Barley Hall, 2 Coffee Yard, Off Stonegate, York, YO1 8AR

Barley Hall is the Chicken and Mushroom Pot Noodle of museums, its quick, fun, should not be done too often and goes nicely with buttered white bread - I made the last bit up, please don’t take buttered bread with you.

What you essentially have here is a stunning medieval townhouse which was found when builders were pulling down an old office block. It could have made a great edition of Homes Under the Hammer but instead it was decided to restore to its original splendour including its unique horn window (I'm not sure either, but they have one).

It was also decorated (with a massed opportunity for a Changing Rooms episode) to replicate what it would have looked like around 1483 (though I did notice there are a few flat screen TV’s which I think are early 15th century)

Its also got a magnificent Great Hall and a huge sachet of Soy Sauce that you add at the start of your visit (that bit might be wrong).

Local Knowledge

Beware, there are lots of steps to it and in it and a small alley to get down to get inside - so not great for buggies or people who predominantly travel on pogo sticks
If you pay to get in your ticket is good for one year so you can go back again as they do run lots of regularly changing exhibitions
Not great for young children (they may get bored) but very good for adults interested in medieval architecture, missed property TV program opportunities and hot, tasty noodle snacks
The coffee in the cafe (which is also where the first coffee shop in York was located) is really good and the staff always give my dog a treat

www.barleyhall.co.uk