York Castle Museum

The museum occupies buildings that were once part of the County Gaol, including the former debtors’ prison and the women’s prison. Founded in 1938, the museum was one of the first to focus on social history. The museum’s founder Dr John Kirk, a doctor with a passion for collecting everyday objects, aimed to preserve items that reflected the daily lives of ordinary people. The museum’s approach to immersive, reconstructed environments was pioneering and has influenced many other museums.

York Castle Museum is significant for its focus on the social history of Britain. It provides a detailed look at how people lived, worked and spent their leisure time. The recreated Kirkgate, a Victorian street named after the museum’s founder, is a highlight and was one of the first of its kind when it opened. The museum also holds extensive collections related to fashion, toys and military history.

What to see at the York Castle Museum

One of the main attractions is Kirkgate, the recreated Victorian street complete with period shops and a cobblestone pavement. Visitors can explore authentic shopfronts, including a chemist, a sweet shop and a police station. The street is designed to reflect York’s past and gives a tangible sense of Victorian urban life.

The museum also features the Shaping the Body exhibition, which examines how fashion, food and fitness have shaped the human body over 400 years. The collection includes historic clothing, accessories and objects related to diet and exercise.

Another key exhibit is 1914: When the World Changed Forever, focusing on life during the First World War. It offers personal stories, artefacts and immersive displays that highlight the impact of the war on everyday life.

Visitors can also see the old prison cells in the building’s original structure. These include the cell that once held the notorious highwayman Dick Turpin before his execution in 1739.

Visiting the York Castle Museum

The York Castle Museum is just south of Clifford’s Tower at the southern end of the city centre. Most points of interest in York are no more than a 15-minute walk away.

The museum is open daily. Admission is a little high for a museum in a small city but your ticket lets you make multiple visits within a year. Entry is free of charge with the Visit York Pass.

Most areas of the museum are wheelchair accessible, except for the upper floors where you can find the 1914: When the World Changed Forever exhibition.

Visitors should allow 2–3 hours to explore the museum fully.