Museums & Galleries · Yorkshire
The Courthouse Museum
📍 HG4 1PD
Photo: Gerald England (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Stand in the dock and await sentencing
- See the Georgian courtroom largely unchanged since 1830
- View Halberds carried in the Quarter Sessions procession
- Learn about the Liberty of Ripon's history
- See portraits of past magistrates in the Retiring Room
The Courthouse Museum occupies a Georgian courtroom built in 1830 and barely altered since, where you can explore the dock, witness box and Justices' bench and imagine standing trial in Victorian times. Displays across three rooms include ceremonial Halberds, Justices' manuals and portraits of past magistrates, alongside the story of the Liberty of Ripon and tales of transportation to Australia. It suits visitors curious about crime and punishment history, and a visit takes around 30 minutes. Note the three entrance steps, narrow walkways and lack of on-site toilets. Set in Ripon, North Yorkshire, there are 37 bookable places to stay within 5 miles, making it easy to combine with a wider stay in the area.
Practical details
- Open
- Daily, 1pm–4pm, Saturday 14th February to Sunday 22nd November 2026
- Time needed
- About 30 minutes
- Accessibility
- Three steps at entrance; narrow walkways; one doorway unsuitable for wheelchairs
- Booking
- No toilets on site; public toilets nearby
From the attraction's own website on 12 Oct 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Toilets
- ✓ WiFi
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Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
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🎪 What's on near The Courthouse Museum
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 20:00
Helperby Comedy Night
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Sat 14 Nov · 14:00
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Sat 14 Nov · 19:00
Tess Tickle & the Dragettes Xmas Show Extravaganza
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Wed 18 Nov · 19:30
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🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to The Courthouse Museum into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
A weekend in Yorkshire →
A weekend in Yorkshire with the kids →
A weekend in Yorkshire: an accessible itinerary →
🗺️ Plan the drive to The Courthouse Museum
🚆 Or come by train
- Thirsk 8.8 miles
- Knaresborough 9 miles
- Starbeck 9.5 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page