Step into history at York Castle Museum — explore recreated Victorian streets, WWI exhibits, and centuries of everyday life in this award-winning attraction.

Step Into the Past at York Castle Museum

Located on the site of York’s historic castle, the York Castle Museum offers one of Britain’s most immersive journeys through time. From Victorian parlours to 1960s fashion, and prison cells to warfront trenches, the museum brings history to life through sights, sounds, and storytelling.

Perfect for families, students, and history lovers, it’s one of York’s must-visit attractions.

A Museum Inside a Former Prison

The museum occupies two 18th-century prison buildings, including the Debtors’ Prison and Female Prison, both once part of York Castle. These walls once held real inmates — including the infamous highwayman Dick Turpin, who was executed nearby in 1739.

Founded in 1938 by Dr. John L. Kirk, the museum was created to preserve everyday objects that told the story of ordinary people’s lives. His vision was to make history tangible and relatable, not just a collection of artefacts behind glass.

Today, that vision lives on — York Castle Museum lets visitors walk through the past, quite literally.

Highlights of York Castle Museum
1. Kirkgate: The Victorian Street

One of the museum’s most famous exhibits, Kirkgate, recreates a Victorian street complete with real cobblestones, shopfronts, and costumed guides. Step into a sweet shop, a toy store, or even the chemist, and experience the sounds and smells of 19th-century life.

2. 1914: When the World Changed Forever

This award-winning gallery explores World War I through letters, artefacts, and personal stories. Visitors can walk through a recreated trench and experience what soldiers faced during the Great War.

3. The Sixties Gallery

Colourful, nostalgic, and filled with pop culture icons, this exhibit captures the vibrant spirit of the 1960s — from fashion boutiques to record shops. It’s a journey through the era that changed Britain forever.

4. The Cells and Prison Life

Venture into the museum’s original prison cells, where holograms of real inmates recount their experiences. The mix of history and technology gives a hauntingly realistic look at Georgian justice and punishment.

Collections That Tell Real Stories

The York Castle Museum collections span over 400 years of British life, including clothing, toys, furniture, and food packaging. Every object helps tell the story of how people worked, played, and lived through the centuries.

Moreover, temporary exhibitions often explore themes like fashion, social change, and innovation, connecting history to modern audiences.

Visiting York Castle Museum

Address: Eye of York, Tower Street, York, YO1 9RY

By train: 15-minute walk from York Station.

By car: Use city centre parking; Castle Car Park is closest.

By foot: Located next to Clifford’s Tower and the River Foss.

Opening Hours:
Open daily, 10am–5pm (last admission 4pm). Operated by the York Museums Trust.

Learn more at the York Castle Museum official website

Nearby Attractions

Clifford’s Tower: The last remaining part of York Castle.

York Minster: One of Europe’s finest Gothic cathedrals.

Jorvik Viking Centre: Discover Viking-age York.

The Shambles: Explore York’s most famous medieval street.

Together, they form a rich York heritage trail perfect for a weekend visit.

Why Visit York Castle Museum?

York Castle Museum brings history to life like nowhere else. Every room, street, and cell immerses visitors in the experiences of people from the past — from Victorian shoppers to wartime families.

Step inside and walk through 400 years of everyday life — from the cobbles of Kirkgate to the trenches of the Great War.