Streetlife Museum

Is it right for my child?

• Hands-on fun: Hull Museums invites families to step aboard a static tram on the recreated street scene and visit shops from the past. Children can climb into a Victorian carriage and play classic games in the retro arcade.
• Rides: on the historic car ride, a screen shows a film of a country lane and the car moves a bit. The visual story says it costs £1. The Carriage Gallery has the Hull York Mail Coach ride.
• Collections: the galleries include an 1818 Hobby Horse, veteran cars from 1897 onwards and the Cottingham North signal box, moved brick by brick.
• Sensory notes: the carriage gallery and bicycle gallery upstairs are darker. The visual story mentions recorded voices in the carriage gallery and train noises near the platform. It also mentions a Laughing Policeman arcade figure that laughs and shakes.
• Not every vehicle can be boarded: the visual story says signs or barriers show which ones you cannot go on.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Entry is free and there is no need to book. Groups of 15 or more are asked to book through the Self-directed visits page.
• Check which entrance to use. On 13 November 2026, a banner said the Streetlife entrance to the Museums Quarter was closed for Hull Heat Network works. It asked visitors to use the main entrance opposite Chapel Lane.
• Bring coins: 20p and 50p pieces for the arcade, and £1 for the car ride. The visual story says there is a change machine.
• Pack a lunch. There is no café, and the Easy Read guide says you cannot eat and drink in the museum.
• Download the visual story, floor plan and sensory map from the access page. The visual story is also at the front desk.

Prices and tickets

Admission is free for everyone, so carers are welcome to join the people they support. You do not need a ticket for a normal visit.

• Guided tours: Hull Museums lists a free, hour-long Streetlife tour as ticketed, on selected dates from 24 November 2026 to 4 April 2027. The listing marks it for adults, and tours depend on volunteer availability.
• Relaxed craft sessions are ticketed and must be booked (see the additional needs section). The event pages we saved show no price.

Pushchairs, babies and toilets

• Step-free entry: there is step-free access at the front and a lift to the first floor galleries, at the far end of the street scene.
• Bumpy floors: High Street outside is cobbled, and part of the indoor street scene has cobbled flooring. There is a dropped kerb near the main entrance.
• Steps inside: the signal box and the platform above the train have steps only. The car ride has 4 steps, or a slope on the other side of the tram.
• Buggy park: the museum floor plan marks one on the ground floor.
• Baby changing: the access page says it is in the toilets nearest the entrance. The Quick Access Guide also lists it in the toilets at the far end of the street scene.
• Toilets: one set is near the entrance and one is at the back, opposite the sweet shop. The access page names an accessible toilet near the entrance, and the access guides list one in each set.

Food and drink

There is no café at the museum. Hull Museums suggests a packed lunch in the outdoor picnic area of the Museums Quarter Garden. Hull Museums also mentions an independent café across from the entrance on High Street.

Getting there and parking

The address is Streetlife Museum, High Street, Hull HU1 1PS, in the Museums Quarter of Hull’s Old Town, next to the River Hull.

• Train and bus station: Paragon Interchange is about 15 minutes’ walk away, according to the plan your visit page. The Easy Read guide says 20 minutes.
• Buses: the nearest stops are on Alfred Gelder Street. The Quick Access Guide lists routes 173, 3, 14 and 82, and in the other direction 8, 56, 57, 173 and X7.
• Parking: Hull Museums mentions parking on Alfred Gelder Street and Gandhi Way, and Tower Street Car Park across the river. The Quick Access Guide adds a short stay, cash only pay and display on Lowgate. No parking prices are given.
• Blue Badge: there is Blue Badge parking on Gandhi Way, across from the main entrance, and on Alfred Gelder Street.

When to visit

Hours are Monday to Saturday 10am to 4.30pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm. The museum opens on bank holidays except Good Friday. It is closed 24 to 28 December inclusive and on 1 January.

The visual story says the quietest times are after 2.30pm on weekdays. It says weekends tend to be quiet before lunch if no event is on. Events can make the museum busier and noisier, and staff sometimes dress up as characters from the past.

Additional needs and disability support

Hull Museums publishes access resources for Streetlife, and you can email the team before visiting.

Frequently asked questions

Is Streetlife Museum free?

Yes. Entry is free for everyone and you do not need to book. The visual story says the car ride costs £1, and the arcade games take 20p or 50p coins.

Is Streetlife Museum good for toddlers?

The official pages give no minimum age. Hull Museums says the museum is full of vehicles for little ones to explore. Watch for cobbles, steps and darker galleries upstairs.

Can you take a pushchair to Streetlife Museum?

There is step-free access at the front, a lift to the first floor and a buggy park on the floor plan. The street outside and part of the indoor street scene are cobbled.

Is there a café at Streetlife Museum?

No. Bring a packed lunch for the outdoor picnic area in the Museums Quarter Garden.

Is Streetlife Museum good for autistic children?

Hull Museums offers a visual story, a sensory map, borrowable ear defenders and bookable relaxed craft sessions. Some areas are dark or noisy, so the sensory map helps you plan.

Is Streetlife Museum open at Christmas?

It is closed from 24 to 28 December inclusive and on 1 January. The official pages do not list special hours for other days around Christmas, so check before you travel.

Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official Hull Museums pages for Streetlife Museum, plan your visit, access, families and under 5s, what to see and what’s on, plus the museum’s visual story and access guides. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.