York Castle Museum
Quick Facts
- Location
- UK, York
- Category
- Museum
- Duration
- 2-3 hours
- Opening Hours
- Monday 11:00-17:00 (10:00 in school holidays) · Tuesday 10:00-17:00 · Wednesday 10:00-17:00 · Thursday 10:00-17:00 · Friday 10:00-17:00 · Saturday 10:00-17:00 · Sunday 10:00-17:00 · From the Tickets page at yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk (checked 5 November 2026): Monday 11:00-17:00, moving to 10:00 during school holidays, and Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00. Pre-booking is advised for Saturdays and school holidays and tickets are released in monthly batches. The page then lists 5-7 January 2027 as closed days and gallery closures for the Christmas install: Sixties Street and Rowntree Snicket on 9 November 2026, Kirkgate on 10 November, Rowntree Snicket on 11 November.
- Ticket Price
- Adult: £18, valid for 12 months · Student: £16.20 for students and visitors aged 17-24, valid ID required · Family Saver tickets are £52 for two adults with two children and £61 with three, the reduced access fare is £9, and Visit York Pass holders still need a free timed ticket per person. The trust says ticket income goes back into the museums, gallery, gardens, activities and collections.
- Address
- York Castle Museum, York, UK
- Coordinates
- 53.9552, -1.0781
Introduction
Housed in converted eighteenth-century prison buildings, York Castle Museum is one of Britain's best-loved city museums. Its star attraction is Kirkgate, a recreated Victorian cobbled street lined with dozens of authentic shop fronts, from sweet shops to druggists, glowing under gas lamps. Beyond it lie an early twentieth-century street, old schoolrooms and toy displays, plus actual prison cells you can walk into, telling two centuries of everyday York life. Families and history lovers alike easily spend half a day here, and the Minster and Shambles are only a short walk away.
✨ Highlights
🛈 Practical Info
Opening Hours
| Monday | 11:00-17:00 (10:00 in school holidays) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Friday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00-17:00 |
From the Tickets page at yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk (checked 5 November 2026): Monday 11:00-17:00, moving to 10:00 during school holidays, and Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00. Pre-booking is advised for Saturdays and school holidays and tickets are released in monthly batches. The page then lists 5-7 January 2027 as closed days and gallery closures for the Christmas install: Sixties Street and Rowntree Snicket on 9 November 2026, Kirkgate on 10 November, Rowntree Snicket on 11 November.
Ticket Information
| Adult | £18, valid for 12 months |
|---|---|
| Student | £16.20 for students and visitors aged 17-24, valid ID required |
| Child | £10.80 for ages 5-16, also for 12 months; under 16s must be accompanied and under 5s are free |
| Senior | £16.20 for visitors aged 65 and over, valid on any day, valid ID required |
| Free Admission | Under-5s and York resident children (YO postcodes) cost nothing, and free entry covers every child in a means-tested benefit household, MAX Card holders, Museum Association and ICOM members, Blue Badge guides and carers with a paying visitor |
Family Saver tickets are £52 for two adults with two children and £61 with three, the reduced access fare is £9, and Visit York Pass holders still need a free timed ticket per person. The trust says ticket income goes back into the museums, gallery, gardens, activities and collections.
💡 Tips
FAQ
What are the opening hours of York Castle Museum?
Monday: 11:00-17:00 (10:00 in school holidays); Tuesday: 10:00-17:00; Wednesday: 10:00-17:00; Thursday: 10:00-17:00; Friday: 10:00-17:00; Saturday: 10:00-17:00; Sunday: 10:00-17:00; From the Tickets page at yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk (checked 5 November 2026): Monday 11:00-17:00, moving to 10:00 during school holidays, and Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00. Pre-booking is advised for Saturdays and school holidays and tickets are released in monthly batches. The page then lists 5-7 January 2027 as closed days and gallery closures for the Christmas install: Sixties Street and Rowntree Snicket on 9 November 2026, Kirkgate on 10 November, Rowntree Snicket on 11 November.
How much is the admission for York Castle Museum?
Adult: £18, valid for 12 months; Student: £16.20 for students and visitors aged 17-24, valid ID required; Child: £10.80 for ages 5-16, also for 12 months; under 16s must be accompanied and under 5s are free; Senior: £16.20 for visitors aged 65 and over, valid on any day, valid ID required; Free Admission: Under-5s and York resident children (YO postcodes) cost nothing, and free entry covers every child in a means-tested benefit household, MAX Card holders, Museum Association and ICOM members, Blue Badge guides and carers with a paying visitor; Family Saver tickets are £52 for two adults with two children and £61 with three, the reduced access fare is £9, and Visit York Pass holders still need a free timed ticket per person. The trust says ticket income goes back into the museums, gallery, gardens, activities and collections.
Any practical tips for visiting York Castle Museum?
Check the daily schedule on arrival; costumed talks on the Victorian street run at set times. Tickets often include annual return entry, handy if you want a second visit.
How long should I spend at York Castle Museum?
A typical visit takes 2-3 hours.
