A fabulous day out with grand kids, We visited the wall garden, which is absolutely stunning, wonderful variety of flowers and veg, the millennium gardens are truly amazing, filled with so many apple trees, the kids loved the park and we had a picnic whilst there, we visited the shop and bought gorgeous marmalade and chutney, the cafe was reasonable and the coffee food. We didn't pay to go in the castle opting for the river walk which to be honest wasn't that well sign posted, could have done with a few more posts to follow, but we happily walked across the field ! The castle is spectacular to look at. A great day out worth a visit

This is one spectacular castle, we didn't manage to get inside but the gardens are absolutely glorious, without doubt one of the best we've ever visited. Lots of inspiration to take home. Beautiful grounds with woodland walks and plenty of space to tire out the little ones.

A lovely place to visit. And walk around the gardens throw the woods. And visit the castle as well. Don't forget to go in the cafe as well for food or drinks. Disabled access and parking. There is also a children's play area as well. A really nice day out. You can also walk down by the river tweed as well

Great grounds to explore. We visited twice in a week but wasn't enough time in explore in a day so purchased an annual pass so we can visit more often. House tour very interesting. Gardens were fab with staff working away in the gardens when visited who were very friendly and enthusiastic when we asked them about the work they were doing. Gift shop very good with excellent customer care but didn't get the chance to sample the cafe on these visits Will be back.

Large and impressive stately home. If I am to be completely honest the £22 entrance charge is a little bit on the high side and you don't actually see that much compared to many other country houses I have visited. That said the gardens are included in the ticket price. Parking is included. Cafe/tearoom and restaurant are both very good. Good toilet facilities. Friendly & staff.

The exterior of the castle is impressive. Everything is very well maintained – the façade, the interior chambers, and of course, the garden. Unfortunately, it was a rainy day, and we couldn’t walk around for long. The luxurious rooms on the first floor are not particularly unique. There are a few interesting artifacts.

A fabulous evening! We went to Floors Castle to see Faithless, as part of the venue's live events. Parking was easy, it probably took less than ten minutes to walk from the car to the stage. Faithless, as expected, were awesome! We're definitely going back to both Floors Castle and Kelso in the near future.

The exterior of the house is attractive but fairly plain. The guided tour was well executed and included lots of interesting information about the history of the house and it's past owners. The tour starts with the plainer rooms and works it's way round to increasingly ornate ones, finishing at the very impressive picture gallery. The formal gardens are mainly lawned with some flowerbeds around the edges. The cafe serves a good selection of hot and cold food, cakes and drinks. It poured with rain when I visited so I didn't explore the wider grounds. I recommend a visit to Paxton House.

Beautiful house. We've thoroughly enjoyed the guided house tour for 1.5 hours. Very informative. Tour guide Carol was extremely knowledgeable and witty which made the time fly by. I didn't want to leave!

First visit. Did a walk of the gardens. Ruby the cocker spaniel enjoyed herself - on lead. £7.50 a ticket. 2 adults total 16.00 Inc fee. Tearoom was good value. If in area - worth a look!

The house and grounds are beautiful from the exterior. The grounds are massive and you can walk at your leisure - if you pay £7.50 for tickets. Not sure if you'd even have to pay to be honest, nobody is checking for tickets in the grounds. We weren't able to go inside the house as no 'house only' tour was available, and the house tours are guided only. The tours lasted approx 80 minutes which we didn't have spare.

What a great tour! The house is fantastic, nice cafe, staff really nice. The highlight was the tour, very informative lots of things to see and learn, great day out. The chain suspension bridge is worth seeing too, about a mile away, walk or drive.

We had our wedding at Paxton House last weekend and what a sensational day it was. From the stunning surroundings, to the beauty of the house and most importantly, the amazing Mel who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make our day run so smoothly. We are so grateful to Mel and the Paxton House team who work incredibly hard to keep this beautiful place looking amazing and creating an atmosphere that we will never forget. Thank you so much for everything.

Lovely day out. Make sure you book a guided tour beforehand. Cafe coffee is delicious and their food decent and not overpriced. Very pleasant walks in the grounds.

Lovely place to visit. The bus cafe was really good too. Went back 2 days later just to double check! Honey is great and I've discovered honey fudge 🐝🤩

Well worth a visit if you’re in the area. Impressively detailed and very interesting exhibits with live bees visible in a display. The art is extremely well done and the calligraphy in hand writing all the information is amazing. Good cafe too. Looks a little strange on the way in with all the old farm machinery but don’t skip it just because of first impressions.

A really nice place to visit. Loads of products made from honey and bees wax. There is also information on bees as well. There is a cafe here and some vintage farm machines to look at. Well worth a visit. There is disabled access as well. Plenty of parking. A hidden jem.

We visited on recommendation at the beginning of October, travelling from our hotel in Berwick-upon-Tweed. A fabulous farm where you can explore and learn everthing about honey bees, the bee garden, and purchase all your honey and honey based products directly from the farm. You can also watch the bee's doing their thing. There's lots of history on the area to explore here and a short walk down the road (uphill on the way back) was Chain Bridge a must visit. There's vintage farm equipment to explore, too. My favourite was the London bus. It brought back childhood memories of hopping on and off in the city with my nan. A fabulous wildlife photograph exhibition was also guesting whilst we visited. In the high season there's also a cafe in a converted bus. I would definitely recommend this little gem.

Cafe on the bus was nice, too warm to sit inside today thou. 2 lattes and cakes came to £15ish. Visitor centre sells everything honey and wax😀. Bee garden is nice to sit in. Loads of vintage (rusty) farm equipment. Just a few minute walk to Scotland over the bridge

Visited here last week. The gardens are absolutely beautiful, and a lot of work and effort has gone into achieving the end result and I've never seen so many bees on all the wonderful plants and flowers in one place a joy to visit.

Interesting visit. Old buses,old tractors and farming implements to look at. A garden with bee loving flowers. A small museum and shop selling honey and related products.

The Holy Island museum and priory are a real highlight of any visit to Lindisfarne. The ruins themselves are atmospheric and steeped in history, and the museum does a good job of bringing the story of the monks, the Viking raids, and the Lindisfarne Gospels to life. The exhibits are well presented, and the small heritage centre has some good interactive displays and short films that make it engaging for all ages. Staff and volunteers are knowledgeable and friendly, adding to the experience. On the flip side, the museum itself is fairly small, so you can get around it quite quickly, and some visitors feel the admission price of £10.90 is a little steep for what’s inside. It’s free, however, if you are an English Heritage member. As always on Holy Island, coming here, planning around the tides is essential — miss the safe crossing times and you could be stranded. Overall though, it’s a fascinating and evocative stop, especially when combined with a wander around the priory ruins and the island itself. A must for anyone with an interest in early Christianity or Northumbrian history.

Great place to visit. Not a lot to see apart from the castle and priory. There was more interetin watching the tide come in and cover the causeway, which takes hours by the way lol. Tide times seem to include idiot factor also so don't panic when it says you must leave by a certain time. From the time published that you have to leave the tide takes about 2 hours from that time until you can't leave. Highly recommend popping into the Lindisfarne inn on the A1. Great food and dog friendly.

A place I aways wanted to go see once I'd spotted it on Google Maps. I know now it's a famous landmark, but I didn't know anything about Northumberland, nevermind The Holy Island. We went at night time so the whole quick visit was a little eerie. The journey over to the island, once the tide had gone out and the few cars waiting could cross set the scene. The crossing is unusual, a long stretch of tarmac road that minutes ago was under the waves, but now the vast body of water is drifting out to sea. It feels uncomfortable yet beautiful as the sun was setting. We followed the road, which felt longer than expected into the small village of Lindisfarne. The first large car park is stone based but in the village there is a disabled car park and EV charge points. Nothing was open when we arrived except for a small pub and a hotel that was just closing. We had a drink in The Crown and Achor which is a small lost in time pub The food menu had a lovely selection and the dishes we saw also looked plenty full (the guests left nothing so a great compliment to the chief). I walked around the church yard which has ruins from the old Priory as well as a church that looks to be still in use. Further on there is a vantage tower that I imagine has some spectacular views. Going out of the village we passed a few friendly locals in the dimly lit street. Crossing back to the mainland we went through the nature reserve which is a spectacular view with sea birds settling down and the sea now in the distance. Worth a visit but go in the day when all is open. Our visit was a last minute dash to say we'd been there rather than anything meaningful. Very much a lost in time kind of place which adds to the charm.

A lovely little place to visit with so much history. Although it is a ruin, there is quite a lot left and you can get a real feel for what rooms you were stood in etc. We really enjoyed this and am added bonus was it is an English Heritage site!

Not much to say here. Can't write anything negative - be mindful of the Priory ruins closing time the only thing to note - we crossed on to the Island late due to the tide, had very little time to experience the area properly.

A great place to visit. Watch out for the tide times! Great for bird watching and walking. The abbey is very ruined but worth a look.

Nice remains of Priory with plenty of architecture still remaining, great views to the sea and of the castle from inside, there's also an interesting grave yard to for those interested in such things.

