List of museums in West Yorkshire facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

West Yorkshire, in England, is home to many amazing museums! A museum is a special place where interesting objects from the past or present are collected, cared for, and shown to the public. These objects can be about history, art, science, or even everyday life. They help us learn about different times, cultures, and ideas.

This guide will tell you about some of the cool museums you can visit in West Yorkshire. Get ready to explore!

Museums to Explore
Museums That Are No Longer Open
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Museums to Explore

Abbey House Museum

Located in Kirkstall, this museum lets you step back in time to the Victorian era. You can walk through recreated Victorian street scenes, complete with shops and houses, to see what life was like back then. It's like a time machine!

Bagshaw Museum

Found in Batley, the Bagshaw Museum is a great place to learn about many different things. It covers local history, natural history (like animals and plants), and beautiful decorative arts from places like India, China, Africa, and Japan. They even have an exhibition about Ancient Egypt!

Bankfield Museum

In Halifax, the Bankfield Museum is set in a historic house. It's home to the Duke of Wellington's Regiment Museum, where you can learn about soldiers. You'll also find exhibits on textiles (fabrics), old toys, and the history of the local area.

Batley Art Gallery

Also in Batley, this art gallery often features new art shows. Most of the art displayed here is created by local artists and art groups. It's a great spot to see creative works from people in the community.

Bolling Hall

Bolling Hall in Bradford is a historic manor house that dates back to the 14th century! It shows you what family life was like over five centuries. Imagine living in a house that old!

Bracken Hall Countryside Centre and Museum

Near Baildon, this centre is all about nature and history. You can learn about natural history, archaeology (studying old things), geology (rocks and earth), and local history. It's also a nature centre with special programs for kids to learn about the environment.

Bradford Industrial Museum

Located in Eccleshill, this museum celebrates the industrial past of the area. You can see old printing and textile machines that are still working! They even have a collection of classic cars, motorbikes, bicycles, buses, trams, and a train.

Bramham Park

Bramham Park in Bramham is a grand house built in the early 1700s. It's a beautiful example of Baroque architecture, which is a fancy style of building from that time.

Brontë Parsonage Museum

In Haworth, this museum is dedicated to the famous Brontë family – Charlotte, Emily, and Anne – who wrote classic novels like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. You can learn about their lives and the stories they created.

Bullecourt Museum

Found in Milnsbridge, this museum focuses on military history. It displays various military artefacts, helping you understand past conflicts and the lives of soldiers.

Calderdale Industrial Museum

Back in Halifax, this museum highlights the industrial heritage of the Calderdale area. It's a good place to learn about the factories and industries that shaped the region.

Cartwright Hall

Cartwright Hall in Bradford is a public art gallery. It has a wide collection of art, including works from the Victorian and Edwardian periods, older master paintings, and art from the 20th century. It also features Asian art and textiles.

Castleford Forum Museum

In Castleford, this museum tells the story of the town, from the Bronze Age (a very long time ago!) right up to today. It's located above the local library.

Cliffe Castle Museum

Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley is a stunning 19th-century castle. Inside, you'll find rooms decorated as they would have been in the Victorian era, along with exhibits on local history, natural history, geology, crafts, archaeology, and even Ancient Egypt.

Colne Valley Museum

In Golcar, this museum is made up of three old weaver's cottages from the 1800s. You can see weaving equipment from the 1850s and explore rooms set up to show how people lived back then.

Colour Experience

Located in Bradford, this unique place has visual displays and exhibits that show you how our eyes see colour. It's a fascinating look at how light and colour work. You usually need to book your visit in advance.

David Brown Tractor Club Museum

In Meltham, this museum is a must-see for anyone interested in tractors! It showcases David Brown tractors and lots of related items.

Dean Clough

Dean Clough in Halifax used to be a large carpet factory in the 1800s. Today, these old mill buildings are home to art galleries, a theatre, music venues, and offices. It's a great example of old buildings being used in new ways.

Dewsbury Bus Museum

In Dewsbury, this museum has a collection of old buses and coaches that have been carefully preserved. You can see them on special open days and at events. They also welcome school visits.

Dewsbury Minster

Dewsbury Minster is a historic church in Dewsbury with a heritage centre. It has exhibits that tell the story of the church and its importance in the area.

East Riddlesden Hall

Operated by the National Trust, East Riddlesden Hall in Keighley is a 17th-century manor house with beautiful gardens. It's a lovely place to explore history and nature.

