A family York itinerary should include a visit to the Castle Museum. With its 2 recreated streets and prisons cells, this museum is a firm favourite with my boys. Read on to find out how to met the most out of a visit to the Castle Museum, York.
Highlights of a visit to the Castle Museum, York
The Victorian street – Kirkgate
A visit to the Castle Museum, York starts with a series of recreated rooms from the Georgian and Victorian eras. The boys enjoyed spotting the toys and looking for any pets! You then get a view out over Kirkgate, before you head down onto this recreated Victorian street and alleyways.
You can go into some of the shops and even buy old-fashioned lollies and white chocolate mice at the sweet shop. Make sure you visit the pharmacy and let the kids check out all the pots and potions. You can find some scary remedies, including the poisonous Belladonna! There is often a guide behind the pharmacy counter who can talk you through some of the more unusual cures!
The street also features a Victorian school room, together with a police station and cell. Putting your kid behind bars makes for a good photo opportunity! You can then watch your kids wonder how teachers ever educated children without smart whiteboards…
My boys also loved the automata machines, particularly the executioner and the house on fire. Bring 20p coins!
World War 1 exhibition
Some of this may be a little dry for kids, particularly as they don’t cover World War 1 in school until much older. However, there are still some highlights. The huge wall map showing the extent of the British empire pre-WW1 awed my boys. They enjoyed the recreated trench and crawling through one of the tunnels.
The first aid tent allowed them the opportunity to wrap me up in bandages and slings. Apparently, my first injury was to my eyes, which conveniently meant I couldn’t see what they were going to do to me next. My 12 year old also enjoyed taking photos of me on his mobile while I couldn’t see..
The prison
The second half of your visit starts with the prison and debtor’s prison. Go into the named cells to hear stories of those imprisoned there through talking holograms. Don’t miss the former cell of notorious highwayman, Dick Turpin. His hologram doesn’t really tell you much about his illustrious career pre-prison, so you might want to Google this first to bring it to life for your kids.
My boys enjoyed the cell with the hologram of a Court usher detailing the various petitions submitted by prisoners to the Court, complaining about their conditions.
Step into the swinging ’60s
A random turn out of the prison corridors takes you onto the recreated 1960s street. Although smaller than Kirkgate, you can enjoy the sounds and psychedelic colours of the ’60s. Just don’t expect your kids to be impressed by the Beatles (or the Sooty puppet show….).
What the boys thought
Henry, age 12 and in year 8 at the time of our visit: “it doesn’t feel like a museum, it feels like you are actually there. There’s not to much in glass boxes“.
Toby, age 10 on our visit and in year 6: “I really liked the working shops with people“.
How to visit the Castle Museum
You can buy tickets on the door and many people do. However, if you want to guarantee entry for your visit to the Castle Museum, York, you can book a time ticket online here. Furthermore, I would recommend that you do pre-book if you are visiting during school holidays or on a Saturday.
The museum collection is essentially spread over 2 wings with the reception, café and shop in the middle. The selection in the café is limited so I wouldn’t recommend it for lunch. Nonetheless, a drink and piece of cake halfway through your visit might keep kids going longer.
You need 2-3 hours as a minimum to see everything properly. If you are on a tight schedule, prioritise which side you really want to see and start there. Essentially, one wing houses the period rooms and Kirkgate (plus smaller exhibitions on fashion and Victorian pastimes). The other starts with the World War 1 exhibition and then leads through to the prison and 1960s street.
Make sure you take cash for the sweet shop. Ideally, you should also take a stash of 20p and 50p coins for the automata machines.
Following your visit to the Castle Museum, York, why not check out my review of Jorvik or my suggested itinerary for a perfect family weekend in York.
