Museums in Doncaster

Over 50 years old, the Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery holds an impressive display of natural history and archaeology, focusing on the region’s rich history. Alongside that, the museum houses the Regimental Museum of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, a unit formed in the late 1700s that went on to fight in Waterloo, Burma and both World Wars.

A living history museum, Ashworth Barracks marks the memories of those awarded the Victoria Cross, with battle re-enactments and an impressive array of hardware. With ex-soldiers on guiding duties, you get a real sense of engagement on the tour, while there’s also a soft air rifle range to test out your aim.

Built on the site of RAF Doncaster, the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum is a lovingly compiled museum that includes a collection of hard-to-find aircraft, including modern jets, light aircraft and dedicated rooms for WWI, WWII and the Falklands conflict. The museum is located just out of town near The Dome and is open from 10am from Tuesday to Sunday. Most of the cockpits are free to explore with plenty of interactive exhibits throughout the museum.

For more flying kicks, head to Doncaster Sheffield Airport for the Vulcan Experience. Here, you can get up close and very personal with the last active Vulcan XH558 to give the plane its full title, a stunning example of British engineering and a plane that led directly to Concorde, the Space Shuttle and other delta-wing planes.

Tours need to be booked in advance and last two hours. Designed and built during the Cold War, the Vulcan is a memorable part of the battle that thankfully never was, with the experience exploring the history of the Cold War and the role RAF Finningley played at that time.

A Grade I-listed building, Cusworth Hall is a Georgian country house and museum with landscaped parklands, lakes and stunning views over Doncaster. Recently restored to its 17th century glory, the museum includes access to the Italianate Chapel, while the 60 acres of parkland include several play areas, a tea shop, a playing field, a flower garden and a walled garden.