Eureka! The National Children's Museum

In Halifax, Eureka! is a fantastic museum designed especially for children. It focuses on learning through play and hands-on experiences, making it a fun and interactive place for kids to discover new things.

Fulneck Moravian Museum

Located in the Fulneck Moravian Settlement, this museum shares the history of the Moravian community. You can see special items, embroidery, crafts, and even a Victorian parlour and kitchen. They also have a hand-pulled fire engine from 1822!

Gallery II

This is a contemporary art gallery at the University of Bradford in Bradford. It showcases modern art and is a great place to see new and exciting works.

Gissing Centre

In Wakefield, this centre is the childhood home of the novelist George Gissing. It has exhibits about his life and works and is run by the Wakefield Historical Society.

Gibson Mill

Part of Hardcastle Crags near Hebden Bridge, Gibson Mill is an old textile mill from the 1800s. Operated by the National Trust, it's now a visitor centre with exhibits on local history.

Harewood House

Harewood House in Harewood is a grand country house from the 18th century. It was designed by famous architects and has furniture by Thomas Chippendale. The beautiful gardens were created by Capability Brown. It even has a bird garden!

Henry Moore Institute

In Leeds, the Henry Moore Institute is an art gallery dedicated to sculpture. It's a great place to see amazing sculptures from different artists.

Heptonstall Museum

This museum in Heptonstall focuses on local history, giving you a glimpse into the past of this charming village.

The Hepworth Wakefield

The Hepworth Wakefield in Wakefield is a modern art gallery known for its collection of sculptures by the famous artist Barbara Hepworth. It's a beautiful building and a great place to see modern art.

Horsforth Village Museum

In Horsforth, this museum tells the story of the local area, sharing its history and traditions.

Huddersfield Art Gallery

Huddersfield Art Gallery in Huddersfield focuses on British art from the 20th century. You can see paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures.

Ilkley Toy Museum

Ilkley Toy Museum in Ilkley is a delightful place filled with toys and dolls! Some of them are incredibly old, dating back to 350 BCE, while others are more modern. It's a fun trip down memory lane for everyone.

Ingrow Loco

Located in Ingrow, this museum is run by the Bahamas Locomotive Society. It has a collection of locomotives (train engines) and other railway items.

Keighley Police Museum

In Keighley, this museum is dedicated to the history of law enforcement in the area.

Keighley and Worth Valley Railway

At Oxenhope, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway is a heritage railway. The station itself has a museum with old trains, engines, and other railway artefacts. You can even ride on the historic trains!

Kirkstall Abbey

Kirkstall Abbey in Kirkstall features the ruins of a medieval monastery. You can explore the old buildings and learn about the history of the abbey and the lives of the monks who lived there long ago.

Last of The Summer Wine Exhibition

In Holmfirth, this exhibition is all about the popular British TV show Last of the Summer Wine. You can see items and learn about the making of the show.

Launds Inn Museum

This museum in Golcar is a restored inn from the 14th century. It has exhibits that show the local history of the area.

Leeds Art Gallery

Leeds Art Gallery in Leeds has a great collection of British art from the 19th and 20th centuries. It's a major art destination in the city.

Leeds City Museum

Also in Leeds, Leeds City Museum covers many topics. It has exhibits on local history, natural history (including the famous Leeds Tiger!), archaeology from Ancient Greece and Rome, and artefacts from Africa.

Leeds College of Art

Leeds College of Art in Leeds has two gallery spaces that often host contemporary art shows. It's a good place to see modern and experimental art.

Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills

Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills in Armley is a large museum that shows off Leeds' industrial past. You can see textile machinery, railway equipment, and heavy engineering displays.

Lotherton Hall

Lotherton Hall in Aberford is a country house estate with Victorian and Edwardian rooms, a costume collection, and beautiful gardens. It also has a red deer park and a bird garden, making it a great day out for nature lovers.

Manor House Museum

In Ilkley, the Manor House Museum covers local history, archaeology, and art. It's a good place to learn about the heritage of the town.

Mental Health Museum

Located at Fieldhead Hospital in Wakefield, this unique museum tells the history of mental health care. It has artefacts from the old West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum.

Middleton Railway Museum

Middleton Railway Museum in Hunslet is part of a heritage railway. You can see old locomotives and railway carriages in the shed.

Museum of Rail Travel

Also in Ingrow, this museum focuses on historic railway carriages and other railway items.

