3 Best Sights in Yorkshire, England

A 45-minute drive south from Leeds to Rotherham brings Yorkshire's industrial past into focus at Magna, a widely respected science museum housed in a former steelworks. Smoke, flames, and sparking electricity bring one of the original six arc furnaces roaring to life in a sound-and-light show. Four pavilions engagingly illustrate the use of fire, earth, air, and water in the production of steel. In summer there's an outdoor water park.

Bradford, 10 miles west of Leeds, is known for this renowned museum that looks at the science and culture of audiovisual technologies. It's a huge and highly entertaining place, with seven galleries displaying the world's first photographic negative, the latest digital imaging, and everything in between. There are also three cinemas, including an IMAX theater, that show recent releases.

One of the country's first purpose-built museums, this extraordinary cylindrical building was constructed in 1829 to house Jurassic fossils and minerals collected nearby. Designed by William Smith, known as "the father of English geology," it now displays important archaeological finds, evidence of local dinosaurs, and a unique Bronze Age skeleton. Don't miss the frieze illustrating the geology of the nearby coastline.