Follow the story of poverty, crime and punishment through the three Ripon Museums.

The Liberty Courthouse remains virtually unchanged since it was built in 1830. Explore the Jury Room with its ceremonial pair of halberds and library of 18th and 19th century manuals, and the Retiring Room which contains a gallery of portraits of many past magistrates.

The sorry tales of defendants and their sentences – often transportation to Australia – are recounted here in the museum’s three rooms.

UPDATE: To provide our visitors with a safe and enjoyable experience, we are limiting the number of visitors who are able to access our museums at any one time and for this reason, all tickets must be purchased in advance.

We have taken additional measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our staff, volunteers and visitors. These measures have been taken following Government guidance and following Public Health England recommendations. We have received our accreditation from VisitEngland which recognizes that we are following government and industry COVID-19 guidelines, ensuring processes are in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social/physical distancing.

Our gift shops are open but we ask that visitors use contactless payments wherever possible.

Please visit riponmuseums.co.uk for visitor guidance and to book timeslot appointments to visit.