Craven Museum is situated in the heart of Skipton town and is an excellent place to visit if you’re looking for things to do in North Yorkshire. Through lots of interactive displays and lots of items, you can discover more about the history and geology of Skipton and the local area of Craven.
Tickets and Opening Times:
Visiting Craven Museum is absolutely free!
It is open 09:30 – 16:30 from Monday to Saturday. Click here for more information on opening times.
Parking/ Travelling:
Car parks are scattered around Skipton, and the nearest to Craven Museum is High Street car park. It has electric vehicle charging stations. Click here to find information about car park locations in Skipton.
Skipton has its own train station located in the centre of town, and connects travellers to Leeds, Bradford, Morecambe, Carlisle and other places. The train station is a 12 minute walk to Craven Museum.
Prams/ Accessibility:
This is a very accessible museum! There is plenty of room to push a pram around and all the floor is smooth and level. There is a lift to take prams and wheelchairs upstairs, or indeed anyone who needs it. An accessible toilet and baby change is also available too.
Things to do with Kids at Craven Museum
1.Movement and Activity Trail
On entry, you can pick up free booklets to guide you on a ‘movement trail’, for ages 2+, or an ‘activity trail’ for ages 7+. The activity trail booklet includes things such as a space to pick your favourite outfits on display and draw them. The movement trail booklet has lots of suggestions for how to move around the museum like people from the past, such as clambering through the caves. These booklets should help your little ones get the most out of this museum and enjoy it!
2. Create your own artwork
Upstairs in Craven Museum is an art gallery with lots of different styles of art work on display. There are comfy chairs to sit on and admire the art, as well as a crafting station where children can create their own masterpieces. There are colouring in sheets, paper and pencils, and cut out pieces of felt to create something a little more abstract.
3. Dress up
Lots of different outfits are provided for your children to dress up as both historical and modern day figures. They can be cave explorers, Victorian children, Roman soldiers and more. This provides plenty of photo opportunities and fun.
4. Have a go at weaving
Crafty children will enjoy weaving felt strands through a metal frame, which is large enough that less coordinated fingers can give it a go too. They can copy the pattern usually already on the frame or get inventive and create their own patterns.
Things to do with kids nearby
Explore the rest of the picturesque town that Craven Museum sits at the heart of.
One of the best things to do if visiting Skipton, taking a canal boat tour is fun for all the family. As most of the boats are sheltered and you sit indoors, it’s also a great activity if you’re looking for rainy day things to do in North Yorkshire. There are lots of choices of cruise durations to suit most trips away to Skipton.
This magnificent castle is one of the most imposing and intact in Britain and is an excellent place to go with kids if you’re visiting North Yorkshire. Lots of the castle is indoors, making it a good day out in both rainy days and sunny days. There’s enough to do to spend a couple of hours here, especially if your little ones have a budding history interest.
This is a fairly easy walk through the woods behind the castle, from which you can see lots of sheep in the field beyond and you might manage to catch sight of more wildlife, such as woodpeckers or robins. Some parts, indicated by a yellow arrow, are pram friendly, while other routes have lots of steps. There are also some steep drops into the valley below on this walk, so keep any toddlers close.
