Ilkley Toy Museum
Private collection of toys from the 4th century BC to today in the centre of Ilkley, with dolls, dolls' houses, teddies and tinplate toys.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Ilkley Toy Museum opened in 2001 to show a private collection of toys built up over about two decades. The displays range from the fourth century BC to the present day and include dolls, dolls' houses, teddy bears, tinplate toys, games and toy soldiers. The museum has a nationally important collection of early English wooden dolls.
The collection was built largely at auction. The first toys were bought in 1997 when a local auction house sold the collection of the Ribchester Museum of Childhood, and further pieces came from the sale of the Evelyn Way Kendall collection in 1999 and from the Brighton Bears Museum in 1998. At a 1999 sale of the dolls' houses of Vivien Greene the museum bought The Original Swan, which has been on show since the day it opened. Among the best-known objects are Lady Potter Palmer, a rare carved lime-wood doll of about 1770 in her original clothes, and Thomas, an English teddy bear of about 1930 with a sad story that school groups particularly like.
The museum also works with schools, offering clipboards, quizzes and demonstrations of working toys such as a model fairground, a clockwork train and a zoetrope, and it lends boxes of old and replica toys and portable display cases to classrooms.
Highlights
- Nationally important collection of early English wooden dolls
- Lady Potter Palmer, a rare carved doll of about 1770
- The Original Swan dolls' house from the Vivien Greene collection
- Teddy bears including Thomas, who has a sad story
- Working model fairground and clockwork train
- Sindy dolls and house
Permanent exhibition
- Toys through the ages – Dolls, dolls' houses, teddy bears, tinplate toys, games and soldiers from the fourth century BC to the present, including early English wooden dolls.
- Founded
- 2001
- Operated by
- Ilkley Toy Museum Ltd
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £3.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £2.50free up to age 4 · Ages 5 to 16; under-5s are free. |
| Groups | –School visits cost £4 per child for a morning visit and £5 per child with lunch and toy handling; teachers and helpers are free. |
| Families | £102 adults and up to 3 children. |
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
There is one toilet, which is also suitable for visitors with disabilities. The museum has a ground floor and an upper floor; the museum does not publish details of step-free access. Dogs are welcome.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £10 · 2 adults and up to 3 children. |
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
Children aged 5 to 16 and a family ticket are priced separately. School visits include a picture quiz or question quizzes, demonstrations of working toys and, with the longer visit, toy handling.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Ilkley train and bus station
The museum is in the centre of Ilkley, a short walk from the train and bus station.
By car
Paid parking
There is a large car park in the centre of Ilkley, and pay and display parking is available on the street.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
A small shop area sells many items for under £3. School groups can eat a packed lunch at the museum by arrangement.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | School visits normally last one to one and a half hours; the museum takes one school booking a day and up to 32 children per group. Resources include clipboards, pencils, drawing paper and an age-appropriate worksheet. Lending boxes of toys can be borrowed for up to three weeks and portable display cases for up to six weeks. |