The castle offers a lovely view from the grounds; however, I can’t recommend paying for entry at the current price. During my visit, we paid £43.50 for two adults, including £6 for parking. For that amount, I expected considerably more content and historical depth. The exhibits are heavily focused on the current family and the Victorian era. Personally, I would have preferred to see more emphasis on the castle’s earlier history, especially given its origins dating back to around 547 AD, but that may come down to individual taste. Interestingly, I found the nearby church to hold far greater historical significance than the castle itself. The World War II display felt somewhat out of place, and the kitchen area has clearly been converted into an extension of the gift shop, which further reduces the amount of authentic content on offer, and there isn’t much to begin with. I also found it odd that the guidebook we bought didn’t include a map, and there were no clear directional signs inside the castle grounds. This made it surprisingly difficult to know where to go or whether we had seen everything, which detracted a bit from the experience. In addition, many of the windows were quite dirty, which took away from what could have been some lovely views from inside. I think we may have just expected too much. By contrast, I found castles such as Warkworth, Alnwick and even Skipton to offer a much richer historical experience for a similar or even lower price. While Bamburgh’s setting is undeniably beautiful, the overall visit felt more like a family heritage exhibition than a deep dive into its remarkable past.

The castle sits on a hill overlooking the sea and the nearby town. The views from the castle are stunningly beautiful. There is a lot to see in the castle as well as outside. I would say give yourself two to three hours to be sure you see everything. Would definitely recommend a visit.

This is an amazing castle. The access is formidable, it’s kept very well, and the displays are perfect, not too little, not too much. The added air and auto museum were icing on the cake.

This is the most impressive castle i have seen to date, the views are amazing and the history is second to none. The castle itself is massive and very imposing, just imagining being in that time having to look at this daunting castle, wow, absolutely amazing, definitely a must see for anyone that has ever watched the Last Kingdom.

Beautiful setting and nice place but Christmas theme took away from the historical displays and not much was shown of the history before the caste. There was also much of the castle interior that was not publicly assessable

Was a brilliant experience, went on a Sunday was quiet and easy to navigate. Beautiful views from all around the castle could really spend the whole day taking all the history in

What an amazing place to visit. The grounds have some stunning views over the beach. The rooms are kept in great condition. The staff were brilliant and informative. There is parking at the castle which is £6 or you can park across the road in another car park. The gift shop was great and there are toilets near the cafe's. I felt there was not enough toilets for the amount of visitors.

A gorgeous castle with a fascinating history—definitely worth a visit! The views are breathtaking, and the staff are warm and welcoming. I also had the chance to join a Quidditch lesson, which was so much fun (even tho it’s serious business!). Overall, a wonderful and memorable experience :)))”

This castle is in a different league! The rooms are extremely ornate, great portraits, fantastic ceilings and amazing fireplaces. A shame that indoor photography was not allowed. It is lived in. The views outside are wonderful , also great exhibits of armoury and all the paraphernalia that goes with it. A 'must see' for all.

We visited with our whole family and had an amazing time! We bought our tickets in advance and came just 2 days before the season ended. The staff were fantastic — even with some power issues, they handled everything smoothly and still made the experience great for everyone. The weather was perfect, the history of the castle is incredible, and the broomstick flying activity was a big hit with the kids! A beautiful place full of charm and stories. Highly recommend visiting Alnwick Castle!

Stunning place to visit. Fun for all the family. Plenty to do and see. It's amazing to know that the family still live there during the public closing time and during the winter. The rooms are beautiful and awe-inspiring. I wish my physical media collection looked like their library. The grounds are great and we even got to learn how to fly our broomsticks. Well worth a visit. The dragon area was a great addition too, well thought out. Lots of toilets and multiple gift shops.

Gorgeous castle! For Harry Potter fans, this is where the famous broomstick flying scene from the first movie was filmed! There are talks and events throughout the day regarding the magical side of the castle as well as more traditional evens like weapons and armor talks, soap making and a fun dragon quest! A place with rich history and enjoyability for all ages! 10/10 highly recommend

Best intact and still working castle visited. Kids had an amazing time dressing up in medieval costumes, making soap and learning to fly on broomsticks. The adults had an amazing experience with seeing and hearing all the history with very informative guides and information displays.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this castle. It’s beautifully maintained, with a wide range of activities and guided tours that kept me engaged throughout the day. I ended up spending the entire day exploring.

We first came here 16 years ago and always wanted to come back when we saw the Gardens were to be expanded. An amazing attraction in a beautiful town in Northumberland. The admission is reasonably priced and the highlight for us was the "Poison Garden" and our guide was amazing, entertaining and informative. There is an excellent cafe and restaurant as well. Please visit here.

First time visiting & was in October. So all the plants were dieing off which was inevitable for this time of year but nether the less we had a brilliant day. The waterfall feature is stunning. The tour round the poison garden was great. We had fun in the crazy golf. Had a lovely walk round the gardens & the different water fountains. Will definitely be returning in spring to swing in the cherry trees. Amazing day out. Well worth a visit.

What a fantastic day out! Alnwick Garden is even more impressive in person. The sheer variety of plants is incredible, and the displays, especially the stunning water features, are amazing. I particularly enjoyed the unique Poison Garden tour, which was both entertaining and educational. It's a must-see for anyone in the area!

Lovely day out. I purchased the annual ticket which is well worth the money. We've visited a few times and it's always a great time, all parts of the garden are lovely. The bamboo labyrinth is very cool! Even the food is good!

The water cascade feature looks impressive, especially so when all the fountain jets are active. Unfortunately most of the time there are no active fountain jets, or only a few are active for a short period. I saw the majority or all the fountain jets active whilst I was having lunch in the cafe, but despite several subsequent attempts to get a video recording of all fountain jets working on a couple of occasions during the afternoon it didn't happen again which is very disappointing. The ornamental garden above the cascade is attractively laid out with trees providing additional height to the hedges around each flower bed. Near the bottom of the cascade is a hedged maze like area with multiple interesting water features. The poison garden can only be accessed by guided tour which was very informative and interesting. The cafe serves a good selection of hot and cold food, drinks and cakes and is well laid out. I would recommend visiting, but I think the adult entrance fee is excessive. Although I w

A lovely garden great for all generations. We went when the blossom trees were out and it was beautiful. My daughter and I also had an afternoon tea which was delicious. I would definitely recommend anyone visiting.

A good value day out (£18 online for adults), + £3.50 car park, if you take your own picnic. Poison garden tour included in ticket price. Ornamental garden and water gardens great. Bit disappointed that the largest 'tree house' is a restaurant and the 'potting shed' is a café. However, on a nice day of weather, as it was, very pleasant. Good activities for children, if you have them.

Another first at this National Trust in Northumberland. Plenty of parking with some disabled parking near the entrance and also some electric charging point for electric vehicles. As you walk through under the clock tower there is a large open garden with deck chairs and the first of many safe spaces for families to entertain children. There's a cafe, shop and toilets all on the ground level making them easy access. Further round is the entrance to this beautiful stately home that apparently has the largest grounds of all the National Trusts. There is wheelchair access into the house to see the ground floor and also an elevator to go up stairs which is fantastic for people that struggle with stairs. There are lots of items and paintings to see so well worth a look around. Apparently, the house was only gift to the Trust in 1947 and the last family member lived there right up to around 2011. There grounds are vast which include a lovey walled garden. You can hire peddle or electric bikes to get around £10 - £12. We got there in the afternoon so went straight around the house as it closed at 15:30 but the grounds stay open till around 17:30. Another National Trust Gem. Well worth a visit. By the way the staff are really friendly, doing a wonderful job.

Wallington Hall is one of the best National Trust days out in Northumberland. The house itself is full of character, with beautiful rooms, quirky collections, and striking murals that tell the history of the North East. The gardens are a real highlight — the walled garden is stunning and peaceful, while the wider estate has riverside walks, ponds, and woodland trails that feel endless. It’s fantastic for families too, with several play areas, adventure trails, and plenty of space for kids to run wild. The café and shop are both worth stopping by, and facilities are good. The estate is big, so wear decent shoes — the walk to the walled garden takes a while but is worth it. Some paths can be tricky if wet, but most are well kept. A super day out!

This is our second visit to Wallington Hall and Estate (previously here 6 or 7 years ago). Both times we visited on a busy (but not overcrowded) weekend. Understandably a popular place for families; Wallington has plenty of space for kids to play and several kids-oriented features in the woods. We thoroughly enjoy the walks through Wallington woods and around ponds, complete with interesting art along the way (carved owl, carved log, etc.). Another delight is the walled garden, which is quite substantial and well maintained with numerous types of plants in varied micro-environments. The estate also has several places to sit and enjoy nature. The main house at Wallington is another National Trust treasure that requires a few visits to truly appreciate the variety and uniqueness of the furniture, paintings, children’s toys, books, and other items. The central hall is amazing for its design and artwork depicting the area's past. The kitchen is outfitted with numerous bygone items, including many old earthenware jars that also caught our interest. The detailed doll houses in one room are also an attraction. Visited in late May 2025

Me and the family really enjoyed it here, the staff were very friendly and there was plenty to do and see. We went for food and it was lovely and the staff were so friendly. My kids favourite part was finding the little animals in the house and my dads favourite part was the walled garden. 100% recommend if you're looking for a fun friendly day out.

Really good and well looked after house and gardens. We went round the house first which was incredible. We did the river walk which took us about an hour to walk but we'll worth it. The walled garden is well worth a walk around aswell.

Lovely place, hadn't been for years but it used to be my Grandma's favourite place for tea! Had a lovely walk by the river and over the stepping stones. Fascinating exhibition about the history of the Hall and it's owners.

