Ryedale Folk Museum

Step back into Yorkshire’s past

Set across more than six acres in the picturesque village of Hutton-le-Hole, Ryedale Folk Museum tells the story of life in the North York Moors across around 4,000 years. Rather than being contained inside one museum building, there are more than 20 heritage buildings to wander in and out of, ranging from an Iron Age roundhouse and medieval manor house to traditional workshops, cottages and a 1950s village store. The collection contains around 40,000 objects, so there is far more here than you might expect from the peaceful village setting.

For Families

Ryedale Folk Museum is specifically designed to work as a family day out, with plenty for children to actually do rather than simply look at. During school holidays there are family trails and changing hands-on activities that can include crafts, weaving and traditional skills. Children can try being a Victorian pupil or teacher in the old schoolroom, dress up for an Edwardian-style photograph, play traditional games, explore a converted gypsy caravan and have a go on children’s tractors. The farming area adds another dimension, with rare-breed pigs, sheep and chickens normally among the animals families can see.

For Walkers

The museum itself involves a gentle wander across more than six acres, moving between historic buildings, gardens, the orchard and farming areas. It isn’t a destination for a strenuous walk in its own right, but its location in Hutton-le-Hole makes it easy to combine the museum with a walk around one of the prettiest villages in the North York Moors or with a longer countryside walk in the surrounding area. Some paths within the museum are naturally uneven because of the historic setting, so sensible footwear is worthwhile.

Dog Friendly

Dogs on leads are welcome throughout the museum, including inside the historic buildings, which makes this one of the stronger genuinely dog-friendly attractions in the area. Water is available for dogs near reception, although visitors are asked to take dog waste away with them because the museum does not provide a dedicated waste bin. It is also worth remembering that the museum keeps its own animals, so dogs should remain under control around the farming areas.

For Couples

Ryedale Folk Museum also makes a lovely slower-paced outing for couples interested in local history, traditional buildings and rural Yorkshire. You can explore the cottages and workshops at your own pace, wander through the orchard and gardens, then spend some time exploring Hutton-le-Hole itself. It is less about rushing between attractions and more about discovering little details as you move through the site, which suits a relaxed day particularly well.

What to expect

Allow at least a couple of hours for the museum, although it is easy to spend longer if you explore the buildings properly. Expect an open-air site with historic cottages, workshops, farming areas, gardens and picnic spaces rather than one conventional museum building. Almost all of the site is at ground level, but some paths are uneven and several historic buildings have one or two steps. Free wheelchairs and mobility scooters are available, subject to availability.

Perfect for

Families with school-age children
Grandparents and grandchildren
Dog owners
Local and social history
Traditional Yorkshire buildings
Gentle exploring
Couples wanting a slower day out
Picnics
Combining with Hutton-le-Hole

Annie-style local tip

Bring a picnic if the weather is kind. The museum has several picnic spots, and the heritage orchard is a particularly lovely place to stop among traditional fruit trees. Don’t try to explain every historical detail to the children either — let them dress up, sit in the Victorian schoolroom, investigate the tractors and discover things for themselves. History has a funny habit of sticking better when nobody announces that you’re about to learn something.

Before you go

Ryedale Folk Museum is open Saturday to Thursday and closed on Fridays. For the main 2026 season it opens from 10am to 5pm until the end of September, with shorter 10am–4pm hours during parts of spring and autumn. There is no permanent café inside the museum except occasional pop-ups on event days, but there are several places to eat and drink within a short walk in Hutton-le-Hole, and visitors are welcome to bring a picnic. Dogs must remain on leads. Parking is available nearby rather than directly within the museum site, and charges apply.

Useful Link

⁠Ryedale Folk Museum official website