15+ Free Things to Do When You Are in Yorkshire

Discover Yorkshire: Free Adventures for an Unforgettable Experience in God’s Own County

You must have heard that some places have a little something for everyone. No matter which places you visit for a weekend or a long holiday trip, there you will find something for you that will keep you entertained. But Yorkshire, also called God’s Own County, is a beautiful place that lives up to that mark. The best thing is that when you are in Yorkshire, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to witness an amazing holiday. In fact, here, you will find various free days out. And you can combine this with an entertaining gaming session at Luna Casino to make your day more amazing in this county. From free-entry museums to mesmerizing nature reserves, you will find loads of impressive free things to do and see in Yorkshire.

To help you out with your next visit to this beautiful county, we have listed down 15+ ideas or things to do. Whether you are with your family and want to have a quiet walk, you will definitely find something that you love. 

Hull and East Riding Museum

If you are a fan of history and want to explore more about Yorkshire’s history, then this is the place that you must visit. The museum is all packed with interesting historical finds. This place will take you 235 million years back where you can explore the Iron Age village, mammoths and more. Besides, you will also learn about the Bronze Age, Roman Britain, Vikings, Saxons and Medieval Hull.  All these prehistoric finds were collected by a famous amateur archaeologist from the nineteenth century. 

National Railway Museum

For those who are interested in locomotives, this is a must-go place in Yorkshire for them. This place is a perfect destination for both children and adults. Here, you will get a detailed insight into the railway history of Britain. The museum has many things on display, from past to modern. You will also enjoy various activities and hands-on demonstrations in this museum. For some extra fun, don’t forget to go for the miniature railway ride. This is the world’s one of the biggest railway museums. 

North York Moors National Park

When it comes to enjoying the natural beauty of this country, you may not find a perfect place other than this famous national park. The park has a lot of free things to enjoy. Here, you can indulge in an endless array of walks, drives, or hikes based on your mood. The park has 23 hills and is spread across 554 square miles of land. Whether you love exploring rich history, trekking or just want to soak in mesmerizing beauty, this park is for you and will never fail to offer you an unforgettable experience. For an amazing experience, we would suggest you join some trails like the White Rose Way or the Cleveland Way, if you have sufficient time in your hand. 

National Coal Mining Museum

The Caphouse Colliery has now become the National Coal Mining Museum, allowing people to know about the lifestyle of hard-working miners. There is no entry fee for this museum. Here, you will get a chance to explore some interesting remnants of the past, paddy trains, underground tunnels and more. Besides, you can see blacksmith demonstrations, hand-made arts and crafts and spend some time petting the resident ponies. If you want to discover more about this place, then opt for a guided tour of the underground part by depositing around £5.  During summer, your kids can enjoy various seaside games on the sandpit. 

Millennium Gallery

Are you searching for a perfect cultural day out in Yorkshire? Well, then visiting the Millennium Gallery will be the best option for you. The best part is that this place is free to visit. This massive gallery shows a unique perspective of this county’s history. Here you will find a Metalwork Collection which is quite rare. The collection has around 13,000 unique pieces including flatware and tableware and 800 examples on display. Furthermore, you can also see the Ruskin Collection which includes some beautiful classic artworks donated by John Ruskin around 130 years ago.  There is also a café named Ambulo, where visitors can enjoy coffee and delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. What’s more? The place has some shops where you can buy hand-crafted jewellery, homeware, stationery, books and cards. 

Harrogate Valley Gardens

Do you love flowers and green spaces? Head towards Harrogate Valley Gardens. Spreading across 17 acres, the gardens have many beautiful plant species and flowerbeds. It may be noted that the site is a Grade-II listed place. While the best time to explore this site is during May to September, you will still enjoy your day during the off-season. The gardens are also a perfect destination for family picnics, outdoor games and more. It also has a public golf course and tennis courts. 

Salt’s Mill

When in Yorkshire, you can discover one of the most popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites without any cost, i.e., Salt’s Mill.  This place was once the world’s biggest industrial building. Besides, the Saltaire town was constructed around this building. However, the building was closed in 1986 and after that, it was transformed into a tourist attraction. The place has the 1853 Gallery where you will find some works of David Hockney. Besides, the place has cafés, shops and restaurants. Whether you are with your friends and family, you will definitely enjoy your time here. 

Cartwright Hall

 One of the leading regional art galleries in the UK is Cartwright Hall and it is free to the public. Here, you will find 4 massive galleries that display the amazing art collection of Bradford. You will get a chance to see artworks of some famous British artists from the 19th and 20th centuries, including David Hockney. Besides, the place also has contemporary crafts, prints and South Asian arts on display. If you want, you can also opt for its outdoor exhibition and touring exhibition programs to discover the beauty of this gallery.

