Craven Museum, Museum of the Year Finalist, 2024. © Hydar Dewachi / Art Fund 2024
Dressing up at Craven Museum. © Stephen Garnett for Kids in Museums
Craven Museum, Museum of the Year Finalist, 2024. Image courtesy of Skipton Town Hall. Photo: © Stephen Garnett
Craven Museum, Museum of the Year Finalist, 2024. © Hydar Dewachi / Art Fund
Craven Museum, Museum of the Year Finalist, 2024. Image courtesy of Skipton Town Hall
Museum

Craven Museum

Skipton
Free to all

With a National Art Pass you get

10% off in shop
Art Fund Museum of the Year
Find out more
Museum of the Year 2024 finalist

Located in Skipton Town Hall, Craven Museum is a cultural hub where history comes to life. From ancient tales to local treasures, it's a fun day out for all the family.

Craven Museum is a treasure trove of artworks and objects, exploring Yorkshire's rich history. Whether you like rocks or rare books, photographs or furniture, art or taxidermy – you’ll find it here. There are many interactive elements to the museum, with something to inspire people of all ages.

Learn about local history and culture

See fascinating items, including the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, rare items from prehistoric times, and furniture by local craftsman Robert Thompson, also known as 'the Mouseman'. Throughout the displays are the words of Craven people, bringing to life their stories and the artefacts on display. Craven Museum's gallery on the first floor shows a changing programme of exhibitions by local and national artists. On the ground floor, visitors can explore the Community Case, where displays chosen by the local community rotate every three months.

A fun day out for families

Craven Museum also offer an exciting events programme for people of all ages and abilities, including free family craft sessions during the school holidays, relaxed museum visits, object handling sessions and collection store tours. The Grade II listed Skipton Town Hall is also home to a historic concert hall where you can watch theatre, comedy, opera, and much more.

An award-winning museum

Craven Museum won the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum and Best Accessible Museum 2023. The museum and gallery are fully accessible.

Why you should go

  • Marvel at over 60,000 historic treasures

  • Treat yourself to an arty gift in the shop

  • Catch a gig at the historic concert hall

Visitor information

Address

Craven Museum

Skipton Town Hall, High Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1AH
01756 706397

Free to all

Opening times

Monday - Saturday, 9.30am - 4.30pm

The building is now fully accessible with; lifts front and rear of the building; a brand new Changing Places Toilet facility; all gender baby changing toilet facilities; dementia friendly signage; audio visual aids; automatic doors.

Visitor information

IndividualTiana Clarke Please note this is an example card and not a reflection of the final product

The more you see, the more we do.

The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.