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Monday 11am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 5pm

York Castle Museum

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York Castle Museum - the best day out in history! The museum’s name comes from the fact it stands on the site of the former York Castle.

The York Castle Museum was founded by Dr John Kirk, a doctor from Pickering, North Yorkshire, and houses his extraordinary collection of social history reflecting everyday life in the county. One of its renowned displays is the reconstructed Victorian street, Kirkgate, that has been hugely influential in museum displays worldwide. The York Castle Museum is housed in a former debtors’ prison and an adjoining former women’s prison, both of which are Grade I listed. Find out more: www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk

17/10/2026

Ever heard of a soul cake? 👀

Baking these little round oatcakes, sometimes flavoured with spices or fruit, has been a Halloween tradition in the UK for hundreds of years.

This October half-term, find out more about their history, watch a baking demonstration in our Castle Kitchen, try a tasty sample and take the recipe home to make your own!

📅 24, 26, 28 & 31 October
⏰ 10:30am–4pm | Demonstrations throughout the day
🎟️ Included in general admission

🔗 Plan your visit at: https://www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk/october-half-term-2026/

16/10/2026

A taste of the ’80s! 🍽️

It’s World Food Day, so we’re taking a peek inside the cupboards of our 1980s kitchen.

From family dinners to favourite snacks, food can take us right back! 👀

What were your favourite meals in the ’80s? 💭

15/10/2026

Please leave these at home! 🙏

14/10/2026

Spooky season calls for something strange, and these Victorian curiosities certainly fit the bill!

Dioramas like these were very popular in the second half of the 19th century. This one features miniature handmade figures playing cards, but look a little closer… they’re made from crab legs and claws! 🦀

The owner clearly had a taste for the weird and wonderful! Would you have these on display in your home? 👀

13/10/2026

Have you spotted our ghostly miller? 👻👋

Brought to York from the North York Moors in the 1960s, this Victorian watermill has a fascinating history, and now there’s a spooky visitor to discover...

How many of the Ghosts in the Gardens have you found hiding across the city? There’s still time to track them all down before 1 November! 👀

Ghosts in the Gardens is brought to you by The York BID

12/10/2026

Could you escape York Castle Prison? 🔐

This October half-term, discover our Prison Escape Stories experience, new for 2026!

Pick up a gaoler’s key and step inside the historic prison cells to uncover the stories of real escape attempts from York Castle Prison.

There are two new self-led experiences to explore – one for adults and older families, and another specially designed for younger children.

🔗 Plan your visit: https://www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk/october-half-term-2026/

🎟️ Included in general admission

11/10/2026

Meet our resident rats! 🐀👀

Rats were a common sight in the most deprived areas of Victorian York, where overflowing rubbish and poor sanitation gave them plenty of places to thrive.

Next time you visit, see if you can spot these taxidermy rats hiding among the shops and buildings on our recreated Victorian street!

09/10/2026

Let's shed some light on our candlemaker's factory! 🕯️

This recreated tallow candle factory is tucked down the back snicket on our Victorian street, Kirkgate.

In Victorian York, only the rich could afford wax candles. This room shows a cheap candle shop in the slums where the candles were made of tallow, which is rendered animal fat.

The hideous smell of melting fat would waft through the streets twice a week!

08/10/2026

Last chance to save with our Early Autumn Family Saver! ⏰🍁

This is the final weekend to grab our special family ticket for just £45 – giving you 12 months of unlimited visits to York Castle Museum!

Valid for 2 adults and up to 4 children, the ticket is available to purchase Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 October 2026 and gives you a whole year to come back and explore.

🎟️ Pay once, visit all year!

🔗 Book now and save: https://www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk/early-autumn-family-ticket-offer/

07/10/2026

Get ready for a historical Halloween this October half-term! 🎃

Join us for a week of family fun, fascinating stories and autumnal traditions.

Experience Tales of Nut-Crack Night on our Victorian Street, a lively family-friendly storytelling performance by HistoryRiot inspired by Victorian Halloween traditions, running daily from 24–31 October.

Then head to the prison cells to take on our immersive Prison Escape Stories experience, new for 2026! Pick up a gaoler’s key, explore the authentic prison cells to uncover the stories of real escape attempts from York Castle Prison. 🗝️

You can also watch Soul Cakes being baked in the Castle Kitchen on selected days, get creative in our self-led Creative Studio, explore fashion history with our Little Spotters activity sheet and follow our Time Traveller’s Activity Trail!

All activities are included with general admission, and tickets are valid for 12 months — so you can come back and enjoy even more throughout the year.

🔗 Plan your visit: https://www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk/october-half-term-2026/

🗓️ Saturday 24 October – Sunday 1 November

Address

Eye Of York
York
YO19RY

Opening Hours

Monday	11am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

01904 687687

Website

http://www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk/

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