Lovely place to visit - beautiful Hall and extensive stunning gardens. Didn't have time for the River Walk but will definitely come back for that. Second hand book shop, tea room and ice cream remain open after the last entry to the Hall. Perfect for all ages groups

Visited in August while in Hexham. A surprisingly beautiful and ancient abbey. It was freezing to enter but a donation is requested, but not mandatory. You can also pay £3.50 to down into the crypt. Well worth a visit if you in the area.

Lovely Abbey Church in a town also worth visiting. Very beautiful building with lots of interesting things to see( view photos). No entrance fee but you can give a donation either by card machine or cash. Very peaceful place with seperate chapel for private prayer.

Absolutely fantastic abbey that is vibrant, active & well worth the entry fee. We paid the extra to go down the steep steps to the original crypt from 673/4...the crypt itself was built from recycled stone from a Roman bridge at Corbridge. Roman carving & inscriptions are clear to see in the stonework. When we visited GAIA (a revolving globe art installation) was in the abbey. It looked fantastic. As a bonus the café was lovely & on a sunny day sitting in the courtyard would be bliss.

Lovely place to look at. Unfortunately we arrived late in the day so only got to enjoy the exterior of the building. They were ringing the bells which was nice. Next to the abbey is a park and the railings of the park are covered in knitted/crocheted poppies which was beautiful to see. Well done to those who made the poppies.

So beautiful. We have English Heritage card but if you don't, I would still recommend buying a ticket to look round

Beautiful welcoming Abbey. We were warmly greeted and welcomed into the Abbey. Beautiful building, free entry but you are able to donate (which I recommend). They also have a shop, cafe and toilets. I found this a very accessible please with on street disc parking nearby. Worth the visit.

A lovely Abbey. Friendly receptionist at the entrance taking tickets to see the massive Earth display. Take a moment to reflect on one's life through our planet Earth and our fragile ecosystem.

This place is amazing! Well worth a visit. They do guided tours as well which gives you some history which helps contextualise the site.

This is a great day out. Plenty to see and learn. The kids enjoyed it too. There were some buildings you could get in but others under refurbishment. We arrived on the 1 Sunday a month that the sounds are not on until 12. There are plenty of information boards and they are written well and quite funny. The car park is free and at the site. There are toilets in the car park and in the main building. There is also a cafe here woth a gift shop. The staff were polite.

Absolutely love this museum a must visit for everyone of all ages. A brilliant record of industrial and social history with varying displays, exhibitions and events as well as the famous Ashington Painters artworks.

Visiting woodhorn Museum and it was fantastic! 🏰👍 Loved exploring the museum's exhibits, learning about the history of Northumberland's coal mining industry. The pit tours were a real highlight, giving a glimpse into the lives of the miners. Friendly staff and great interactive displays. Highly recommend! 👍 #WoodhornMuseum #Northumberland"

Brilliant weather for a brilliant day, Classic and Vintage Car Rally on as well made even more enjoyable for my son and me...!

Really interesting place to visit, friendly staff, plenty of free parking, dog friendly except in the main building, cafe on site, close by is also a lakeside walk, well worth a visit

This is one of our favourite museums as a family. Firstly it is so accessible both for me as someone with a physical disability, and for other family members who are neurodiverse. Woodhorn museum is probably the most physically accessible place I've visited with two exceptions - The playground; The cafe. Now my kids are older, I don't worry about the playground so much as they play without needing me but a few years ago there's no way I could have got my mobility scooter up or around there. The café, I've tried twice to navigate with my scooter and it's not set out right for independent scooter/wheelchair users. Food/drink items are too high too reach, it's too difficult to both carry a tray of food and drive a scooter or wheelchair, and there are too many tables to safely get in/out. Aside from this (and I recognise I said that it's probably the most accessible which hopefully shows how inaccessible some places are while believing they tick every box!) I love Woodhorn! Firstly, the price is incredible and kids under 16 go free- plus the pass lasts a whole year. So once we have it we will drive up a few times a year. There is always something different going on each school holiday to draw us back, although to be honest my girls love going through the mining history museum every time due to it's interactive features anyway!

Today me and Star had a lovely walk at Tynemouth Longsands North. She absolutely loved walking on the sand and taking a dip in the sea. Great weather with a cool breeze, but also walm.

Beautiful beach close to Clercoast metro station. It is a beautiful walk and dogs are allowed until the end of March. Definitely worth a stroll on a sunny day. It was quite windy but was still super pretty to walk on the beach. A must visit when in the area.

Beautiful beach. It was super clean! Almost got eaten by a seagull though

Lovely clean beach. Large areas are dog-friendly. Plenty of facilities such as cafes, toilets, parking, pubs, surf school as well as historic landmarks. Great views and ice cream.

Great beach, it can get packed so pick your time carefully. The traffic scheme means it is easier to park at Crusoe's now 🙂. Whatever the weather there are always people here having fun, evsn swimming and surfung in the hail and snow 🤣🌊

Exquisite view and space to be with friends, family or by yourself. Eateries along the beach if you want to grab a drink or a bite. Lots of people come in to try surfing too.

Lovely long sandy beach popular with surfers; there is a surf school at the southern end. The incline is very slight so you have to go a long way out to get be out of your depth. There is a restaurant/caffe at both the north and south end of the beach, the one at the south end has lots of beach chairs out on the sand. As with Whitley Bay, the southern half of this beach is a no dog zone between May & September.

Went on a beautiful sunny day and was blown away by the gorgeous walled gardens. Lots of butterflies which our daughter enjoyed photographing. We went on a guided tour round the castle and Daphne was very informative and kept some of the "chatty" and wandering guests from the party in line with her professional competence 🤣. After the castle tour we walked through the deer park and captured some wonderful video footage of several deers running up the embankment and crossing the path right in front of us. Lovely experience for both us and our 15 year old. Very stylish and bright/airy cafe where we found something to eat quite easily for us adults, but if you are slightly particular with your foods and not a child it did prove a little more difficult. You can't go wrong with jacket potatoes but unfortunately our daughter isn't a fan. Was looking for something safe like macaroni cheese and garlic bread but we found something to suit in the end. Definitely worth the money. Spent 3+ hours here. Easy to find and parking great. Every aspect of this place was tidy and well maintained. One suggestion, the toilets separate from the cafe (never looked in the cafe toilets) could do with a sanitary dispenser.

Beautiful castle and gardens – well worth a visit! Stunning historic building, peaceful grounds, and a lovely walled garden. Great for families, especially with the deer park and the amazing kids’ play area (Plotters’ Forest). Staff are friendly and everything is well maintained. A perfect day out in the countryside!

What a great family place to visit. Historic castle with loads of insight into its history. Deer park to walk around with plenty of opportunities to see the deer. Lovely gardens to enjoy at your leasure and new well appointed cafe. Definitely worth a visit if you get the chance.

With the right weather you can spend a long day there. A good combination of things for adults and children. The gardens alone are worth the visit. You can explore castle grounds & deer park at your leisure but I'd recommend the guided tours. Separate tours of castle & garden + we enjoyed a separate talk regarding the Raby estate & the development of the railways. Top notch facilities, a lot of effort & money has been spent making an excellent tourist attraction.

We spent an absolutely amazing morning walking around the castle. Every room waited to be discovered with a member of staff and the knowledge they had waiting to pass on. It was an amazing trip back in history and very well maintained with staff with their wealth of knowledge, very friendly and welcoming. We didn't walk as much of the park as we would've liked, but finished the visit off with a yummy lunch. We will definitely visit again.

Great day out. The castle itself was really interesting, loads to see inside with some really knowledgeable staff. Gardens and grounds are spectacular, especially the deer park. Nice cafes and shop as well

A truly amazing day out.. Beautifully presented the gardens are so accessible..the castle is stunning inside with friendly informative volunteers to guide your visit . 2 good cafés on site both are dog friendly 👌. I will visit again for sure 😍

A really good day out, brilliant exhibits with great information boards not long winded like other museums but tell you everything you need to know. For a free day out donations are welcomed it really is a great day out. We didn’t have time to see the historic buildings but we will definitely revisit and take them in next time. Not as vast as there sister museum in York but it is a great museum.

My first visit here today, with my partner and friend. We had a super time enjoying all the special locos and carriages. Highly recommend for anyone in the area. Free to enter, donations appreciated. The staff were all friendly, especially the lady on the desk at the entrance. The shop has a great selection.

Locomotion is widely praised as an excellent, all-weather attraction that's completely FREE to visit, making it an incredibly popular choice for families and budget-conscious travelers. Visitors consistently highlight the sheer volume of historical trains and railway artifacts on display, covering a vast period of railway history. The museum is well-organized, interactive, and provides a rich educational experience. It has big parking spaces.

An absolutely fantastic museum. Visit was on last day of the 200 years of SDR exhibition. Had a lovely walk to engine workshop, housing, workmens cottages and walk on part of original SDR. Cafe was in one of exhibition halls. Good selection of food and drink. All staff were friendly. Easily spent 4 hours here.

