Ryedale Folk Museum
Open-air museum in Hutton-le-Hole in the North York Moors with more than twenty historic buildings, a medieval manor house and an Iron Age roundhouse.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Ryedale Folk Museum opened in 1964 on the initiative of Wilfred Crosland, a local man who had begun to collect everyday objects from the area. After his death in 1961, his sisters took his idea forward and turned it into a museum. Bert Frank was its first curator, helped by his wife and many volunteers.
The museum stands on more than six acres in the North York Moors National Park. Over the decades buildings from nearby villages were moved to the site and others were built for it, so that today there are more than twenty heritage buildings. They include a medieval manor house, cottages such as Stang End and Pickard's Cottage, a photographic studio from the early twentieth century, a working blacksmith's shop and workshops of rural trades such as the cobbler, cooper and wheelwright.
An Iron Age roundhouse, a witch's hovel and a heritage orchard with a picnic area add to the open-air setting. The collection of about 40,000 objects deals with country life, crafts and folk belief in Ryedale and the North York Moors, and the museum often tells these stories through temporary exhibitions as well.
The museum is a registered charity and also runs learning programmes for schools.
Highlights
- More than twenty historic buildings in an open-air setting
- Medieval manor house and Iron Age roundhouse
- Working blacksmith's shop and rural trade workshops
- Collection of about 40,000 objects
- Heritage orchard with picnic area
Permanent exhibition
- Historic buildings of the open-air museum – More than twenty buildings, including a medieval manor house, cottages, workshops and an Iron Age roundhouse, set in about six acres.
- Founded
- 1964
- Operated by
- Ryedale Folk Museum (registered charity)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £12 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £10Visitors aged 65 and over and students with ID |
| Children & teens | £10free up to age 3 · Children aged 4 to 15; under 4s are free. |
| Seniors | £10Aged 65 and over. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · A carer visiting with a visitor with disabilities is admitted free, with one free ticket per paying visitor (ID required). People who are registered blind or partially sighted are also admitted free. |
| Students & apprentices | £10With student ID. |
| Groups (10+ people) | £8 per personGroups of 10 or more, booked 48 hours in advance (2027: £8.50 per person); intended for organised groups, not family outings. |
| Families | £402 adults and 2 children; £30 for 1 adult and 2 children. |
| Family ticket, 1 adult and 2 children | £30 |
A paid admission is valid as an annual pass with unlimited entry for one year. Tickets can be bought online in advance (no booking required) or on arrival.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Almost the whole site is at ground level, but some paths are uneven and several buildings have one or two steps (Pickard's Cottage and the photographic studio). A gentle slope in the middle of the site may need help for manual wheelchair users. Free wheelchair and mobility scooter hire (scooters stay outside the buildings). Some buildings have low light. Accessible toilets with baby change in the entrance building and in High Barn; no adult changing facilities. Dogs on leads are welcome throughout, including inside the buildings. The National Park car park about 300 m away has designated disabled spaces.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 3 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £40 · 2 adults and 2 children; £30 for 1 adult and 2 children. |
- Baby changing facilities
The museum presents itself as a day out for all ages. Baby changing is available in the entrance building.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus services to Hutton-le-Hole are listed on the Get Down website; the Moorsbus usually runs through the village in summer.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no car park of its own. The Crown Inn car park next door charges £3 per day (coins only) for those not eating at the pub. The North York Moors National Park car park on Moor Lane is about 300 m away, with designated disabled spaces and six EV charging points; it costs more.
- Accessible parking
Hutton-le-Hole is on the road between Kirkbymoorside and Castleton, two miles north of the A170 between Helmsley and Pickering.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Museum shop
No permanent café; a pop-up café runs occasionally on event days. Pubs and tearooms are nearby in the village, including The Crown Inn and the Barn Tearooms. Gift shop on site. Outdoor picnic areas.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Learning programmes for schools are offered. A group information pack is available for groups of 10 or more. |
