York Observatory in the York Museum Gardens is the major part of York Museums Trust’s Astronomy Collection. It was built in 1832 to 1833 and is the oldest working observatory in Yorkshire. Installed in 1981, its 4-inch refractor telescope was built by York man Thomas Cooke in 1850 and is still in use today. Join […]

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Early Years Explorers – Activities for children aged two to five years old which include songs, stories, games and craft activities. Sessions are based on familiar preschool play areas, which are enhanced to help children learn about the gallery’s collections and exhibitions through play. Sessions are a mixture of free flow and adult led activities which […]

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Museum Baby (under two years old) – Special baby sessions linked to exhibitions, including songs and sensory activities for babies and their carers. Sessions are a mixture of free flow and adult led activities which all relate to the early years Curriculum. A perfect introduction to museums! Colours in History – Look through the coloured […]

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Come along this half term for delicious demos, scrumptious sweet-decorating and to produce pretty packaging ahead of the new chocolate experience opening in April – Chocolate: York’s Sweet Past. Be inspired by the sweets and chocolate packaging of the past from the museum’s collection and make your own version to take home! Admission applies, no […]

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Come along this half term for delicious demos, scrumptious sweet-decorating and to produce pretty packaging ahead of the new chocolate experience opening in April – Chocolate: York’s Sweet Past. Discover the story of sugar moulding and watch sugar plate-making being demonstrated. There will be the opportunity to mould and stamp your own designs and decorate […]

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Our ceramic art collection is hiding all kinds of creatures this half term! Become a jungle explorer as you search CoCA (Centre of Ceramic Art) to find animals, birds and fantastic beasts hidden among our collections. 50p per trail (admission applies), no need to book.

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Join us this half term to help the Yorkshire Museum prepare for the brand new exhibition coming in May 2017 – Viking: Rediscover the Legend. Follow the trail to find our seven Viking characters hidden around the museum. Look out for Erik, Thora, Snorri and more amongst our collection to uncover the Viking word and […]

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Join us this half term to help the Yorkshire Museum prepare for the brand new exhibition coming in May 2017 – Viking: Rediscover the Legend. Learn how to arrange and display your own exhibition of replica objects in our ‘Curator’s Corner’. How will you display the items and what will you say about them? Then […]

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Our ceramic art collection is hiding all kinds of creatures this half term! Go wild in our studio and create your own creature out of air hardening clay. Admission applies, no need to book.

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Join us this half term to help the Yorkshire Museum prepare for the brand new exhibition coming in May 2017 – Viking: Rediscover the Legend. See real Viking objects and hear the stories behind them from our resident ‘Viking’. Admission applies, no need to book.

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