Part of the National Railway Museum, the Shildon Locomotion museum houses historically significant items railway locomotives, rolling stock and other railway related items. Most importantly Locomotion No 1 which hauled the first railway passenger journey 200 years ago is here. I visited during the 200th Anniversary weekend, which meant it was busy. You could pay for a ride behind a replica of Stephenson's Rocket on my visit. There are two covered exhibit halls, a great gift shop, a large cafe, and plenty of toilets. Car parking is free, and the site is adjacent to Shildon Railway Station for those arriving by train. The site is fully accesible for those unable to walk any distance. A number of very early railway buildings dating from the 1800's are located a short distance away from the museum, and are well signposted. A great place to visit, not just for rail enthusiasts, but for anyone with an interest in Britain's industrial history.

An excellent railway museum. Brilliant exhibits. Helpful staff. Lots to see and do for all ages. The engines are amazing. Easy to get to by car and plenty of parking.

We had a lovely whistle-stop visit to Locomotion as we were passing on our way up north. Bolstered by a generous serving of lunch, we enjoyed a wander round the halls and a pleasant walk down the tracks. We definitely hope to return another day when we have more time to spend. I especially liked seeing Rocket, and we were also chuffed with our merch from the gift shop 👍

This is a really fantastic place. Our visit was thoroughly enjoyed by both adults, our 9 year old and our 15 year old. The app is brilliant for solving the quest and although it was busy, the site was not crowded. No queues anywhere. A burst pipe meant that the water was off for a lot of our visit but the staff managed this brilliantly and it did not spoil our experience at all. The gift shop has a wide variety of items and is one of the best I've seen. Would definitely recommend to families of all ages.

Brilliant day out, well worth the money. Full of wonder and mystery, even for grown-ups - and the attention to detail is amazing. The staff are really friendly as well as incredibly helpful. Food is amazing at the cafe attached to the gift shop, with a very good gluten free range as well. And although some of the site is understandably not wheelchair-accessible, it is generally very good for people with limited mobility (however the car park could use a few more disabled bays - despite having a blue badge we had to park in the overflow car park which was quite a walk from the entrance). Overall, though, I rate the Forbidden Corner very highly and would recommend to all ages and tastes. We'll definitely be returning!

Brilliant place to visit. Full of surprises, quirky, funny, spooky, we had a great time. We’ve been visiting since it was a little bit smaller, but now a major tourist attraction. Well worth a visit. Try to go when it’s a little quieter, possibly during the week. It was really busy when we went on a Sunday, but all well mannered. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Beautiful location too in the heart of the Yorkshire dales.

What a fantastic day out for the family! We took our 9 year old son here on the first Sunday of October half-term. We all loved it. There were also much younger and much older children there who were having a great time too. We're looking forward to returning next year.

Great day out for kids and adults alike. A grounds to explore full of whimsical wonder. Not fully suitable for this unsteady of your feet of wheelchairs due to lots of narrow staircases and uneven grounds,although plenty to do on level.floor and beautiful views to enjoy. Great food choices, including gluten free and dairy free options. At a reasonable price too. Myself, my 23 y/o daughter and her partner had a great day out today. Highly recommend

We've been several times before, with friends and for a birthday party. Highly recommended for children over 5 years old as some nooks and dark paths that maybe scary for very little ones. Lots of outdoor paths and the playground is suitable for younger ones. Small Cafe wasn't open this last time that was on the main grounds so had to go back to the main one next to gift shop which was a bit of a trek with 4 hot drinks.

I don't want to spoil this place, so just go,take the kids, and experience it for yourself. There are some slightly creepy moments that some sensitive kids (and maybe even adults!) Won't like, but we managed fine with a 6 year old. Great place, very different to other attractions, really unique and original.

We had a great day here with the boys aged 9 & 12. They enjoyed the weapons talk and the fighting ships experience. The 9 year old is also young enough to have enjoyed the play area and the additional games set out quoits and bowls were fun. The only negative I would add would be some of the displays in the buildings were a bit tired and dimly lit and the wording was too high up to read easily. The ship is very interesting and the whole quay area gives a good overall impression. If you could get some investment this has potental to be 5 star. There is a cafe which we didn’t use as we’d brought a picnic which you are welcome to do. There is seating available. Overall for the price on an annual ticket£34 for 2+2 it’s good value compared to many other attractions and free parking an added bonus.

Small but quite interesting place. None of the buildings were real which was quite disappointing. Good displays and lots of information. Most of the staff were friendly and helpful. Free parking, gift shop and cafe on site. Buy tickets online they are a little bit cheaper.

The museum is ok, it is looking tried in places I.e information plaques torn or items missing. The centre piece being the naval ship is very good however I would have liked more information around the ship to bring the different parts of it to life. We were warmly welcomed onboard but about from that limited in info to read or a talk through would have been fantastic even an audio app to listen too would have been welcome. The weapons talk and the firing of the cannon was good along with the hands on bit at the end. The quayside is well maintained and there is information within some of the buildings. I do get that one ticket gets entry all year however not enough for us to make another trip I feel. Comfortable visited within a morning or afternoon

Family visit to the Royal Navy Museum, took our 12 and 9 year old boys, it's full of information, things to see and Interact with, you can hop on board and explore the HMS Trincomalee to see what it was like, it has an onsite cafe, play park and gift shop. It was a great visit and you can return for the next year for free with a valid ticket.

Liked it so much we went back the next day, free of course, any number of visits allowed in a year from ticket purchase. The various demonstrations were also worth seeing.

Had a great visit today. Lots to look at this museum. Had everything from interactive displays all the way to going onto the actual ship. Only bad point that would make even Captain Pugwash sad are Some of the displays lighting was really poor or not working. Couldn’t see some of the displays as was too dark.

Never been here before, but thoroughly enjoyed our visit here - it was good to be able to look all over the ship, at the various decks and areas the crew lived and worked in. As the tickets last for 1 year from date of purchase, we may well return in the spring / summer.

What a lovely day out! Great price, pay once and can return for a full year! There are some great exhibitions on lots to see! The mock street was so fascinating. Lovely grounds to walk around and have a picnic too! Highly recommend.

New playground area is lovely, good for all ages. The cafe is now renovated with modern toilets as always a bonus. Butterfly world is always a hot, they live the meercats and other creatures inside. The museum is very affordable to get into, an annual family pass is worth it. Kids love the old street and especially the sweet shop. There is a river walking distance that they can go and feed the ducks. The skate park also excellent for all ages, scooters and bikes.

Went to the butterfly 🦋 world whole family really enjoyed it. Went in twice within the same day. Also went on the teesside princess boat cruise thing and that was really good aswell the staff were friendly and pleasant and the food and drink aboard the boat was amazing aswell well worth the cost for the boat and food and butterly world amazing day out

My children had a great time playing for hours at the park here. There is so many different things to play on and its been done up since my last visit which i didn’t think could be improved and it was so over the moon. Lovely cafe here reasonably priced food and drink and nice clean toilets to use. They also have a big skate park here where it can be used for skates, skate boards, bikes and scooters. Absolutely brilliant fun for most ages, probably 5+. Lots of places to eat a picnic on the grass or tables and lots of walks to do here. Right by the water gives you lively views to enjoy also. The Museum is great place and the children will enjoy that too walking down a victorian street. Parking is free, which can only be a bonus as there are not many places that do that anymore. So come to Preston Park!!!

Museum closed today, butterfly world Amazing, new playground getting built, skate park, public toilets and plenty walks, and it's free to park.

A great day out or just for a walk. Preston park has it all. A beautiful museum that is great for all age groups, and lovely cafes that serve fresh food. You can walk for miles around the grounds and by the river tees. It’s even got Butterfly world for the younger ones. The kids play areas is currently under construction and getting a fresh new look, but looks like it’ll be completed soon. Plenty of parking available. Parking is free and has charging points for the electric vehicles. The park is a regular visit for me and my dog Rosie.

So much to do! Something for everyone. Park, museum, cafe. So much space, clean toilets, friendly staff in the cafe, prices are reasonable too.

Easy parking and great views with a steep and slightly less steep walk to the top . Would definitely recommend appropriate footwear, it can be tricky in places. The minimum 2 hour parking is only just long enough to get to the top and back if you don't stop for a breather.

A great beginner trail for families to enjoy. Lovely local 360 views at the trig point. The trail offers a man made stepping route all the way to the top (last section rock climb ‘easy’). Local facilities 🚾 🅿️ are well maintained.

Did the short, steep hike up from the A173 car park up to the Roseberry Topping summit. The car park has toilets, one negative is there are no parking concessions for disabled people with blue badges, not sure why as they are hardly likely to be climbing this hill! As for the hill itself, it is obviously a prominent feature of the local area & the views from the top are very good on a clear day. There are a multitude of routes you can take, we took the most popular one.

Beautiful place to visit, near Middlesbrough. Elevation of 320 meters but feels much more than that, fantastic views from the top.

One of my favourite walks, not too difficult & great fun for everyone! Views from the top are stunning 😍

A small, but steep outcrop on the Moors. The stone steps are hard work but the view is worth the effort.

