Museums, Landmarks and Local History in North Yorkshire, Town by Town

Harrogate

North Yorkshire Council's venues page lists two Harrogate venues.

• Royal Pump Room Museum, Crown Place, Harrogate HG1 2RY. The venue page says it is in an historic landmark with the strongest sulphur wells in Europe, covering the growth of the town from the discovery of its mineral springs and its spa heritage, with a restored 1842 Pump Room. It publishes Tuesday to Sunday 9:30am to 4:30pm, closed Mondays and bank holiday Mondays, no on-site visitor parking, and three hour on-street parking on Swan Road.
• Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate HG1 2SA. The council describes it as in the town's original Promenade Rooms of 1806, with free entry and Tuesday to Sunday opening 9:30am to 4:30pm, per its page.

Scarborough

The council lists three Scarborough venues. The Rotunda Museum, Vernon Road YO11 2PS, opened in 1829 as one of the world's first purpose built museums, exploring coastal heritage and geology. It publishes Tuesday and Wednesday 10am to 4:30pm and Thursday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, closed Sunday and Monday, phone 01723 353665. Scarborough Art Gallery, The Crescent YO11 2PW, is in a Grade II* Italianate villa. Woodend Gallery and Studios is the council's creative hub with artist studios.

Skipton

Skipton Castle, at the top of the High Street at BD23 1AW, describes itself as over 900 years old and one of the most complete medieval castles in England, which withstood a three year Civil War siege. Skipton Town Hall houses the Craven Museum, with around 60,000 objects. Its visit page says free entry and publishes Monday and Wednesday to Sunday 9:30am to 4:30pm, closed Tuesday. The Town Hall's own homepage noted the exhibition gallery was temporarily closed from 28 September to 9 October.

Ripon

Ripon Cathedral's site says the church has an unbroken history reaching back to the 7th century, now in the Diocese of Leeds. It has visiting times and a gift shop with their own listings; check the cathedral's site for times, which depend on services.

Whitby

English Heritage's Whitby Abbey page describes ruins crowning a clifftop above the fishing port, a headland that has held St Hild's Anglo-Saxon monastery, the medieval abbey and a Stuart mansion, with a museum on site. The Captain Cook Memorial Museum says it is in the 17th century house where Cook lodged as an apprentice; it published daily 10am to 5pm from 28 March to 1 November, Tuesday and Thursday only in November, and a winter closure from December to February half term.

Northallerton

Wikipedia's Northallerton article gives this undisputed background, paraphrased: there has been a settlement since Roman times, it grew in importance after King William II gave land to the Bishop of Durham, and the Battle of the Standard was fought nearby in 1138. The county archives are here: North Yorkshire Archives, Malpas Road, Northallerton DL7 8TB, phone 01609 777585, which holds records of local administration, parishes, estates and historic photographs. It publishes Tuesday to Thursday 9:30am to 4:30pm and Friday 9:30am to 4pm.

Selby

Selby Abbey says worship has gone on there for over 900 years and that the Grade I listed Abbey is being restored through a Heritage Fund supported project running until late 2027. It says it is open to all visitors from 10am to 4pm daily, though visiting may be restricted during services.

Malton

Malton Museum says it is in the town centre, with two exhibition rooms on one level, and was open from 4 April to 31 October 2026, Thursday to Saturday 10:30am to 3:30pm. It says there are no toilets on site and the nearest accessible parking is the Market Square, free for two hours.

Visiting

For buses and trains see our bus guide and train stations guide, and for family days out our parks and kids guide.