Barley Hall

Is it right for my child?

• Hands-on: visitors may sit on the chairs and handle many of the objects. The house is dressed as the 1483 home of the Snawsell family and their servants.
• Some things are for looking only: leave the delicate items on the Great Hall’s top table alone.
• Things to do: the Gallery has a medieval board game, tracing on light boxes and a children’s tent with dressing up.
• Beasts at Barley Hall: the visual story, reviewed in August 2025, describes this exhibition about animals in medieval life, with artefacts and audio.
• Young children: the stairs are steeper than modern ones, so hold small hands on every staircase.
• Sensory notes: the Steward’s Room, Parlour, Buttery and Pantry are dim. The Gallery has a gentle soundscape of animal noises and a crackling fire.
• Christmas extras: in November and December, many rooms have wreaths and garlands, some possibly real. You might see more candles and information boards, and smell oranges, cinnamon, cloves or Christmas trees.
• Sensitive topics: York Archaeology says its attractions include human remains and briefly touch on death, illness, injury and slavery.
• Watch heads and fingers: the house has low archways and wooden beams, and chests and cupboards can trap small fingers. Two beds are fragile, so please do not sit on them.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Book a time slot ahead. Pre-booking is advisable, online or on 01904 615505. On 12 November 2026, some same-day slots had sold out.
• Pack light. In September 2026 the home page said bags may be searched, the maximum bag size is 38cm by 30cm, and aerosols are banned.
• Arrive on time for your slot. On most dates we checked, the latest slot was 3pm.
• Keep your ticket and bring ID to come back free. The access guide says tickets last one year, but not when the year starts.
• Consider the Children’s Activity Pack, sold online from £2.50.

Prices and tickets

Under 5s go free, and carers go free alongside any full-paying visitor. Standard prices from the official ticket shop:

• Adult: £9.50
• Child (5 to 16): £5.50
• Student with valid ID: £7.75
• Family of 4 (two adults, two children): £25.75
• Family of 5 (two adults, three children): £31
• Max Card holders: free with proof on arrival.
• Discounts: the ticket shop offers 20% off for groups such as NHS staff and Blue Light Card holders, but not on Pastport or event tickets. English Heritage members pay less if they show their membership card on arrival. Bring proof for any discount, or you pay full price.
• Pastport: one ticket for JORVIK Viking Centre, Barley Hall and DIG, from £25 for an adult. JORVIK is pre-booking only, so arrive 10 minutes early. JORVIK wheelchair users must phone to book. DIG’s last term-time tour is usually for adults.

Pastport tickets say children must be with an adult. Tickets are not refundable, but a booked visit can be moved.

Pushchairs, babies and toilets

• No lift: the upper floor, Buttery, Pantry and School Room are reached only by steep stairs with a handrail.
• Steps between rooms: there are large steps into and out of the Steward’s Room and down into the Great Hall.
• Pushchairs: the official pages do not mention pushchair access or buggy storage. Phone 01904 615505 if you need to bring one.
• Toilets: the Vestibule has toilets for paying visitors. They are not wheelchair accessible.
• Baby changing: the official pages do not mention baby changing, so bring a changing mat.
• Breastfeeding: York Archaeology says breastfeeding is welcome. There is seating in each room.

Food and drink

The official pages do not list a café inside Barley Hall. The visual story mentions a coffee shop next door and restaurants nearby.

Getting there and parking

• Address: 2 Coffee Yard, off Stonegate, York YO1 8AR.
• Finding the door: from Stonegate, the alley starts under the Ye Olde Starre Inne sign. Look out for the red devil. The alley is about 1 metre wide. After around 25 metres it opens into the courtyard, and the main door is on your left.
• By train: York station is about half a mile away.
• By bus: Finding Us names a stop on Museum Street, five minutes’ walk away.
• By car: there is no parking at Barley Hall. Official pages disagree on the nearest car park: Finding Us says Marygate, the access guide Monk Bar. Each is about ten minutes’ walk, and Monk Bar has 19 disabled bays.

When to visit

• Booking slots: on 12 November 2026 the calendar showed slots from 10am to 3pm on most other dates we checked.
• Christmas: closed 24 to 26 December 2026. The booking calendar did not offer these dates.
• New Year: on 12 November 2026 the booking calendar showed slots only from 10am to 1.30pm on 31 December 2026. On 1 January 2027 slots started at 11am. Check before you travel.
• School groups: on term-time weekdays, school groups may fill whole rooms. Staff can help you avoid busier rooms.
• Guided tours: the access guide mentions optional seasonal tours about the family and servants who lived here. You can skip their sensory element.
• Evening event: Broadside Ballads runs on 8 and 17 December 2026, 7pm to 8pm, with doors at 6.45pm. Tickets cost £20. Hot chocolate, or mulled wine for those 18 and over, with a mince pie costs £5 extra. It is not recommended for children under 10.

Additional needs and disability support

Barley Hall offers official access and sensory support, though the historic building limits access.

Frequently asked questions

Is Barley Hall free for children?

Under 5s go free. Children aged 5 to 16 pay £5.50, and a family of 4 ticket costs £25.75.

Can you take a pushchair to Barley Hall?

The official pages do not mention pushchairs. The house has steep stairs, large steps between rooms and no lift, so phone 01904 615505 to ask first.

Is Barley Hall good for autistic children?

It offers a visual story, ear defenders, sensory packs and traffic light stickers. Some rooms are dim, and there are no designated quiet times.

Is Barley Hall open at Christmas?

It is closed from 24 to 26 December 2026. On 12 November 2026 the booking calendar showed shorter slot times on 31 December 2026 and 1 January 2027.

Do you need to book Barley Hall in advance?

Pre-booking is advisable, online or by phone on 01904 615505. Some same-day slots had sold out when we checked.

Are there toilets at Barley Hall?

Yes, for paying visitors, in the Vestibule. They are not wheelchair accessible, and the official pages do not mention baby changing.

Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official York Archaeology ticket shop and its booking calendar, the official visual story and access guide, and the Barley Hall pages for opening times, tickets, discounts, access and finding us. That website blocked automated checks, so we read search-engine and archive copies of those pages. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.