09/06/2026
🏡If you're staying at Millgate Fosse Cottage here in Richmond and maybe the Yorkshire weather isn't playing ball...or you need to cool off inside, there are plenty of fascinating indoor attractions right on your doorstep. These suggestions from Yorkshire Treasures are great for an escape from the elements! 🌦️☀️🌦️
🏰In Richmond itself, visit the Georgian Theatre Royal, the Richmondshire Museum and the Green Howards Museum, or spend a few hours at The Station – home to art galleries, a three-screen cinema, independent shops, an award-winning bakery, ice cream parlour, café bar and craft brewery. Richmond Castle also has a museum space telling the story of people, history and living heritage - find out about the castle's history, from the 11th-century Norman conquest to its occupation by the northern Non-Combatant Corps during the First World War.
🚗Just a short drive away, you can explore the Swaledale Museum in Reeth, the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes, historic Kiplin Hall and Bolton Castle.
Whether you're interested in local history, culture, art or simply finding somewhere warm and welcoming or cool and refreshing to spend a few hours, you'll be spoilt for choice during your stay in the Yorkshire Dales! 😀🌂🍦
Looking for some indoor activities? Over 20 great places to visit for history and culture lovers:
- Swaledale Museum is a small museum crammed with fascinating items, with a hands-on approach to history
- Join a tour and enjoy the Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, North Yorkshire Experience in Richmond, led by a knowledgeable guide who will tell you about the shows, actors and audiences from Georgian times
- Visit the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes to discover the story of the people and landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, past and present
- Visit 17th century Kiplin Hall by George Calvert, Secretary of State to James I and the founder of Maryland, USA. There's also an award-winning tea room!
- Venture underground and explore one of the show caves at Stump Cross Caverns, Ingleborough Cave and White Scar Cave
- There are plenty of indoor areas at Bolton Castle including the armoury, dungeon, Great Chamber, old kitchens, nursery and bed chambers.
- Explore every corner of Skipton Castle, from the Banqueting Hall, the Kitchen, the Bedchamber, and discover the Long Drop
- Appreciate the treasures inside Newby Hall, and then contrast them with the very different conditions at Ripon Workhouse Museum
- Nidderdale Museum, Pateley Bridge is a small museum that's a little tardis-like, with room after room crammed with fascinating exhibits about Nidderdale life
- Visit the Grade 1 listed The Folly Museum and Coffee House, Settle built in 1679 (currently undergoing refurbishment), home to the Museum of North Craven Life, with a lovely cosy cafe (still open)
- Visit Skipton Town Hall, cultural hub and home to Craven Museum (see Shakespeare's First Folio and lots of local history,
- The Richmondshire Museum displays local history. They have ten galleries including: James Herriot's surgery, lead mining, Victorian grocer's shop, ironmonger's shop and life in a cruck barn
- Learn more about the story of James Herriot at the The World Of James Herriot in Thirsk.
- The Green Howards Museum in Richmond charts the 300 year history of this local regiment.
- Go to a gallery to buy something beautiful to treasure. Take a look at Masham Gallery, The Nolon Stacey Gallery, Stacey Moore, Inspired by gallery
- Ryedale Folk Museum is in the lovely setting of Hutton-le-Hole, and offers plenty of beautiful historic buildings, workshops and cottages to explore.
- The Land of Iron museum near Skinningrove tells the story of ironstone mining heritage with interactive exhibits and guided underground experience.
- At Danby Lodge National Park Centre interactive displays, the Inspired by... Gallery, and a great programme of exhibitions and events offer interesting insights into the nature and life of the North York Moors National Park
- Castle Howard is a magnificent stately home and setting for many TV programmes and films. There are few more splendid places to shelter from the rain!
- Nunnington Hall (National Trust) is a manor house on the banks of the River Rye with period rooms and changing exhibitions
- Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Whitby is in the 17th century house where young James Cook lodged as apprentice seaman.
- visit Whitby Museum to learn about fossils, local jet jewellery, archaeology and local history
Which other indoor attractions in the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales would you add?