Painted Illusion Trail

Staithes is a charming small village located between Saltburn and Whitby. We must say that this is one of the best-kept secrets in Yorkshire. In this village, you will get to experience some artistic mysteries that will definitely blow your mind. The village is also popular for Pual Czainski, a world-famous trompe I’oeil artist. He has created a beautiful trail around ginnels and narrow streets that demonstrate fantastic artwork. The trial which includes eight illusions, was started in 2014. Besides, there are also some secret illusions that you will have to look very closely to find them. You can check out the illusions like Dame Laura Knight, Young Gull, a mermaid without a comb, Zennor mermaid, Noah’s Ark and more. Speaking about the artist, Paul Czainski, he was born in 1954 and has worked with some of the world’s best interior designers. Besides, he has also worked in the Queen’s House, Greenwich and Hampton Court. 

Nosterfield Nature Reserve

Are you searching for a day-out place in Yorkshire, that can connect you with the wonderful natural world? If yes, then Nosterfield Nature Reserve is the best place for you. It is one of the best and finest sanctuaries in this county and here visitors can spend their time spotting different kinds of things, like dragonflies, moths, waterfowl, waders, birds, butterflies and more. This 150-acre massive wet grassland is located between the River Swale and Ure. If you are a bird lover, then this place is like heaven for you. If you visit the reserve during the right time, you can get a chance to see many breeding birds like Avocet, Garganey, Common Redshank, Little Grebe, Eurasia Skylark, Reed Bunting and more.

Hardcastle Crags

This is a beautiful paradise for nature lovers and is located a few minutes away from Hebden Bridge, a picturesque town in Yorkshire. This place covers more than 400 acres of woodland with more than 15 miles of footpaths, milestone stacks, waterfalls and streams. Well, you don’t have to follow the paths, you can also go off-roading while exploring the place. After spending a few hours there, you can spend some time at Gibson Mill.

Ogden Water Country Park

If you are in Yorkshire and looking for a place that you can visit to escape the strains and stresses of your regular life, then you can visit this park. Here, you can spend your time with an amazing adventure and activities in the beautiful outdoors. This part offers people many nature viewing spots. Besides, you can also explore those woodland walks and local wildlife for some unique experiences. There is also a 34-acre, 160-year-old reservoir that attracts more than 355,000 tourists every year. Once you are done exploring the place, you can visit the visitor centre to enjoy a hot cup of coffee with flapjack or gingerbread man. 

Aysgarth Falls

This place has been a major tourist destination for more than 200 years. Ayesgarth Falls is a combination of three roaring waterfalls. Just follow the route to the falls and you will get a chance to treat your eyes with some mesmerizing views. While returning, you can visit the Freeholders Wood Nature Reserve for deer and bird spotting. Explore the place a little bit and you will find why it has been a major element for well-known artists like Wordsworth and Turner. There is also a café where you can enjoy scones, teacake, and more after a tiring exploration day. 

Sheffield Winter Garden

Don’t forget to visit Europe’s largest temperate urban glasshouse during your trip to Yorkshire. Sheffield Winter Gardens is a multi-award-winning garden where you find above 2000 different plant species from all over the world. The building is 22 metres high and 70 metres long. From pines from Norfolk Island to eucalyptus trees and cactuses, many plants are from countries like China and Madagascar. The garden is also a home for many retail units and cafés where you can enjoy some light refreshments. 

Filey Beach

Filey Beach, located in Filey is one of the best and most beautiful beaches in the United Kingdom or you can say in Yorkshire. This beach was named the Best Beach of the Year in 2018 by the Sunday Times. Just visit the beach and you will find the reasons yourself. The beach has a promenade and there you will find a Sculpture trail along with some beach huts. You can also visit Bempton Cliffs. This place is also quite popular among walkers as this is the place where the Wolds and Cleavland Ways meet. If you want to buy local products, you can visit Filey town for shopping. There, you will find many local grocers, butchers, small supermarkets and more. Moreover, the town has also pubs, cafés and coffee shops.

Graves Gallery

If you are searching for a free thing to do with a cultural twist in Yorkshire, then you can visit Sheffield’s Graves Gallery. This gallery is situated on the Sheffield Central Library’s 3rd floor and has artworks of many renowned artists like Turner, Burne-Jones, Cezanne, Grayson Perry, Riley and more. This destination provides every visitor with a classic gallery experience. As soon as you enter the place, you will definitely fall in love with the contemplative and soothing ambience. 

Final Words

Yorkshire is famous for its art, culture and mesmerizing landscapes. After going through this list, you will find that there are a lot of things to do in this county and the best part is that all these things are free. In fact, you may not find enough time to explore all the things that the county offers, including cathedrals, Viking lore, abbeys, Roma ruins, etc. So, if you are planning a trip to Yorkshire, then don’t forget to explore these places to make your trip a memorable one in your life.