Beck Isle Museum

What it’s like

Twenty-five gallery spaces of historic shops, blacksmith demos and hands-on exhibits, best tackled with kids aged six and up.

This is a proper wander-round museum rather than a hands-off one. Twenty-five gallery spaces recreate old shops and workshops, and there's a blacksmith demonstration and traditional printing to watch, plus a go at rag rugging or dressing up as an apprentice printer. The Meccano table is the bit that'll actually hold a six or seven-year-old's attention, since they get to build something and then see working engines to compare it against.

Because so much of it is reading, watching demonstrations and having a go rather than climbing or running about, it suits six and up better than toddlers. Set aside about two hours, which feels right once you factor in stopping at each gallery. Saturday afternoon is apparently the quiet slot, though it's worth knowing groups sometimes book in then too.

There's no on-site catering, just self-service tea and coffee, so bring a picnic for the beck side courtyard if you want lunch there. Parking on site is limited, though there are pay and display car parks nearby at Ropery and Vivis Lane. The ground floor of the main house has ramp access and there's a wheelchair lift to the outside galleries, but upstairs is stairs only, which is a genuine limitation if anyone in your group uses a wheelchair.

Entry isn't cheap for a small museum, £8 for an adult and £4 for a child, though the family ticket at £20 softens that a bit. The nice touch is that admission is valid for a year, so if two hours doesn't cover everything you can go back without paying again.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

Ages 6 and up; younger children may find it a bit static

Last entry

3:30pm

Parking

Limited on-site parking. Several pay and display car parks nearby (Ropery, Vivis Lane)

How long to allow

2 hours

Food

Self-service coffee and tea facilities

Picnics

Welcome in beck side courtyard setting

Wheelchairs

Wheelchair lift to outside galleries

Dogs

Assistance dogs and well behaved dogs on a lead welcome

Getting there by bus or train

Malton station 20 mins by bus/taxi

Worth knowing

Museum admission tickets valid for one year unlimited access

• Guided walks are also on offer, £6 for an adult or £12 combined with museum entry
• School visits get a special £4 per person rate with one free adult per 6 pupils
• Saturday afternoon tends to be quieter, though pre-booked groups sometimes visit then too
• NYMR Pickering station is a 5 minute walk if you're arriving by steam train
• Upstairs galleries are stairs only, so plan the route if anyone needs step-free access

Plan your visit

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