We have some fantastic museums in Hull and the East Riding, many of which are free. There are also some great houses and gardens that you can explore.
Below are some suggestions for paying and free days out across our region. If you have any other suggestions for a day out that you have enjoyed, or want to feature your attraction, please contact us here
Jason Wilsher-Mills: Are We There Yet? Exhibition runs 24th February to 2nd June 2024
Join us at the Ferens for a colourful journey into the imagination and experiences of disabled artist Jason Wilsher-Mills! Created in response to disabled communities in Hull, Wakefield and Manchester, Jason’s theatrical portraits and sculptures reflect aspects of his personality, memory, and disability. This family friendly exhibition is suitable for all ages and includes Augmented Reality (AR) and interactive experiences.
Jason’s fun, empowering and insightful creations will excite and move you. Through this exhibition you’ll gain a greater understanding of our world and how those with disabilities experience it. Alongside the exhibition will be an exciting and accessible programme of events and activities for all ages. This includes a talk by Jason in May, baby sensory sessions, storytelling, relaxed openings, workshops delivered by artists, and craft sessions.
Free event, just drop-in. Feren’s Art Gallery, Queen Victoria Square, Hull.
Visit their website here for more information.
With an updated ride experience and state-of-the-art galleries showcasing our unique collection of 1,000-year-old artefacts, visit JORVIK Viking Centre to discover York’s fascinating Viking legacy. Travel around 10th century York, experiencing what it was like living in the city. The sights, sounds and even the smells of the Viking Age are brought vividly back to life as you journey back 1,000 years.
At JORVIK Viking Centre you are standing on the site which revealed some of the most astounding discoveries in modern archaeology. Get up-close with some of the most beautiful and rare Viking artefacts in the world, from delicate earrings and socks to frying pans and padlocks and even a fossilised Viking poo! Dig deeper into the Viking story of York using the latest in cutting-edge technology located throughout the centre and the opportunity to handle real artefacts whilst talking to our friendly Viking hosts. Ask them what a Viking would have had for tea or if they had to do homework after school!
Plus, new for 2022 one of the largest hoards ever found in the UK, has arrived at JORVIK. Discover over 200 pieces of silver rings, hacksilver and coins of Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Arabic origin.
Book now at jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk.
Call 01904 615505 or email jorvik@yorkat.co.uk. 19 Coppergate, York, YO1 9WT
Large grounds with deer to explore and garden area. Adventure play area and rare breeds farm are great for children. Extra activities run during school holidays. Plus the Farm Shop, the Woodyard gift shop, the Stables cafe.
Dogs welcome, but must be kept on a lead.
Climb aboard Hull’s last surviving sidewinder trawler and explore the ship moored on the river Hull. Free guided tours are available.
The Arctic Corsair is now closed to the public ahead of the exciting Hull & Yorkshires Maritime City Project.
Rear of Streetlife Museum, High Street, Hull, HU1 1PS. For more information call 01482 300300
Baysgarth Park is a safe environment for families and visitors of all ages to enjoy and appreciate its natural beauty. It has lots of green open spaces for family picnics and playing games, as well as a children’s play area which is well equipped for children of all ages.
On site you will also find Baysgarth House Museum which is a Georgian house on the edge of Barton. Staffed mainly by a team of dedicated volunteers, Baysgarth House Museum celebrates the lives of local people through permanent and temporary exhibitions. The surrounding Baysgarth Park has facilities for all the family and is the setting for summer events and plays. Free admission and parking.
Check opening days/times.
Caistor Road, Barton-upon-Humber, DN18 5QP. 01652 633297
Grade 1 listed building with stunning Georgian courtroom, plus 2 exhibition rooms with local items. Specifically for children are:
Free admission. Open Wednesdays & Fridays 10am-4pm.
Register Square, Beverley, HU17 9XX. 01482 392783.
Victorian country house with lovely gardens to explore, and an adventure playground and tearooms. Located 5 miles north west of Doncaster. Reduced opening times over Winter, then daily over the Summer months. No need to pre-book tickets but it is recommended.
Brodsworth, Doncaster, DN5 7XJ. 01302 722598
Large gardens to explore with children’s activities on the way round. Huge lake with large fish to feed. Also a nice play area, museum and good cafe which has children’s toys. Reduced opening times during Winter, please check with them before visiting.
