Museums of the North York Moors

The North York Moors that surround the beautiful village of Rosedale Abbey are jam-packed full of places of interest to any visitor holidaying on the Moors.

We are certainly lucky to have more than enough to keep the history buff in any family happy; as the Moors are home to some fantastic museums.

Listed below are just some of our favourite museums that are worth a visit at any time of year.

But they make particularly good places for a day out if the weather isn't so good during your visit to Rosedale.

Our Favourites

Beck Isle Museum of Rural Life

Located in Pickering town centre and just 15-minutes drive from Rosella Cottage.

For further details and opening times, please telephone 01751 473 653.

Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum

The drive to Great Ayton over the moors is a day-out in itself but the Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum provides a fascinating insight into our Greatest Explorer's schooldays in North Yorkshire.

Castle Howard

One of England’s finest stately homes and one of the top ten greatest mansions in the World – according to the Lonely Planet Guide!

No trip to this region is complete without a visit to Castle Howard.

There are over 1,000 acres of grounds to explore, plus the house itself; and a farm shop, and garden centre.

For recorded visitor information, telephone 01653 648 333.

Margrove Heritage Museum.

The Margrove Heritage Museum at Margrove Park near Guisborough charts the impact of natural and human actions on the landscape of the North York Moors.

Ryedale Folk Museum

Just ten-minutes drive from Rosedale Abbey in Hutton-le-Hole. The Ryedale Folk Museum was proclaimed the winner of Yorkshire's best Museum in 2013. Enough said really. For further details and opening times, please telephone 01751 417 367.

Robin Hood's Bay Museum

Showcases a display of coastal fossils, geologicla specimens and local maritime history.

Whitby Museum and Pannet Art Gallery

Our favourite Museum during a day out in Whitby. Plenty to see and easy to spend a whole day here; so particularly good on a wet, rainy day.

Captain Cook Museum

On Grape Lane in the "Old Town" on the East side of Whitby.

A real gem and well worth a visit.

Scarborough Rotunda Museum

Offers a great collection of regional archaeology.

Spout House, Billsdale

A renovated, thatched, cruck-framed 16th-century house and one-time Inn showcasing how people used to live on the North York Moors in the Middle-Ages.

Now cared for by the National Park Authority.

National Park Visitor Centre, Danby

Just 15-minutes across the Moors from Rosedale you'll find the National Park Visitor Centre at Danby Lodge.

Loads of ever-changing displays that help visitors interpret the Moorland landscape and social environment.

Captain Cook Museum at Stewart Park

The largest and most imnportant of the local museums celebrating the life and times of Captain James Cook.

Start-point for the Captain Cook Heritgae Trail.

Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum at Skinningrove

A fascinating museum which today offers visitors an opportunity to experience the underground world of a real ironstone mine and to explore the skills, customs and life of the miners. For opening times and other details, telephone 01287 642 877