The railway museum is just out of the city walls of York,walking distance. It's free entry to get in from what I remember and even If your not a train spotter It's still worth going just to have a look at the place!
There's a place, Maybe an Hours drive away from York called Eden Camp in Malton. It's a war museum. An old War camp now been turned into a Museum, I remember going there when I was younger with my family and Is so much to see you can spend all day there and still not see it all. It's good for adults and kids.
Thanks everyone - thought there might have been more Yorkshire tykes wanting to give a good impression of their dreary county to a Lancashire man!
I'm going to the railway museum with a copy of Bradshaws Canals & Railways - Big fold out maps on linen in a leather slip case with pencil lines showing alternative routes for railways not built at the time.
Walking the walls is good Castle museum & Yorkshire Museum Cliffords Tower Yorvik, York dungeon, Apart from the wall all of this is indoors - If you have transport then the surrounding area is beautiful and you should be able to get details from the tourist information. Also within York there is the snickleways walk and also 2 or 3 ghost walks in the evening again the TIC can help.
If your looking for a meal and a wee drink then the Old Star Inn is cheap & cheeful, 3 Tuns and the Yorkshire Terrier.
countryside stuff - Castle Howard, Dalby forest (good for biking - they can be hired), Coast - Whitby, Scarborough or for less crowded try hunmanby gap, other towns around - leeds (of course) harrogate (nice gardens in centre, baths etc) or for a market town try thirsk / northallerton - though not much to do. In york try a boat trip down the river, several museums if you're interested (Yorvik, castle, yorkshire)
Have you heard of the York Pass for the city of York? I think it is like the London Pass, but for York instead. This can be bought at any tourist information office there, and will cover you for almost every attraction in York, apart from the Viking Centre.
Dreary county?????? You are not too big for a slap.
I was going to suggest Whitby but if you come here you'll spend all your time looking over your shoulder.....