You do just Roseberry topping from the carpark or do 11 km walk to the Captan cook memorial. I have been couple of times and it has been lovely both times. If you want to do the hard / steep climb follow the steps otherwise follow the path on your right. The car park is handy if you can find a free bay. You can park for all day for £5.50. On both occasions I was not able find a parking bay. I ended up parking in he kings head inn few meters away for £6.00 all day. If you buy drinks or food for over £10 they refund the ticket charges. I I would recommend to have drinks after your climb not before.😁

Wow, what a place! Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Gardens completely blew me away. The abbey ruins are absolutely stunning – huge, dramatic, and full of atmosphere. You can just wander around and lose yourself in the history. The gardens are gorgeous too – so beautifully designed with lakes, statues, little follies, and surprise viewpoints. Catching a glimpse of the abbey from across the water is like something out of a painting. We also spotted deer in the park which was a bit of a treat! Loads of walking routes to choose from, so you can do a quick wander or spend the whole day exploring. There’s also two good on-site cafes, one at the visitor centre, and one lakeside venue. There are also plenty of picnic spots if you bring your own. The whole place is spotless and really well looked after. This was one of the best days out I’ve had in ages – peaceful, scenic, and full of history. It is also a World Heritage Site to boot, so you are in for a treat!

We attends an evening event with a male voice choir which was just lovely. To explore the ruins in the dark/by torchlight gave it a very different feel. The acoustics for the concert were brilliant and gave me goosebumps! We will definitely return in the daytime to see it again. Nice to do something different, we had a great time.

Absolutely Stunning place to visit. The grounds are immense and walks were beautiful. So we'll looked after. I'll definitely be going back to see the rest of it, it is so vast. Tip. Go early and take a pick nic if it's nice, or enjoy the cafe on site.

The Abbey is beautiful and nd there is so much to see in the grounds. The Mill, Hall and the walk by the river through the woods to a lovely view point. The pools and statues are great. There are toilets and cafes in the grounds. Spent 5 hours there and still didn't get to see the deer park and church.

What a magnificent place to visit. Stunning ruins of the Abbey, most of it accessible to visitors young and old. Spread over a vast area. The gardens and water gardens are simply beautiful. You can walk round the water gardens it is a circular route. In places it is not suitable for all , but signs are in place to warn visitors. I highly recommend a visit

Stunning, a fantastic day out, set in a wonderful location, the Abbey remains are just amazing and maintained beautifully. We took the tour with a knowledgeable guide and was well worth it, the architecture is just amazing

Oh!!! What a place. I was not expecting this place to be as large as it was. I am so glad we visited. We came to the area for a couple of days and happened to find this place on Google maps. It didn't disappoint. Plenty of place for the kids, dogs and children at heart to run about and explore and climb. There is a restaurant on site too so you can have a meal after a long walk and explore of the area. By the Abbey there is also a little hut where you can buy drinks, sandwichs, ice cream ect. If I return to this area again. There is an old mill to look around and also a large house to go into with art to see. I will definitely be visiting again. Was 100% worth it. :D lots too see and do. We were here 5 hours

Great day out in all weather. Lots to see and do. Had little trouble parking. Gallery & mill shops to enjoy. Small village with some nice shops, inc a bakery & arts and crafts. If you want to be outside, large beautiful clean park to stroll around in pathed walkways. Riverside pub/bistro to enjoy refreshments serving nice food & beer on tap. Nip up to the tramway for a little bit of historical cheap fun, very well run by hardworking & passionate volenteers.

I had a fabulous day. The art by Hockney is astounding. The exhibit showing his process was especially fascinating. We ate in the diner. Twas a lovely meal and the staff nicely attentive. Free parking, free art by premier artists, a fabulous building in wonderful surroundings. Great use of an old building. What's not to love?

My favourite place in Yorkshire! I’ve been coming here since I was a kid and still love it now. Great selection of shops, art, restaurants! Really well looked after building and I can spend hours in here!

A fascinating historic mill that has been transformed into a vibrant hub for arts, culture, dining, and community life. It’s best known for its impressive collection of David Hockney’s work, which alone makes it worth a visit. Alongside the art, you’ll find excellent dining options, engaging displays on the mill’s history, and insights into the surrounding village. With ample parking and so much to see and do, it’s an ideal place to spend the day.

Incredible place, We Will Sing is amazing and is highly recommend a visit just for this, I really wish I could buy a vinyl album of the recording it was breathtaking. But there are also wonderful shops with books, stationery etc. Quite a few eating options, the carrot cake in the upper cafe is heavenly! And of course the artwork is fantastic. Very highly recommend!

Loved this old industrial building, wonderfully preserved. Went to the free Hockney exhibition and perused the gallery upstairs and bolt on antique store. It looked like a great cafe in the place too. All in a beautiful part of the world. What a great place to walk around Saltaire is.

I hadn’t been to Salts Mill for a few years so it was lovely to be able to visit on Friday before we did the Shipley to Bingley 5 Rise Locks walk. The building itself is huge and very impressive then every door has so much to offer. There’s a lovely relaxed feeling throughout the building with staff and visitors enjoying the environment. We had a brief look at the seconds floor but then headed up to the third floor to have coffee in the Opera cafe.This is also the location of the David Hockney Gallery and it really works! I have seen Hockney’s work displayed in other venues less successfully but the sheer amount of space here was perfect to display the larger pieces. Our coffee and cakes were delicious and set us up nicely for our walk. I’ll definitely be coming back to spend more time in Saltaire and Salts Mill. Highly recommended!

This was a solid bakery to grab lunch, with the options presented clearly at the counter! Staff were approachable and very welcoming when I put in a donation, service was fast too. I enjoyed the unique chicken curry pasty and a couple of hash browns served on a red plate, seating is comfortable and table kept smooth!

I was shocked and appalled at the eat in vs take away prices. And no mention of the grossly inflated prices by the till staff. Granted, I should have paid more attention, but it’s clear underhanded ethics. Also granted, its not a terrible place to get takeaway if you don’t sit down, but it was probably the worst value meal I’ve ever had anywhere in the world. The tea and hot chocolate was terrible too. Conned and ripped off

Called in for a coffee and a Hot Sandwich. £1.50 extra for tomatoes on a large bacon sandwich which wasn't no where near a flat cake. Coffee ok, but only luke warm. Was told by the lovely member of staff it would cost extra to eat in, (ok i can understand that) BUT £4.90 EXTRA FOR 2 OF US IS SHOCKING. They need to put eat in prices at side of other prices. The Sandwiches were really nice, but hiding how much they charge for eating in. Wont be going back. 🤬🤬

I love this place! The staff are always friendly and chatty and they make the best cheese sandwich in the land! Not stingy with the fillings either , very generous and you get a bowl of crisps. Their hot chocolate is 10 out of 10 with lots of whipped cream on top and marshmallows if requested ( although I'm vegetarian so I just have with the cream).

Don’t get the positive reviews for this place. Was passing through and bought a few items. The iced doughnut was super salty and not sweet, the chocolate eclair was rock hard, the cappuccino tastes like a latte, and the croissants were super doughy. It was early in the morning so there’s that, but not a great reason. Nice location that’s about it.

Nice sausage roll in a local bakery thronging with customers. Bit pricey mind. Better than Greggs I guess.

Great bakery with lots if choices. We shared a hot beef & red onion sandwich with mustard mayo & a steak bake with a dessert cream meringue enough for 2 people at £10.00 super value and great quality.

Loved it here. It was my first visit and the gardens are truly beautiful. Plants and trees are well established and currently displaying autumn colours in all their glory. Well worth visiting here. It's also worth converting your day ticket into an annual membership.

Went to go to bettys tea room as we had never been and WOW! Those pastries were out of this world. I had a vanilla slice which was the best I’ve ever had. Partner has a scone and he loved it. That had a lovely walk round the gardens and it was just stunning. The pictures don’t do it any justice.

What a wonderful place to visit, within walking distance of the centre of Harrogate! I came here on a coach trip, and stayed about two and a half hours. A lady at the entrance greeted us and gave us all a free map, which I found very helpful. Adult admission is £16.80 (it's £12.50 if you pre-book online), 5-16's get in for £5, and under-5's and RHS members go free. Lots of free parking. The garden is extensive, with well maintained tarmac and gravel paths, and a few hilly parts and steps, but most of it is wheelchair accessible, and you can hire a wheelchair or scooter at the entrance. Harlow Carr is a delight to explore, with colourful flower borders, a streamside walk, sandstone rock garden, lily ponds, a small lake, wildflower meadows, an arboretum, and much more. It all looked beautifully kept, the plants clearly labelled. I particularly loved strolling through woodland filled with lovely rhododendrons, azaleas, and other flowering shrubs, and relaxing on a swing bench among palms and exotic plants in the subtropical garden. There are plenty of wooden benches and shelters, picnic areas, toilets at the entrance and dotted around the garden, and a children's adventure playground and tree house in the woods. Three cafes, a garden centre and two gift shops. Betty's Tea House is the ideal place to chill: great view of the garden, and a good selection of drinks, cakes and sandwiches. The coffee was very good. Did not get to see all the gardens (you need at least three hours), but I thoroughly enjoyed wandering around them and getting close to nature. Will definitely come again!

Absolutely recommend. We got there by bus and there is a stop right off of the grounds which made it convenient. (Be sure to ask for the discount for not driving when you pay for entry. I think it’s 30% off for taking the bus or walking or biking). The cafe had a nice variety. The garden was extensive and so beautiful. Tons of space to lay out a blanket and enjoy the day. Def recommend staying for at least 2 hours (minimum) but you can spend the entire day here.

This place is a gem! Judging by the car park a lot of people already know. As to be expected, the gardens were beautiful and more plants than you can shake a stick at. There is a Betty's cafe right at the entrance and another inside, the food is homemade and very nice. Staff are very helpful and pleasant. You can hire a mobility scooter if required. It seems a little pricey for entrance fee.....but where isn't? However they have a number of exceptions which can reduce the cost. Not knowing what to expect prior to entry my wife and I were pleasantly surprised. I would highly recommend.....go early!

