A visit to West Yorkshire will likely take you to the city of Leeds, which is home to several fascinating museums including a newly opened branch of the Royal Armouries. Combined into three museums, this is the oldest museum in the United Kingdom, and was founded during the Tudor period of Queen Elizabeth 1. The Leeds branch actually opened in 1996 and features five galleries of arms and armor that including those used for war, in tournaments, for self-defense, those for hunting and even a collection of armor from the “Orient.” During the summer months the museum even has mock tournaments and displays of jousting and horsemanship.

The city is also home to the Leeds City Museum, which chronicles the history of Yorkshire, and the Leeds City Art Gallery, which features numerous collections of art from various artists from the Yorkshire region.

Further out the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television is located in the city of Bradford, while the West Yorkshire Folk Museum currently resides in Shibden. The National Mining Museum for England is in the former mining town of Netherton.

The region is also home to several large castles, including the ruins of Sandal, which was one of the Dukes of York castles prior to the Wars of the Roses, and was later a Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War. It was largely destroyed during the latter war and today is only a shell of its former self, yet a fascinating reminder of the might of the English nobility during the Middle Ages in Yorkshire.

Out to the east,  7 miles from Leeds, is one the most popular Leeds attractions ,Harewood House, home to the queen's cousin Lord Harewood.  The house is one of the treasure houses of England, housing a large amount of Chippendale furniture, Adam ceilings and paintings by Turner .  The grounds contain a bird garden and beautiful gardens.  The children will enjoy the adventure playground.  When you go, look up and keep an eye out for the Red Kites circling around the house and grounds.