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Stop E: York Observatory
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Museum Gardens, Museum Street, York YO1 7FR -
View on Map
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Open all hours
A small Victorian observatory of 1833 housing the oldest working telescope in Yorkshire.
Booking This Attraction
- Over 20 immersive illusion exhibits that double as photo ops.
- Ideal for visiting with kids or taking a break between York’s heritage sites.
Attraction Duration
1.5 hours
Age Range
Fun for all ages
About Stop E: York Observatory
Built in the early 1830s, York Observatory is the oldest working observatory in Yorkshire.
The octagonal-shaped structure was fitted with a revolving, lead-covered roof and houses a four-inch refractor telescope created by Thomas Cooke, whose local business was England’s first telescope factory.
Cooke also made a telescope for Prince Albert, and later went on to invent a steam-powered car.
Dr William Pearson provided the observatory with a clock, used to tell the time based on the location of the stars.
Local residents paid sixpence to synchronise their own watches against the timepiece, ensuring greater accuracy, especially important in the new industrial era.
Culture 
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