Description
The Ripon Museum Trust oversees three unique heritage sites in the heart of Ripon that tell the atmospheric story of liberty, law, and order. It is widely considered one of the best things to do with kids in Ripon because it transforms social history into a hands-on adventure across a Victorian Workhouse, a Prison & Police Museum, and a historic Courthouse. Families can step directly into the past to experience the harsh reality of Victorian life, from the indignity of the workhouse to the stern judgment of the courtroom.
Prices for 2026 offer excellent value for families planning a full day of exploration. An All Museums adult ticket is £19.00, while a child ticket is £10.50, and children aged 5 and under enter for free. Best of all, these tickets act as a 12-month pass, allowing you to return as many times as you like for a full year.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that offers an educational day out, this triple-museum experience is essential. It features interactive exhibits, such as role-playing a trial or trying out Victorian hard labor, that help children understand justice and poverty through storytelling. It is a powerful way to bring history to life for the next generation in the very buildings where these events occurred.
Features
- Paid
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
What makes Ripon Museum Trust unique? These museums are housed in their original historic buildings, providing an authenticity that is rare to find.
- Original Victorian Institutions: You aren't just looking at artifacts; you are standing in a real 1855 Workhouse and a 200-year-old prison.
- Three-Site Journey: The museums are linked by the common theme of "Law and Order," showing the full cycle from poverty to crime and punishment.
- Living History: Costumed volunteers and role-play activities, like mock trials, turn visitors into active participants in history.
Top Highlights for Families
- The Workhouse Inmate's Journey: At the Workhouse Museum, kids can follow the actual path of a Victorian pauper. They can experience the admittance process in the Guardian's Room, see the fumigation cells, and visit the original kitchen garden where inmates worked for their food.
- Victorian Hard Labour: The Prison & Police Museum lets children feel the "gruesome" side of the law. They can try out a punishment treadmill, turn a heavy crank, or attempt a "shot drill" to understand what Victorian prisoners endured.
- The Judges’ Bench: In the Courthouse Museum, families can take part in a mock trial. Children love sitting at the judge's bench and jokingly "sentencing" their parents to jail or transportation to Van Dieman's Land.
16.16 miles