Museum of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine

Part of the University of Leeds, this museum in Leeds has teaching materials and exhibits about the history of education and different teaching methods.

National Coal Mining Museum for England

Near Overton, this museum is located at a former coal mine. You can even go on underground tours to see what it was like to be a coal miner! It's a fascinating look at a tough but important industry.

National Media Museum

The National Media Museum in Bradford is all about photography, cinema, television, animation, and advertising. It has amazing collections of cameras, projectors, and other related technology.

Nostell Priory

Nostell Priory in Nostell is an 18th-century house operated by the National Trust. It has beautiful interiors, furniture by Thomas Chippendale, and even an 18th-century doll's house. The house is surrounded by a huge parkland.

Oakwell Hall

Oakwell Hall in Birstall is an Elizabethan manor house with lovely period gardens. It gives you a real sense of what life was like in the 1500s.

Otley Museum

In Otley, this museum focuses on the local history of the town.

Peace Museum

The Peace Museum in Bradford is a special place that explores the history and development of peace, non-violence, and how people resolve conflicts. It's the only museum of its kind in the UK.

Pontefract Museum

Pontefract Museum in Pontefract covers the local history, mining, culture, and archaeology of the area.

Red House Museum

Red House Museum in Gomersal is a cloth merchant's home from the 1830s. It has connections to the famous Brontë family, making it an interesting stop for literature fans.

Royal Armouries Museum

The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds is home to an incredible collection of armour, swords, spears, and other weapons from ancient times to the modern day. It's one of the oldest museums in the world and has a huge display of warfare history.

Salts Mill

Salts Mill in Saltaire is a huge textile mill from the 19th century. Today, it houses the 1853 Gallery with works by the famous artist David Hockney, another gallery with paintings of Saltaire, and an exhibition about the local history of Saltaire.

Shibden Hall

Shibden Hall in Shibden is a beautiful timber-framed house from the 15th century. Its park includes the West Yorkshire Folk Museum, which has displays about rural life.

Smith Art Gallery

In Brighouse, the Smith Art Gallery has a permanent collection of Victorian paintings and often features new exhibits by local and regional artists.

Standedge Tunnel Visitor Centre

At Marsden, the Standedge Tunnel Visitor Centre tells the story of how the Standedge Tunnels were built and the history of life along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery

Part of the University of Leeds, this gallery in Leeds has a collection of European and British paintings, drawings, and prints from the 17th century to today.

The Tetley

The Tetley in Leeds is a centre for contemporary art and learning. It's located in the old headquarters of Tetley's Brewery and even has some items from the brewery's past.

Temple Newsam House and Estate

Temple Newsam House and Estate in Leeds is a large Tudor-Jacobean house with grounds designed by Capability Brown. It has collections of fine art, furniture, silver, and textiles. There's also a working rare breeds farm!

Thackray Museum

The Thackray Museum in Leeds tells the fascinating history of medicine. You can learn about Victorian treatments, childbirth, and surgery. It's a very interesting (and sometimes a bit gross!) look at how medicine has changed.

Thwaite Mills

Thwaite Mills in Leeds is a fully restored working water-powered textile mill. You can see how the machinery works and learn about this important part of industrial history.

Todmorden Toy & Model Museum

In Todmorden, this museum is a shop and museum combined, featuring a collection of toys and model trains.

Tolson Museum

The Tolson Museum in Huddersfield covers a wide range of topics, including local history, natural history, transportation, textiles, and archaeology.

Wakefield Museum

Wakefield Museum in Wakefield explores the local history and culture of the area. It also has natural history collections, including those of the famous naturalist Charles Waterton.

West Yorkshire Print Workshop

In Golcar, this is an art centre focused on printmaking and crafts. It also has a gallery where you can see different artworks.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Yorkshire Sculpture Park in West Bretton is a unique art space where you can see sculptures both outdoors in the park and indoors in galleries. The exhibits change regularly, so there's always something new to see.

Museums That Are No Longer Open

Sometimes, museums close down. Here are a few that used to be open in West Yorkshire:

Clarke Hall, Wakefield (closed in 2012)
Harmonium Museum, Saltaire (closed in 2011)
Keighley Private Classic Car Museum, Keighley
Rugby League Heritage Centre, Huddersfield (closed in 2013, looking for a new home)
Transperience, Low Moor, Bradford (closed in 1997)
Wakefield Art Gallery (closed in 2009, its collections moved to The Hepworth Wakefield)
Yorkshire Motor Museum, Batley (closed in 2010)