Barley Hall is a unique survival in York, a city of wonderful buildings. It is a medieval building in the centre of the city, forgotten until a few years ago, concealed as it was under a jumble of run-down derelict offices and workshops. Excavation in the 1980s revealed that under this jumble was a surviving example of a medieval townhouse, originally the town house of the Priors of Nostell but later to be the townhouse of its best known inhabitant, Alderman William Snawsell, goldsmith and Mayor of York. It has now been restored to how it looked at the time of Alderman Snawsell, towards the end of the fifteenth century.

Barley Hall is a hands-on "living museum", letting visitors experience life in a 15th century house in the centre of York. This is one historic attraction where you are encouraged to touch and pick up exhibits. Sit on the chairs, open chests, and generally explore the house as you choose.

You can follow costumed guides as they escort groups through the hall, or hire an audio tape tour. On summer weekends there are special period events, such as mystery plays and medieval markets.

Barley Hall is open 6 days per week, from 10am to 4pm (we are not open on Mondays except Bank Holiday Mondays).

Barley Hall is located down Coffee Yard, which runs between Grape Lane and Stonegate

Tourist Attractions in York include:

CITY CENTRE
  • Archaelogical Resource Centre
  • Assembly Rooms
  • Bar Convent Museum
  • Barley Hall
  • Bridges of York
  • Clifford's Tower
  • Ghost Hunt of York
  • Jórvík, The Viking City
  • The King's Manor
  • Medieval churches of York
  • Merchant Adventurers' Hall
  • Merchant Taylors' Hall
  • Micklegate Bar Museum
  • Museum Gardens
  • National Centre for Early Music, home of the York Early Music Festival
  • National Railway Museum
  • St George's York
  • St Mary's Abbey
  • St. Michael le Belfrey
  • The Shambles
  • The Snickelways
  • Treasurer's House
  • York Castle Museum
  • York City Art Gallery
  • York City Walls (Including Monk Bar Museum)
  • York Dungeon
  • York Minster
  • Yorkshire Museum
  • Yorkshire Wheel


OUTSIDE YORK CITY CENTRE
  • Askham Bogs
  • Askham Bryan Hall
  • Bishopthorpe Palace
  • Elvington Hall
  • Heslington Hall
  • The Knavesmire
  • Lamel Hill
  • Middlethorpe Hall, Middlethorpe Manor
  • Osbaldwick Hall
  • Skelton Hall, Skelton Manor
  • Strays of York
  • Vale of York
  • York Cemetery
  • York Racecourse
  • Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington
  • Yorkshire Museum of Farming, Murton
 

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