Beauty and peace here at all times of the year. My kids love it. Well worth the annual membership if you live nearby as it's not cheap for a single visit. Staff are always excellent. Lots of good gift ideas in the shops.

A fabulous place to visit. We go every season so much to see and its wonderful watching the newer projects as they develop. Plenty of places to eat and drink at reasonable prices. Though if you want to splash out there is always an option to visit Bettys Tea room and shop. Play area for the children and plenty of seating to relax in.

A short walk in Valley Gardens during a day out in Harrogate. It is a beautiful park that offers not only green area where you can have picnic, walk your dog, jog or have family time; it offers you a tranquil space with lots of flowers and plants where you can unwind and immerse yourself in nature's beauty. The park has well maintained grounds, you can visit Japanese Garden, New Zealand garden, woodlands or be active and spend some time at boating pool, skate park, tennis court, crazy golf, paddling pool or playground. Whatever you decide to to, the place has something to offer to everyone. If you need some refreshments, there is a cafe and refreshments spot next to Games Pavilion. Toilets available as well.

What an absolute gem of a park. Very picturesque, serene and pleasant walk through with a beautiful victoriana style cafe and beautiful views across the park. Plenty of benches for seating. I saw a few dog walkers. One thing I notices was how clean and well kept it was. Also, I didn't see any noticeable dog doodoos which was great. I could spend a day there with a book, flask with hot tea and snacks and relax and down tools. It has a very calming aura. I think there's a hotel on the higher ground overlooking the park? I think it's a lovely place to go to get some quiet time or to go for a nice sit and chat.

Beautiful and well maintained gardens. Even at the end of October there were still flowers in bloom. I imagine this park is lovely in all seasons but the autumn colours were stunning. Once a month, on a Sunday, there is an artisan market. There was a range of food & drink stalls, stands selling gifts, and more.

Possibly the most beautiful public park I’ve ever visited. This park is incredible. The variety of gardens and woodland is stunning and the children’s play area is incredible. There are food vendors within the park and you can easily spend a few hours just walking around.

Beautiful park, amazing trees and plants. Had a funfair in park if you have little ones. Live music and has tennis courts and mini golf. Not sure if fair and live music on all time but we went on Sunday 27th July.

“A real jewel of Harrogate — the Valley Gardens are bursting with colour, winding paths, and hidden corners. From the elegant Sun Pavilion to the Japanese Garden, it’s a place where every turn feels like it's straight from a postcard. Whether you’re strolling with family, stopping for coffee, or simply breathing in the roses, it’s a slice of calm and beauty in the middle of town and bursting with charm.

First time visit and a truly lovey gardens. Love band playing which had a good crowd. A farmers/craft market was also on, plenty of choice and all good quality but we didn’t purchase anything on this occasion.

We finally visited the Abbey in August after months of anticipation, and it did not disappoint. The Abbey itself is absolutely stunning. We parked in the village car park, which is just next to the site, although there is also a car park on the property. The location is well-maintained, with a shop and cafe at the entrance, as well as a small museum on-site. We spent a couple of hours exploring, even bringing a picnic to enjoy there. Helpful information boards are scattered throughout to guide you during the visit. It's a beautiful spot, and we’ll definitely be back

An ethereal, spiritual experience. The wonderful quiet, with sound lead by the wind passing through the ruins. One could swear that they were hearing the thousands of voices of those who have lived there for the past 1000 years. A most wonderful place.

This is definitely one of those sort of places that is so much more than the sum of it's parts. Blue sky, a splash of sunshine, vibrant green grass and towering walls of stone providing whispered suggestions of what might have been if the buildings had been left untouched. All combine together to provide that kind of magical experience that can never be quite adequately defined in mere words. I loved this place, and I feel it stands on a par with other similar attractions (Fountains Abbey etc) that will also be competing for your time. Come here and lose yourself in the wonder of it all.

Superb Cistercian abbey. Great tea rooms. Good gift shop. All of it is dog friendly. Good museum. Probably takes at least an hour to two hours, but could take a lot longer if you like reading everything. Lots of parking - on busy days they open up a field a little short of the abbey itself to use as an overflow car park.

The Abbey ruins are substantial & are accompanied by a small museum but imho if you aren’t an EH member the admission prices are prohibitive. Thankfully we had a free entry barcode. The other major negative with Rievaulx is the car park is too small to cope with demand, people were boxing other drivers in & generally parking inappropriately both in the car park and outside it on the small country lanes.

After searching for abbey ruins in Yorkshire, I happened to come across Rievaulx Abbey. Seeing as I'd never been here before, I thought it would be an experience, to come and pay a visit. I'm glad I did, these ruins are beautiful and a fascinating insight, into the past. Of course, if you're an English Heritage member, parking and entry will be free. But I didn't mind paying the £15 for entry and the £6.00 for parking (mind you, that was all day!) There was the option, of getting 2-3 hours. However, I wanted to take my time and not have to clock-watch so the parking didn't run out. There was a brief wait to pay, but the pleasant gentleman at the counter made purchasing an entry ticket a breeze. Through the automatic double doors, you walk along the path and then, as you clear the trees, begin to bear witness to this magnificent structure once teeming with life and monks, dedicated to their faith and monastic lives. These are ruins which, in my opinion, are still in fantastic condition and so allow you to really picture, what it would have looked like all those years ago. To stand in the main part of the church, is quite an experience indeed. You get a real sense, of just how huge this place really was! I loved that there were boards along the route, which were great with the complimentary audio guide, which helped to tell the story of this once busy and thriving abbey. You don't have to have the audio guide, but if you are interested to learn more than what the information boards tell you, I'd highly recommend! There are benches and tables as you exit the gift shop, on the grassy area to your left, along with benches dotted around the ruins too, particularly around the cloister garden, which makes for a very peaceful place, to stop and admire what once was. When you return to the main building, as I mentioned earlier, there is a gift shop to pick up a fridge magnet or a postcard (along with some other, cool things too!) There's also a cafe too, if you're wanting to sit and enjoy a hot/cold drink with a slice of cake (I believe there are other things on the menu too). However I cannot comment on this, as I decided to head into the nearby market town of Helmsley. If you're someone who loves history and enjoys taking in ancient ruins, then this is definitely somewhere you won't want to miss. Just a word of caution, that the road to and from the car park can be quite narrow in parts, along with walkers that use it too! So please do be careful, when going down there.

Frienrly service, well maintained area and very informative audio guide. The Abbey ruins are absolutely fascinating. It's been a bit bothersome that some hobby singers used the ruins as a backdrop for a video of their horrible caterwauling when we visited, but that didn't diminish the overall experience.

A great place to visit. Excellent information about the birds of prey and you can really get up close to them. The flying display was brilliant and the staff very knowledgeable. Definitely be visiting again when we are in the area.

This is the best birds of prey park we visited, beautiful birds, the shows are absolutely amazing, very educational with a great mix of humour. Charlie and his team very passionate about their work. Highly recommend to visit, we visited twice already, incomparable experience.

Brilliant day out and value for money! The centre is well laid out and clean, the welcome was warm and it is great to see these birds being so well looked after. Each enclosure has useful information about each bird, but not so much that you spend all day reading. The falconry displays are a must. I've been to several of these at other places, but the ones here were very well done. A good mixture of information and humour and the star of the show are always the birds, who show you just how amazing and unique they are. The ticket allows you to come and go as you please throughout the day, so if you fancy a stroll into nearby Helmsley, this is entirely possible. All in all a really enjoyable and informative day out.

Beautiful birds and fantastic talks. We attended the 11:3am talk on 25th, really enjoyed seeing the birds different personalities and natures. The information given in the talks was delivered excellently, clearly and I found to be very informative and entertaining. Will be coming back again.

We took our grandson here during the Easter school holidays. He really wanted to see some Eagles. We visited in the morning and saw the first flying display. Even though a member of staff said it wasn't ideal weather for flying some of the birds it was still very enjoyable and the staff are so knowledgable and have a good relationship with the birds they are handling. Our grandson would really have liked to see some of the bigger birds flying but he enjoyed it just the same and he did see one of the smaller Eagles in the display. You are able to watch all the displays if you want and can wander round the parkland or pop into Helmsley and then go back into the centre with your wristband. We weren't able to do this as a family member we were visiting with has mobility issues and it was just too much for them. Next time we visit we'll make sure it's a warmer day so at least they can sit while we wander around. There is a lovely little cafe where we had a bit of lunch. We had a lovely few hours and will certainly visit again.

So cool!! What an awesome experience. Leave 2-3 hours to enjoy it properly. There are 2/3 shows a day. Each show is about an hour, we stayed for two, one at 2pm and one at 4:15pm. Depending on the weather different birds are flown. Expect owls if it’s bad weather, raptors in the windy weather and eagles in the sunshine! The staff clearly know their stuff and the birds are so impressive, there is also a cute little cafe and a picnic area. It’s a 12 minute, very pretty walk, a little uphill from the town through a park. Great for families but also for adults. 10/10

An amazing experience being able to interact with such majestic creatures. The preserve has dozens of different species of birds of pray from tiny burrowing owls to giant condors. The live flight experience was amazing with birds flying inches above your head. The best being the fishing eagle getting bored and landing on a bench. Cool guy. There's a great café and you have the option of walking around the huge grounds as part of the entrance price. There are also options of having one on one experiences walking the grounds with the birds. The preserve is right on the edge of Helmsley so you can visit the historic town, it's beautiful castle or (my favourite) the Hemsley brewery. All in all a great day out!

