York Castle Museum - social history brought to life

Advantages: excellent location and fantastic displays of 400 years of local history.
Disadvantages: no audio guide and limited toilet facilities.

...On 1 October 2009 I visited York Castle Museum for the first time. It is a social history museum that is located in York on the very site of York Castle, which was originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068. It is two minutes walk from Clifford?s Tower and five minutes from Jorvik Viking Centre. It is considered to be a landmark in the development of museums and has twice won the York Tourism Award for best attraction. During the 18th century the museum buildings were used as a prison. First they were a Debtor?s Prison and then later a Female Prison. As a museum it was founded by Dr John Kirk in 1938, who was a Yorkshire country doctor and a passionate collector of historical items used daily in the local area. Today the museum collection is of national importance in its scope and quality. So far over 31 million people have...

happysh2009 08.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of York Castle Museum, York

My 10 Snapshots of the National Railway Museum

Advantages: free entrance, fantastic collection of railway related memorabilia.
Disadvantages: none that I could see.

...The National Railway Museum (often shortened to NRM) in York has been open to the public since 1975, and now has become one of the largest and richest collections of railway related material in the world. It has won many awards including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001. NRM is located in Leeman Road, next to York railway station. There are three main areas open to visitors: Great Hall, Station Hall and Outdoor Play Area. Historically the Great Hall was York?s North Motive Power Depot (an engine shed) which originally had 4 locomotive turntables. Station Hall was the main goods (freight) transhipment station for York and the Works was the York Diesel Locomotive Depot until 1986. Today mainly in the Station Hall there are displays about the historical development of the railway industry and British locomotives. In...

happysh2009 17.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of National Railway Museum, York

York castle museum

Advantages: layout
Disadvantages: finding the place

...Adult £6.50 Concession £5 Child £3.50 Children under five Free Family rates ( two adults with any number of children): Adult, £6, Child, £3. Group discount with group organiser going free Toilet facilities available Function,s available from 6pm A wonderful day out for all the family, walk along cobbled streets of victorian york , all the little shops from sweet shop to candlemakers, even a prison and fire house ( the sweet shop actually smells like a sweet shop and the candlemakers smelled like the real thing was amazing to see hear and smell what it used to be like. all located indoors in what looks like very real believable streets. Walk through the 1950,s to the present day and what the houses used to look like , i even saw my old kitchen we had in the 80,s wow did everyone have the same one !! was looking back...

retrobabe1971 04.10.2005 · Read review
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Review of York Castle Museum, York

The finest social history museum in England

Advantages: Designated collections, city centre location, hands-on activities
Disadvantages: Limited access for wheelchairs, poor security

...I have been to York several times, but strangely enough for me, the castle museum was one of the attractions that I didn't get around to visiting until just recently. To be honest, I was not quite sure what to expect from the museum (although the name implied that it was the history of the nearby castle), and visited more because it was cold outside rather than anything else! I was very pleasantly surprised though - it was far bigger than I had expected, and had won the York Tourism Award for best attraction for the past two years. And it was very quiet; I assume that everyone else must have been queuing up at Jorvik... ● Location Personally, I think York is a wonderful place, and it is easily accessible from all over the north of England - I live in Newcastle, and it is just an hour away by train. The castle museum is...

Collingwood21 30.01.2003 · Read review
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Review of York Castle Museum

A day at the National Railway Museum

Advantages: Lot's to see, Interaction, Great education for the kids, free entry
Disadvantages: Expensive parking

...York has a vast amount of history connected with the railways. The first station was built in 1839 and was the main trunk route to London via Rugby and Derby. At the time York was only connected to routes going south. Rail demand increased and in 1877, the decision was made to move to a new location so it could serve routes all over the country. When the station was finally complete, it was the biggest station in the world at that time. GNER now have their headquaters based in the city and around the station, there are a few streets named after famous people like George Hudson for example. With all this in mind, it was only fitting that when the huge locomotives retired, they were housed in a giant museum in York. -History- Back in 1975, the National Railway Museum took over the British Railways collection which had...

bifbails 29.01.2006 · Read review
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Review of National Railway Museum, York

Night at the Museum

Advantages: Great comedy and pure entertainment
Disadvantages: a little slow to begin.. but not for long though.

