVIK closes for maintenance from 2 to 8 November and 4 to 10 January, and Fairfax House closes from 2 to 13 November.
Heading out to the Moors
Pickering, the gateway to the North York Moors, is an easy drive from York.
Where to stay in the North York Moors
Self-catering cottages, village inns and farmhouse boltholes right across the moors, from the southern villages to the coast.
Browse places to stay