Had the best day with our 8 year old. Booked for the Hawk walk and time handling the owls. Wow! What an experience. Billy was out falconer for the Hawk walk and owls. We couldn't of asked for a nicer person . Very knowledgeable , Interesting and passionate about the birds. The 3 of us and Billy took Maverick the Harris Hawk for a walk around grounds holding and flying him ourselves. Amazing. Then we took part in the flying show for everyone , you get to be very close to lots of the birds. Then we had a behind the scenes with the owls , so interesting. Can't praise the staff here enough. Great people , clearly very passionate and doing great things. Small cafe and toilets on site.

Honestly one of the best experience days out i have had in memory. The birds were very well cared from, free flown as much as needed, each enclosure was clean and well kept. Each member of staff was amazing, our favorite for George, you could see the love he and each bird that he handled, the bonds were very obvious. The talks were very interesting, not just your normal long winded talk. It was entertaining along with any member of the visiting customers that wanted to handle the birds out on display they could. The owner, you could feel his passion and it was infectious. My only piece of advice that I wish we knew before coming...... neither of us drive and Google maps was not helpful, as it dropped us off on the bus in the middle of nowhere with a 45 min walk along main roads with not a single foot path, we mentioned this when we arrived and was given a motherly telling off for not calling them and would have been picked up from the bus stop. So if you dont drive, please call ahead. They are however moving soon and there are easier public access links.

Truly the most phenomenal experience! My fiancé and I have visited on two occasions now and absolutely cant wait to return. It’s my favorite part about visiting York. The level of care, attention, and love all the staff provide for each and every bird is tangible. The hawk walk experience is an absolute must! Elisha was the most attentive, knowledgeable, and kind falconer. We can’t wait to come back the next time I visit from the states. I tell everyone back home about it - its truly awe inspiring & leaves a lasting impact, long after you leave.

Lovely people, extremely knowledgeable. Very educational and great fun flying the birds. A privilege to handle a Golden Eagle. Will definitely be back.

My partner and I had a great day out at the Bird of Prey Centre, we would love to come back one day soon. Billy was the falconer showing us the birds and letting us handle them, he was super friendly and really made the experience for us. It’s so admirable the amount of knowledge he shared with us and just how passionate he is about them. The family working inside were really lovely and welcoming too. Thank you for a great day!

I had a Photogaphy day at York bird of prey centre bought for me as a birthday present last year and last Friday 27th June i managed to use my ticket. What fantastic day i had over 6 hours in total and also fed and drink included at dinner time. I spent the day with Billy who was very knowledgeable and also keen to share his knowlrdge. I got handle many of the birds watched the displays even went into some of the enclosures during feeding time ect. I took many photo's of the birds flying and portrait's also a great experiance of watching and photography of a lure session with one of the Hawkes. All of the staff were very friendly and i would love to visit again maybe when they move to their new premises.

An incredible place enabling you to see amazing owls, hawks, eagles etc close up and personal. Great to be able to see the birds flying during the displays plus ability to 'hold' them with a gloved hand. Staff (mainly volunteers) are clearly passionate about the subject which comes across during the flying/handling events. The little cafe on site provides nice food/cakes/drinks ar reasonable prices plus there's a little picnic area to eat both the cafe food or if you take your own ... there's also a little play area for the kids! The Centre is moving down the road to bigger premises towards the year end I was told, which will provide a larger area and dedicated flying 'arena' for the birds. A brilliant day out for young and old alike and highly recommended for a visit 🦅🦉🦜

One thing that stood out from our visit was the friendliness and helpfulness of all the staff. It's evident that they enjoy their jobs and take great pride in the property. All of them are happy to answer questions. The gardens are not only colourful, historic and beautiful but an evolving work of art. The new and delightful Mediterranean garden with its meandering paths, colourful planting and water features was particularly popular the day we went and will look even better as it becomes more established. The older areas are lovingly maintained and the many fruits and vegetables from the kitchen gardens are harvested and made use of. Further changes and enhancements are on the way. There are information boards scattered around the grounds. Be prepared to spend several hours wandering around the different areas; there is a lot to see. The gardens are definitely the major attraction but the house, with its towering, startlingly proportioned, entrance hall is definitely worth a visit. You will gain a great deal by talking to the knowledgeable and helpful staff about it. Without doing so you will miss details like the discreetly tucked away servants stairs and the graffiti. There is a spacious and pleasant cafe area with plenty of seating inside and out which has a good range of food and snacks. There is a separate hatch, which provides ice creams.

Well this was a really pleasant unexpected surprise. I’m not sure what I expected but it wasn’t this. A beautiful home with 16 foot beds and intricately carved pine wood walls. A home of opulence on the “cheaper” side. I challenged why all the wood was painted in one of the rooms and the lovely guide whose name I think was Julie ( maybe, there was also a Jayne and a Charlotte) Explained the reason why, but I think that the original owners were just being wise with their spending! What I do love about these historic homes is the guides. They might just be hanging out in rooms but I always make a point of asking them a question. Charlotte even agreed to a painting!! Loved the art space upstairs and the kids activity room all based on nature. The gardens were beautiful and it was nice that they have different coloured path routes. They also have a change room and rentable scooters for physically impaired. Also loved that the downstairs staff say #scone as in Gone, and it still has freshly made Scones made on sight. Also note that I loved the drive… and crossing the toll bridge!!

One of the best National Trust properties I’ve visited. Welcoming and knowledgeable volunteers, interesting house with interesting history, extensive and varied gardens with fabulous fruit! The cafe served quality food and with the sun shining it was a pleasure to sit out and enjoy it. Well stocked shop and well maintained toilets. Loved it!

Lovely day out with the grandchildren. They really enjoyed going around the grounds and house finding the different characters on the sheet they had and were pleased to get their stickers and sheet stamped when they'd finished. The restaurant was busy and there was a queue for the ice cream but it was a hot day. The gardens were lovely. I particularly liked the new Mediterranean Garden.

One of the National Trust places on our doorstep but we visited last weekend with our daughter. The weather was lovely so we did the trail for kids which was ok but is very similar to the others which are on. The cafe is nice but is a little expensive for what you get but we got a latte, a brew and some cake which was nice. The play area is great for kids and so are the grounds especially the new Mediterranean garden. All in all It’s a lovely place for a few hours to relax and have some family fun

Directions to Beningbrough need to be improved despite using satnav. The new Mediterranean garden was impressive, worthy of a visit alone. A new Wilderness garden is ongoing which I look forward to exploring. The cafe spacious, plenty of tables outside to eat. Staff very friendly and attentive.

Lovely place and its nice to see all the gardens are being revamped! Only thing that got us was for such a big building theres only a handful of rooms open to the public and not much information about each room or about the house if you dont go for a talk (we didn't as there was already a talk in progress when we got there). Its not a massive place and we walked around the whole house and gardens and had lunch in less than 2 hours, but what was there was well worth a look!

I’ve been to many museums around the world, and this is definitely one of the best. The collection is astounding and there’s so much to see, you’ll need a whole day to do it justice. It’s great for all ages and you don’t need to have a particular interest in armies or weapons to enjoy your visit. The displays are beautifully arranged. The museum is free to enter and there are multiple free shows for kids and adults alike to enjoy throughout the day. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in Leeds.

Fantastic day out. Loads to see and interact with. The historic role plays are very informative. A well stocked shop has plenty of items for all ages. If you fancy a snack and drink then the cafe has it all. There is a car park very close.

The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds is a treasure trove of history, offering a fascinating journey through centuries of arms and armour. The Royal Armouries itself dates back to the 15th century, originally serving as the national collection of arms and armour for the monarchy. Today, its Leeds museum houses this incredible collection, making it one of the UK’s most important historical institutions. The museum is divided into several impressive galleries, each highlighting different aspects of military history: • The Tournament Gallery showcases medieval European armour, including full suits worn by knights, ceremonial helmets, and weapons used in jousting and battle. It’s a striking insight into the skill, artistry, and traditions of the medieval period. • The War Gallery presents a chronological view of warfare through the ages, featuring firearms, muskets, and rifles alongside historical accounts that show how weaponry shaped battles and societies. • The Oriental Armour Gallery highlights arms and armour from Asia and the Middle East, offering a fascinating glimpse into the craftsmanship, styles, and cultures beyond Europe. The museum also features live demonstrations of swords, archery, and firearms, making history interactive and engaging for visitors of all ages. The exhibits are meticulously curated, providing context and storytelling alongside the stunning collection. Best of all, entry is completely free, allowing everyone to explore this incredible heritage without cost. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a student, or visiting with family, the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds offers a deeply educational and inspiring experience, celebrating the artistry, innovation, and history of arms and armour through the centuries.