...Director: Shawn Levy Producers: Shawn Levy and Stephen Sommers. Writer: Milan Trenc, Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon. Stars: Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs, Jake Cherry, Charlie MurphyRami Malek, Pierfrancesco Favino,Ricky Gervais, Patrick Gallagher, Robin Williams and Kim Raver Released in Late 2006 this comedy, (I believe is based on a 1993 novel by Milan Trenc), revolved around a Museum and its mystical effects on a night watchman. **BRIEF PLOT** In New York city's Museum of Natural History Lawrence 'Larry' Daley, (played by Ben Stiller) begins a job as a night watchman, mainly to gain the respect of his son Nick, (played by Jake Cherry). Larry has had many dead end jobs in the passed, failing at all he tries, and is so terrified that Nick will prefer spending time with his...

blissman70 04.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Night At The Museum (DVD)

National Railway Museum, free after 1st December.

Advantages: Good for children and adults
Disadvantages: Vast

...From December 1st all national museums are free icluding the Railway Museum. However, my recent visit to the Railway Museum at York cost £22.50 for three adults and three children (admission for children is free). Nevertheless, the NRM made a brilliant day out. It’s a great place for railway enthusiasts and children alike. I was not expecting anything quite as vast as this museum – believe me – it’s absolutely enormous. So if you are planning a visit, try and make a day of it but even if you can’t spare that sort of time – half a day in this museum is worthwhile. As you might imagine full of trains – so it has to be vast to accommodate them all. Put a good pair of walking shoes on because there is a lot of walking to do. How to get there The NRM is ten minutes walk from York Railway...

Conicview 26.11.2001 (28.11.2001) · Read review
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Review of National Railway Museum (York)

The Booth Museum, Brighton

Advantages: Free admission, lots to see
Disadvantages: None for me

...The Booth Museum is located on Brighton's suburban back streets well away from the town centre but having said that it is on Dyke Road (the A2010) which is one of the major routes through the town and so it is relatively easy to find. The museum is named after the Victorian natural historian Edward Thomas Booth who spent much of his life in Brighton. Primarily it houses his personal collection of stuffed birds but there are also animals, insects, fossils and skeletons. These collections were amassed during his lifetime and contain over half a million different specimens. He lived between 1840 and 1890. Like most Victorian naturalists of the time he was an avid collector. It seems odd nowadays to think that someone that was considered to be such a lover of these creatures should hunt them down and shoot them. However we need to...

micksheff 11.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Booth Museum of Natural History (Brighton)

York Minster

Advantages: Size And Amazing Architecture
Disadvantages: Foundations where a bit scary for me

...I love york and whenever possible go for a weekend. Whilst there I always visit York Minster and usually stay in an Inn a few feet away directly facing the Minster. The first thing that strikes you is the size of it and the fabulous architecture (it's over 500 feet wide and has a central tower almost 200 feet high). Visitors come from all over the world to admire York Minster Cathedral. Whilst you are looking around the Minster bear in mind it took over 250 years to complete and the only devices they had then were simple levers, pulleys and hoists. Lots of Masons and Carpenters spent their entire working lives just helping to construct York Minster. In the year 306A.D. Constantine was proclaimed Emperor in a ceremony which took place on the sight of the future Minister, there is a statue of him looking very Imperial outside...

debmercury 12.04.2008 (26.04.2008) · Read review
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Review of York Minster, York

Royal York Hotel, York

Advantages: Beautiful surroundings, leisure faclities
Disadvantages: slightly expensive

...can only assume that these were the wedding party. The function was on until 1am and we could hear the disco even though we were on the third floor of the hotel. This didn't bother us but I would have fancied being in any rooms over the suite and having to rise early the next morning. It may be an idea to request a room at the opposite end of the hotel if you felt this would be an issue. But as I say, this wasn't an issue for us at all. ~~~Location~~~ The hotel is situated across the road from the city walls and the inside of the walls is a mere 2 minute walk. All restaurants, bars and clubs are inside the walls and very close. York main train station is located behind the hotel which is useful if you plan to arrive by train. The railway museum is located behind the hotel, as is the York wheel. All local attractions are within a 5...

sharkel 28.02.2007 (03.03.2007) · Read review
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Review of The Royal York, York