The Balk, Pocklington, York, YO42 2QF. 01759 307125
Hall, gardens and gift shop open every day 11am until 5pm. With a fabulous adventure playground, enchanted woodland village, giant board games, willow dens and a trail to follow, children will find so much to amuse and inspire here!
Dogs on leads are welcome in most outdoor areas.
Burton Agnes, Driffield, YO25 4NB. 01262 490324
Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead at all times.
For more info email enquiries@burtonconstable.com or call 01964 562400. Check website for opening times, vary winter to summer.
Skirlaugh, HU11 4LN. 01964 562400
Approx half an hours drive from Hull over the Humber Bridge. Large walled gardens to explore, lakes where you can feed the fish, paddocks, chickens and small animals and a very good outdoor play area. Courtyard and cafe. Open all year round with special events during school holidays. No dogs.
Elsham (near Brigg), North East Lincolnshire, DN20 0QZ enquiries@elshamhall.co.uk
Free art gallery in Hull city centre. Explore a magnificent collection of paintings and sculptures, plus there is a regular program of temporary exhibitions and events. Includes a very good children’s area to play in and get creative and a good child friendly cafe (Cafe Venue Hull). They hold regular children’s activities and events – Mini Masterpieces are sessions for the under 5s and sessions are available for older children during school holidays.
Queen Victoria Square, Hull, HU1 3RA. 01482 300300.
Set in the old Grammar School where William Wilberforce studied, a history museum including the history of Hull. This gallery is home to a genuine 2,600 year old mummy and unique replicas of King Tutankhamen’s treasures. Free entry.
Open on selected days, check before visiting.
South Church Side, Hull, HU1 1RR. General Enquiries – 01482 300 300
There’s something for all the family at Hornsea Museum. 18th century farmhouse, outbuildings and garden with play area, 18th century barn, cottages. Victorian rooms, exhibition areas, over 2000 pieces of Hornsea Pottery, a model railway and model fishing boats. Closes over Winter and re-opens around Easter.
11-17 Newbiggin, Hornsea, HU18 1AB. 01964 533443.
Walk through various ages of history. 235 million years of history is brought to life, with mammoths, Saxon invaders, an Iron Age village, a Roman bath house and stunning mosaics. Located in the Museums quarter next door to the Streetlife Museum. Free entry.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am-4.30pm, Sunday 11am-4pm, plus bank holidays (except Good Friday)
36 High Street, Hull, HU1 1NQ. 01482 300300
Hull History Centre holds all of the cities archives. Also runs children’s activities (usually the 1st Saturday of the month) and family events – see Events Calendar for details
Open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9.30am-4.30pm
Worship Street, Hull, HU2 8BG. 01482 317500
Learn more about the city’s heritage and Hull Maritime’s future with our White Badge accredited volunteers.
Starting at the Museum Quarter, outside Hull and East Riding Museum on High Street, every Thursday and Saturday at 10.30am and Sunday at 11.30am (long tour), plus Sunday at 1.30pm (short tour). Morning tours last 2.5 hours. Sunday afternoon tour lasts 1.5 hours.
Suitable for families with children ages 11+. Walk up bookings usually available, or book your place in advance here.
Hull’s most historic church, very friendly and welcoming and open most days to have a look around inside. Hull Minster is located in the heart of the Old Town Hull. They regularly run the following for families:
A cafe is available onsite and entry is free for all to enter. General opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm.
Parish Centre, 10a-11 King Street, Kingston upon Hull HU1 2JJ
Large parklands, play areas, picnic area and zoo with aviaries, penguins and some animals to explore. Tea room, stables and often run special events, house also open to look around. Good day out approx 1 hour drive from Hull. No need to book but it is highly recommended, reduced opening hours over Winter, call to find out more.
Dogs welcome, with some restrictions.
Off Collier Lane , Aberford , Leeds , LS25 3EB 0113 378 2959
Temporarily closed for refurbishment.
Museum of Hulls maritime past. Free entry.
Queen Victoria Square, Hull, HU1 3DX. 01482 300300
Great day out for children. Large display of trains and old steam engines some of which children can get on, historic station, activities, outdoor play area and miniature train, good cafe. Steam Rides are available for a small fee, running most Saturdays (can book online). Free entry but donations are welcome, book tickets in advance.