A must if you're in Leeds. Free entry and four floors to explore with a ticketed seasonal exhibit on the top floor. Pieces of armour and weapons from all around the world and from many different time periods, arranged from oldest to newest. There is also a peace exhibit. Most of the Asian/African pieces are on the fourth floor, which was my favourite part of the museum. Live events happen throughout the day, tickets are available for seated positions with standing tickets free and first come first served. Showing up about twenty minutes before start time will almost guarantee you a seat but means you miss time in the museum. Modern building that is walkable from the corn exchange and main shopping district easily in about 15-20 minutes. I recommend the walk in daylight hours. There is also a water taxi service available that terminates near the entrance and a bus that gets you most of the way there, look online for full schedules and details.

I’ve been visiting the Royal Armouries in Leeds since I was a child, and it remains a timeless experience. Some of the exhibits are clearly veterans of many years, but they add to the charm of returning time and again. It’s a brilliant place for kids – the interactive displays bring history to life across different time periods without being frightening or sensationalised. One of the highlights, as always, is the magnificent elephant in its suit of armour – though I still don’t know how they manage to get it to stand so patiently all day while visitors admire it! My favourite exhibit was a temporary film and TV exhibit in 2008 which I visited with my high school history class and was able to view arms and armour from the critically acclaimed Lord of the Rings and Narnia feature films. On this visit, we enjoyed the temporary Roman Gladiator exhibition, which was well worth the small entry fee (the main museum remains free). A special mention to the kind lady at the desk who offered concession entry for NHS/Blue Light card holders – much appreciated. The museum could benefit from clearer signage, as it’s quite easy to lose oneself in the vast collection. I was a little bemused to find Steven Gerrard among the Tudor plate armour, but equally delighted to see Princess Diana represented in the peace exhibit – a thoughtful touch. The visit finished, as always, with a trip through the extensive and tempting gift shop. Overall, the Royal Armouries is a wonderful museum, full of history, surprises, and memories – well worth visiting, whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth.

A wonderful place to visit. Free entry. Lots and lots of exhibitions covering many centuries. We spent couple of hours in here but needed much longer. It’s really well spaced out, so even though it was busy it wasn’t cramped. Air con was very welcome. Kids loved the show that was on. Lots and lots to do and see and it’s set at leeds dock which is also a fab place to visit

Go early to catch as many shows as you can. We were there only able to catch the last 2 shows of the day. Hall of steel is an amazing hall to awe. A showcase in a gallery called Make Belief includes knife crime which is important for kids nowadays. A display on peace is too tug away. Though it is free admission, they seem keen on gaining donation to support the operation.

A good day out for all the family, make sure you check out both ends of the site. Lots of history and exhibitions which are all interesting. The staff are really friendly and helpful, always willing to tell you stories of pit life and work. However......few things that let it down: 1. Car park not the biggest when events are on. 2. Many of the hands on exhibits were either broken or not working... Disappointing for the kids. 3. Outdoor play area showing signs of age and worn or broken parts. But the worst......was the café....very slow service, menu limited(if you find one) and very expensive and poorly presented. No price list in wall. Coffee was cold and took an age to make. Shame about the above points, as I think we would go more....but until it improves probably not.

Completely free unless you wish to donate. Helpful staff. Was there on a quite day so we got to experience the exhibits. The later half after the nature walk is definitely the best bit. Quite a few of the attractions were not open and some of the electronics were not working. We went on a Sunday. Big plot, lovely walk and lots of nature around. Some of the machines looked great, but had definitely seen better days. All in all a decent and interesting day out

Great museum. Spent a good few hours there. Unfortunately no underground tours at the moment due to strikes but still had a really good day. The tour of the bath house and time tunnel were both fantastic. Walked through the nature trail to see the pit pony centre.

Power house and cafe was closed today. Would be good to have a couple of motorbike parking spaces out of the way. Rest of the museum was great. Staff very friendly and helpful. Tour guide Jack 😉 to take us down the mine was very informative and knowledgeable.

Fantastic place to visit book and go down 140 meters to the coal face Joe took us down very knowledgeable and a laugh to boot couldn't ask for more thank you childrens play area and picnic tables. Cafe closed when we went so unable to comment on it but overall highly recommend going

Absolutely brilliant. This is a great family attraction. My second visit after a good few years. We did the underground tour, with Gaz our guide. I have to give this man a massive shout out. On our tour we had two nervous little boys. Gaz was brilliant with them both and really brought them into the tour. A great sense of humour and a marvellous singing voice. On our way back to the surface he sang a very haunting song. His voice carried so well as we ascended. It gave me goosebumps and I admit, I filled up. While you are getting kitted up, have your photo done. We spent five hours here and I know we didn't cover everything. The train ride was great and the two guys on duty were lovely. Chatty and cheerful, with a great sense of humour. Visit the cafe for a beverage and a bite to eat, you won't be disappointed. The gift shop is well stocked and here you can collect your photos. Toilet facilities and parking onsite. We paid £7.50 parking and £7.50 each for the underground tour. They also give you a souvenir tally. Lots to see and learn about. The mining history can be quite sad. A fantastic day, well done to all the staff at Caphouse, we will be back 😀

A lovely place with friendly staff. You can spend about 1.5 hours visiting the museum and there is a large playground for your kid.

Great place, we upgraded to a season pass as we enjoyed it that much. The weekend we attended there was a special 1940's weekend on. So there were numerous Second World War exhibits, the people who brought the items were very knowledgeable and great at getting the kids involved. The sun was glorious, so we didn't go into the historic house, we are saving this for our next visit. We did however go and see the animals in the zoo area. The penguins were our favourite, followed by the tapier. The place has ample parking and a good playground for the kids, if you live within an hour, it's a great place for a day out.

A lovely place to spend the weekend. I especially loved the wildlife area, it was fantastic. Although the zoo is small, I still spent almost 2 hours there. The historic house and beautiful gardens are also worth exploring. The art gallery also offers costumes and toys for children to enjoy dress-up and play.

We loved it here. The house and gardens are in excellent condition and there are some beautiful trees, plants & flowers. It cost us £10 each to enter. We bought tickets in advance. We enjoyed our time in the orchard including try a few of the 100 varieties of apples. We didn't visit the wildlife enclosure because we had our dog Stan with us and no dogs allowed (understandably) definitely worth a visit 😊

A fantastic afternoon spent walking around the grounds, the woods and the gardens before strolling around the Wildlife Park which has a great variety of animals in spacious enclosures. Rounded off with a visit to the House and taking in the history and artefacts of a very well maintained manor. Lovely!

Great place for the children and perhaps adults alike. Lots of animals to see, a playground to suit all young ages, cafe in the square (a little pricey) but ample choice for snacks or main meals. There is an indoor play area set to open in the autumn which after a glance through the window looks exciting. All in all a good day out.

A beautiful day spent looking at cars from the Porsche Festival. It was situated in a field within the grounds. There were plenty of parking and admission was £10.50 per person. It’s also dog friendly! There was also a local jazz band playing in the summer tent and what a lovely day to hear them blast some relaxing tunes!!

Lotherton Hall is a gated Edwardian estate near Leeds, rich in history and home to Wildlife World — a growing zoo with rare species like penguins, wallabies, and capybaras. It’s family-friendly, accessible by car, bus, and train, with parking and ticket options both online and on-site. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Lotherton Hall — A Historic Gem with Wildlife Wonders & Family Fun I recently visited Lotherton Hall, just outside Leeds, and although part of the estate was closed that day, the experience was still memorable. This gated Edwardian estate, managed by Leeds Museums & Galleries, offers a unique blend of history, nature, and family-friendly attractions. 🏛️ History & Heritage Lotherton Hall dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, with the current hall built in the 19th century and expanded by the Gascoigne family. The estate includes a 12th-century chapel, formal gardens, and beautifully preserved interiors that reflect its aristocratic past. 🦜 Wildlife World & Bird Garden The highlight for families is Wildlife World, which started in 1980 and now houses over 130 species of birds and animals. You’ll find: Humboldt penguins Wallabies Capybaras Andean condors Snowy owls Kookaburras They offer animal experiences where you can feed and interact with select species — a great treat for kids and adults alike. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Amenities Two playgrounds with zip wires and climbing frames Woodland walks and picnic areas A stables café and gift shop Seasonal events like Santa visits and themed festivals Accessible paths and pushchair-friendly grounds has toilet facilities, including accessible and baby-changing options. You’ll find toilets in the Stables Courtyard, inside the house, and near the café. There’s also a Changing Places toilet with a hoist and adjustable changing bed for visitors with additional needs. These facilities are clean, spacious, and well-maintained and making it a comfortable visit for families, elderly guests, and those with disabilities. Let me know if you’d like help planning a full day itinerary or writing a family-friendly review! 🚗 Getting There & Parking By Car: Located off Collier Lane, Aberford, near the A1(M) and M1, about 30 minutes from Leeds or York. Parking: On-site parking is available and well-marked. By Train: Nearest station is Garforth, 4 miles away. By Bus: Routes 64, 174, and 164 connect from Leeds and nearby towns. The nearest stop is in Aberford, about a 20–25 minute walk. 🎟️ Tickets Available online or at the entrance Adult tickets around £10, with discounts for children and families Season passes available for frequent visitors 📝 Final Thoughts Even with partial closure, Lotherton Hall impressed me with its evolving infrastructure, rich history, and engaging wildlife exhibits. It’s a perfect day out for families, nature lovers, and history buffs. I’d love to return during a full open day or special event! 📍 Address: Off Collier Lane, Aberford, Leeds LS25 3EB 📞 Contact: +44 113 378 2959 🌐 Website: Leeds Museums & Galleries source : co-pilot