York Castle Museum

The York Castle Museum occupies former prison buildings from the 18th century and features recreated period rooms alongside extensive collections of objects from different eras. The buildings contain spaces designed to show what life looked like in different times, along with weapons, furniture, and personal items from centuries past.

William the Conqueror established York Castle in 1068, and the prison buildings now housing the museum were constructed between 1701 and 1705 using stones from the castle ruins. This transformation of a working jail into a history museum shows how the site served different purposes across the centuries.

The museum displays everyday objects and clothing from different periods that show how people once lived and dressed. Walking through the rooms, you see furniture, textiles, and household items that give you a direct sense of daily life in earlier times.

The museum is easily reached from York's city center and has clearly marked entrances with accessible routes to the main floors. It helps to allow time for wandering through the different rooms, as the collection is large and you can move at your own pace.

Kirkgate, a recreated Victorian street built in 1938, was one of the first places in Britain where a historical street was fully reconstructed inside a museum. This recreation lets visitors step into an entire street rather than just viewing individual objects.

Location: City of York

Inception: 1938

Founders: Dr John Lamplugh Kirk

Official opening: 1938

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Part of: York Museums Trust

Address: The Eye of York

Phone: +441904687687

Website: https://yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 53.95560,-1.07827

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:40