Open daily 10am-5pm in Winter, 10am-6pm in Summer. Located next to York Railway station so a good place to get the train from Hull to or there is a car park across the road from the museum (£10 for parking but you can park all day and get the land train from here into York city centre).
Leeman Road, York, YO26 4XJ. 0844 815 3139.
Large parklands to explore, historic house and gardens, playground with ride on railway, good farming museum with children’s activities. They also have a Splash Pad for children which is open throughout summer, and a Go Ape Tree Top Adventure. Approx 30 min drive across the Humber Bridge. Check for seasonal opening times before visiting.
Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a lead at all times.
Normanby, North Lincolnshire, DN15 9HU. 01724 720588
History brought to life with live combat demonstrations, dramatic performances, talks and tours throughout the exhibition. Explore arms and armour from across the world and through time over five floors of stunning displays. Pre-booking tickets is recommended.
Open daily 10am-5pm. Admission is free.
Armouries Drive, Leeds, LS10 1LT
Sewerby Hall and Gardens offers a great mix of heritage, interactive trails, play areas and a zoo. Explore the house, wander around the gardens, or take the land train from the cliff edge into Bridlington. Special events and activities run during school holidays, included in admission prices.
Dogs welcome in most of the outdoor areas, but must be kept on a lead.
Church Lane, Sewerby, Bridlington, YO15 1EA. 01262 673769
Museum inside the working windmill with children’s activities.
Open Saturdays and Sundays only, 10.00am-12.30pm and 1.00pm-5.00pm, last admissions 4.15pm. Modest admission charges apply.
Good cafe in the courtyard and play area behind the windmill too.
Skidby, HU16 5TF (follow the brown signs from the A164). 01482 848405
Closed – The Spurn Lightship is being refurbished and re-homed.
It’s free to climb aboard Hull Marina’s iconic boat – The Spurn Lightship – which guided ships safely through the treacherous River Humber for almost 50 years. Discover how it was used as a navigational aid and find out what life was like on board.
Old buses and trams that children can climb on and scenes from olden day Hull to explore. Experience 200 years of transport history as you walk down a 1940’s high street, board a tram or enjoy the pleasures of our carriage ride. Usually hold children’s events during the school holidays, see Events calendar for details. Located in the Museums quarter next door to the Hull & East Riding Museum. Entry is free.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am-4.30pm, Sunday 11am-4pm, plus bank holidays (except Good Friday)
High Street, Hull, HU1 1NQ. 01482 300300
A free, educational museum inside Sutton’s old school. Built 1859 the oldest school building in Hull still used for education purposes, and the last ‘All-age School’ in England, closed 1976. We specialise in helping folks with Sutton & Wawne history, and family history.
Open on selected dates, check before going.
Sutton, Hull, sat nav HU7 4TL.
Temporarily closed, due to re-open March 2024.
Small museum in Bridlington detailing the history of the town and the local area, with lots of interesting artifacts and exhibits. Open on selected days. Free entry.
Bayle Gate, Bridlington Old Town, YO16 4PZ 01262 674308
Historic building and home of art and sculpture exhibitions including the Hull Tapestry. Entry is free.
Guildhall, Hull, HU1 2AA. 01482 300300
Temporarily closed for refurbishment.
Heritage centre and museum with plenty of activities for children, including hands on interactive exhibits, historical costumes to try on, and colouring sheets. Also a great view of Beverley from the tower. Beverley Library is also in the same building. Open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am, admission is free.
Champney Road, Beverley, HU17 8HE. 01482 392780
A fine Regency House with gardens, parks and a woodland walk. Open on selected days during the warmer months. Closes over Winter.
Dogs on leads are welcome.
Located between Seaton and Hornsea, HU11 5RJ
‘What Was Here?’, Your Window on the Past.
Get this FREE app and discover the past of the East Yorkshire region with historical photos & maps, brought to you by East Riding Archives. Use the base map to find historical photos that were taken near your location and compare the past with the present using your phone or tablet.
For more information visit www.eastridingarchives.co.uk/whatwashere. Or download it now, free on Google Play & the App Store (search ‘ what was here ‘)
A fantastic family day out at this great air museum near York, with lots of exhibitions, historic planes and vehicles set on a large site. Also a gift shop and a cafe on site. Tickets can be booked online.
Open 7 days a week, 10am-5pm during the Summer, and 10am-4pm in Winter.
Dogs on leads are welcome.
Elvington, York, YO41 4AU. 01904 608595